USFSA adult camp?

[gardana]

Did anyone go/know anyone who went?

[Sylvia]

Fun article about and photos from the adult camp:
http://www.usfsa.org/news/2002-03/adultcamp03/adultcampstory.htm?siteid=983

[Debbie S]

I read the article and saw the pics. Ohhhhh, I'm so jealous! :)

I, of course, had to stay home last weekend b/c I had the final exam in my statistics class on Monday. I guess the good news is that I got an A, and can now be fully admitted into b-school. I am going to do everything I can to try to attend the camp next year. I hope it's still in Hackensack - it's a good location for me to get to by train. Actually, the big training rink in Laurel, MD would be even better.

Maybe by next year, I'll actually be able to land a flip w/o gashing my leg.

[sk8pics]

I went to the camp and took the freestyle track and had a great time. It was challenging for me because I'm at the pre-bronze level and was in with pre-bronze and bronze skaters. But that's good. The moves class was great; we worked on all the bronze moves and then the spirals from the silver test, to applause from the coach and other skaters when we did well.

Tamara Moskvina is unbelievable: still an amazing skater and SO funny! "Don't be like spaghetti!" when we weren't holding our positions strongly enough. "Shhh..Shhh. You are all working much too hard, work is for later when you lift your martinis! Relax now, shhh," when we were making too much noise with our crossovers.

I also thought Artur was great and also very funny. "All jumps the same. Well, except for axel. But really, all the same. See, I show you." And he put his upper body in position and proceeded to show the takeoff for all the jumps. I loved his class, and there were a lot of cheers and applause there, too.

Off-ice jumping with John was great, too. The last thing he had us do was to one by one assume our landing position and then we had to hop backwards a good distance, while he chased us and tried to knock us off balance! It was great fun but very hard!

It's a great experience and I recommend it highly.

Pat

[DancinDiva]

How do you sign up for this camp? Do you have to audition or anything? How much does it cost? I want to go! But for this adult training camp, must you be 25, like you have to be to compete at adult nationals? If that's the case, I guess I'll have to wait a few years:(

[singerskates]

Are you at least 18+? If so join Competitive Adult Skaters and you can find more Adult Skating Camps. The URL for CAS is in my signature.

Uschi Keszler has an Adult Skating camp coming up in August at Ice Works. The links are at CAS.

It's too late for the camp in Hackensack, NJ this year but you could email them about it or just look for the info at CAS at the end of March 2004.

CAS also lists many of the skating competitions that have adult events with URL's to the registration pages.

Brigitte

[Black Sheep]

I should have gone when it was in Chicago two years ago....oh, well. 8-)

[gardana]

Thanks for the reviews everyone! I would have liked to go except there was some "technical difficulties" i.e. (I'm not 21, don't live near Hackensack, and would like to improve my skills by 500%) but still, it sounded like a lot of fun. :)

What kind of things did you do in the off ice classes? (Flexibility class, stregnth etc.)

[skateflo]

I would like to hear more about the off-ice classes specifically injury prevention.
Can anyone comment about what age group this camp seemed to focus on? Did they address any issues for the older skater (over 45 yr) or skaters who learned as adults?

What bothers me is that all the articles in Skating magazine focus on adult skaters who skated as kids and we know they have an advantage over the adult who learned as an adult over 30 yr. I feel they are alienating adults who learned as adults.

[jenlyon60]

Maybe someone should write an article on adults who started as adults (incorporate several different people) and submit it to USFSA for publication.

[sk8pics]

Originally posted by gardana
What kind of things did you do in the off ice classes? (Flexibility class, stregnth etc.)

We had what we called a "pretzel" class that was on stretching, and the instructor led us through about a 30 minute stretching routine. It was hard for me, even though I do stretch regularly, but people seemed to like it.

We also had a strength and conditioning class where the instructor had us warming up by bicycling on our backs while he talked about the importance of warming up, and then he showed us some exercises for our core as well as quads and hamstrings.

The off-ice jumping class, was, well, jumping! John had us first doing half revolution loop-type jumps and then trying full revolution jumps, and then the landing position exercise that I described previously.

Originally posted by skateflo
Can anyone comment about what age group this camp seemed to focus on? Did they address any issues for the older skater (over 45 yr) or skaters who learned as adults?
I wouldn't say there was a focus on any particular age group. The injury prevention talk dealt a lot with pronation and using orthotics. The physician who spoke also talked about other types of padding to use to prevent or relieve problems with your feet. It was all applicable to everyone, no matter when you started skating.

and more by skateflo
What bothers me is that all the articles in Skating magazine focus on adult skaters who skated as kids and we know they have an advantage over the adult who learned as an adult over 30 yr. I feel they are alienating adults who learned as adults.
I understand your point about the articles, but I would not say this was true of the coaches at the camp. The coaches were encouraging and happy for any progress made. They took us where we were and encouraged us to go further.

But maybe in future camps when the application is created, there should be a space for indicating whether you skated as a child. A bronze level skater who skated as a child definitely has an advantage over a bronze leve skater who did not. But with the camps, it's nice to be in a group that challenges you. I think you can learn more that way, as long as you're not in too far over your head!

Pat

[flo]

Hi,
Jenny and Skate flo - I have heard that comment from several skaters - particularly in the coverage of Adult Nationals - year after year the magazine focus has been on the returning skaters. I have sent my comments to the magazine and USFSA, and I also recently wrote an article - with great contributions from this forum, on the topic of adult and returning skaters. The returning skaters and the adults are pretty much in agreement - there's room for all types of skaters in the adult program. It's getting the USFSA to figure this out that's the problem.

[Debbie S]

Originally posted by sk8pics

I wouldn't say there was a focus on any particular age group. The injury prevention talk dealt a lot with pronation and using orthotics. The physician who spoke also talked about other types of padding to use to prevent or relieve problems with your feet. It was all applicable to everyone, no matter when you started skating.


I'd be interested to know what was said about the pronation and orthotics issue. I pronate, and recently got new SP-Teris. My blades were mounted on the inner part of the soles to compensate, but I feel like I'm still leaning inside on my left skate. Of course, it could be b/c I'm still breaking them in, and it might improve. But it does worry me. I'm wondering if I need to have an orthotic made for that foot (if it's possible to have an orthotic on only one foot). And of course, my skates have already been made, so I'm not sure where the orthotic would fit in - I know it's recommended to have them built into your skates, right?

[LoopLoop]

Debbie, my feet pronate too and I have SP Teris without orthotics. They offer a special insole which lifts your foot under the arch and moves some of the weight to the outside of the foot. I have custom boots, but the insole can be ordered for stock boots too (and it doesnt' have to be ordered with the boots, you can get it later); I think it just replaces the standard insole. In my old skates (Riedells) I used to need the blades mounted all the way to the inside, but with these insoles my blades are very close to the center of the sole.

[gardana]

Did the physician talk about how to reduce foot/ankle pain? This one of the problems I tend to have with skating.

The powerstroking class with John and Peter sounded like a lot of fun.

The flexibility class with Tatiana(I believe she's Artur's wife) sounded hard, but I actually like flexing (I know its weird.)

[sk8pics]

Originally posted by Debbie S
I'd be interested to know what was said about the pronation and orthotics issue. I pronate, and recently got new SP-Teris. My blades were mounted on the inner part of the soles to compensate, but I feel like I'm still leaning inside on my left skate. Of course, it could be b/c I'm still breaking them in, and it might improve. But it does worry me. I'm wondering if I need to have an orthotic made for that foot (if it's possible to have an orthotic on only one foot). And of course, my skates have already been made, so I'm not sure where the orthotic would fit in - I know it's recommended to have them built into your skates, right?

Hmnn... I'm trying to remember. The presenter showed different types of inserts and said something like it's better to have a foot specialist build your orthotic than have the boot manufacturer build one into your boot for you, because what the boot manufacturer does is more limited. He also mentioned the whole moving-the-blade thing. But I think what you do is take out the insole that's already in your skate and replace it with an orthotic. I think they can make them quite thin and still be effective, depending of course on your particular problem. I don't pronate myself, so I wasn't listening as if my feet depended on it!;)

That's about all I can remember. I think a sports podiatrist type person is probably the best person to talk to about any issues.

Pat

[Debbie S]

Thanks sk8pics and LoopLoop!

I'll see how the breaking in goes with my skates. When I go back to get my blades permanently mounted, I'll ask the people at the store about an insole vs. orthotic. I would imagine the insole would be cheaper, and since I'm going to be a student for the next 2 years, I want to limit my expenses. Of course, I would also like to be able to spin properly.

Btw, congrats on your Ches Open performance, LoopLoop! Like mikawendy, I was held up at show rehearsal in Abingdon and couldn't make it to Mt. Pleasant in time.

[sk8pics]

Originally posted by gardana
Did the physician talk about how to reduce foot/ankle pain? This one of the problems I tend to have with skating.
Sort of. He talked about all sorts of little gel pad like things and had examples of each. But I don't remember him talking about any exercises or anything like that. If you're talking about your feet getting sore from being in your skates, that will get better with time (or maybe you need better skates!) but if it's something else, maybe you need to see a doctor or a good boot fitter. Actually, I used to have some ankle pain myself but it's completely gone away since I lost some weight. (14 lbs. and counting!)

more from gardana
The powerstroking class with John and Peter sounded like a lot of fun.
I had the powerstroking class with Tamara and Igor and it was a lot of fun, too.

and more from gardana
The flexibility class with Tatiana(I believe she's Artur's wife) sounded hard, but I actually like flexing (I know its weird.)
I like stretching, too, but this was on a floor that was too hard for me and there were no (or not enough) mats for us to use. There were a few mats at the side, but she didn't offer any to us and no one else seemed bothered. But it really prevented me from doing everything I would have liked.

Pat

[skaternum]

Originally posted by flo
... I have heard that comment from several skaters - particularly in the coverage of Adult Nationals - year after year the magazine focus has been on the returning skaters. ... The returning skaters and the adults are pretty much in agreement - there's room for all types of skaters in the adult program. It's getting the USFSA to figure this out that's the problem.

I agree wholeheartedly. If I read one more returning skater article I may go ape. I think they need a better balance. I'm glad you wrote to them. I may do the same.

Even worse, in my opinion, is the bizarre preoccupation with how So-and-so overcame (choose one: cancer, broken bones, pneumonia, old age, etc.) to skate again. It's not that I don't respect the subjects of these stories. Each one individually is very touching. It's just that there seem to be so many of them. I just find it a little ... uh ... sick that the editors keep focusing on these types of "human interest stories." I think there are lots of stories about interesting adult skaters; they don't all have to include a chapter on overcoming some horrible illness or accident.

[skateflo]

Thanks Skaternun and others that validated my perception about Skating articles. Those of us that started at a later age faced many issues not the least of which was the scorn of others for even attempting such an activity at our 'age.'

There was a thread about a year ago that also remarked about how AN has changed since its inception - while still a fabulous experience - increasingly the top spots are being taken by skaters returning to the sport and 'late bloomers' are further down the list. I'm sure that has discouraged some from even thinking of participating in AN. I would love to know if the USFSA even has valid statistics on how many of the adult skaters are testing, how many participate in competitions - what percentage is this of all the adult skaters, and has it changed over the past 8 years.

Some adults are just naturally more competitive than others, have more time and money to put toward their skating, and advance more quickly. I don't think the USFSA has realized the impact that returning skaters are having on the adult learner. My coach and I talked about that just last night. She wants me to test and I say no, but that is another story....part of saying 'no' is that I am in an area that has very few adult skaters and lack of encouragement and support from the Club test chair for adult skaters just really soured me.

I've often wanted to go to a camp like this one that just happened - but I'm not a tester or competitor so just didn't know where I would fit in. Sadly, my rink won't do anything at all for adults......they are happy with the morning skaters - the lucky ones without jobs, etc.

Sorry to sound so sour - I'm sure across the country there are wonderful clubs that support adult skaters - just none around here. And I know that I am not alone in struggling to do it alone....

[sk8pics]

Originally posted by skateflo

I've often wanted to go to a camp like this one that just happened - but I'm not a tester or competitor so just didn't know where I would fit in.

I don't think that would have been an issue in the case of this camp. There was one woman in my group who hadn't tested but must have either put some description of her skill level or talked to someone, either in advance or the first day. She fit in just fine with my pre-bronze group, and the bronze group with which we had a lot of our classes.

Pat

[skateflo]

Thanks Pat! Perhaps I will plan on attending a camp next year and work on my shyness in the meantime.....