I've noticed people using that term around here? What exactly does it mean? Does it refer to age? Or to skill level? Or just general speed and flow?

Is it a bad thing to look like an adult skater? How else can one look if you are an adult?

The "look" is the result of learning how to skate after you've grown up, and it is that you skate like a beginning skater--ie, head down, slow speed, probably little or no extension, toe pushes, hesitant--but at the same time because of your 'grown up' body people think you should look like a polished skater who's been on the ice all their life.

Look at the Basic 1-4 kids skating around your rink--then picture *that* style/quality of skating on an adult body, & you'll see what I mean. That would be 'looking like an adult skater.'

So while it's perfectly normal to have that 'look', sometimes people use it in a derogatory way, I think who may not understand how difficult skating is, and how long it takes to develop all that polish that you see in the higher level kids! The adults at the higher levels don't tend to have that look so much, if at all, anymore, but it takes years of hard work to get there.

I also think it takes longer (in general) for adult learners to lose that "look" because they don't typically get the opportunity for as much practice time as the kids do, and I really believe it's harder to learn skating as an adult than as a child. Or maybe it's that children who aren't naturally gifted tend to quit after a year or two, while an adult will keep on because they love it so much, regardless of whether there is God-given talent there or not!

Looking like an adult skater to me means that you don't have soft knees like the kids. When an adult comes back to skating who skated as a kid, it's obvious. They have more speed, flow and ankle flexing. I've seen some adults who skate like kids, but when I see a former kid skater, I can tell.
The bests compliment I ever received from my coach is that I did something that didn't look "like an adult". It's not a bad thing--it just IS. Enjoy yourself and don't worry about what category you fall into---

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I agree with the other responses, and I'll add that it also includes simply looking uncomfortable on the ice. Stiff. Not at ease.

I REALLY don't want to launch another debate about whether people who started as adults can be good skaters, or the differences between adults who started as kids vs. those who started as adults, however ... I don't think there's anything unusual about an adult looking like an "adult skater." I will add, though, that just because it's common doesn't mean it's a something to be satisfied with. Yes, we all look like that at some point, but the key to adult skating is twofold: (1) Strive to be the best skater you can be, just like the kids do and work hard to achieve that goal. Aim for skating like a Senior lady. (2) But don't beat yourself up if you don't look or skate like a 15 year old who's been skating for a decade!

My goal as a skater has always been to be the best I can be. And yes, I didn't want to look like "an adult skater". No, this isn't a bad thing, I AM an adult skater. However, I want to look like a SKATER. Like Novice Sprirals the best compliments I have recieved in skating are when skating parents, fellow skaters and even COACHES have taken me as a previous child skater. In fact an old coach used to tell me I skated like a child not an adult.......at the time I wasn't sure I liked this but now I know it as the compliment it was ment to be. I'd like to think I skate like a child now but with a little maturity. =-)

Chico

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."

To me, adult skater is someone who is older than a junior, and not on the competitive circuit deliberately or by design. So that would in my mind include skaters who were competitive as teens, and became more casual skaters as they got older, skaters who started as teens (a big group here in Australia) and those who started as adults.

I started as a teen (14) but quit when I went to graduate school. So I didnt' really start as a kid either. I'm starting again at 26, I sure feel like an adult. My knees are not what they used to be!!

I look like an adult skater -- I am one. I fully recognize that I'm not comfortable out there at any speed faster than slow. I'm working on it. It's not a bad thing, it's just where I am right now.

When I say I don't want to look like an adult skater, I'm actually saying that I want deep, fast flowing edges. I want to look secure, graceful and powerful. I just don't yet. It's just faster to say that I don't want to look like an adult skater -- lurching over every ripple in the ice, stiff-kneed and wobbly. It's especially frustrating to me because I was a dancer for 15 years and studied martial arts for 4. I AM graceful and sure-footed -- when the floor isn't frozen. It's such a natural response for me that when I push on the floor, it pushes back -- it's doesn't make me slide like the ice does. It's hard to re-train my brain that the slidy feeling is OK.

As someone who didn't start skatig until I was asily an adult, I can really say that I am proud to have decided one day that I would try ice skating -- something I'd never done before and had virtually NO experience with. It's not an easy sport to learn and I think it takes guts to just walk into a rink one day and give it a shot.

I have gotten one compliment that completely blew me away. I was back on the ice for the first time since having my son and was feeling terribly un-coordinated and even more clumsy than normal when a public skater approached me and told me that I was the fastest skater she'd ever seen. And she wasn't joking! It was then that I realized how far I'd come -- even if I don't jump or spin yet (darn fear!!) and I was all unbalanced and scrapy at the time. Small steps!

Luckily, though I started at 47 1/2, I am told by many I look comfy on the ice. I guess that's something.

I agree with you. I am NOT satisfied with what I see on video, whether it be in practice, in competition, or from a show. I am striving to be the best skater I can be. My goal has been from the outset to cover the ice with speed, flow, grace, and hopefully some power, despite my age. I think this is possible. I push myself to test dance and Adult track, as if nothing else, having a goal hones at least specific skills.

In any event, it is why I push myself, and why, though skating is fun and a hobby, I take it seriously. I never know when I may no longer be able to skate. The reason may have nothing to do with me. So I value this experience, and my ice time. Also, when I began skating, I had no lessons except six weeks of group lessons. Then quite a while with nothing, only skating two hours a week, due to work. When I did start private lessons, I only had one a month. That was the first four years of my skating life. And I've skated now for seven. I think I'm just starting to make progress now.

Our rink is hosting Pacific Coast Sectionals this week. It gives one a certain perspective. When an acquaintance I hadn't seen in two years greeted me (her daughter used to compete regularly), and asked me "How is your skating going?", I replied, "Well, I'm an adult."

Janet, www.geocities.com/e_sk8r

Hey Janet,

Did you get my E-mail response about the space for videos? I haven't heard back from you and since one of your previous responses went missing mysteriously, I figured I should ask...

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

Yes, sent you an e-mail response also just now...hoping you receive.....it worked GREAT! I've got all the stuff I wanted to post for now there and people are able to view them without trouble! I've received quite a few helpful hints as a result, which are always welcome. Thank you again!

Hmm, I got your message, but I tried to reply and couldn't:
Remote host said: 511 sorry, no mailbox here by that name (#5.1.1 - chkuser)
Are you checking the sk8rland.com email too? Why don't you have private messages on this forum enabled? I feel kinda bad for hijacking this thread, sorry!

Ahh well, glad you got it all sorted, I watched a few of your videos, good work!! Let me know if you need anything else.

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

I agree w/ what has been said about looking like an "adult skater". IMO, the primary problem is not spending enough time working on basic skills that will give the adult the qualities typically lacking. These include speed, flow, carriage, deep edges, etc. By simply working on stroking, xovers (back and forward), dance steps, etc.; the adult can greatly improve these areas that tend to pigeonhole us. When I skate, I spend at least as much time on basics as jumps and spins. Over the yrs, I have become very fast and powerful.

Kay

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I agree with Kayskate 100%

As an adult skater I have worked very hard on the basics of cross overs (all directions) and am quite secure in those and have nice speed. I am less secure but feel vindicated that I can do an impression of a combination jump: waltz / toe. Which is more than what most will venture to do for the first time at 40 something.

My rink has a small but pretty supportive adult program. All of us started in the basics skills Adult 1-4. We have progressed at various rates but seem to have different strengths. I am now in FS 4, there are others in 5 & 6. Due to the number of people (4) we are all in the same class. The instructor spends 10 minutes of each class focussing on cross overs and edges of such. I have found that those who rushed through some of the more basic elements still struggle with these but they have the more advanced "tricks".

(edited for spelling)

I am sure we look like "adult skaters" but nobody makes fun of us!

I think you can look uncomfortable on the ice no matter your age... I see skaters from 6-60 doing crossovers without knee bends, looking stiff etc.

I took one class that helped enormously in fixing the basics - Annie Schelter's stroking class. I'd been skating a couple of years by then but didn't have big knee bends. By the end of the class things were much improved.

So I would suggest if you think you look/feel a little unsure with the basics, see if you can get a stroking class from someone, or work on crossover drills for a few sessions with a friend, and nothing else.

I agree with Tessie! My coach has worked with me on crosscuts, again and again, I take stroking class with the kids and am always last but I keep trying to improve my power and that's where I'm getting my compliments (you fit in with the kids). I can also do a very nice toe/toe or sal/toe combination out of fast crosscuts. So me too, I can "fake it" with fast crosscuts and a combo (learned at age 43 btw) and not look like an adult skater. However, if asked to do a flip or loop or sitspin, or lunges, then I show my age because I'm all arms and legs with those things, just like a kid would be but it looks weird on me.

That's my measuring stick, is the sitspin. I'm determined to get it lower, smoother and faster, and then I feel I'd look less awkward new-adult skater.

Like Madonna's song Like A Virgin.

I was skating almost non-stop for 5 years when I had to do a huge hockey stop last June do to my herniated discs. I am now forced to relearn what I know I can already do but I'm just so stiff. I feel like that Virgin Madonna keeps trying to say she is. LOL I can't get that low anymore (arthritis). My mind is willing but the body is just not snapping back into shape. I feel old when I first step onto the ice. It takes me a about 6 laps before I'm warmed up enough to even attempt anything. I also just bought new boots and blades too. So, they are breaking me in. I need to have the mounting finalized, re sharped with a deeper hollow and several spots need to be punched out. I'm not comfortable on the ice at the moment. I'm also thinking in the back of my mind, that I can't fall down. So I'm hesitant until I trick my mind into thinking like I'm skating pre-injured pre-Feb. 14 2005. I know that I will get injured more if I skating hesitantly then if I really go for everything I try whole heartedly.

The hockey stop is not what did it too me. It's just a term I used in my writing.

It will be a while before I can even think of competing again but for now, it's one small edge at a time on my way back to being competitive again.

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"It's not age that determines but the heart." "Skating is not just a sport for the young but it's a passion for the soul of the young at heart." Brigitte Laskowski

I am a nomadic adult skater who is a member of Windsor FSC (Skate Windsor) WOS SC again since Sept. 1st, 2008.

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My rink has the same set-up and we have about 5 in our "adult" class!!! We have just started working on pre-bronze/bronze/silver moves (whatever she feels like throwing at us).

The nice thing to remember is....we are on the icy side of the glass, while the other adults at the rink are on the other side of the glass (in the lobby)!!!!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Hi Gang

Regarding what is an Adult skater.

I have had the pleasure to skate at iceworks PA for the past 3 years.
During that time the support of the club, the coaches and the rink staff have been out standing to say the least. Our adults are very lucky to have the ice when it is needed for practice and to run our annual competition and ice shows. The rink staff are very supportive of us all and we tend to help each other out. Today I got a lot of good advice from 13 year old Laurin who is on her way to Junior nationals. She is a wonderful skater but has always taken the time to give me a tip out of the blue to help my jumps or spins and it has been a great help to me.

The support of my coaches have always inspired my love for the ice, even when Im having a bad day, they do not ignore the adults. I have been an adult skater in one strange way or another for over 23 years. Adult skaters are people who want to express them selves in ways they may only have dreamed about as children, but are now given the chance to make it all happen. Some wish to win medals , some to entertain and others feel that great sence of accomplishment by passing a test.

I hope you will all find what brings you joy as an Adult Skater, Im not convinced it has anything to do with how you look as an adult but of how you feel when you have accomplished your goals , no matter how big or small that may be... have fun and skate..

I have an idea. Since several posters have so eloquently described what constitutes the "adult skater" image, I think we are all clear that the "adult skater" look is really that of a "beginning skater." So why don't we all start changing the terminology? Whenever someone uses the term "adult skater" to mean a stiff, hesitant skater with poor flow over the ice, why don't we make a point of saying, "You mean a beginning skater?" I will be the first to commit to the new terminology!

Hee, hee. That makes me a beginner of 7 years now!

While I was skating on patch this morning, the mum of one of our coaches was sat on the side. When I came back to the barrier to grab a tissue, she asked me if I skated as a child as I skated fast. I was pretty chuffed with that since I was well into my 20s when I started and I told her so. I always feel like I skate like an adult, so it was nice that for one moment someone thought different!

Nicki

I am not an adult skater by the rules everyone seems to use because I skated for three years as a child. But there are many skaters today who started as an adult who are fantastic skaters and skate rings around us former child skaters. Just look at those who placed in the top three in all areas of Adult Nationals. There were many skaters who started as an adult and skated very, very well.
Yes, I think it's harder to start skating as an adult. It was extremely difficult for me to start skating again as an adult. It was easy when I was a kid, but now it's a big challenge everyday. But I agree with Ross. This terminology has got to change. Let's stop using the term "adult skater" when we really mean a "beginning skater" and let's all just start trying to be good skaters. I think it is sad that the term "adult skater" has become a bad term, it should be a good one for all of us who are an adult and skate.

Only if you're okay referring to someone who's been skating for 10+ years as a "beginning skater!" Because that's what you'd have to do. Many adult-onset skaters never really lose the "look" of hesitance, discomfort, and poor flow.

For example, I've been skating for 10 years now (minus 6 months here and there for various injuries/surgeries). I'm 41, and I consider myself a good adult skater. I voluntarily started testing standard track moves before the Adult Committee ever even thought of the (horrible IMNSHO) idea of mandatory adult moves. I work on my basic skating. I'm at the Silver level. I generally place well in competitions (almost always medal, sometimes final round at AN, etc.) And yet ... if you put me on the ice with a 41 year old who started as a kid and asked us to do the same things, I almost guarentee you could tell who of us was adult-onset and who wasn't. And I can say the same for most other adult skaters. (Yes, I know. There are always exceptions to the rule. I'm not asking for a list of fabulous adult-onset skaters everyone may personally know. I'm generalizing on purpose.) But I think it's safe to say that there is typically a difference. No matter how long we skate, most of us adult-onset skaters will always look different.

Personally, I don't have a problem with that. So what if I look like an adult skater. I am an adult skater. I'm still going to push myself to be the best skater I can be.

I accept that I am an adult skater (started at 46) and over the years have wished I had more time and money to make my body on the ice look more 'natural.' I wonder if there was more research, articles, off-ice seminars, local classes designed specifically for the adult learner that some of the stiffness, etc. would be reduced. There is a big gap in the exercise/ballet world between young supple bodies and those riddled with arthritis. Realistically, off-ice exercises, ballet, etc. focus on the less than 30 yr. group, if you can even find them. Teachers are so focused on the young that even finding one that understands the physiology of the more mature body and can prescribe and guide us is sooo needed. It may take longer to attain the fluidity and flexibility but the joy with the result would be boundless! I just know I could do better if I had the right instructor.......

OK, point taken. I kind of like your term, "adult onset" skater (even though it does sound somewhat like a disease, LOL!)