Will you guys stop settlin and get your grove back on! After all, there's nothing luckwarm, room temperature, or mediocure about skating. If you wanna settle then take up golf--nothing sexy about that game! Anyway, you made a decision to get on the ice as oppossed to being a couch potatoe for the rest of your life, so you're half way there! Just get the right attire, which this thread is about, pump some iron, have a little confidence about how great you look and feel and get back on the ice!

2SalcOw and Pairsman2 are awsome examples of mature male figure skaters who dress well on the ice, and are totally drop-dead gorgeous! Hey, you should see the abs on Oleg Protopopov, and he's in his 70's! He's absolutely stunning on the ice (I don't want to hear the garbage about he's an Olympian.) He just really works on it, has a positive attitude about it, and never gives up.
To all you mature male figure skaters out there wish we had more!

Oh, Nova and TimDavid are gorgeous, too, but on the young side still...they have a few more years before the gray comes in and qualifies them for drop-dead gorgeous mature male figure skater status!

Oh, and FigureSkates, you're nothing to sneeze at either...why do you think I was hangin around you up in Lake Placid? You thought it was the "figures!" Ha ha ha ha!

What am I Lovepairs? Chopped liver?

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Why are you skating so slowly? Get out of my way!

If you skate faster, it makes everything look better!

Lovepairs, you made my day!

On the other hand I still remember some commercial (for man's cologne??) where this buff grey haired guy takes off his shirt at the pool and all the women sigh longingly and he struts up to the pool and dives in making a big bellyflop, shattering the image.

Maybe I should just hang out at the rink and stay off the ice, LOL. Kinda like the snowbunnies we would make fun of when we went skiing.
Lyle

MusicSkate Sweetheart,

I don't even know who you are, so how am I supposed to know if you are chopped liver, or caviar? Send picture please!

Arthritis,

You would make my day if you got your lovely pair skating a** on the Adult Pair Skating website. I remember that commercial! It's just a choice--nothing more and nothing less. I'll tell you what Oleg Protopopov told me: He said that he reached a point in his life (past middle age) where he realized that there were just two roads to take. Either the road to the cemetary (where all of his friends were headed), or the road to the ice, where he would find excersize, good eating, and longevity. He LOVES skating with Ludmilia, so he took the road to the ice! It's as simple as a choice

I think that commercial was actually for some medication (Lipitor or Zocor) used to treat high cholesterol. The message was that some people, no matter good they are with their eating or excercising habits, could still have high cholesterol.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

Hey! That commercial could be ME in real life. (For someone as fit as I am, I am borderline high on the cholestorol levels...THAT SUCKS!!! )

MSF!!! We want pictures with you in tights!!! WOO HOO!!! Sho' yer booty!!! Shake dat money maker for the camera!!! (lovepairs: From what pictures I've seen of MSF... he's quite easy on the eyes! Definitely looks physically strong enough to make an excellent pairs guy outta him!!! LOL!!! )

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

MSF is physically strong enough, for sure... he and I can do a very nice off-ice press lift. But I don't know if he's crazy enough to take up pairs.

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Where are those knives when I need them?
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I need a detachable left foot!

I hope he takes up pairs--I will need someone to pass the Loops torch to! Keep "pressing" him on the issue.

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

Totally agree! Handsomeness prevails when there are men with toe-picks on ice. I would nearly have to go see my chiropractor every week due to whip-lash! ... Oooo, how did I end up here? ...never been in the men's locker room before.... I'm leaving now.....

Music,

What the h*ll are you waiting for???

Sk8pdx,

No, stay...the men's locker room is the place to be! The girl's is way too crowded, so I always change in the men's locker room. The last time I got to see TF's (you have to quess who) lovely skating hinny in the buff!!! My favorite guy in the men's locker room is Eli, who is my hero, because he's still at it!

Hey, everyone...don't you think there should always be a co-ed locker room at competitions for pairs and dance teams? I know they have them at some, but not at all (sometimes there are space limitations.) Hmmm, if there are space limitations, maybe all of the locker rooms should be co-ed, and one for woman who don't wanna mix with the men. Then we'd all have some really decent room for changing (you skating men out there don't really know how impossibly crowded it gets in the girl's locker room; you can hardly turn around.) Anyway, we are all ADULTS (right?) so why not have all locker rooms be co-ed except for one? You guys wouldn't mind if some of us come over to your side, right? Think of it this way...it will be a further insentive to you to get out there and pump more iron!

Actually, I was in the locker room when you, er, invaded it.

And Eli was NOT at all happy about you barging in there like that.

Please make sure you check with all the male competitors.
Just because YOU think you can go wherever you want does not make it correct. >>off soap box<<

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Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.
"Do what you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
-Haha, I've *arrived*! I am listed as a reference on Wikipedia.

To answer your question, IMO a co-ed locker room is not needed at every comp. More ladies' locker rooms is definitely a stronger need.

As a skating coach, I'm more concerned about inappropriate behavior than you would be because you're an "adult." I have to worry about young children, whose safety is my first concern. I would ask you to leave if I had male students in the men's locker room.

Frankly, you are sounding more and more like a voyeur, not a competitor. I think the men should start looking for hidden cameras when you're around. LOL

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LovePairs, you crack me up!
Unfortunately women changing in my locker room could make my sitspin even more difficult

BTW when asked who were my favorite skaters were I replied "the Protopopovs" and none of the kids had even heard of them. When I was little, I used to love watching them on TV, now I get to skate too.
Lyle

I don't know. We may all be adults here, but I'm sure there are more than a few guys out there (besides Eli or NoVa) that would like keeping a certain amount of modesty and privacy. *ahem* (I certainly expect the same extended to me if the situation were reversed...)

I'm all for an extra changing room (or 5) for us ladies though. I agree it's way too crowded!!! I avoid this sitation so far by being in my skating clothes and wear my skating club warm up suit (with zip away pants) over the dress and tights before I leave for the competition rink. (I don't want to pull my custom dress over my "maded up" face anyway!) The dressing room then comes nothing more than 1) a place for me to put on my skates and 2) a place to store my stuff while I'm competing.

That said... this reminds me of when I was in the ladies dressing room getting my skates on with a couple of women who were changing their clothes. My primary coach knocked on the outside and asked if I was "decent." I was, but before I had a chance to answer the other women already yelled out "Jay, c'mon in already! You're ONE OF US!!!" He still wouldn't go in though until I yelled that it was okay to come in.

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Since when are young boys at Adult Competitions? Besides, the adults and kids share locker rooms all over the country. We share with the kids at two rinks we skate at, one of which has Jonny Weir in it, and they are both co-ed and we all get along and no one has problems. In fact, management at both rinks put us in these locker rooms.

Eli and I happen to be friends and he knows I'm a great fan of his, and I asked him if it was okay if I was in the locker room, and he said it was "okay." So, unless he tells me differently, I'll assume he has no problems with me being in there. If all the men don't want me in their locker room then just tell me and I'll leave. I, on the other hand, have no problem with any man, or woman coming into the space I'm changing in for a competition. I consider myself an Adult and can handle such innocuous things.

You know what's wrong with this chat space, and has been wrong with it ever since I've been in it: any time anyone is having just the smallest bit of fun, or laughing on these threads, there is always someone there to take the fun out of it. Thanks Nova, and thanks IS8NYC for your really great sense of humor and playfulness--much appreciated!

Getting this back on topic a bit:
I wear LL Bean men's running tights. I order them one size too big, cause I'm sort of modest. The cuffs have zippers and rubber non-slip areas so that they stay over my boots. And they have pockets to hold handkerchiefs, gloves, lip balm, etc.

As to ladies coming into the men's locker room: it can be a bit un-nerving the first few times. Actually at the 2002 AN, Jay brought several of his admirers into the locker room just as I was changing. No one asked if it was OK, they just came in.

But, in Europe things are much different. Most locker rooms are co-ed, as Europeans don't have the same hangs up that we in North America do.

Rob

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Geriatric Figure Skating Crew - President for Life!
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"I'm too old to die young, and too smart to be happy" - Kinky Friedman, The Mile High Club

2010 Adult Nationals - earning a gold - "Priceless"
2009 Adult Nationals - competing with a cold is not much fun.
2008 Adult Nationals - Too little sleep, too much vodka!

I like taking the approach that Rob stated, in more ways then one.

More on menswear, (or any ice wear). Synthetics made to wick moisture are an absolute essential on the ice. If you can't stay dry, you'll never stay warm. I happen to like almost everything made by Nike. A lot of the Under Armor stuff feels a little clammy to me. Some wicking fabrics are made to wick and also cool, others to wick and warm. Quite frankly, it's hard to tell unless you try it because much of it isn't labled for either.

Also back to the locker room discussion. [ Please step into the conceptual room with me for a moment] Yes, the European's have something different going on and I think they're much more mature about it at least on this subject. The coed thing is not so much about privacy and consent [although these are important], as it is about accepting your body image. It's an internal battle. Anyone who's ever been involved with 'naturism', (nudist resorts or beaches) would understand that the body isn't a digusting thing, and in that context, it has nothing to do with what is commonly accepted as 'beauiful bodies'. It's about accepting who and what you are and how you maintain it. If that self image is flawed, that equals shame. It's curious that the mens locker room should all a sudden become such a modest hideout. I think any man that has ever gone to a strip club, looked at porn or otherwise gazed on fm nudty, public or private, would be pretty hipocritical to draw the line when there own male nudity is involved. I can't imagine that there are too many 'innocent' ones here. The ice of all places is a venue that celebrates the beauty and genius of very exposed bodies, nearly nude in fact, particularly for some of the women, and this ironically in a very cold place where 'function' would dictate that everyone should be wearing more clothes. Outfits are unusally designed to show off maximum body surface, muscle functions and line. These things are certainly worthy of discussion and are applicable to how we view our body and allow others to view it as well.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I actually did find some nice tights in the women's section at a sporting goods store, but as was mentioned, the problem is that the crotch seems to be cut for a woman and that makes it bunch up on me. Maybe I can find some kind of shorts to wear over, without looking too much like a hockey player.

I do wear pants sometimes (neither my spirals nor ballet jumps come anywhere near making this a danger yet)! But somehow I'd like something that says "sporty" rather than "elegant" or "overdressed".

Lots to look at given your suggestions though.

Locker-rooms: pro-athletes have women reporters come-in all the time (do men go into womens locker-rooms I wonder?). It wouldn't be an issue if you don't make it one. But with kids around, mixed-age competitions, and mixed-use facilities where freestyles and hockey go on simultaneously on different rinks, it's a different thing.

As for guys looking hot on the ice -- it's all in the skating. Good skaters, whatever they might be wearing, or however they may look physically, just make an exquisite impression when they're on the ice. Now the good news here is that as age may slowly take away from sheer physical pulchritude, for many of us who took up skating as adult, skill will improve, and at a faster rate!

In addition to that, what about considering the feelings of skater's significant others? I'm sure, acutally positive that skating "spouses" or significant others would be very uncomfortable if they heard "their other half" was sharing a locker room with a member of the opposite sex.

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

You know what. It's not about nudity, or voyuerism, which, by the way, was a very extreme and insulting insinuation, because it's so cold that I don't think I've ever seen anyone totally naked in a locker room (men, women, or kids for that matter.) People tend to change in layers and parts. But that's not even the point. The point is that there is something really suspiscious going on in this forum: anytime a topic gets either really "fun," "interesting," or "complicated" it gets shut down in one way, or another.

Having said that, let me tell you the truth. I'm simply more comfortable around the men then I am around the woman when I'm getting ready to compete, and prefere the men's locker room. There is a "calm" and "steadiness" in the men's locker room that really helps me relax and get my competitive nerves together, plus it's important for me to be with my partner right before we go on. In contrast, the woman's locker room has this franetic buzz going on that's like white noise, and it's very hard for me to consentrate and relax when I'm in there. I'm better to be around men right before taking the ice.

Okay, I think I'll check out the nudist beach this summer. I wouldn't mind being in a place where I can feel really good about my body without having to be Heidi Klum, and be really warm (for a change.) Wouldn't it be nice, I mean really nice, if we could all feel really great about our bodies without all that garbage that the media throws at us about what a "perfect" body for both men and women should look like. Maybe the Europeans know something we don't know.

Here here! When it really comes down to it, nobody's "perfect" and everyone's preferences varies. I really hate that so many people are constantly in a depressed and broke rut because they buy into the media telling them they need to buy buy buy 13092590328 products to try to look like something else. Individuality is fought so hard. Anything one does that's not mainstream (and even much of what is) is constantly questioned and put down and it's just so disgusting. People just need to figure out who they are, be themselves, and be happy. Nothing matters except what you think of yourself.

Well some things may be more commonly accepted in Europe but it's still not the norm there. The rest of the world is becoming more and more Americanized as time goes on too...

I wonder sometimes when/if the world will magically become a sane place where everyone is content with who they are.

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"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
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I know what you mean. It's just some people are more of the European point of view and they're more comfortable with being open with nudity! All I'm saying is that in my case, if the situation were reversed and the men don't have enough locker rooms and needed to change in the women's locker room, I *personally* would not feel comfortable sharing a locker room with a man b/c all the men's locker rooms are filled and would prefer they respect my privacy and letting me keeping some sense of modesty for me. But I know some that don't really care about ummm.... "letting it all hang out!!!" It's ALL about respecting one's personal space when all is said and done.

WOW!!! That is weird! I guess he was very distracted or something...

I've talked to my "better half" about it. He said "Mmmmm... NOT a good idea!!!" with this look that tells 'ya he strongly disapproves of it but is trying to be nice about it. (And I know that look to know to "abandon all thoughts of the idea" when I get that look...)

Last but not least...
Hmmmm? Something is NOT quite right about it.

__________________
Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

Jazz,

The only thing that's not quit right with it is in your head. I've always been a big fan of Eli's, and am the one clapping the loudest at the end of his performances, because he's what it's about, which is "never giving up!" About what Nova said: that day in Ashburn, I went in the men's locker room, asked Eli if it was okay if I was in there, he said, "yes," so I stayed. I had a nice conversation with him, and zipped him up. So, I provided a dual function--friendship and seamstress!

I'll be emailing Tim Fisher this afternoon, asking him if it is possible to provide a co-ed locker room for Dance and Pair Teams and whom ever else would like to join the teams for a calm changing environment at the New Year's Invitational. I will be working alongside Andrea Rea on the 2007 Halloween Classic and make sure that a Co-ed locker room is provided there, too. Usually, at Nationals they do have a changing room for the teams, but I'll email Les Ascher, too, to make sure that one is available in Chicago.

Wick and warm, very correct. At the risk of being overly repetitious, look no farther than cross country ski pants. SportHill makes very warm pants made of a stretchy fabric that is not too conforming. The inside of the fabric is like chamois (sp?). The legs have long zippers at the bottom and are meant to go over x-c ski boots. They work great over skate boots as well. I have considered adding a velcro stirrup to go outside and under the boot, but it just hasn't been necessary.

Let me find you a link. here's the home page:
http://www.sporthill.com/productentry.htm

Here are the pants I'm talking about:
http://www.sporthill.com/product.php...=2100&gender=m From here you can link right to LL Bean where they sell them for $89.00

Pockets are zippered and the material inside the pocket is black.

On top a long sleeved T-shirt covered with a Fitness Fleece Quarter Zip by LL Bean completes an extremely comfortable skating outfit for practice.
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...Search&feat=sr
If I begin to overheat, I take off the fitness fleece and wear just the T-shirt. I've been known to use poloshirts in warmer weather.


If I performed, I'd use the next lighter-weight X-C pant and whatever on top.

As for co-ed in the locker room, my wife would not approve. I do skate with a number of women and sharing a locker room with any of them wouldn't be an issue for me, but it wouild not make my home life pleasant.

And, as a general comment along the lines of Lovepairs observations, women who are figure skaters always make the room a lot warmer for me.

I've never found the women's dressing rooms to have any kind of overbearing atmosphere; it's usually very friendly with people who haven't seen each other for a while reconnecting. And there's always someone to zip up anyone who needs it, to help with a hair problem, whatever the issue... but I usually go in there *just* to change, I don't spend hours in there.

Even though I'm part of a pair team, I wouldn't use a coed dressing room.

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Where are those knives when I need them?
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I need a detachable left foot!