I started at age 27 and have skated for 8 years. I'm landing doubles now. Also, skating is SO much more fun than going to a gym and counting the minutes on a machine! Go for it!!

Ditto here (and I DO do BOTH too!!!)

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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!!!

I started figure skating one year ago at age 49. Of course I'm not ever going to do many things. So I have limitations.

Same with every one. We all have limitations, but we try to exceed them. That's the fun and challange of this and any sport.

So just have fun and see how far you can get.

Jon

I know what you mean crayonskater but don't let that stop you from enjoying what you want to do and having fun skating.

My first Holiday show I was in, I had skated only 2 1/2 months. I could barely do crossovers. The theme was "Skate a Gift". I skated a "gift" for my husband. The recipient of the gift was escorted to a decorated bench on the side of the ice and the skater would perform for them. That was 2 years ago. I am 36 now. While it may seem a little stupid or embarrasing for an adult to perfom at such a biginner level. I did not care what anyone else thought of my skill (or lack thereof). What mattered most was I was doing something unique for my husband. I told myself that no one is going to remember me or even care exept for the person that matters most which was my husband.

My program consisted of forward crossovers right and left, hockey gldes, 1 foot glides, a two foot spin (with only 1 1/2 revolutions) and a snow plow stop. I would have given anything to do a waltz jump!! Yes, getting through the beginning and feeling klutzy goes with the territory of gaining confidence. I figure it takes the same effort and brute mental and physical strenth to get through doubles someday.

I now have skater moms and dads that approach me and tell me how brave I am. (Yet I hate roller coaster rides ). They also tell me that they admire how I have persisted are impressed to see how far I have come along. They even tell me how graceful I look. (While I smile and say "thank you", I wonder what skater they were actually watching )

I can now land a decent waltz *hop* and a salchow. I am also working on an upright spin.

Talk to your coach and tell him or her what you are feeling.

This is your hobby Crayonskater. Make it everything you dream of!

I started skating at age 37, having only been on ice about 4 times in total in my entire life to that point. 6 years later I have medals from the British Adult Championships in both dance and Freeskating and have won cups in competitions. It may indeed be silly to start skating as an adult but who says silly is bad?????? It's great fun and it is whatever you make of it.

As for motivation - I've had a number of times where my motivation has been sadly lacking - sometimes after I've been injured, or like now when my wonderful coach has left and I'm finding it hard to even imagine skating with another coach.

But skating is so much fun and it's good to challenge yourself physically and mentally. The adults that keep skating tend to be those who take tests and/or compete, since these things give you something to work for - and such a great feeling afterwards!

So my suggestion would be to find out about testing from your local club or national organisation and see if that doesnt' give you something to motivate you. Skating is also more fun when you have a 'program' to practice rather than just practising elements in isolation.

Also it took me about 3 years to get a decent 1 foot spin with all of 3 revs - but now I can consistently get about 13 revs on a fast scratch spin (i.e with free foot crossed in front of skating leg) and do a respectable sit spin. At your tender age it will probably be much quicker for you (also I didnt' practice spins much at the beginning as I started out doing just dance).

Happy Skating!

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

WOW

OH! Thank you, Batikat. It has taken me a whole year just to lift the free foot out of a 2 foot spin. You give me great hope and have been encouraging.

Thank you Crayonskater for posting this thread, it has been encouraging for everyone.

OK, I guess I've been too harsh on myself for not being able to get past 5-6 revs within a few months! But I will get the wicked thing, whatever it takes, and the sit, and the backspin, little by little....

batikat, you look really great on ice and certainly are an inspiration!

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My other car is a Zamboni

Aw shucks! I need the blushing smiley now!!

Thanks for the kind comments - but I should probably point out that the British Adult Championships don't require any qualifications to compete there. However since it was open to level 2 and under (over 30) and I'm still level 1, I was thrilled to get a medal (bronze) this year, out of 8 skaters and it was my first time there as a freeskater.

You're never too old to skate!!!

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'skating is not just a sport - it is an obsession'

Do you skate at Floyd Hall? (I'm from NJ originally and can't think of another university rink)

Why don't you do ISI as well? That will give you more competition options. Plus there's always something to learn in skating. That's what I love about it, there's a constant challenge. I'm 38 and I finally got a giant waltz jump last week, yay, but have to get the flip, and make the backspin consistent, and center the scratch, and hold the sit, etc. etc. etc etc etc....

I also had your exact attitude about six months ago and then realized I really just love skating and nobody could pull me out of the slump but me. I haven't competed yet and wish I could go to AN but I can only afford to skate twice a week right now, so I feel your pain.

I think you should give yourself a break and for a while just skate for the fun of it. Then look into competitions later. But don't give up on it, you still have skating goals and you're YOUNG

Very well put, LoopLover. I haven't lost my desire to skate in a long time, but it used to happen fromo time to time before I had tests and competitions to keep me focused. I found that the best thing to get me motivated again was to take a friend skating with me, teach her the basics, and then realize that the moves I took for granted were actually impressive to the average person.

Skating some ISI comps is a good idea. That's the plan my coach has for me for this season, then next fall I hit a USFSA comp as a no-test.

From what I've seen of the ISI comps, all the entrants have a really good time! The whole atmosphere is different-more relaxed.

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