Word From Skate Canada

[singerskates]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Donna King-Gallant" <donna-k@skatecanada.ca>
To: <singerskates@musicinit.com>
Cc: "Jackie Stell" <jackie-s@skatecanada.ca>; "Brenda Gorman"
<brenda-g@skatecanada.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 12:19 PM
Subject: Adult national event


> Dear Brigitte,
>
> I thought I would clarify the following information regarding initial
plans for a pending national adult competition so should adult skaters in
your chatgroup inquire you have the most accurate information.
>
> We are in the preliminary stages of planning (nothing has been confirmed
as of yet) an adult invitational event to be held in conjunction with the
National STARSkate Championships in March 2004.
>
> We will be starting small to gauge interest in adult skating competition,
with the expectation that the event could begin to grow over the next few
years. We still have several Sections that have not yet run any adult
events within their competitions due to very small adult numbers (there are
many adult skaters who just wish to skate for fun, exercise and develop
skills) so to offer a national qualifying event would be premature at this
point.
>
> We are continuing to take steps to promote the adult skating concept
across the country and we are optimistic that the future will hold great
things for Canadian adult skaters!
>
> Best Regards,
> Donna King-Gallant
> Skate Canada Recreational Programs Coordinator
>
> donna-k@skatecanada.ca <mailto:donna-k@skatecanada.ca>
> 888-747-2372 ext.2563
> It looks as though the ISU is heading to an Adult World Skating
Championships. We need to have an Adult Canadian Championship. We could use
the StarSkate competitions this year for adult skaters in Canada this year
to introduce an Adult Canadian Championship. We've already the set up with
StarSkate.
>
> Here's what could happen with me to get to an Adult Canadians. I enter the
Sun Parlour StarSkate event. If I win or come in the top three or if no
other adult enters I skate my program(s) as an exhibition for judges
opinions , I get to compete at the WOS StarSkate event. From the WOS
StarSkate if I win or come in the top three or if no other adult enters I
skate my program(s) as an exhibition for judges opinions, I get to compete
at the National StarSkate competition.
>
> The adult event at the National StarSkate competition could be called
Adult Canadian Championships. We should have events from adult preprelim to
gold in freeskating, ice dance with or without a partner, pairs and
interpretive (introductory, bronze, silver, gold and diamond). Then we truly
could send adult skaters to an Adult Worlds once the ISU has it set up.
>
> Please do talk about this at the 2003 Skate Canada ACGM.
>
>
> Brigitte Laskowski
> SC member
> Riverside SC member/skater

[singerskates]

From a member of CAS....

So, actually Skate Canada really isn't planning an "Adult Nationals" at
all at this point, by the sound of it... That's really too bad. It
sounds like they are just thinking about offering an additional adult
invitational which happens to take place in conjunction with the
national starskate championships, but that's not the same thing at all.

I can see Skate Canada's problem, that they want to start small and see
how it goes, but I can't help but wonder if they're going about this all
backwards. I think that offering a real adult nationals now would
immediately create tons of extra interest among adult skaters in Canada
who currently aren't competing due to lack of opportunity and/or
motivation. Plus, it would attract new adults to skating.

How much trouble would it really be for them to make it a true adult
nationals? They don't need to add any brand new competitions, all they
need to do is add adult events onto each section's starskate
championship and decide how many people from each section would qualify
for nationals.

The thing is, how many people are going to be willing to incur
significant travel expenses in order to go to this new invitational at
this point? I live in Ontario and I can't imagine putting out the money
to fly to BC and get a hotel, etc., etc., for just another invitational,
when there are more than enough invitationals within driving distance to
fill my competition schedule. However, if it was for a real adult
nationals, there is no question that I would go since the expenses would
be completely irrelevant in that case.

If they do offer an adult invitational in BC next year, I just hope they
don't complain if not many people show up, and then use that as evidence
for why it's too early to offer an adult nationals... I'm sure I'm far
from the only one who would travel for an adult nationals but not
necessarily for an invitational.

Patricia

[singerskates]

To Skate Canada from me.....

> Dear Donna,
>
> The purpose of my group Competitive Adult Skaters (CAS - compadultsk8s )
of
> http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/compadultsk8s is to promote adult skating
> around the world and especially in Canada. I have been able to each adult
> skaters where SC doesn't visit on the internet. I as group owner and some
> of my skating friends as group moderators have been able to advertise
> through other groups, forums and so on. Our group is constantly growing.
At
> present we have 198 adult members in CAS and it just keeps growing day by
> day. These are just adult skaters who are interested in competing, not the
> adult skaters who skate recreationally or just for exercise. For us who
> compete in adult events and some who also compete in reg. Star Skate
events,
> exercise is what we do to cross train to be able to skate and compete.
> Skating is not exercise. It is our passion, our way of expressing
ourselves
> and it fills are needs. Skating is our drug of choice. We competitive
adult
> skaters are addicted to skating and competing. We do not have the elements
> of the elite competitive skaters but we do have the passion and drive of
> them. We want to have a Skate Canada Adult Canadian Championships. We at
CAS
> are willing and wanting to help kick Adult Canadians off the ground.
Please
> tell us how we can help.
>
> I've posted your below email to me at CAS for the Canadian members to
read.
>
> Also, please join CAS at http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/compadultsk8s to
> keep us informed and so that you and Skate Canada can guage where adult
> skaters in Canada are at. SC member #'s and the clubs to which we belong
> don't really tell where we are at. My own club, Riverside SC with which is
a
> great club to skate, doesn't know anything about adult skating or the
> competitions. I've had to handle everything myself.
>
> Brigitte Laskowski
> CAS group owner

[singerskates]

From Another Member of CAS.....

I feel that Skate Canada should change the name from Adult
Invitational to Adult Nationals.Start big!!!! There are plenty of
Adult Invitationals and Adult events at non Adult competitions and I
for one skate with the kiddies just so I can have a competition
sometimes.But now in the Nova Scotia Section there allowing Adult
events, well Interpretive is the only one so far..bummer..but I have
started the first adult invitational for Nova Scotia, I did not want
to sit arround and wait for someone to do it..I just did it!!!

I really am glad that Skate Canada is encouraging towards adult
skaters, but there is nothing wrong with diving in feet first and let
us have a Nationals.What if the ISU has a World Championship, who
would decide who would go?

Were on the right path, and it is a start, but please call it a
championship or Nationals we deserve it.I for one will compete in
free style, Interpretive and Solo Dance.I am 41 and this is my
passion.

Well group..it is out of our hands now!!
Cape Breton Mary

[singerskates]

From me again....

Mary, it's not out of our hands. We must pester Skate Canada even
more. We must work at getting Competitive Adult Skater group and
adult skating in the news. We must petition our sections, regions and
the clubs in are area. We must not give up. To give up is what some
at Skate Canada want. We must focus like we've never done before. We
must all write Skate Canada and tell them we are willing to help
Skate Canada kick a Canadian Adult Nationals off of the ground.

Mary, you are right. We don't need another invitational event but BC
doesn't have one. Maybe we could convince Skate Canada to have our
Adult Nationals during a late March event or during an early April
event, hopefully not during the adult Alberta event or the COS Adult
Spring Skate. Something more centrally located would be best.

Brigitte

[singerskates]

From a US CAS member....

WOW! You go, girls!! As an American Adult Skater, I think a Worlds
would rock! Keep pushing! We're here to stay! You are pioneers and
are doing a wonderful thing! Thank you!
Becca

[singerskates]

From a Canadian CAS member....

Brigitte, I agree. I don't think it's too late to try to convince Skate Canada
to make the new event an adult nationals rather than another invitational. In
fact, our timing might be rather good -- they are already considering this new
adult event anyway, but they haven't finalized the details. So, we just need to
get them to take that extra step to make it an adult nationals.

For what it's worth, I just e-mailed Skate Canada with my detailed comments on
this, and I urge all of the other Canadians on the list to do the same!!

Patricia

[roogu]

Congrats on getting the first step in Skate Canada's plans for a future adult nationals. It certainly sounds very exciting and I hope it comes into fruition soon! Belieeeeeve me, I totally understand the passion and drive to compete at a national event ...... and starskaters were very much in the same shoes a few years ago.

About 2 or 3 years ago, Skate Canada announced that they were planning a National competition for starskaters ....... and as the end of each year got closer, people kept confirming that yes, nationals will be a go next season. But when next season came, nationals was delayed for another year. It was absolutely frustrating to hear that for two years in a row because for many of my friends and I, it was a big reason why we kept skating until this year, it was finally a go. So everything started small ......... and I think it's only fair to expect at least a bit of the same situation with the planning of an adult nationals just because it takes so much time, effort, dedication and also $$$ for head office to plan it all.

But at least they're already planning an invitational for the coming season .. it may not be a full blown nationals but it's certainly a great start. And when it formally becomes adult nationals, you guys will most undoubtedly feel it was worth the wait.

StarSkate Nationals this year started very very small too. I'm sure they wanted to test it out, get comments back on how it was done and then keep making it bigger as the skating gets better. So that's how it was with us and I have a feeling that it will be much the same with the planning of adult nats. After all, I'm sure you all want Skate Canada to plan and do it the RIGHT way! And when it comes, we can't wait to include you guys into our nationals!!! :D :D :D

P.S. When did the ISU say they're planning an adult worlds?? that most certainly sounds interesting. also a little unique, lol.

[roogu]

Originally posted by singerskates
From me again....

We must not give up. To give up is what some
at Skate Canada want.


I doubt this is waht Skate Canada wants ... their number one priority is to maintain membership and keep skaters skating for life. Competitive or not, they want skaters to keep skating ... not people to give up.

[arena_gal]

I'd like to see a full Starskate Nationals, ie from Preliminary to Gold singles, pairs, dance, mens and ladies, based on the provincial qualifying, before starting in on Adult events.

[GoldieMedal]

I have to comment on this last posting.

Well it would be nice if Star Skate had all events included, I do agree there, but don't comment that adult skaters should wait till Star Skaters get there wish.You must be under 25. well wait until your an adult skater.
ADULT SKATERS are equally important in the sport and we pay the same money, we pay coaches and we have the passion and deserve respect!!
Every skater registered with Skate Canada is equal and all deserve a National Competition.Adults are here to stay and growing in numbers so don't knock us wanting a National event.

Don't laugh at me because I can't do it..Smile at me because I tried!!

A 41 year old adult competitive skater. Mary M.

[roogu]

True that it'll be unfair if adults were to wait until all events were offered at national starskates, but you DON'T have to be under 25 to compete .... you could be any age as long as you meet the test criteria and qualify out of your sections. But if you are 25 or above, you just can't choose to do both streams I believe. Its either one or the other.


Also, I'm not so sure that offering nationals for like preliminary and jr. bronze skaters would be feasible just coz skaters generally at this age is just so young and woudl the costs and pressure of a national event be really reflective of skaters at the primary levels? The lowest natoinally offered event at the moment is Juvenile and I believe that's the equivalent of the sr. bronze freeskate so I can see a reason for natoinal starskate to go as low as sr. bronze level.

[arena_gal]

The cost to the individual skaters is what would hold back the lower level Starskaters, but I'm guessing. It would be interesting to poll the provincial winners and ask them if they'd go on further, and what would be a deterrent. I don't think that survey they had on line asked any questions about finances did it?

There is no "Adult Skater" registration available with Skate Canada (there is an "Adult" designation for non-skating members, primarily for the insurance coverage), a skater is a skater is a skater. ok, "Starskate". Adults are simply a different age group and there is competition available already, through the current provincial ranks.

[singerskates]

Originally posted by arena_gal
The cost to the individual skaters is what would hold back the lower level Starskaters, but I'm guessing. It would be interesting to poll the provincial winners and ask them if they'd go on further, and what would be a deterrent. I don't think that survey they had on line asked any questions about finances did it?

There is no "Adult Skater" registration available with Skate Canada (there is an "Adult" designation for non-skating members, primarily for the insurance coverage), a skater is a skater is a skater. ok, "Starskate". Adults are simply a different age group and there is competition available already, through the current provincial ranks.

Only in syncro, not in freeskating, interpretive, ice dance, skills or pair skating though.

[arena_gal]

There's nothing to stop an "Adult" from registering for a provincial qualifying event. That's what I mean when I say there is competition already, it's open to all ages. Competitive competition!

[singerskates]

I don't want to compete against 13 year olds. At the preprelim level until I test, that's what would happen with me. It would look very odd and make bad feelings with the mom's of these kids if I would beat them. I rather compete agaist my peers; those close to my own age. Why? because are bodies are almost in the same shape healthwise. We're not fearless like a 5 to 18 yr old and we're way less stretchy then the kids.
I consider it to be unfair to the kids if I competed against them and unfair to me as I would be cheated out of comradory of my peers. Adults deserve our own competitions and so do the kids 5 to 18. These kids may one day be Canada's elite skaters while we adults if we ever get a few triple jumps will be overjoyed. Jumping is much harder for an adult as we've much more to throw up in the air and to have come down on to the ice while landing.

Brigitte

[roogu]

The argument isn't saying you should compete in the regular stream if you want to compete, it's just saying that your options aren't completely 100 % shut out as you're making it sound. Yes, adult skaters deserve options but it's just going to take time for it to happen ..... especially if you're wanting a whole stream as difficult as leading to nationals .... after all, Rome wasn't built in a day. Patience is a virtue. If you feel that cheated out of the competition experience at this moment, go through the States' competitions. It's not about prestige or medals or levels .... yes, it is about equal opportunities and Skate Canada is working on it for adult skaters.

[GoldieMedal]

Well, adult skaters should be registerd as a Star Skaters when clubs register them and most are.

My daughter qualified to compete and the Nova Scotia Junior Provincials so I figured I would enter for fun since I was gonna be there anyway, well I qualified at Areas and went away.I can tell you I was thrilled to be on the ice as I love to perform.Well I competed in Artistic Ladies C with 5 other skaters under 19. It was over 25 years since I was last there, so let me tell you I felt so good just hearing my name announced.Everyone there new I was 39 and the oldest competitor there at the competition.

I was not looking to medal but just to show that I love to skate and love the sport.Well I captured the Gold Medal!! I expected to come last and felt bad that I won over the younger skaters as I saw their faces and heard there remarks over me winning.
It really hurt those young skaters and I did not blame them for being upset with the out come.

It is time to include all events for adults at a Star Skate Provincial competition.Now this season, I will compete in Adult Interpretive , but will compete with the kids in Solo Dance and Silver Interpretive because these events are not listed ( as of now) for adult.I need to compete in the non adult events for practice for other adult competitions I will be attending in 2004.

Some day all the Star Skaters and Competitive skaters of today will be adult skaters of tomorrow and the Canadian Adult competitiors are trying to obtain fairness and competitions and get respect for the future Adult skating in Canada.Our numbers are growing and we are looking to achieve status as competitive skaters.

After all we have the PASSION AND SPIRIT for the Figure Skating Sport!

[GoldieMedal]

Yes the Skate Canada Adult Championships will be in BC on MARCH 24TH to the 27th /2004. The details should be out by August.

I hope I get there and be a part of Canadian Skating History!!!!!!!

[rinsk]

Just since some people seem a little bothered that they're making the Adult National event invitational and non-qualifying: my understanding is that except for the high level championship events, the US Adult Nationals (which is probably the model of what a lot of adult skaters would like to see in Canada) is all non-qualifying. I'm sure they started off small and grew slowly but basically, anyone eligible can enter and they do run-off events as needed at the event.

Also, I like they idea of not having to do multiple events to qualify because of the time and cost involved. I've been lucky with the last 2 Quebec events being close to home but it's a big province and that's not a guarantee...

And really happy to see this coming together just as I'm reaching the adult ranks.

Thank you to the people out there who I know did a lot of pushing :D

[Madame Saccoche]

Rinsk is the only person i know who's looking foreward to getting older:mrgreen:

[rinsk]

Rinsk is just your typical all-round messed up person, Madame Saccoche.:P

[Madame Saccoche]

Rinsk is just your typical all-round messed up person, Madame Saccoche

and that is why Madame consisders you to be a kindred spirit:lol:

[rinsk]

Yay! Messed up figure skaters of the world unite!
(so, Madame, will we be seeing you in competition this summer?)

[Madame Saccoche]

At risk of totally derailing the topic of this thread, unfortunately I won't be competing this summer, no money. Also it's the same weekend as the highland games and dh needs to get in touch with his inner Scottman.


We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread topic.


PS, I'l be doing Pottsdam for sure in Dec. though!