quarkiki2
04-05-2004, 11:47 AM
Hello all!!
I just got back from my first competition this weekend and it was a blast! My adult synchro team competed at ISI Synchro Nationals this weekend. It was our first real competition and, for many of us, the first time we'd ever seen another synchro team skate -- let alone any other adult team! Our team has only been in existence for about two years and the only other competition we skated in was last year and we were the only team entered (I wasn't on the team yet).
I was so excited to be there. Our team had literally no idea what to expect -- we have no frame of reference and four of the 16 of us have only been skating for two years (including me). We were already down one member who was in and out of the hospital with a nasty infection this past week, so our coach had to jump in as an alternate. Then I ended up not skating because we had a collision during practice and I ended up injured.
Here's what I remember of the collision: we were skating backwards and I was feeling pretty good -- we were faster than ever and then I heard the click of death as another skater and I got our feet tangled. We were going opposite directions and she and her partner fell forward (her partner got a nasty bruise on her knee). I fell backwards HARD. I heard "click", thought the uh part of uh-oh, then wham! My head hit the ice. I saw stars, then the ceiling of the rink, then about six of my teammate's faces as the all bent over me. I laid on the ice for a minute or two because I wasn't sure I could get up or not, but when someone asked if I wanted a stretcher I though that would be the worst way to get off the ice at my first competition, so I skated off on my own. There was a nurse rinkside who said my right eye was tracking a little slower than my left, so we decided it would be best for me not to skate our qualifying round. I did go to the hospital after our qualifying and the doctor there told me I had a mild concussion and that I shouldn't skate the final round, either. I was very (very) disappointed and it was all I could do to not cry in the ER. :cry:
Anyway, back to the competition. On our way to Chicago, we had been talking and thought that we would be very lucky to place 5th out of 6th, so our expectations were to basically have fun and be glad that we were competing. We really had no idea how anyone else would skate or what their programs would be like or anything.
My team skated better than they had ever skated before in the qualifying round. I stood on the sides cheering, but they skated really, really well. Our straight line pinwheel was absolutely straight and faster than they'd ever skated it. That alone was a success. We got the word when I was in the hospital waiting room that we'd tied for first in the qualifying round and I seriously thought it was a joke!
Sunday was the final round and our team was skating the best program I'd ever seen them skate (even better than the qualifying). I was absolutely amazed at how straight the lines were and how well synchronized they were skating! Then there was a fall in the footwork circle, but the two skaters that went down somehow managed to keep their hand holds and get back up in a matter of 6 or 7 counts. Then it finished as usual. I was so proud of them for skating so well and for bouncing right back up after a fall. The circle didn't even break and the rest kept skating as if nothing happened.
I don't know how the judges made their decision -- all of the teams had some really terrific stuff in their programs. Mel on Ice's team had a WONDERFUL footwork block and a FABULOUS double pinwheel. Yay Mel, you ROCK!!! :bow: We placed second, which was an absolute shock -- completely unexpected, especially considering the quality of the other teams.
I think our whole team was just thrilled to be there. It was so nice to see other adult skaters and to finally meet some forum friends. We cheered for all of the teams because we know how hard it is to get out there and try this stuff. Even though I am disappointed that I didn't get to skate, I am still so happy that we gave it a shot. I met some truly terrific adult skaters and we watched some amazing teams skate this weekend (those teen teams FLY around the rink -- ohmigosh were they great!!!).
This was such a positive experience and I am just so very proud of all of the skaters, especially us adults, who skated this past weekend. 8-) 8-) 8-)
I just got back from my first competition this weekend and it was a blast! My adult synchro team competed at ISI Synchro Nationals this weekend. It was our first real competition and, for many of us, the first time we'd ever seen another synchro team skate -- let alone any other adult team! Our team has only been in existence for about two years and the only other competition we skated in was last year and we were the only team entered (I wasn't on the team yet).
I was so excited to be there. Our team had literally no idea what to expect -- we have no frame of reference and four of the 16 of us have only been skating for two years (including me). We were already down one member who was in and out of the hospital with a nasty infection this past week, so our coach had to jump in as an alternate. Then I ended up not skating because we had a collision during practice and I ended up injured.
Here's what I remember of the collision: we were skating backwards and I was feeling pretty good -- we were faster than ever and then I heard the click of death as another skater and I got our feet tangled. We were going opposite directions and she and her partner fell forward (her partner got a nasty bruise on her knee). I fell backwards HARD. I heard "click", thought the uh part of uh-oh, then wham! My head hit the ice. I saw stars, then the ceiling of the rink, then about six of my teammate's faces as the all bent over me. I laid on the ice for a minute or two because I wasn't sure I could get up or not, but when someone asked if I wanted a stretcher I though that would be the worst way to get off the ice at my first competition, so I skated off on my own. There was a nurse rinkside who said my right eye was tracking a little slower than my left, so we decided it would be best for me not to skate our qualifying round. I did go to the hospital after our qualifying and the doctor there told me I had a mild concussion and that I shouldn't skate the final round, either. I was very (very) disappointed and it was all I could do to not cry in the ER. :cry:
Anyway, back to the competition. On our way to Chicago, we had been talking and thought that we would be very lucky to place 5th out of 6th, so our expectations were to basically have fun and be glad that we were competing. We really had no idea how anyone else would skate or what their programs would be like or anything.
My team skated better than they had ever skated before in the qualifying round. I stood on the sides cheering, but they skated really, really well. Our straight line pinwheel was absolutely straight and faster than they'd ever skated it. That alone was a success. We got the word when I was in the hospital waiting room that we'd tied for first in the qualifying round and I seriously thought it was a joke!
Sunday was the final round and our team was skating the best program I'd ever seen them skate (even better than the qualifying). I was absolutely amazed at how straight the lines were and how well synchronized they were skating! Then there was a fall in the footwork circle, but the two skaters that went down somehow managed to keep their hand holds and get back up in a matter of 6 or 7 counts. Then it finished as usual. I was so proud of them for skating so well and for bouncing right back up after a fall. The circle didn't even break and the rest kept skating as if nothing happened.
I don't know how the judges made their decision -- all of the teams had some really terrific stuff in their programs. Mel on Ice's team had a WONDERFUL footwork block and a FABULOUS double pinwheel. Yay Mel, you ROCK!!! :bow: We placed second, which was an absolute shock -- completely unexpected, especially considering the quality of the other teams.
I think our whole team was just thrilled to be there. It was so nice to see other adult skaters and to finally meet some forum friends. We cheered for all of the teams because we know how hard it is to get out there and try this stuff. Even though I am disappointed that I didn't get to skate, I am still so happy that we gave it a shot. I met some truly terrific adult skaters and we watched some amazing teams skate this weekend (those teen teams FLY around the rink -- ohmigosh were they great!!!).
This was such a positive experience and I am just so very proud of all of the skaters, especially us adults, who skated this past weekend. 8-) 8-) 8-)