Humble Request For Your Support

[GinnySmith]

Hi, Folks!!! I am thrilled of all the recent news of Michelle's participation at Skate America. AND...it coincides with a personal journey of my own... Last night, because of Michelle's shining example, at the ripe old age of 49, I started taking Ice Skating Lessons!!! Yep, believe it or not. Michelle makes it look so easy and so much fun, that I could not restrain myself. Guess what? I was initially terrified, but I managed to skate from 7:00PM until 9:30, without falling down!!!! It must have been because I have watched Michelle skate for so many hours that somehow, she programmed me to do the right things... Actually, I have a very strong roller skating background from my youth. I competeted in several dance events. However, the one time I attempted to ice skate at the age of 18 (31 years ago) I nearly killed myself because I kept tripping on the "TOE PICK!" By the end of the evening, I had a bruise on my hip the size of Alaska. Assuming that there was no hope, I chose to live vicariously through Peggy Fleming and Michelle, while earning a living and raising a son. But this summer, I spontaneously decided to sign up for ice skating lessons because everytime I watched Michelle skate, I almost felt like I was skating. I had to give it one more try to see if I could get as comfortable on blades as I am on wheels. I wanted to be able to glide across the ice with ease. What is a great help is that I found a pair of used Harlicks that fit me like a glove. The store was trying to push a brand new pair of Riedel's on me that hurt my feet. But I read the "Edge of Glory" and of course, knew all about the Riedel issue so I insisted on digging through the used skate pile and found a pair of "beat up" looking Harlicks for $70. The blades were new and the basic boot was in good shape but they needed some repair. Fortunately, Harlick is located here in the San Fransico Bay Area about 40 Minutes from where I work. When I took the skates in to have them repaired, I forgot to take the price tag off. The repair guy held the boots up to all of the people in the office and said, "Hey, did she get a good deal on these or what?" Everybody laughed, because I guess a new pair custom fitted to your foot runs around $500!!! Anyway for another $40, they fixed them up wonderfully and I feel as if I have a pair of magic skates. (Remember Dumbo had the magic feather that helped him fly? Well, I have the magic skates....) However, based on my painful experience 31 years ago, I still can't believe I didn't fall down last night....Well, I still have 12 lessons to go so I'm sure that record will not last! Yikes, this is getting really long. Anyway, I appreciate your support and tolerance of my rambling on, but I am having so much fun thanks to Michelle and to all of you....

[mano]

Great inspirational story. Thanks for sharing it with us. Now I feel like taking lessons too. Unfortunately, my skating is usually restricted to the living room where I can do a so-so Ina Bauer. Hey, you'll never know, you may be able to do a triple axle by the end of the 12th lesson, heehee. I'm pulling for ya.

[Shallah]

I know what you mean about feeling like your skating when Michelle is ..... when watching her I feel like I could just go pop on a pair of skates and go gliding across the ice when I was never good at it even when small. I have been thinking myself about getting some skates and trying to putter around the lake behind my Gram's this winter ..... I don't know if I am as brave as you tho!!! Mano - you say call me CRISPY - but can I call you EXTRA Crispy???

[kwanette]

Yes!I think you'te great! Dare I, with bad ankles, try it next?

[skatingfan]

Wow, you are an inspiration, you go girl.

[GinnySmith]

You guys are great! I really appreciate the kind words. To Kwanette and anyone else who wants to try: GO FOR IT!!! Don't let your fears hold you back. Remember Frank's words to Michelle before the EOE World Pro AM: UNDAUNTED COURAGE!!! As far as the bad ankles are concerned, if you mean "weak ankles" versus injured ankles, I would suggest you try but only with a really good pair of skates. I was lucky to find such a good pair that was "relatively" inexpensive. I am convinced this is making all of the difference (and watching thousands of hours of Michelle skating). My ankles killed me in the old rental skates but I hardly notice my ankles in my magic skates. This leaves me free to concentrate on posture and balance (that and keeping the !@#$ TOE PICK out of my way!) Try to find a high quality used pair that feel comfortable and don't hurt your feet. They should be broken in but give you good support and won't cost you and arm & a leg. My skates were about the same price a pair of low end new Riedel's. I will give you a periodic update on my progress. As soon as I have mastered my change edge spiral I'll let you know. Michelle can rest easy--she has nothing to fear from me trying to be the oldest person ever to win an Olympic gold in 2002! Thanks again!!!

[Thibomont]

Wow... I'm really proud of you, kiddo! I strapped on a pair of roller skates once, in about 1948 or 47. Fell over on the sidewalk. Decided skating was not for me. So I think you're mighty brave!

[Lexi]

That's a great story. MK inspired me to take figure skating lessons as well, and I've been taking for several months now. I absolutely love it and yes, it is much harder than MK makes it look. Keep me updated on any new moves you're learning- so far I'm up to cross-overs forward and backwards and some change edge gliding on a circle and etc. Good luck to you!

[kwanette]

take me as your coach...or if you have hired Frank by then, I'll be your personal assistant. I'm very organized and prompt! Yes, I have injured ankles...fell years ago in platforms on New Years Eve in Florida (me in platforms...the original aerosoles girl?) and tore ligaments again in 94 on a wet floor at school. I'll just stand by the boards...and yes, I will yell (twice), "Undaunted courage!"

[mkDragon]

That graphic by Candy is the coolest one I have seen yet. Where can I find it? Pleeeeeeeze???? :) mkDragon

[Shallah]

hehehe! She makes graphics to order and when if found that C S Lewis quote I HAD to get a MK button to put it on! It just fits Michelle's skating so well - sometimes it is so beautiful it hurts. Her wonderful MK page is here: <A HREF=http://members.tripod.com/~Michelle_Fan/index.html >http://members.tripod.com/~Michelle_Fan/index.html </A> and her page about how to request a graphic is here: <A HREF=http://members.tripod.com/~Michelle_Fan/freegraphics.html>http://members.tripod.com/~Michelle_Fan/freegraphics.html</A>

[GinnySmith]

OUCH! Side walks and roller skates can hurt! I fell on my back in Golden Gate park a few years ago. I got up too much speed going down hill, couldn't stop and before I could dive onto the nearby grass & my feet went out from under me. It's a wonder I didn't kill myself. My back pack saved me. This was a skate in the park with Kristi Yamaguchi for charity. Kwanette--Sorry about your ankles! I can use a good coach. So when I'm ready, I'll call on you so can we can start working on my SP and LP for Salt Lake City in 2002.

[Icare]

I was thinking about taking lessons too! Actually, I also live in the bay area, not too far away from where you live. Which store did you find your skates? I'd love to have a pair like yours! Do you go to the Ice Chalet or somewhere else? Someone should be the angel to cherish your courage!

[chinadoll]

what a lovely story!

[jahowes]

Ginny, Last winter I finally bought a pair of cheap skates and took to the ice because I've been such a big fan of Michelle's and thought I'd like to try it. I skated outside on a frozen lake, and had a great time. But I too have been thinking of taking lessons to learn how to skate "for real". My question for you is this - are you taking group lessons? I'm pretty sure that's the cheapest way to do it, and hey - didn't Michelle and Karen start that way too?

[MarcellaMichelle]

You go everybody! I went to all the public skating sessions at the University I worked at in Ohio but now I live in a small south Texas town where, as my husband said, ice is something that keeps your drink cold :-( No more skating for me except for when the Corpus Christi Ice Rays (minor hockey team) are in season because they sometimes open the ice to the public. Otherwise, I would have to drive 5 hours or so to Houston to skate at the mall. I'm so sad! I used a very cheap pair ($20) of no name skates but they were still better than the rental skates because they were new and offered more ankle support. I had a lot of trouble with the toe pick too until a 70 year old retired teacher told me to always keep my knees slightly bent and to lean back. I always leaned forward because I thought it would help momentum-wise but it just trips you up. You probably already know that! It took me weeks to learn (on my own) to do a very ungraceful regular spiral but it took my sister one hour. Of course, she used to be a professional ballerina. The ballet really did make a difference. I found I could smoothly go really fast by thinking tall. My ballet teacher used to say to think of having a string that went from your feet through your stomach and out the top of your head and that someone was pulling on that string to make you straight. Michelle has inspired a lot of skaters and living room skaters alike! I often wondered if I was her roommate would she take me skating with her once or twice if I begged? I couldn't bribe her with my chocolate cheesecake though! Too bad we don't all live in the same place so we could form a fans of Kwan on ice club-I like that name whoever thought it up!

[Deetlebug]

GinnySmith - CONGRATULATIONS!!! I too started lessons this summer! It's the best thing I've done in ages. I did buy a brand new pair of Reidell 320's and I just love them. So far in nine weeks I've learned forward/backward sculling, forward stroking, front crossovers, two foot snowplow stops, one foot snowplow stops, hockey stops, T stops and two footed three turns. This session I'm going to learn regular three turns, mohawk turns and back crossovers. I am having a blast. I skate twice a week plus my lessons. So far my right knee has taken several beatings but other than that I'm doing fine. I seem to specialize in the belly-flop splat - complete with beautiful hand positions, nice toe point and good ice coverage (up to twelve feet!) - so I'm told. I don't really try to point my toes when I fall but I'm glad my falls are appealing to those who are watching. LOL!! Keep up the great job. Skating is the best antidote to stress. It can turn a disasterous day into something that just makes my face glow with happiness for hours. I now know firsthand why Michelle loves to skate so much. I bet she has no idea how inspiring she is!!

[GinnySmith]

Wow, folks. This is great. I'm so glad I started this post because this is precisely the kind of encourgement I need. To answer several questions: I am taking a 13-week adult course of group lessons at the Ice Chalet rink at Valco in Cupertino California. I have had one lesson so far where we did backward and forward "swizles" (basically starting with the heels together and toes pointing out, pushing out and bringing the toes together), two foot glide, single foot glide one each foot, and a squating two foot glide (on this the gliding was easy..it was the squatting that was the challenge). I purchased my used Harlick's at a store called "Play it Again Sports" on El Camino Real. There are several such stores in the Bay Area. The one I went to either had a Mountain View or Los Altos address. I plan to skate twice a week too. Tomorrow will be my second try. I also skate the general session after my Tuesday evening lesson which is at 7:00PM. The rink closes at 9:30. Whoever had the tip about the toe pick, a BIG THANKS! One reason I think it was easier this time is that I had better support in the boot. But the blades are ice dancing blades, not free style. Apparently, the ice dancing blades are smaller and have a smaller TOE PICK. Very important in my case. My instructor also yelled at me to stand up straight and not look down at the ice (a very tempting thing to do!) So whoever suggested I keep my knees bent and lean back, that is a good idea. Probably I am already doing that unconciously, but it's nice to have that to remember. If this keeps up as such an enjoyable venture, I might sign up for some private lessons. Finally, whoever said they bet Michelle has no idea of how many people she inspires, is absolutely right! I never thought I, at 49, could learn so much about life from someone who is only 19. She is a skater and human being for the ages....

[showzi]

After reading your story making me want to take lessons too. I never took any real skating lesson in my life. I learned how to roller skate on my own, with some help from my cousin actually. The first time I put the roller skates on, I found them very heavy that I coudln't move. So I asked my cousin to pull me around. Well, my smart cousin decided that he should pull me around with a bike. So he got on a bike, with my hands holding on to the back seat, we started to get moving. We were going faster and faster and getting very excited by the speed until.... "Here come some rose bushes, I have to stop". He yelled, and made a sudden stop. I didn't stop, because I didn't kow how to. There I went straight into the rose bushes. I got thorns all over my body. It was painfully fun, I have to admit. Several years ago, while I was babysitting this young girl, she invited me to go figure skating with her. She volunteered to teach me a few things. Guess what was the first thing I asked her to teach me--how to stop. I hope someday, I will have the same kind of undaunted courage to skate again.

[Icare]

Thanks everyone for sharing their experience about ice skating. We used to be sitting and chatting, now we start to do something. Isn't it great! Ginny Smith: Thank you for your answer. I probably have seen you. Ice Chalet of Cupertino is where my daughter learns her skating. So I am there every week.

[Chainletter]

Ginny: Have tons of fun!:-)

[pipster]

Deetle bug, Your post just cracked my up. I find your humor so funny. Ginny and any others taking up figure skating. YOU GO!!

[GinnySmith]

There have been so many wonderful and humorous responses! I really appreciate it. Deetlebug--if you have any tips on how I can maximize my ice coverage during my belly-flop splat, with an emphasis on pointing my toes, I would sincerely appreciate it! LOL!!! If I am going to fall, and I'm sure that I will, I want to make sure I look my best...Just like Michelle, who looks better falling that most people who are standing up!! I figured if I don't fall, I'm not trying hard enough to get better. It was just that my prior experience had so many falls, I didn't want to repeat that performance during my first time back on the ice. Icare, if you think you see me at the Ice Chalet, feel free to say "hi!". No obligation of course--it would just be nice to meet another Michelle fan. Mano-If you have any tips on how to improve my living room Ina Bauer, I'm all ears!!! LOL! By the way, I didn't mean to knock Riedel...it's just that the one pair I tried on had something inside that was digging against my instep and it hurt A LOT!!! They were also brand new and a lot stiffer than the old, broken in Harlicks. In closing, for anyone who has been considering taking ice skating lessons, GO FOR IT!! Start out cheap--group lessons, and get yourself an inexpensive new pair or used pair..something with good support for the ankles. That way, if you find it's not for you, you will not have invested too much. HOWEVER, if you love Michelle, if you love gliding along the ice, if you want to have fun, I think you will enjoy the experience. THANKS & GOOD LUCK!!! OH, and THANKS TO MICHELLE FOR BEING SUCH AN INSPIRATION!!!!

[aehodman]

Congrats Ginny! Looks like you've been bitten by the MK skating bug too. I'm also an adult skater -- I've been at it for about 4 years now and it's even more addictive than it was when I first started taking lessons! When I first started, I thought, "Well gee, I'll just be happy if I learn back crossovers, then I'll stop." Then I saw some other adults spinning and thought "Well, I'd like to learn how to do that too." It just keeps going! The best part of it is that there's always something new to learn. Right now I'm working on lutz and axel and once I get those, it's time to learn the doubles! MK really IS a huge inspiration to me, too. Every time I see one of her new programs I go running to my coach the next lesson and ask her to please show me the new cool move MK is doing. I'd be pleased as punch if I am ever able to skate about 1/10 as well as MK does! Keep up the great work! There's a tremendous amount of opportunities for 25+ skaters in the USFSA, they have a wonderful competitive track and the Adult Nationals is supposed to be terrific (I'm hoping to go this spring, but I'll get there at some point!). A lady I know who's about 40 is just starting to learn her triple toe, so ANYTHING is possible, no matter what your age! Amy :)

[GinnySmith]

Thanks, Amy! I was wondering if there was any competition for the over 40 set and it sounds as if there is. Wow! I really appreciate the information. Just goes to show you..It's never too late!

[Shallah]

2000 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships April 13-16, 2000 Lake Placid, N.Y. SC of Lake Placid They might get a website up on it later - I seem to remember them having one up for it last year..... Don't they have competitions in many different age groups as well at Adult Nationals? I remember reading awhile back about it and how the woman who won her age group could do double jumps in both directions!!!

[Icare]

Ginny: when is your adult class in Ice Chalet? Please don't be disappointed if I do not come out and say hi really soon, because my usual "shift" for my daughter's lesson is in the Sat afternoon.

[aehodman]

Yep, they do have different age groups as well as different levels at Adult Nationals. I think that Level I is 25-35, Level II is 35-45, and Level III is 45+. I've seen all different ages skating at all the levels -- Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, and more and more adults seem to be at the USFSA competitions, from the local ones right on up to Adult Nationals. I think the Bronze I Ladies at Adult Nationals last year had something like 3 or 4 qualifying groups of 12 or so to just narrow down the number to the top 12 in all for the final group. The best thing about the adult competitions is how supportive everyone is. I've made some great friends though skating! Amy :)

[GinnySmith]

AEHodman & Icare: Well, I will definitely have to go for the 45+ competition! LOL! Let's see how the next 12 weeks go. If I'm feeling secure, who knows...I might just give it a try. Icare: My class is on Tuesday at 7:00PM. I went for the general session last night (Saturday) and saw this awesome young girl (I'm guessing between 10 & 12.) She was doing double axels & triples. In fact, she was trying a double axel triple combination. She was quiet good and reminded me of Michelle...Pony tail and all, plus a really sweet, unassuming smile. Anyway, the Sat. night session was pretty much of a zoo--a big group of teenagers were there. Hope to see you there sometime. Good luck to both you and your daughter...Cheers...Ginny

[MarcellaMichelle]

To the judges of ice coverage and pretty falls: I would like to submit my face down spread eagle from several years ago. It was in the correct spread eagle position but I can't remember if my toes were pointed. I made it halfway down the length of the rink and made a fashion statement in my head to toe ice shavings to boot! Can I get extra credit for that?

[Deetlebug]

MarcellaMichelle - On the standard figure skating scoring chart I give your face down spread eagle a 6.1! On a scale of 10 I give your sense of humor an 11!! I've been laughing out loud for five minutes. I still can't see well through my tears. Thanks a million for sharing that. GinnySmith - as for tips on ice coverage and toe point all I can say is just do what I do. When I've fallen into that belly flop position my mind immediately screams at me - HEY GEEK - THIS IS FUNNNNNNNN and with that thought I pretty much just try to stretch out and enjoy the slide across the ice. My biggest problem with that fall is that it cracks me up for the rest of the night. I'll stop laughing for a while but as soon as I remember it I burst out all over again. It's really hard to skate with tears in your eyes!! As for the Reidell boots - I promise I didn't take any offense. I chose to buy new boots (about $200) because I'm really very obsessed with not ruining my feet while I'm young so that I end up having to spend a fortune on foot doctors when I'm older. That's why I'll always spend a little more on a good work shoe, tap shoe or in this case new skates. I figure a little extra now will save me alot later. After hearing horror stories about breaking in new skates I was kind of dreading the break in period. But I have been totally AMAZED at how easy it went. The specialist in the pro shop told me that even though I was wearing my new skates three times a week to skate, that they would break in sooner and easier if I also wore them around the house for about an hour a night for a week or two. He said to wear them for 30mins, take them off for 15mins and wear them again for 30mins. It really worked great. My skates are now 100x more comfortable than any rental skate and are also very much more supportive than a rental skate. My only lingering problem is that every time I put them on (left one first, in honor of Michelle) I always end up having to re-tie them after I've been around the rink once. I just never seem to be able to get them right the first time. I guess you could say I'm skating lace challenged.

[GinnySmith]

MarcellaMichelle & Deetlebug: OK, OK... My sides now hurt from laughing. Between the spread eagle and the continuous cracking up after a fall, tomorrow night's lesson is going to be interesting. Anyway, I'll see if I can do either of you justice by emulating your grace and style before, during and after a fall. Deetlebug, I too am lace challenged! After lacing up (left foot first of course, just as you do), I find myself re-lacing 3 to 4 times a night! Either they are too tight or too loose, mostly too loose after several trips around the rink. Maybe I should request a remedial class in lacing your skates for dummies! Anyway, thanks for the suggestions!

[Deetlebug]

GinnySmith - your lessons are on Tuesday nights? If so, how'd it go this week? I'm really anxious to hear about your progress. Mine are on Wednesday nights from 9:30-11PM!! Very late, but definately worth it!! I'll update you tomorrow about tonight's lesson. PS - How about you and me writing a "Skate Lacing for Dummies" book? It sounds like we both have plenty of experience. LOL!!

[GinnySmith]

Deetlebug--THANKS for asking. Actually, it went GREAT! Saturday evening I went to the general session to practice. There were a ton of people there, it was a zoo, and the ice was in terrible condition. I really felt insecure and had a difficult time staying on my feet. There was a huge group of nice teenagers who were going every which way!!! It was nice seeing them having some good, clean, healthy fun, so I did not mind the crowd. It just made it difficult to skate, especially being only the second time. HOWEVER, last night, I noticed that there had been a substantial re-surfacing of the ice and when I stepped onto it, I felt incredibly secure for the first time. As Michelle says, "I could feel my legs under me." As the night progressed, I felt more and more secure, almost the same way I feel on roller skates!! YIKES! My instructor had us review the things from last week and then had us do "T" glides. It's difficult to describe but I'll try. You put one foot perpendicular to the other and push off with the foot that is in the back and glide forward on the foot that is in front. You glide as long as possible and then bring the back foot back to the perpendicular position and push again. Well...my first push was awesome, but it was really difficult for me to get the back foot back to the correct spot. My teacher can do them one after the other..I have to sort of stop in between, which she said is OK. At one point she came over to me and said, "You're doing it fine, you just need a little more speed. It's easier when you are going faster. The fact that you can glide on one foot so slowly actually shows you have a higher skill level than you think." Does that sound like a compliment to you?? I'm not sure..LOL, but it made me feel good and motivated me to not give up. We also did zig-zags, which I got the knack of and backward gliding, backward swizzles and backward wiggles. The backward stuff really seems easy to me...maybe I should just skate backwards all the time! To sum up, I had even a more wonderful time this week than the first. I can hardly wait until next week. In fact, I'm going to try another rink, the San Jose Ice Center, on Saturday to practice. Another skater told me the ice is really nice there and that the rink is larger. I think the in-between-lesson ice time is extremely important, just in building stamina and strength and confidence. I'M HAVING A BLAST!!! Thanks again for your enCOURAGEment and support.

[Icare]

I was in the Ice Chalet of Cupertino watching my daughter skating in Sunday afternoon. Were any of you there? I saw several adult skaters, they were all very friendly. Watching people skating and having fun made me appreciate Michelle even more. Before Michelle entering the theme, there was Tonya physically bashing Nancy, and people had bad vibes about ice skating. Now, skating is just clean, fun sport combining with elements of beauty and elegance, let alone there is a great role model our youngsters can look up to! It is back to what it supposed to be, and even better!

[GinnySmith]

Unfortunately, I had the week from "heck" at work and didn't make it to the ice this weekend. Shame on me... BUT, I will make my Tuesday lesson no matter what. I was spending the weekend appreciating MK and wishing her the best at UCLA and balancing all of that with competing. If I only had 1/10 of her discipline and dedication..sigh!

[aehodman]

I am sooo excited because today, for the first time, I landed my lutz! :) As an adult skater, I was very prepared for this jump to take a long, long time to learn, as I have heard stories from many people who have been working on just that jump for over a year or more. And it was really REALLY hard at first! The entrance is very awkward and the lean into it feels bizarre and strange compared to the other single jumps. During the lesson this morning, my coach switched the entrance we had been trying into it into the left foot step crossover. As she showed it to me, it occurred to me that "Hey, that's the way Michelle does it!" Lo and behold, with thoughts of MK's perfect triple lutz to help me, IT WORKED! Yay! Thanks to MK's inspiration I landed the jump! Woo hoo! I wonder if she knows how many skaters she helps inspire.... Amy :)

[GinnySmith]

Way to go Amy! WOW--A lutz!! Congratulations and keep up the good work. You are inspiring me to continue with private lessons. I would love to be able to do just one single jump, any jump! Do you do other jumps besides the lutz?

[Icare]

Congradualtion, Amy! You are an inspiration yourself!

[aehodman]

Thanks Ginny and Icare! Now, the next challenge is being able to do the jump without my coach being around. We'll see what happens tommorrow during the public session...as long as I have thoughts of MK's triple lutz to help me get through it, I should be alright....:) As for your question about the jumps, Ginny, I skate both ISI and USFSA, and in ISI, the skater learns each jump as they move up and pass each level: Freestyle 3 is toe loop and salchow, Freestyle 4 is loop and flip, and Freestyle 5 is lutz. The ever-dreaded axel is also level 5, which I think we're starting on next week now that the lutz has been conquered! I think I'll need to borrow some of the hockey equipment and padding at the rink to work on it because it seems like a jump most skaters fall on when they first start working on it, and a lot too! I think it might be because it's that tricky forward takeoff and that it goes 1 1/2 times around. I have a feeling this will take awhile, but that's okay. :) Anyway, ISI is GREAT for getting started in competitions for adults. You can probably do both USFSA and ISI at the same time if you want: that way, you can pick and choose which level and/or type of competition to be in, as the levels are all kind of different. For example, USFSA Adult Bronze is anything but the axel, that's about it (and no double jumps), any spins or footwork you please, and you have 1:40 to skate a program. Its corresponding ISI is Level 4, which gives you two minutes but you are required to do six specific different elements in the program, as well as anything else from a lower level you want to include. ISI's two big competitions are especially great, and they just started an Adult Champs this past year. I've competed in both tracks and they're so much fun! I've made a lot of other great adult skating friends at them, and I've seen adults skate in everything from Alpha (the first ISI level)to a fabulous skater I had the wonderful fortune of meeting who just won the Championship Gold event at Adult Nationals this year, complete with double jumps and spins that rival the ones you see at the Worlds on TV! :) And thanks, Icare, for the great compliment! It's so great that MK brings all of us fans together! :) Amy :)

[GinnySmith]

Amy-How do I find out more about getting into ISI and USFSA? I'm no where near ready yet, but I am clueless as to how to get started. Any information is much appreciated! Thanks!

[Icare]

Ginny: These coaches in Ice Chalet have the information. Just ask them.