What I Learned At My Last Comp

[Dancing Irishman]

Also that two anxious people in a partnership makes for a lot of nerves.

Oh yes, navigating that in my current partnership. Hopefully without resorting to pre-competition booze.

 

[middy]

Just got reinforced that marks have little to do with how your dancing went (sometimes) - got more marks in the two dances that we visibly messed up in than the one that went smoothly.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Dance Mad Helen]

Less time for the panic to build?

Most Likely the case. I'm so used in practicing to making a split decision on when to start dancing I am not a big fan on listening to the music first as I over think it. I am so proud of my follower. We have only been together for 6 weeks but we are already getting through rounds and getting decent ranks.

 

[scullystwin42]

I learned that my mental workout thing really helped. so much calmer and it helped me be able to recover from a few little slip ups.

 

[JudeMorrigan]

1. I can reasonably compete in open smooth. I have no idea what the strength of the bottom half of the field looked like, but I made the finals in my B championship out of a (I think) 14 couple final, I think that's pretty solid evidence I met my "look like I being goal".

2. Stamina, stamina stamina. I have never faded quite so hard as I did in the finals of that B championship. I had recovered some by the scholarship, but my dancing was (literally) shakier than it should have been.

 

[RiseNFall]

He looked quite good.

The shakiness that you felt might have also been nerves/adrenaline/etc., particularly since it was your first competition at that level.

 

[Loki]

I had recovered some by the scholarship, but my dancing was (literally) shakier than it should have been.

Eat more cow or pig for breakfast.

 

[JudeMorrigan]

Nerves definitely did play a factor in my dancing, but I'm afraid fatigue did as well. It was funny, after my freestyles, my pro made a comment on how happy she was that her boys weren't wiped out as we finished our rounds and walked off the floor. After the scholarship, she immediately leaned in to tell me it was ok, we'd work on my strength to get through these long days. S'okay though. I had already planned to join a gym after this comp. This just confirms my instincts and that I need to follow through and actually use it.

And while I won't drone on since I've really already done quite enough bragging - holy balljoints. Looking at my marks moved this comp from "happily content" to "genuinely excited at significantly exceeding expectations".

And it was very nice to meet you as well, RiseNFall. I'm afraid I was too much in my own little world to have seen much of your dancing, but I'm sure it was lovely.

 

[RiseNFall]

My marks were not good, but I was pleased with how I danced. There were more than a few hints of the vastly-improved dancing I've started doing inconsistently at the studio, and that was really the most I could hope for. Loads of room for improvement, but a good baseline to work from.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

In distance running one uses the 2x rule. And I use this for dance stamina as well. So if a comp has 4 to 6 potential rounds, I train with 8 to 12 rounds with 5 minutes between them in practice . Above and beyond my daily workout the addition of daily squats, wall sits and twice a week increased running ( up to 6 to 7.5 miles on trails)have made my cardiovascular and leg fitness well above that needed for dance comps. Just make sure you understand and manage your hydration, metabolite and caloric needs throughout the comp ...this can get ya even if you are fit enough

 

[RiseNFall]

Just make sure you understand and manage your hydration, metabolite and caloric needs throughout the comp ...this can get ya even if you are fit enough

Yes! Yes! Yes! (And at some point, protein bars just don't seem to quite do it for me....)

 

[Mr 4 styles]

Hi dose Protein during a comp is generally unnecessary and requires too much water. Protein should be taken during recovery (after the event) . Use PoweRade or energy gel every 45 minutes or so 100 calories worth use a complex carbohydrates bar with a little bit of ( 8 to 12 grams or so )protein like a cliff bar if there is 1.5 hrs to digest. Like between single dances and scholarships. If a huge break like 4 hrs eat a balanced meal.

 

[3wishes]

I carb load a few days before (learned that a long time ago after first few comps), the higher levels and scholarships with multiple recalls, I went towards a glucose gel that our now closed sporting chain use to sell for marathon runners. Ate it 15 minutes before energy was needed and each packet burst lasted about 45 minutes. Also made sure to take potassium an hour before starting singles.
Stamina is a build it as you go process, every comp I did, learned what energy products worked for me and some that fell by the wayside.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

I like GU. 100 calories. Sodium and potassium and a little caffeine

 

[FancyFeet]

I eat. As much of a full meal as I can manage about 3 hours before (usually after hair, and before make-up), then a snack with a little staying power after warm-ups - something like a banana and greek yogurt. Once I get started, I snack between rounds too... higher sugar and easy-to-eat stuff. I like apple juice and strawberries or grapes. If I feel myself fading because my singles are spaced further apart, I'll have a few almonds or half a natural granola bar. And if I've got a few hours break before scholarship, I'm eating a balanced mid-size meal. I'll also go through several litres of water through the day.

It used to freak pro out that I ate so much while competing (he's more the RedBull and maybe a single banana type), but he's learned that this is what works for me - and if I don't do it, energy crashes at incredibly inopportune times are highly likely.