Am I too old????

[laalaa1704]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to ask u something,
I just started skating lessons a year ago and i'm turning 18 this year. i don't imporve much in my class unlike everybody else, coz i'm still in group lesson till now and i dont take private lessons like other skaters and mostly, the elements that i'm doing now are only f or b crossovers.

I met a guy in a chat room just now, he also skates but he's 20 yo and already in freestyle level and working on his double sow/axels.
Even though he's older than me he keeps telling me that I'm too old to learn skating...
and he also says that one thing that i should remember is that i'll never be able to go to the Olympics cos I'm too old to learn all those triple jumps, consider that I'm 18 and still working on my crossovers.
when I told him that one day I'd like to have a private coach, he laughed at me!
he must have been thinking what's the point for me to hire a private coach.
He started skating when he was 17 too, just because he's a better skater than me, he looks down on me and thinks that i'll never be as good as him!

i felt really angry and devastated!!
Do u think I'm too old to be involved with skating?

I love skating, even my coach in group lesson never mentions age differences between other students.
But that guy really said that seriously
and I'm really scared now.
I feel like i've made the wrong decision in my life.
I really love skating! what should i do now?

btw, he was soooo rude!!!!!!

[aehodman]

I agree -- this person was horribly rude and is obviously completely ignorant of the opportunities there are not only for "adult" skaters to go as far as they want in learning the sport, but also in competing as well.

I started in my early 20s and took my time as well -- before I left for my pregnancy sabbatical from skating I was working on my axel and double loop (haven't landed 'em yet, but seeing as all I thought I'd be able to get to was ISI FS3 I'm pretty happy about that!). I think taking your time to learn the sport correctly is more important -- not only will you look more polished than someone who rushed through the basics, the skills will come easier as you advance because you have a better and more solid foundation. An acquaintance of mine who is in her early 40s is working on learning a triple, so the fact that someone is telling you that you are too old to learn those jumps at 18 does not know what he is talking about. Basically, you can go as far as you want to in learning the sport, provided you have a good coach as a guide and let your body tell you when, if at all, you might need to stop once you get to the double and triple jump category.

There is also a very strong and competitive track of USFSA skating for adults aged 25 and over who have their own Nationals each year (I also believe there is a trophy involved with the higher levels). There is no Worlds (yet!) but there are already USFSA adult international events as well. I competed in USFSA starting in August 1999 and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Last May I qualified for the National State Games of America with my bronze medal winning skate I had at State Games. It may not be the Olympics, but just to be at an event I have to qualify for to participate in skating is a real thrill.

So, to sum up the long rambling message, GO FOR IT! Take private lessons, create a program, get started in ISI (they have competitions for every level from forward swizzles on up to triples and all ages can participate!), enjoy the sport and do as much as you want with it. As for this guy, he sounds just like 2 skaters I have encountered -- they puff their own skating up (whether or not it is warranted, mind you) and put other's skating down to make themselves feel better. In the end, it will only hurt his own skating because if he feels he is perfect he will stop working on improving himself, something everyone has to do in skating (even MK does it!). So don't pay any attention to him, it sounds like he is jealous to me.

[laalaa1704]

Thanks for your advice AEHodman! I felt a lot better when i was reading your comments.
I also believe that i can do something in skating.
But some young competitive skaters just think that i'm not gonna be as good as them.
I posted this topic on another msg board as well, and they thought i was upset because someone said i won't be eligible for the Olympics! that's not the issue that i'm talking about! and some of them even agree w/ the guy's decision (that I'm too old)
I hate the age restrictions in figure skating. it makes me feel old and useless. I wonder why so many young people dominate this sport?

i'm just upset when people think that i'm too old for this sport!

[axelkid]

I'm somewhat appalled that this person that you met was your first contact to the adult skating world. For me, skating has been more than a fun hobby or a way to stay mentally and physically happy, it's been an opportunity to meet a community of wonderful people who all share a common interest and love of a sport. I have made so many friends.

I am so happy that my friend convinced me to take figure skating instead of the darned EMT training class in college. I remember this because she virtually had to drag me kicking and screaming. I was 18 at the time as well, not a complete beginner, because I could do crossovers and "barely" skate backwards. I think the big turning point was one day when the teacher said "Today, I'm going to teach you how to do the waltz jump". And I was like, WOW! I'm doing things that all the top level skaters can do (alright, sans a few revolutions but they're still jumps).

So to make a long story short, I'm 24 now, I've been skating five years. I've been working on double flips and double loops. I have my single jumps. I'm learning the variations on sit spins and camel spins and someone on the rink even taught me how to hydroblade. And I've attempted some double axels (with disastrous results...yes, you don't heal quite as fast as the little kiddies). Someday, I'd like to be able to do triples.

But it's really not about being at a certain place at a certain time. It's not about being able to complete a quad salchow. Whether its the Olympics or a local adult competition, I think the important issue is that you have a goal and you strive for it. It's the process of getting there and making progress that brings so much joy and gratification to the sport. As hackneyed as it may sound, it's the love of skating, the feel of gliding over ice, the freedom of leaving the ice and lifting into the air. If this is what you love about skating, then you are not too old to skate. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

OK disclaimer time, the reality is that once you're older, you don't heal quite as fast as younger kids, you need to be a little more cautious and careful about your well being. You need to realize that when the kids fall, they don't suffer the impact that an adult would. But rest assured that a little caution goes a long way, and it won't get in the way of your dreams to skate. So that just goes to show you that it it's never too late. I'm certain that it wasn't too late for me.

I hope that this helps to undue whatever that boy told you. If you want to talk more about this, please feel free to email me. ksh6@cornell.edu

[candygirl559]

I started skating when I was 16, so I understand where you're coming from. I'm also in group lessons because I don't progress as quickly as others, but that's OK. Anybody who tells anyone that they're too old to try something new is ignorant.

[MariKat19]

while the reality of starting skating when you are older means that you'll never go to nationals, there are competitions specifically for adults. 25 yrs and up. You could go to adult nationals, there are alot of adult skaters that practice endlessly to achieve that. I tried ryhthmic gymnastics when I was 15; sure I was already too old to get anywhere competitively, but i had so much fun and got to do something I'd always wanted to that it didn't matter.
As for that 20 yr old ***, he's never going to get anywhere at his age unless it's adult competitions. Tell him to watch nationals and see all the 16 year olds with triple axels and quads. he is probably insecure because he started to late to get anywhere besides adult competitions.
Hope this helps,
=)
Feel free to e-mail me- I started skating late too, age 14.
Princessahielo19@aol.com

[Deetlebug]

That 20 year old is not as good as he'd like you to believe if the only way he can make his skating look good is to tear yours down!

Forget about him! You can do anything you want. Look at Maria B. There's somebody who marches to the beat of her own drummer and in the process not only became World Champion, which her skating federation said she'd never do, but also became the FIRST Russian World Champion AND the OLDEST World Champion. So stick to it!!!

I started skating just a year and a half ago. I just turned 36 and I am planning on taking my premilimary dance tests in April. That will mark the one year anniversary of starting private lessons. And I feel that's a great accomplishment. I'd like to make it to Adult Nationals someday and I remember reading somewhere that they've already started holding Adult Level international competitions. So who's to say the World's is out of the question for any of us?

Besides~ skating is about a whole lot more than making it to the Olympics!!!

So keep flying and have fun. :)

d . . b

[Anita18]

LOL I understand perfectly that I might not make it to any big competitions, (I don't think I even <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> wanna<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> go to any competitions, LOL!) but I don't care! I love the feeling of just gliding over the ice. It doesn't matter that you're a bit older than the others (LOL I'm in a group lesson with a number of adults who are just learning too). If you love the sport, who's gonna stop you from doing it? I have no chance of making it as a concert pianist, but that certainly doesn't stop me from going to private lessons every week. It's great to learn something. IMO everything you do in life enriches you, whether you "make it" or not.

I started pretty late too, at 16, (I just turned 17 now) but I think you have more of an appreciation of what the sport really is when you're older. I'm actually holding myself back on learning jumps and spins until I get my edges down, since I know that edges are what I look for and love about skating. Jumps aren't everything in skating; if you don't get them, that doesn't mean you're a bad skater. Just means you're not a jumper, LOL...A private coach doesn't have to be just for younger skaters. At my rink's public sessions, there are countless older skaters with their coaches among the little kids and working on their skating. They work very hard to do what they love, and I really look up to them. (Wow AEHodman! That's great! :) ) Now the only problem is finding a college with a rink nearby...;)

[aehodman]

Thanks Anita! :) let's just hope I can get my skills back relatively quickly so I can be prepared for August! (crossing fingers hopefully)

laalaa -- I know what you mean about the younger skaters, but once they see how committed you are to skating they will respect you just as they respect other skaters their own age as well. I was fortunate to skate at a rink where all the skaters were very supportive of each other, from pre-prelim up to junior. It was a real team atmosphere. I admit itwas a bit disheartening when some of the kids who were in my group class are now landing solid doubles while I am still working away on the ol' axel, but I still firmly believe that good things come to those who wait!

GOOD LUCK and keep us updated on your skating!

[laalaa1704]

hi!!
just wanna say thank you for all ur support.
I'm going to sign up for a private lessons really soon when i get a coach. Last week i contacted the ice rink rink and they would find me a coach!
I went to this message board called www.fsworld.com
it's a very nice board with loads of understanding people.
I just realised that there are many adult skaters there, they're all very good skaters, many of them mentioned that they've been working up to axels and double jumps. wowww! that surprised me!!!!!!
they're about 30-50 yrs old and they have the courage to learn to jump!!!
now i believe i'll be able to jump as well ( unlike that 20 yr old *** said to me "not being able to jump coz too old")
anyway, the reason he seemed so proud coz he's friends with some national level skaters, that makes him feel like an elite skater too.

I just saw him a minute ago in this chat room, but he's off now, i was about to bash him lol :P

[Figureskates]

I started figure skating seriously at age 52, next month I turn 55 and I am getting a pretty descent waltz jump and my footwork isn't too bad either. The only drawback to being an older (ancient?) figure skater is you are a little more apprehensive in trying more daring things. A good coach who enjoys teaching adults will cure that problem....

[susan ba]

i started skating last year...i'm in my late 20's and i am learning my waltz, salchow, and toe loop right now. i hope to have at least all of my singles by the end of this year

i wish i would have started at your age!

[QUAD LUTZ]

Laalaa. You are never too late. All I can advise to you are these.
(A) Continue to skate and try to improve your edgings . I think that's the first key.
(B) Do Floor jumpings. As you develop your edging try doing jumps on soft surfaces (like garden, gymnastics' floor, carpeted floors)
(C) Do sit ups and crunches. These will make your stamina better. A good abdominal muscles help skaters to pull out triple jumps 8)
(D) Find a coach. Coach can teach you techniques. If you want I can teach you techniques... just email me k?

I started skating at age 8. I stopped. After seeing MK's national performance, my passion for skating was relived. i took skating practices and do floor jumping at the same time. It took me two and a half years to land double axels (21). I can't make triples no matter how I try. I did 300 sit ups and crunches everday.. I ate healthy foods and lost 15 pounds (just like angela 8) ) I skated great... landed 5 triples for the next 6 months... Now still 21... I am hoping to strengthen my jumps and my presentation for years and I plan to compete competitively at age 25. I am now working with my tano double axels at the moment. This helps me to give my double axel height. A good preparation for my triple axel attempts. I maybe a hardworker that's why I am reaping the fruits of my hardwork. Too bad I am nursing a ankle injury which bugged me for months now. I occasionally do runs but only doubles. I try to perfecct the my doubles entries and exits coz I can't practice my triples as much as I wanted because of my nursed injury. I hope this will cheer you up. todd and maria are guning for olympic medals at age 30's. It means you have 12 years to polish your skating to compete for the olympics...boy that's a lot of time. 8) My email is toly_estrella@yahoo.com

[Skwilla]

Too Old?? NEVER!!!!

Your never too old to do something you love! I can't believe what that guy told you but...don't listen to it at all. For awhile I've been unhappy because I'm pretty sure I won't get to go to Olympics which I'd really like to do, I just wish I had started serious training at age five!! (heehee) but I soon realized I don't have to be unhappy! I love figure skating (I think I'm a better fan than skater!) so I decided that the best thing to do is just do as much as I can, get as far as I can! If you don't get passed double jumps or single jumps or heck! back crossovers! If you enjoy it, I think that's the most important part. Even though I'm 14 (almost 15), I have set a few goals for my future which include adult national/world (Ithink there is one) champion and senior Olympics Champion!!!! I just found out that there is an Olympics for people age 50 and over! I'm so excited to try and be "Olympics Champion" now!! ...besides competitions though, just do what you can and have fun, if you improve or not...."work hard, be yourself and have fun!".

P.S.
My e-mail is Skate517@hotmail.com if anyone wants to talk to me :)

[sk84fun2]

I'm a lurker from another board, and I've never posted here before, but I have to reply to this.

I am 16, and I have heard all the mumbo-jumbo about age.

Well guess what? Those little 7 year old who can do axels? Most of them won't be able to do that when they have a growth spurt. No one can ever take the things you have learned away.

My dream is serious comp, like Michelle, and I don't really care what anyone else says. Neither should you.

The great thing about skating is that it all comes from inside of YOU. Your sweat, your drive, your willpower. The only person who can stop you is you.

[Skateberry]

I realize all this stuff was posted a little while ago so nobody will read this probably, but i have to reply!

The reason most of those little people are so good is that their parents push them into it before they get a chance to decide whether or not they like it.

When i was younger i took group lessons, and i thought that was fun, but i wasn't seriously training or anything :lol But then once i started taking private lessons (almost 3 yrs ago) i started to really improve and realized that i really enjoy skating!

For a while, all i could do was regret, regret, regret, that i hadn't started seriously skating earlier. (and now for the cheesy stuff). Then i realized that if my only satisfaction from skating would be winning the World Championships, i would soon get fed up with it, because if you don't like what youre doing... thats easy to do. Sure, i would love to be World Champion! but now my happiness comes from improving, and every time i land something new, or move up a level, that's what i love about skating. :D

[Anita18]

Sometimes I regret that I didn't take skating lessons when I was younger (especially since I used to live ten minutes from Alexei Yagudin's training rink in NJ. Of course I realized this once I moved to CA, LOL...:lol ) but now I'm happy where I am, having my first skating lesson at 16. I feel really good that what I'm doing is my choice, not what my parents are pushing me to do. (Although I needed a little push in the beginning, since my mom nagged me about how she spent $175 on skates, so now I should practice, LOL. Now I can't get away from the ice. :) ) I see a lot of skating parents at the rink, being obviously supportive for their kids and everything, but I'm content to just be in a rink without anyone watching.

LOL at feeling satisfaction at improving! I do that all the time! Though with me it's more of a "My three-turns are getting better!" and "My spins are feeling better!" or "My waltz jump doesn't have height, but at least I get good runout!" :lol :lol I love to think positively! :)

[Skateberry]

haha yeah :lol im like, woo! that time i only cheated half turn instead of all of it!

[FSAbout]

Johnny Weir didn't start skating till he was 12 :) He just won the World Junior title (a few meager years later). Ok, granted he's a youngster, but look how far he came in such a short time.

I hate when broadcasters talk about how old Bute is when she takes the ice. I cringe as she isn't even 30 yet and they make her sound ancient. I guess if you are setting your goals for high levels of competition, you should first see a doctor and then get out the calculator to see how much time you have :)

But to skate at a lower level of competition or just for recreational purposes, you are NEVER too old. And it's healthy! Uhm.......as long as you don't try any axels the first time around.

[laalaa1704]

hey hey hey!!

Thanks so much for your opinion guys!! from the day that guy told me that i was too old for figure skating, i've felt confused and angry. How could i let someone make me feel bad??? :(
anyway, I don't care about the craps and non-sense things that he told me!!!
I still remember how proud he was, telling me about his level, his type of blades and boots, his coach, his fellow friends who skate at Nationals, AND how happy and relieved he was when i told him I was just a beginner!!!!!!
I can't believe there's a jerk like that in this world!

I know we live in the same city, but he told me once that he often skates at my rink for public sessions on weekends, he's coachless now, so he only relies on public session for pratices!
unfortunately, he knows who my coach is! Hopefully i don't get to see him someday (I never meet him)!!!! AND i hope we don't have the same coach!!!!! whoaaa....... that'd be the end of the world for me!!!!!!! LOL :)

[Luv2Sk8]

I can't believe I didn't reply to this one!

I competed for the first time when I was tweleve. Compared to some of you guys that's very young, but I got the idea from most people that I had started to late to accomplish anything. My goals were not outrageous (even if I had started when I was 3, only 3 skaters every four years even make it to the olympics, at most!)but I wanted to someday pass my senior test, land a triple jump, and ,the farthest strech, someday qualify for nationals.
And guess what, I'm now 16 and in Novice. I really don't give a flying fig that I came in last all last year, I can do more than the students that have been skating since they were 3 of those people who thought I would never amount to anything.
Nobody really knows your boundries except you. Espeicially some guy that doesn't know you and has never seen you skate.

I'm glad you're feeling better!

[yazmeen42skater]

TOO OLD?? Good grief, sweetie, I started two years ago at AGE 41!!! I'm still in ISI basic skills (Gamma/Delta/Freestyle 1) and about to do my 3rd competition, competing Gamma Elements, Freestyle, Artistic, Interpretive and Stroking!!

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD!!!

Granny Beth, the bellydancing ice skater!! :b

The next time you see that smartmouth, why don't you "accidentally" trip him!!! :evil