hey! who all skates? : )

[EmilyJ]

yeah! a place to talk about skating if you skate. i was just wondering exactly how many people here skate, even if you just floor skate, like kwan luva. lol. i skate once a week. who else skates? <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">

[Buffy]

I do! I am a beginner (at age 23)! I just passed my Alpha test last week!! I really love it. I take one private lesson a week and usually get a second practice in. I would go everyday if I could, though!

[Jenny]

Glad you like the new section. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">

My most recent performance on the ice was at Nationals last year in SLC..... as an ice patcher! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)">
LOL -- I even had my own cheering section!

Seriously though, I used to skate when I was little, and I loved it. I wasn't very talented, but I had a blast taking lessons until they turned the local ice rink at the mall into a food court. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/frown.gif ALT=":("> My parents supposedly have some of my skating recitals on film, but I've never seen them -- we need to transfer the film to video tape. I think I've been putting off doing that because I'm sort of scared to see myself skating (I'm sure I look quite dorky). Anyway, here is the only proof I have of my skating days:
Pictures of Jenny on skates (http://www.mscnet.com/jenny/mk/me.html)

[Jordi]

Well, I've only been on the ice twice, and can't do anything more than cling desperately to the boards. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT=":o"> But eventually I want to just learn how to move around on the ice without falling... I'd be happy with that. Things are hectic right now, so I don't know if or when I'll start having a regular opportunity to go to the rink, but when I do I'll really need this forum.

If any Central Floridians who skate at the RDV Sportsplex read this, I'd like to hear from you!

[Jackylutz]

I have been learning how to skate in the past two years, but since I dont have a coach and I dont practice at least once a week, Im not good at it. I skate the most during the summer and my winter break from college. Now, Im trying to skate once a week for as many weeks as possible because I really love the sport. I can do single jumps on the ice, and doubles on the floor....working it on the ice..... <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">

Jenny, I envy you soooo much that you got those priceless chances to meet w/world renowned skaters such as Michelle...... <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">

Im so glad to have an opportunity to chat w/other skaters like me, floor skate or ice skate.

Go Michelle......

[Beth2000]

Well I use to take skating lessons. I had to quit and would love to go back but just don't have the time right now. I got as far as working on my inside edges(uck!)I was waiting for the next level to start learning to jump and I was ready mentally but I had to quit. I was 34 when I first started taking lessons, so Buffy you got a jump on me. I am now 38 and feel like I am in a 15 yr old body. Can someone help me<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol">.

[marlana]

Does rollerblading count? I was glad to hear Beth that your my age. I take my son and we go rollerblading once a week. He's much better than I am.

[lizard]

when the local rink is open in the winter. It just closed sunday though. I started skating when I was 3 and took lessons until i was 13. It was always just recreational though with recitals and group lessons once a week. Then I got involved in a lot of other activities and that was the one that fell by the wayside. I think mostly because the teacher was kind of mean so she didn't make it fun. But i continued to skate once in awhile recreationally. Now i'm almost 27 and have started up again the last 2 years. I'm very comfortable skating around forward, backwards, and crossovers. I've been trying to get a 1 foot spin down but i'm not very consistent on that. I can do a spiral but it certainly is not even close to Mk's! I can do the waltz jump but i'm such a chicken about trying out other stuff in public. If only I had my own private rink! I'd like to get some lessons again. Maybe next winter... anyway, it's such a great feeling to skate around like that. I find it very peaceful and relaxing. it's fun to hear about everyone else's experiences, too.

[wunderbere]

I am 26 years old, and I just started skating lessons in January. Yesterday was my last pre-alpha class. Next week I will be in alpha. Everyone else in my class is about six or seven years old, but I'm having a blast!

I usually skate about four hours a week, including my group lesson.

Just curious....does anyone have any comments on Riedell boots? That's what I have, and I'm pretty happy with them so far. But I seem to remember hearing some negative comments about Riedells. Does anyone know what kind of boots Michelle wears?

[EmilyJ]

i forgot to say a bit about my skating. first of all, i am a beginner. but i will be learning an axel soon. i know how to do a lutz, but it's still a work in progress.

well, i'm not an adult. i'm 15, but i know how you guys feel. i'll see these little 8 & 9 year olds working on doubles, and here i am working on a flip jump (and falling half the time <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"> ) and when i was in group lessons, everyone else was 10 and under. but i still love this sport and it keeps me in shape <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"> well, i'd love to hear others' skating stories. i'll share mine when i go skating again <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D">

wunderbere-i have riedells! but i do kinda have a complaint about them. they kinda pinch my achille's tendon and there's not enough toe room, even though their supposedly the correct size for me. they're also used, so maybe the were fitted more for the foot of the lady that had them before me. it may just be the individual skates, not riedell. i've never had any other kind of skates though. other than that, they're not that bad, and i've broken them in so they don't hurt quite as bad as they used to. michelle did wear riedells, but i don't know if she's switched to new boots for worlds.

[HeatherV23]

Well, add me to the list of people who don't take lessons, but skate anyways! Hehehe. I am a pretty accomplished carpet-skater, as anyone who visited my message board when it was in existence remembers! (Any of you guys reading this! Speak up! Remember the Carpet-Skating Olympics?!?!?!). Well, because of that, I can do all of hte jumps on land, but on ice is another story!

I've never taken skating lessons, because it was that or music lessons, but I have taught myself a lot. I can do crossovers fowards and backwards (right over left only though!), I can do a 2 foot spin, and if I'm REALLY lucky (usually 1 out of every 10 tries!) I can get a one-foot spin going. I keep on leaning on that stupid toe pick! I know how Doug felt in "The Cutting Edge"! hehe. MY most recent skating experience was last Saturday when one of hte campus groups sponsored a trip to the rink late at night! Try skating at 11:00PM until 1:00AM! Fun stuff! But, the skates ironically were really good there, and I was even attempting to do waltz jumps, and by the end when I gained more confidence, I was really lifting myself off the ice and actually having a tiny amount of speed coming out of it (movement=speed to me!). Then during hte last 20 minutes of the session they turned on this disco ball and lights and me and my friend just chased each other around hte rink for the rest of hte time--- then we promptly got on the bus and collapsed! :-P

Anyhow, I love to skate, and I'm hoping that next year I'll be able ot take skating as a class, since it IS offered here at my school!

-the other Heather (who needs a phys ed General Education requirement satisfied anyways!)

[Beth2000]

I have Riedell's also, and I love them. I guess they are for people that have narrow feet and that is what I have. I don't have any complaints with my boots at all<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"> I believe that Michelle has SP-Teri's, unless she has changed them. She use to have Riedells but they pinched her feet because her feet aren't narrow at least that is what I have read.

[wunderbere]

Emily J and Beth2000:

Glad to hear you both like your Riedells. Mine hurt for the first three or four times I skated, but now they feel great. Honestly, I probably wouldn't be able to tell if skates were good or not, so I was curious to know what other people thought. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)">

Does anyone have thoughts on sharpening blades? For example, how often should they be sharpened for the "recreational" skater like me who skates twice a week? I've heard that you can specify how "deep" you want your blades sharpened. What would you recommend for a beginner?

[maryada]

I don't know if this counts, but on President's Day I took 3 of my grandsons to a local Stadium outdoor rink to ice skate. The two littlest (6 and <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/glasses.gif ALT="8)"> had never been skating and the oldest (11) had only skated once before. I had not had skates on for at least 52 years---We all did fine and really had a blast.I was never a great skater (just skated on ponds and a frozen over local swim complex) but the memories of the wonderful carefree feeling one has when gliding across the ice came flooding back. The oldest of the three said "Gram--this is one of those days to keep as a memory" and the littlest said he wants to be a skater.The rental skates were a little stiff for comfort, so next season I'm going to buy my own skates and hopefully make it a weekly thing. At 68, if I can do it anyone can. Hee Hee!! Maryada

[icesk8r1]

i skate! i've been skating about 8 months and i'm working onmy scratch spin and those darn pecky edges! fs1 is my level but im sorta passed that i can do a waltz, toe, flip, salchow, half-flip and half toe.

about the sharpening- i get mine sharpened about every 2 months but it depends on your level:-}

[Jackylutz]

Finally, my long, extensive midterms are over. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON STOP-->
Im on my spring break and went ice skating sunday night. I worked on my camel spin and my layback.....
I did some spirals, and an acquaintance of mine complimented me on my spiral. I did all the single jumps and 1/1 combos except for the axel. At last, my new skates arrived but wrong blades, so the shop is going to correct that. With my new skates, I should be able to do an axel(hopefully). Those blades that I'm getting are Mark V, and they are good for jumping. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON STOP-->
How is everyone's skating?
Fill us in....... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON STOP-->

Go Michelle!!!!!!!

[axelkid]

Hi Guys!

I've been skating since I was 19 (kinda late beginner, oh well). My friend made me do it...she was like "C'mon take ice skating with me...you'll love it". And I really didn't want to but seeing how the EMT course was full, I went ahead and did it. And she was right.

So nowadays, I'm 23 and back in school and I get to skate about once or twice a week. My knees are starting to cave though. I'm trying to learn especially fast since I feel like I'm racing against time.

Ken

[aehodman]

I JUST found out about this new section of the MK Forum! Serves me right for not going to the main menu screen more often...<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON STOP-->

Anyway, I am a 28-year old adult figure skater who is currently working on learning the axel and double toe loop. I skate mostly in USFSA competitions but I also enjoy ISI, especially their artistic events! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON STOP-->

It's great to have a place for all the MK Forum skaters to chat! Thank you guys for setting this up!

[susan ba]

i'm 27 and i just started skating lessons. it's a group lesson and i'm with a bunch of 5 - 12 year olds. and let me just say, they can ALL outskate me. LOL! my friend asked me how my first lesson was i replied, "the lesson sucked but i was great"... then i corrected myself, "the lesson was great but i sucked" LOL, i think it was my sub-conscious saying what i had hoped not what really happened.

oh my gosh, skating is sooo addictive. my rink goes by the ISU system. having only been there twice so far, can i offer a little bit of humble advice? right after my lesson, i pay for a one hour free style session (it costs more than the public sessions). the other students there are taking private lessons so i just skate around trying to practice what i learned that day without an instructor. i'm a complete beginner so this may seem extravegant but i feel like this way, i don't get run over by other really bad skaters or just simply mobed by all the other skaters in the public sessions. it's a nice way to gain confidence without too much fear of killing someone else!

[sammson99]

Hi. It's great to hear from so many late beginners. I started skating at 21 and am now 25. Apparently there is a sizable group of us who started later. I started off skating late at night at college like heatherV23. It was a blast. Now, I'm taking private lessons and trying out the USFSA competition circuit (because I finally turned 25 and am deemed an adult by USFSA). So far I really like competing, especially with other skaters close to my age.

[susan ba]

sammson... tell me more about your competitions. what kind of elements do you perform. are there different age ranges? do you have to travel far to go to these comps?

[sammson99]

susan ba,
There are basically two types of competitions -- local, smaller non-qualifying and the bigger qualifying competitions. There are four levels -- pre bronze, bronze, silver and gold. There is a coordinating test for each level that is a minimum expectation. Pre-bronze is a starting level for people still working on learning single jumps, bronze is when all single jumps have been mastered. In bronze you usually see some jump combinations and spins get a little more complex adding camels and laybacks. In silver the Axel is allowed, but not required and flying spins are allowed, but I've only seen mediocre flying camels in silver. For the gold test you have to have an Axel and double jumps are permitted in competition. Theoreticaly gold doesn't have any limitations and you could do a double Axel if you wanted, but gold is designed for adults who have either been off the ice for a long time or started later in life so the most you will see is an occasional double loop. Beyond gold there is the master's category, which has three of its own divisions at the really big competitions, masters novice, masters junior and masters senior. I'm clueless about what is required or expected in those levels so I won't address them.

The bigger competitions have age categories (25-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56 and older). The smaller competiitions sometimes allow the younger skaters (18-24) to compete, sometimes not. It all depends on who is hosting the competition and how old they think you should be before you are an adult.

For the smaller competitions I usually get to compete about 3-4 times each summer within 1 hour of where I live. Regionals, sectionals and nationals are usually farther. The USFSA has a proposal out that will be finalized at Governing Council next month to start adult-only regionals and sectionals. The goal is to save adults money. Now, to qualify for the championship events at nationals you have to go to regionals, qualify for sectionals, then go to sectionals and qualify for nationals. If this goes through you would qualify at either regionals or sectionals and not have to go to both. They will also take place in early spring, closer to when nationals is scheduled.

If you have specific questions about test and competition rules go to Don Korte's Web site. He has a helpful adult section.

Do you think you will start competing? I enjoy it although I get really nervous.

[aehodman]

Heya Sammson!

What level do you compete at, and where do you live? Currently I compete at the Bronze level. Your descriptions of the levels are right on target -- although from the events I have seen and attended, the camels and laybacks that the Bronze ladies try are usually not in perfect position and only get one or two revolutions around. Nine times out of ten, the ladies I have seen who do the best at Bronze often only do a sit spin and scratch spins, but they look fantastic and are in perfect position (apparently the lady who won AN in Bronze I this year had a shoot the duck sit spin but didn't even attempt a camel or layback).

I am debating taking the Bronze test -- I haven't yet because I am still not sure I should be at Bronze. A lot depends on how I do at State Games in a few weeks.....

Do you have any competitions coming up? We really need to start a competition thread.....

[susan ba]

sammson,
that all sounds really fun. how many people go to these comps? i live in the south so i'm lucky that there is even a rink 1/2 hr from me. other people travel around a hour to skate there. this rink is strictly isu so i don't even know if there are competitions. but i'm completly getting ahead of myself because as i might have mentioned earlier, i can barely go around the rink. i went to my first public session at this rink yesterday and it was horrible. there was mostly hockey skaters, kids actually, so they completely tore up the ice...even by public session standards. please keep us updated on your skating.

AEHodman: how long have you been skating? it's sooo cool that you can do stuff like the axel and the 2l. i'm still just trying to coss my foot one over the other to attempt the crossover! i fell face first so hard yesterday. i hurt my knee, elbow and hip on the left side. LOL... it was so spectacular that the other skaters were either laughing at me or worried for me.

[aehodman]

Susan --

Thank you for the kind words! I'm still learning the axel and double toe, and I have yet to land both cleanly on the ice (I did some double toes off ice, though....) My friends at the Gold level have told me to be patient, and that these jumps may take a long time....which I guess leaves me stuck working on spins, which I hate! My camel spin looks like something a geriatric giraffe would do. It's not remotely attractive at all...:(

Don't be too mad at yourself about crossovers -- it took me forever to learn "lefty" crossovers as well as both right and left back crossovers! It took forever trying them in my group class, until one of the ladies in my class ended up giving me the breakthrough advice on them. Same with my salchow....

[axelkid]

It's so great that you are skating. I think that as long as you love the sport, no matter how novice or advanced you are, it really doesn't matter. Don't worry that you fell down, because it happens to everyone and it is somewhat embarassing until you realize that you don't get better without falling down. However, make sure you learn how to fall correctly so that you don't hurt yourself. There are specific ways to fall forwards and backwards. For example if you do fall backwards you are not supposed to break your fall with your hand cuz you might break your hand. And you are supposed to keep your head up so you don't hit it on the ice.

[sammson99]

AE Hodman,
Wow, an Axel and double toe. You'll be at gold in no time if you are working on those. You are definitely right about the laybacks and camel spins in bronze. Those are harder spins to learn and I know I sure took longer getting those "presentable." I skate at silver right now although I'm throwing around the idea of taking the gold test because I placed first in AN this year in Silver I. But I'm a bit nervous about leaping up to the land of the doubles.

We do need to start a competition thread. I live in Colorado and unfortunately the two early summer competitions don't have adult events this year (shame on them!) so I'll probably compete in late July or mid-August. Where do you live? When is your state games? Keep us posted on learning new jumps.

What was the breakthrough advice on crossovers?

susan ba,
Wow. That fall sounds terrible. I think the worst falls are when you are starting to learn crossovers or even just standing still. Somehow movement takes some of the impact out (if you can slide out of it). You must be dedicated to drive all that way to skate. I'm lucky and work about 5-7 minutes from a rink so I can go at lunch time and not get up early to skate. At the competitions in Colroado there's the same group of about 10-15 people at all the competitions. Some of the competitions in the mountains draw more people because of the vacation aspect, but the regular crowd is pretty small. Last year I competed against only one other woman. Not too exciting.

Do you guys know about the usfsa club competition calendar? It's not complete, but it lists quite a few upcoming competitions in all areas of the country. I look at it periodically and dream about going other places to skate just to get away and see somewhere else.

Have fun skating!

[aehodman]

Wow! Congratulations Sammson! What a wonderful accomplishment. I bet you were absolutely fantastic. I know from some friends who were at AN that Silver I was a very tough group this year!

Thanks for the jump kudos -- I just wish I could actually land one of those jumps! It's so hard to be patient when working on increasing height on my single toe to help and also crashing and burning on the double toe on the harness. I guess good things come to those who wait....? I sure hope so.

My coach is urging me to move up to silver, but my spins are THE WORST ever, with the exception of my scratch spin. My sit spin currently looks like I have nasty hemmroids :( , and my camel is like a Weeble on Jolt Cola at the moment. I don't have a real layback (does a 'headback' count? :/ ) and my backspin moves at about the speed of the continental tectonic plates. So I have a LOT of work to do before I even think about moving up. I do have a lutz/loop and a flip/loop, which is weird because prior to my USFSA experiences, I was always more of a spinner than a jumper. Oh well....

I would love to hear about your experiences at AN and about your program! One of my friends who competed moved up to Championship Masters this year and I an exceedingly proud of her! She also won a Bronze in her Masters Novice group. Other than those events, as well as some overall descriptions of Bronze I and Silver I, I haven't heard at lot about how AN was this year.

Congratulations again!!! :D

[sammson99]

AEHodman,
Silver I was a very tough group. Had I not skated 16th out of 18th in the final round I can guarantee I wouldn't have come in first. It was very close. The top three skaters all skated in the last 5. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks there's something fishy about that. I had tried to take the gold test in February and bombed it big time so at least now I know I can land that silly Axel in front of judges.

Your descriptions of your spins is funny. I know exactly what you mean about the Weeble on Jolt Cola. My camel spin is my worst spin. To get speed I wind up like a toy airplane and hurl my body into it, which usually causes me to rock forward and backward while I pray like crazy for four revolutions. The thing about working on spins is it's not nearly as much fun as working on jumps. Before I started competing I was much better at spins than jumps. Go figure.

As far as AN goes it was a blast. I hardly got any sleep because there was so much to watch and they had a knack for scheduling really early practice times after good events to watch the night before. My roommate at the training center and I got along really well too so we stayed up and talked probably too much. Everyone was really supportive for the most part. The cool thing was you could go up to anyone, anywhere and start a conversation (about skating, of course). It was a great break from real life. I don't think I told more than one person what I do in real life or talked about anything but skating for almost an entire week. And the rink ... it was gorgeous. Perfect ice. And it was a blast to walk on from under the stands and pretend like I was competing in something where the stands would be full. I can hardly wait until next year when it's near Boston.

Have patience with that Axel and double toe. I know it's frustrating and you want to learn it NOW but it does take time. It took me about two years to successfully master the Axel and I still don't land it 100 percent of the time. Everything has to be perfect. Once you get an Axel double toe will feel much more natural because they are very similar, at least that's what my coach says.

[susan ba]

AEHod... LOL about the "headback" hey, you can't just tell us that you got "break through" advice and not tell us what it was. please spill your beans about the crossovers (for me) and about the 2s (for others)

axelkid: thanks for the encouragement... and actually, i wasn't really embarassed... i guess i've just settled on the fact that i WILL look silly and i WILL fall, especially in the beginning. but hopefully, one day i'm going to look like i know what i'm doing. : )

sammson: you are sooo lucky that you're so close to a rink. and you get to go during lunch too. what a fantastic way to spend lunch and to energize yourself for the afternoon. i'm jealous.

ok guys.. i met someone that said they learned about skating first from a book. do you guys recommend any that you found helpful? kristi's book (for dummies?)sounded good...but i skimmed through that a long while ago..and that was when i wasn't skating.

[axelkid]

Aedhod: I'm sure your spins aren't quite as dramatically zany as your descriptions!! :) Granted, the descriptions were immensely entertaining. Spins are just one of those things that depends on the day. Sometimes they're on; sometime's they're off. But I'm sure you know this.

Sammson: Congrats on all that you've done! My impression is that you haven't skated for all that long. But you're working on the axel and double jumps! And competing to boot. That's so impressive!

Susan: Sports Illustrated puts out a very comprehensive book about Figure Skating. It's got a picture of Brian Boitano doing a double axel on the front. It's quite thick and has everything you might possibly want to know about figure skating. It might be kind of technical and heavy but you should check it out!


Hee hee. I'm thinking of competing er...sometime in the future. I'm thinking that I want to start out simple. My jumps are way more advanced than my spins I think. I can land the axel about 50% of the time in general. But I don't think I want to start off with silver. Maybe bronze? My sit spin is my best spin, my fast scratch travels half the time, my camel is really really slow but my flying camel is much faster for some bizarre inexplicable reason. Oh, and I'm also a guy. Are the guys competitions any different from the women's?

Thanks!

[wunderbere]

I, too, would LOVE to know what the breakthrough advice on crossovers was! I'm skating at Beta/Adult2 Level, and I spend at least 50% of my practice time working on crossovers. I am managing okay on right front crossovers, and can sometimes do left front and right backward ones. But I have to really concentrate, and they still feel awkward.

I also tend to stick my butt out when I am going backwards--that's what my skating instructor reprimands me on the most! It's just crazy trying to find the right balance, so your body is centered correctly.

So, anyone---got any advice on crossovers?

[sammson99]

Axelkid,
I think you should go for it in the competition arena, but my advice would be to take it slow and give yourself a chance to build confidence. Skating in front of people can be terrifying! I'm so glad I did silver this year. I think I would've freaked and ran screaming from skating if I had done gold.

I started skating about 4 1/2 years ago. I went to a college with a hockey team and there was free ice late at night for students along with free coaching. Not a bad deal. Now I'm suckered in though and ahve to pay.

I'm dying to know what this breakthrough advice on crossovers is AE Hodman. C'mon. Tell us.

[aehodman]

Sammson -- Thanks for the encouragement on the axel and double toe....I actually may be taking a brief hiatus from skating soon (my husband and I are trying to have a baby), but I am hoping that I'll be able to make enough progress before then that when I start back up, I'll be closer to landing them both.

Sorry to leave everyone in suspense on the crossover advice! I was having a huge problem with back crossovers in my group class, and the group coach's advice of "get in your knees" was just not registering. One of the more advanced ladies in my beginner adult group saw me struggling with them one day, knees locked and moves wobbly, and shared what had helped her -- imagining herself sitting very straight as if in a chair. Obviously one wouldn't want to bend their knees quite as much as if you were in a chair, or that much in front of you, but it was more the upper body image -- shoulders straight, weight over the center of the body, backside tucked underneath just enough to maintain balance. I think that my envisioning myself in that position made me not only bend my knees more, but got my upper body in the correct position to start getting them. And it worked!

I don't know if this will help anyone else, I know it worked wonders for me! :)

[californiaice]

I've been skating for *gulp* almost fifteen years...and it's horrible that I'm only at ISI Freestyle 5/6!! (Haven't had the chance to start USFSA yet.) I guess I can blame it on starting when I was five and taking three years to pass Pre-Alpha because the instructor absolutely hated me....but yes, I've skated somewhat seriously for all of my life, basically. I recently had to take a hiatus of sorts, since I'm in college and I have no car to get me to a rink. However, I skate when I go back home in the summer (two more weeks!) and I'm planning on competiting in ISI Worlds this summer because they will be held partly at my rink! Anyone else going to compete there?

Meaghan

[tara637]

I ice skate and I have a comp. tomorrow.:) I am really scared.

[TaraLipinski87]

I skate!!!!!!! Usually 5 or 6 days a week! Now is off season so I only skate two days a week at the moment.

[edgescutie]

I skate too! I'm Novice and I usually skate 6 days a week.

[tara637]

I skate!!!:)

[GMAN]

I started skating when I was 7 then I stopped for a long time(I did floor skating)I`m in Novince on floor skating and only train on the ice 2 times a week.I thought I was going to be a olympic champion:( just kidding!!

[Kacie B]

Hey everyone, I'm 16 and I compete currently at the Jr. Level. I've been skating since I was 7, and I love it more than anything! My goal this season is the make sectionals as a Jr. Lady. I look forward to being here- can you believe that I've been here for months and I haven't even noticed this section of MKF?

[NC Skater]

I'm 26 and I've been skating for little over 3 years now. I began in the group lessons with the little ones. I TRUELY enjoyed being in the groups with the kids, they are a BLAST to be around!

I skate about 5+ hours a week now. Mainly just to have fun but I'm wanting to buckle down and get back to taking lessons.

:)
Ro

[moonlight princess]

I skated only 3 times! :(
It's really fun though, I got better the third time I went to Ice Palace which was on May 31st.

[Deetlebug]

What a great addition to this forum!!!
I've been skating just over a year. I started with group lessons and in April started taking 1/2 hour a week private lessons.
Now my lessons are 45mins and I skate five days a week. I absolutely love it!! I'm working towards taking my MIFs and pre-bronze dance tests within the next six months.

My coach is the BEST! Love her to death. She just has the most perfect way of explaining things to me. I can do a waltz jump, a half flip and a mysurka jump (which is really just a dance jump I think). Also am working on double 3s and inside 3s - which are hard for me right now.

I have Reidell 320s and they fit me to a "T". In fact, my coach has advised me that when I need to buy new skates I should just stick with Reidell since they seem to be a good fit for my feet. She's not a huge fan of any particular brand of skate so I trust her judgement on this one.

The only thing I hate about skating......

is the two days a week I can't skate. :)

Oh - PS - I'm 35 years old. ;)

[TheGr8Sk8er]

I am in intermediate and FS4 (Yeah, I know I have to test higher for ISI). I usually do about 3-4 compeitions a year, or something like that. I haven't done regionals yet though. I have a kind of cheated double axel, and I just started on the triple sal. I have been skating for 4 years. I thought I skated late because I started when I was ten, there were 9 year olds doing triples.

[Victoriacai]

I skate! I'm at the Juvenile and Intermidiate level. For ISI I'm on FS6.

[KtSk8t]

Hi!! I've been skating for about 4 years and am about to work on my axel. I skate like 2 times a week. Happy skating! :o )

[Jskate]

Hi to all...

I'm 26 and started skating 18 months ago. I totally love it. It is the best exercise and every week I learn something new, which is an incredible motivating factor.

I can do singles on all the jumps (including a cheated axel ) but I have the WORST spins ever in the history of figure skating.

[Luv2Sk8]

I skate! I'm 15 and I'm at Novice level. I skate 5 to 6 days a week and usually 2 hours a day. But I've said it on other boards, and I'll say it here. I tend to come in last.

[amandadupre]

I love to skate, although I haven't taken lessons or anything, and I also LOVE to floor skate!!! My friends and I use to floor skate together (we called it land skating) and when one was skating, the other would be commenting...except my friends didn't know anything about technical skating, so they'd say "Yeah, she just did a triple broomstick" and they'd say ridiculous stuff that would make me laugh so hard I'd stop skating!! It was so fun!!! I really miss that b/c I moved away from them.

[BobbieSkater]

I started skating when I was 5 but I never stayed in the sport consistently until I started taking lessons several years ago. I'm 22 and starting double jumps and flying camels. I want to compete at the adult level but do you have to be 25 first? Skating is the best and its so addictive!

[TheAdultSkater]

I am currently working on double salchow's I'm at ISI FS 5/6....I would be past 6 if i had the double! I'm so frustrated about that.

I usually compete only ISI....I have had very bad experiences with USFSA.

I started skating with group lessons when I was 7ish (can you say Dorothy Hamill and yes I had the haircut.)
I competed once and then left the sport, right before the axels... I wanted to do the whole enchilada and someone said you will never make it you started to late! When you are 10/11ish and your confidence level is smaller than an ant...you believe the person who has been doing it longer.

I picked it back up about 7 years ago...(my husband got tired of me bawling my eyes out at SOI and COI). My first competition back I got off the ice after I was done and he gave me flowers. I was shaking so hard I looked like a flower girl in a wedding dropping the petals. Since then, I've competed in Adult Champs in Vegas, St. Louis Champs, and Minneapolis Champs. Plus other comps that are local for me. Have not decided about this year in Boston?

Personally I love my Riedell's, I have the 1025's. I'm not a tiny woman and I need the support that the 1025's give me.

I thought Michelle had Riedell's? I'm not sure though.

The best advice I ever got regarding a competition was from my dad, when I called him from Vegas.

"It does not matter what everyone else does. You go out, do the best you can, and skate your heart out."

I guess it worked, I took 1st in my 4 events that year, and our team was in the top 3 with only 2 skaters. (99 Adults in Vegas was the first year ISI had it.)

Later!

[nessie2002]

i skate i skate! :) i've been skating since i was 7 (before sasha cohen! and we're about the same age), but i'm still in fs6 now. i've done up to my 2toe and flying camel before, but i haven't been skating lately because of finals (blah) so i'm kinda just at fs5 stuff now: axel, camel-sit, etc. i really want to make it to the senior level, and it's still possible (even though i'm 17 and getting old) so once finals are over, i plan to lift weights and give up my life (besides school) to practice. ;)

[manskater]

Although I started taking lessons last year I love it. I'm in FS1 now which is challenging and I am looking forward to getting up there in the FS levels. My instructor is showing me some moves in the higher levels which sometimes I find easier than the ones in FS1. I am one year shy of 50 but feel very young. I love the jumping and spinning(if I can just get my scratch spin going I will be very happy!) part of skating but am devoting a lot of time to edging. I really want to be able to feel the difference in the edges.

[Anita18]

Can't believe that I didn't add myself yet, LOL...

Anyway, I've been skating for almost 2 years, and I'm in the FS3-ish level. My spins suck (can't keep the suckers centered) but I've refused to work on them until I get my new skates, which will be any day now. :) :) Have tried all jumps up to loop, but I've never landed the loop one-footed and fully rotated. At least I was falling on them one-footed and fully rotated, LOL, that's a start. Right now I'm working on crossovers and footwork (all the 3's and I've been fiddling with brackets), since my current skates are beyond dead and there's nothing else I can work on! I almost twisted my ankle on a salchow and it hurts my ankle to pick in for anything. Well, I've learned that falling on footwork sure hurts more than falling on jumps! :p

[SilverSk8]

i started skating when i was 8 and i started competiting when i was 8 1/2. Now im 12 !

[SilverSk8]

so what about you guys , how long have you been skating?








*keeper of Michelle's Courage*

[Sunnyskate]

I'm almost 21 and have been skating almost 6 years. My first lesson was on my 15th bday. I'm at college now so I don't usually get lessons, but work hard on my own. I coach a little and am a rink guard sometimes. I am working on testing my juv moves now...or should I say working on passing them. I get nervous even though I can do them in my sleep. I've been able to do an axel and 2sal for a long time, but just started working on my double toe again and sometimes my double loop. I love the 2sal. I usually skate at least 5 days a week, but am usually on the ice at least 6 days. I feel like I can *kinda* relate to Michelle with how hard it is in college to do work and skate. It's hard enough to work the 2 around each other, but to be at her level and do that...wow. I respect her desire to coach herself. Although I'm in no state to go coachless, I like to work on my own a lot b/c I can do what I want, when I want, how I want and I can figure myself out. I think you need to understand yourself as a skater before you can do things well. It's tough and I've got to hand it to her going into the Olympics on her own. go michelle!