Have I Been Insulted?

[Black Sheep]

Yesterday afternoon I had my first freestyle session of the 2003-4 season at my local seasonal rink. It was great to be back flying around on fresh new ice--until I ended up sharing it with this new adult skater who appeared old enough to be my mother and who skated like a Novice/Junior teenager. She had that "prima donna" attitude to go with her skating, too.

As I was leaving I asked her how long she had been skating. She said, "Thirty years. I've also been a coach and a judge. What level are you?"

"Adult Gold Ladies," I replied.

"No, no. You're not a gold medalist. You have to have a double flip."

"Adult levels are different than the regular track."

"No, no. No way. You can't be Gold. You have to be Junior or Senior."

It seemed to me that this lady was not only upstaging me on the ice, but also talking down to me off ice. May I never have to skate with her again! :evil:

[skaternum]

You're way too sensitive. She wasn't insulting you. She just doesn't understand the adult test structure.

[Mel On Ice]

I agree, she just sounded like she didn't understand the adult track.

Wow, good for her though to have that skill level at the age you are implying. I'd be impressed.

[backspin]

....and she wasn't upstaging you on the ice. She was skating. Just like you "upstage" lower level skaters when you're on a session.

Once I was on a public session practicing my spins & someone yelled, "showoff!" I just thought, "yeah, you spend THOUSANDS of dollars and YEARS of your life learning to do this, and then you can 'show off' too!"

[dcden]

backspin: While on a public session once on a small outdoor rink, I did an Axel, and someone yelled out "This ain't the O-lympics!" When I did the same thing this morning on a freestyle session with several Regionals competitors practicing, no one batted an eye.

[mikawendy]

Originally posted by backspin
Once I was on a public session practicing my spins & someone yelled, "showoff!" I just thought, "yeah, you spend THOUSANDS of dollars and YEARS of your life learning to do this, and then you can 'show off' too!"

I've had similar reactions when practicing during a public session. At the outdoor rink I go to in the winter, there are no cones in the middle to direct the flow of traffic. Often when I practice spins there, people (especially teenage boys) will skate fast and somewhat close to me in an effort to faze me, all the while making nasty faces. They never skate close enough to collide with me--I keep an eye on them but ignore them and stand my ground as I practice. I figure it helps me learn to concentrate!

[KathySkates]

Black Sheep! Hugs to you! I know what it is like to deal with that type of person. They think they know everything. This woman was a judge too! She should know that rules change! What a jerk!
Anyway, I know that you are a gold lady because I saw you skate at Adult Nats 2002! You were great!
Warm Regards,
Kathleen

[blurrysarah]

In reference to the public sessions hoons, that's why I don't skate public sessions any more. Too many reckless people, jealous people, or plain loud mouthed ignoramuses. And simply not enough space to practice.

Mind you, I'm far too self conscious as it is on a freestyle session!

[Elsy2]

If I were you I'd be feeling a little bit superior actually.....you obviously know more than she does....

[Black Sheep]

KathySkates and Elsy2: Many thanks for your support. :D

Actually, it was just one of those situations that bugged me even though I know it shouldn't. I mean, c'mon, I skate with plenty of adults of all different levels all the time; and, instead of getting fazed by the Masters, I usually just sit back and admire them, and see what I can learn from their techniques! 8-)

[jazzpants]

Originally posted by mikawendy
I've had similar reactions when practicing during a public session. At the outdoor rink I go to in the winter, there are no cones in the middle to direct the flow of traffic. Often when I practice spins there, people (especially teenage boys) will skate fast and somewhat close to me in an effort to faze me, all the while making nasty faces. They never skate close enough to collide with me--I keep an eye on them but ignore them and stand my ground as I practice. I figure it helps me learn to concentrate! I just had this happened today at a public session... The ice guard says the only thing he could do is nudge them towards the outside. He tried talking to these boys and they were like "DUH!!?!?!? I don't know what you're talking about." And THEN they zip thru the middle of the rink AGAIN!!! :x (Eh, HELLO??? It's YOUR job to enforce the kids to stay out of the middle and if they do it again to escort them off the ice???)

Oh, and THEN there are the ones that hog the middle of the rink to "dance" (wiggle and shake their butts) to the music. :roll: (We play R&B and rap music around here...)

[jp1andOnly]

I know at the rinks I've been at up here in Canada, public skating sessions mean no figure skating and no hockey. Sometimes the rink guards let you spin in the middle or do a jump at the side, but more times than not (espeically during a busy session) they say no way!

[dooobedooo]

I feel sorry for some of those little boys - they love skating, but nobody in their family has thought of - or has the money for - skating lessons. They are usually showing off a bit, but much more interested in what you are doing. So I usually give them a little bit of an explanation and some attention, get them to try out a baby spin, and tell them about the children's group classes. And I let them feel my blades (ouch!!) and explain that it is dangerous to get too close. They are usually OK after that.

[mikawendy]

Originally posted by dooobedooo
I feel sorry for some of those little boys - they love skating, but nobody in their family has thought of - or has the money for - skating lessons. They are usually showing off a bit, but much more interested in what you are doing.

I've met some litle boys like that (there was one who was telling me in detail about the tricks he could do in skateboarding and in ice skating). But the ones who whiz by on the outdoor rink are about 16 and usually make rude comments. Sometimes they bring a puck onto the ice during the public skate and they and the rink guards play with it!! This carrying on goes on until the guards' bosses realize what's up.

[jazzpants]

Originally posted by dooobedooo
I feel sorry for some of those little boys - they love skating, but nobody in their family has thought of - or has the money for - skating lessons. They are usually showing off a bit, but much more interested in what you are doing. So I usually give them a little bit of an explanation and some attention, get them to try out a baby spin, and tell them about the children's group classes. And I let them feel my blades (ouch!!) and explain that it is dangerous to get too close. They are usually OK after that. Not the kids I've been with. They're more interested in being hockey players wannabe (even though they have rental figure skates on...) and chasing each other. For some reason they also take pleasure in skating towards people until the very last moment where they have to dodge. And they don't say "Excuse me!" Some would even say "GET OUTTA MY WAY!!!" :x (Most of them would just SCREAM...) My way of dealing with it is to step aside and just continue doing what I'm doing.

I was one of those kids whose parents couldn't afford skates or skating lessons and had to settle for copying the better kids, reading a skating book from our school's library, rental skates, and skating only on weekends. Even I followed the rules! And I was more upset at the rink guard than the kids zipping by b/c he's NOT doing his job as the rink guard. :x