I've been a fan forever but I cannot skate! Well, I can get around the ice without holding on to the wall most times (with some balance checks and wobbles) but that's the extent of it, and that's on a good day.

I've considered learning to skate for a long time but I am 32 (and pretty out of shape) and am wondering if it's too late to learn. So I had some questions, mostly for adult skaters but anyone's free to answer. I'm curious as to what I can expect:

1. When did you start skating (age)?

2. How long have you been skating?

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?

7. What is your next realistic skating goal?

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )?

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport?

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect?

12. What advice would you give to a newbie?

Thanks for your answers!

(edited to add 2 more questions )

1. When did you start skating (age)?
37
2. How long have you been skating?
1 year and 1 month

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?
I skate 4 times a week - about 6 hours worth
4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?
I take group lessons every week and then every other week (when I can afford it) I take private lesson as well as groupl.

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?
I owned my own (very cheap) skates and think it's fine to learn the very basics in rental skates.

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?
I almost have my flip and lutz, I can do a salchow, toe loop and waltz jump and once in awhile a loop. I am just learning to spin, scratch spin, sit spin and back spin, can get few revolutions on each one.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal?
Hopefully within the next month land my lutz and flip on one foot, I can land them both on two feet pretty much every time I try them.

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )? No serious injuries, bruised my tailbone and that really hurt.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport? Sure but I scrimp and save, it's not a cheap sport.

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?
The easiest has been learning to jump and footwork the most rewarding has been the patience I've gained while trying to learn to spin and when I learned back 3 turns!

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect? Spinning and realizing that you can "lose" moves very easily.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie?
Enjoy yourself, don't compare yourself to anyone else and when you buy your own skates take your time and comparison shop, particularly if you have any feet issues.

__________________
Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.
Maurice Setter

1. When did you start skating (age)? 35

2. How long have you been skating? 3 1/2 years

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)? 1 1/2 - 2 hrs per day, 5-6 days per week (but I started doing just once or twice a week for an hour for the first 10 months to a year, then it went to 3 days, then 4, then......)

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons? Started in private, if you can afford it, its the way to go

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals? I never skated in rentals as I know they don't sharpen the blades except maybe once a year!

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)? I have an axel, and a double sal about 30% of the time, starting double loops. My spins suck, but I have a flying camel, camel sit/back sit and the beginnings of a layback. I'm testing Intermediate moves in January.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal? To pass adult gold moves on Oct. 27 and my Gold free a month after that.

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )? Not on the ice but tore a calf muscle last spring doing off-ice jumps.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport? Not yet but as my kids get better at it, there will come a time when we either choose (and it'll be them) or win the lottery

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding? edge jumps, and jumping in particular are quite easy for me and the most rewarding has been acquiring an axel and passing standard track moves and dances (I started in dance and passed through my bronze dances)

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect? For me without question, spinning. I did dance for the first 18 months of my skating because I couldn't spin and thought freestyle would be out of reach because of it. Finally on the 3rd coach, found someone who could teach me to spin.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie? Go for it! Its never too late and I'm in the best shape I've been in years.

Hi there:

In my book, there's no such age as "too old to skate". If nothing else, skating is a wonderful exercise and, like swimming, is one of the very few activities which exercise all muscle groups. Having said that, while nearly everybody can learn to skate, not everyone will become as accomlished and polished as the skaters we see on TV. But, if the desire is there, I'd say go for it .... if nothing else, it's good physical activity, a great way to meet new people, a chance to get out of the house, office, or other sedentary ho-hum routine .....

So, to answer some of your questions:

A. When did you start skating (age)? -- I started skating at age 6, but really didn't "get it" until around age 10.

B. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week -- Three days per week .. approximately 5 hours per week.

C. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons? -- One 15 minute group lesson, one 15 minute private lesson, per week.

D. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals? -- I have always owned my own skates. Since I have no experience with rental skates, I don't know what to advise.

E. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)? In an earlier lifetime I had all singles, and all doubles except axle and loop. These days, I am having a good day if I can complete the rotation on a salchow.

F. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )? -- Most serious injury was a torn PCL which required orthoscopic surgery.

G. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport? -- The finance thing was the reason why I stopped skating as a kid. Now as an adult, I can well afford the training I get .... not exactly at elite level !!

H. What advice would you give to a newbie? -- If you love the sport, persevere with it. You'll have your good days, the so-so days, and the days you wonder why you ever put on a pair of skates. However, the good days are so rewarding that it makes it all worthwhile.

Hope this helps.

-- sheilagh

Welcome to the ice!!!!!

OK, answers.

I'm male and started skating about 13 months ago at age 47. I was not in terrifically good shape. I skate about 4-1/2 hours a week now.

My girlfriend, who skates on an adult synchro team, and several of her friends gave me this advise when I decided to start skating: Get your own fitted skates and get a coach for private lessons. I swallowed hard, coughed up the money for new boots and blades, then got myself two coaches for private lessons. I was taking one half hour lesson on Saturdays and a 45 minute lesson on Mondays.

I can tell you from experience that learning on rental skates is difficult at best, but not impossible.

Due to financial considerations (hey, the economy sucks ) I'm now only taking one group lesson a week.

Due to my advanced age and bad knees, jumping will be out of the question. My main immediate goal is to learn smooth consistent 3-turns at speed.

Injuries beyond bruises, yes. About 1-1/2 months after I started taking lessons, I was learning a simple two footed 3-turn. My coach told me to practice it 100 times on the boards (rail) before trying it on the open ice. I tried it a dozen times on the boards, went out on the ice, fell and fractured my wrist. The first thing my coach said to me was "You didn't do it 100 times on the boards, did you?" I've listened to all of her advise ever since.

Skating is easy, hard, most rewarding, and most frustrating all at the same time. I've never truly left a session feeling that I didn't have fun, no matter how good or bad I did.

My advise to you is the same given to me:

Get your own skates. New, if you can (Christmas is coming) or used if you must. Make sure you get somebody that's qualified to fit them for you.

Get a coach. For private lessons preferrably or for group lessons. Self teaching is tough.

Good luck and welcome to the ice!!!!
Gary

1. When did you start skating (age)?
29

2. How long have you been skating?
12 years.

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?
2-3 times a week, perhaps 4 hours. More when I'm competing.

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?
Started in group lessons. Went to privates w/in a couple of months. Now privates 1-2 times a week.

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?
Own my skates. Check out the used skate sales. Much better than rentals, and not as costly as getting new ones.

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?
Jump - double salchow. Spin - camel-jump camel-back sit combination. Pairs - death spirals and overhead lifts. Achievement - 7 adult national medals.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal?
clean up the double sal, work on a new edgy interpretive program.

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )?
My Physical therapist is on speed dial.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport?
It can get very expensive when you start to compete. You can also enjoy it on a variety of levels and budgets.

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?
Easy? Hmm. Most rewarding has been the feeling skating a good performance, and also when it gets recognized.

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect?
Educating the USFSA as to what adult skating is, and is not. Lack of available pairs partners.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie?
You can begin skating at any age. People will tell you that age makes no difference. It makes a great deal of difference, both positive and negative. Adults are great to teach, and many coaches prefer teaching them to kids. We also have the maturity and experince in many things that help in learning new tasks. We also have older bodies, and they don't recover as quickly as younger ones. I know that with enough practice, time and other resources, I could probably do a number of doubles and other skills, but at what cost? Injury, exclusion of other things? My best advice is to have fun, and set realistic goals, and have fun.

don't have time to answer all the questions, but quickly:

started age 27. now age 35, been skating 8 years in January. currently not taking lessons, but planning to start up again in the new year.

mainly I do ice dance. I'm on my last silver dance. I can easily land my single jumps through flip, lutz is coming & will be here soon.

spinning is hardest for me, hence I still only have a semi-decent scratch spin & a wobbly backspin. Sit spin, after 2 years, is actually respectable.

I started coaching ice dance about 3 years ago & also teach group classes a couple times a week, so here are my thoughts from a coach's eyes:

1. If you can afford to, get your own skates. Jackson makes very good beginning level skates for around $80.00, blade & all. Believe me, it is worth it! You cannot learn to skate if your blades are slipping out from underneath you & your ankles aren't supported.

2. Group lessons are best for learning the basics, unless you turn out to be very gifted & fly through the basic stuff. Most people need time to practice each step along the way before they move on to the next little step. You can do that in a private lesson, but then you're paying someone a hunk of money to watch you slither across the ice when you're at a point where that's all you can do (believe me, it's frustrating for the coach too!). Better to start out in a group, where you'll have time to yourself to work on those little things.

I'd say private lessons are appropriate once you can do forward & backward crossovers, and are reasonably comfortably on one foot glides backward & forward. Once you start working on 3-turns, mohawks, edge rolls, that kind of thing, you may want to start thinking about a coach--although you could certainly continue w/ the group lessons longer than that. I started private lessons when I got through all the basic skills levels & was starting to learn to jump (which is when I switched to dance). Even if you only do one session of group, I think it will save you a lot of money in the long run (our group classes run in 10-week sessions). It's pointless to pay someone $20.00 per 1/2 hour to teach you forward swizzles. My 2 cents.

ALSO, you'll meet lots of people in your group classes, which is also a big part of the fun of skating!

I also take that all back if your rink does not offer adult-only classes.

lol, flo, I know what you mean about the speed dial! My chiropractor & my massage therapist love me!

Only answers.

1. 25

2. 3.5 years

3. About 6 hours... 1 hour before work 4 times a week then 2 hours on Saturday.

4. Privates. I take two half hour lessons a week.I took group lessons until Freestyle 2, then got a coach. My first coach cleaned up my basics. When I got all my singles except axel, she suggested I change. My current coach has a lot of adult students.

5. I've always had my own skates. My suggestion to a newbie is go to a local skate shop and explain you want to take lessons and get a good beginners boot that will give you support and will last through the basics. If you like the sport and are learning more difficult moves, you can switch boots/blades.

6. I'm working on axel (two-foot issues) and double-loop (harness).

7. Pass the Adult Silver Freestyle test. Then move on from there. I'd like to get the axel nice and clean and a nice camel-change-camel.

8. Not really.

9.I've been sliced and diced. I got the heel of my free blade lodged into my shin during a loop jump. It left a gash about 1/2 inch deep. The emergency room doctors wouldn't stitch it, just bandaged the wound and sent me home. I was back on the ice the next day. I've slit my ankles on numerous occasions. D*mned free leg.

10. Easiest part has been jumps and moves. The most rewarding part is when one climbs over a plateau. I thought I was stuck on the camel spin, then the door magically opened. Skating is the gift that keeps on giving.

11. Spins. Spins are really hard for me. I get extremely dizzy and sometimes feel like I'm going to puke. I learned a loop jump in 10 minutes but it took me 10 months to do a decent spin. I spend the a lot of time on the most basic parts of spins.

12. Get out there and try it! Skating is SOOO much fun and so addictive. The adult skating community is so wonderful and supportive. Remember that skating is like life: If you fall, just get up and keep going. The great thing about being an adult skater is that you don't have some psycho skatemom telling you to get your skates on. You are totally in control.

Too funny!!!!

1. When did you start skating (age)?

23, but took a 14 year break. Started skating again 2 1/2 years ago.

2. How long have you been skating?

5 years, then a 14 year break, then 2 1/2 years.

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?

3-5 days per week, 45 to 90 minutes per session.

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?

Private lessons, 2 30-minute lessons per week.

(I also take 2 hours of off-ice ballroom & swing dance lessons per week.)

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?

Yes. Rentals: bare basics depending on how well the rink maintains their rentals. I bought a pair of decent beginner skates about 2 months after I started skating, way back when.

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?

I do ice dance, am working to complete my USFSA Pre-Silver dances. I also occasionally do interp, and my coach and I are working on a free dance.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal?

Pass the last of my USFSA Pre-Silver dances.

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )?

Not while skating....only skiing. Worst skating injuries have been 1 badly bruised knee and 1 bruised tailbone.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport?

Not currently. Time and availability of ice is my limiting factor.

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?

Learning the basics was the easiest.

Mastering the basics was the hardest and occasionally the most rewarding (when I improve on a skill that has been giving me frustration).

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect?

Mastering the basics, like clean, crisp, flowing 3-turns, and getting good soft kneebend and strong stroking with good posture and well-extended free leg.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie?

Don't stress out when things don't want to work. And don't stress out when the expectations on the performance of a skill change or become more picky.


--jsl

1. When did you start skating (age)?

Started at 24, after about one round of lessons at 11, and general pond skating from time to time.

2. How long have you been skating?

I'm 28 now, so off and on for about 4 years, not counting the occasional stroll around as a kid.

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?

Right now, not at all. I simply haven't had the right combination of time, money, and energy. I've put my skates on a grand total of once since June, and I haven't had lessons for about a year. When I was skating regularly, I skated about 4 days a week for 50 minutes, plus an hour lesson/practice one evening a week.

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?

I took group lessons, more for the affordability and social aspect of it. Honestly though, I'm also largely self-taught. It's hard to get good individual attention in a group lesson, especially when you're so far ahead of the rest of the group. But honestly, everyone's self-taught to an extent--a coach may give you pointers, but you and your body have to figure out your own agreement on your own!

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?

I own. At the very basic levels, rentals are fine, as long as they are NOT broken down, and are leather, NOT NOT NOT the hard plastic boots. It's a good way to get started and find out if you'd like to continue with lessons. But once you decide that you do, it's better to get your own equipment. The boots will be better, the blades will be better, and you'll progress better and faster for it. If all the rentals you can find are old and crappy, you might want to just start out with good boots---trying to find an edge in a broken down boot is so frustrating that you may not want to try again!

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?

When I stopped skating regularly, I had waltz/toe/sal, was learning loop and flip (sort of had the flip, but it wasn't techincally 'correct'), and was trying to polish up my scratch spin. In the intervening year, the jumps have kind of sagged, but the spin has improved.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal?

Um. To actually skate on a regular basis again! And if that ever happens, I want to finish learning the single jumps and get a couple more spin positions. And that darned backspin.

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )?

Nope. Well, not skating. Here's a tip---the faster you're going, the less it hurts. Honestly. The worst falls I've taken are when I'm just standing around gabbing, and the skates just do their own thing! Or, when a spin went south one time...the straight up/straight down thing kind of hurts. Falls on jumps just make you slide.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport?

Definitely. If I'd have had more money, I'd have taken private lessons, and would probably have progressed even faster than I did. I also would have been able to afford skating on more actual freestyle sessons, rather than searching for the cheap and hopefully uncrowded public sessions.

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?

Easy...hum. I don't know that any of it has been 'easy', but it hasn't been particularly difficult either. (Well...except for the backspin! ) The most rewarding...setting goals for myself and actually reaching them. Looking back and seeing how far I've come.

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect?

The most frustrating thing is the lack of money, time, and convienent places and times to skate. Working full-time really puts a damper on skating. I just don't have the energy to skate in the early morning, and even if I did, I'd have to work later, and I really wouldn't have the time to do anything else but work, commute, and sleep.
Previously, the most frustrating thing was the fact that the closest rink was an hour away, and I simply didn't have the time or resources to skate as often as I would have liked.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie?

Get out there and get started! Find a good coach (group is fine) who likes to work with adults, and sign up for lessons. Make sure you also get in some other practice time during the week--lessons just aren't enough. Be patient with yourself--everyone's learning curve is different. This isn't as easy as it looks, but sometimes it isn't as hard, either. And the biggest newbie advice? Bend your knees! (Seriously--that's the key for stability, and for quality skating.)

__________________
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
--Thomas Jefferson

www.signingtime.com ~sign language fun for all!

1. When did you start skating (age)? 37 - I'd only been on ice a couple of times in my life before that.

2. How long have you been skating? 3 1/2 years

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?
When I started I did 1/2 hour practice 1/2 hour lesson and then 1-2 hours of the public session to practice what I'd learned in the lesson all on a Saturday.
Now I skate 3-4 times a week for 1-3 hours a time.

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?
I started in group lessons - mixed age and it was no problem skating with the kids (I was not the only adult in the class), once a week. I'm now on 2 x 1/2 hour private lessons a week plus a couple of group classes for edges, dance moves etc.

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?
It is possible to learn with rentals but if you go that route then ask for a reasonably sharp pair and refuse them if they are blunt. By the time you are ready to learn 3 turns/mohawks etc you will find your own boots a godsend. I would recommend checking out the used skate sale as it is cheaper and you avoid the often painful breaking in period which causes some people to give up. Don't get boots that are too big for you. A snug fit makes everything so much easier. If you do go for new, do make sure that you are given a beginners boot. Don't make the mistake of thinking more expensive = better. You don't need a boot suitable for landing doubles when you are starting out - they will just be impossible to break in.

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?
UK level 2 dance (the baby dances!). Winning the 2 minute Original Dance in an Open competition. Getting 2 revs on my sit spin! Am just starting to learn the single jumps having done mostly dance up til now.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal?
to pass UK level 1 Free skating elements test (3 jump, salchow, cherry, upright spin, step sequence)

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )? Not yet! I know people who have but they are all still skating

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport?
Am spending far too much at the moment but this sport is addictive. It is not cheap and if you want to skate competitively it only gets worse. It's worth it to me and I would sacrifice other things to keep skating.


10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?
None of it is easy - as my coach says "if it was easy everyone would do it" and more importantly he adds "if it was easy you wouldn't need me!!!"
But it is intensely satisfying to learn a new skill. The most rewarding has actually been competing - not so much for the winning or losing but for proving to myself that I can get out there and do something that I had only previously dreamed about and also seeing the marks I get improve year by year. Also the social side of adult skating is great.

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect?
The hardest for me is the jumps. I suffered with back problems - now virtually cured by my chiropracter - and bad knees and a lack of courage to actually leave the ice. 3 years down the line I feel I am ready to tackle the jumps and really enjoying it.
Most frustrating is learning to spin.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie?
Get out there and do it! Don't worry about what anyone else thinks or compare yourself to others. Learning as an adult is harder than for a child but we are doing it because we love it. Practice time is as valuable as lesson time - in fact you should spend a lot more time practising than in lessons other wise you are wasting your money.
Enjoy!

No, it is never too late to learn. There was a woman at the competition that Batikat and I did on Sunday who is 63, yet she skated the pants off both of us, and I know she is a relative beginner.

1. When did you start skating (age)? 42

2. How long have you been skating? 7.5 years

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)? Usually 3 days/week, maybe 4 or 5; between 5 and 8 hours.

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons? I take a total of 1 hour's lessons per week; 30 minutes with my husband/dance partner and 30 minutes solo.

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals? Yes, I have my skates, but it's perfectly possible to start in hired skates - when you find a pair that you like, make a note of the number and ask for them each time! But once you know this is a sport for you, go and buy your own!

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)? Being able to dance the 14-step, which is a mid-level dance, and being able to walk through (but not yet dance) one or two high-level dances like the Blues and the Paso Doble.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal? To beat friends of ours at the next competition at which we skate against each other!

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )? No.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport? Well, I take comfort in the fact that my niece's sport (dressage) is even more expensive than mine!

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding? The easiest part has been falling in love with it; the most rewarding people's kind comments when I compete about how much better I've got.

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect? The hardest part has been becoming competitive at my level (I only just am!); the most frustrating thing is being held back by fear and an appalling lack of body awareness.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie? Enjoy it! It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on.....

__________________
Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

1. When did you start skating (age)?

I skated from age 7 to 13, then quit cold turkey. I started up again at 25, and am currently 31. Adult Nationals was just starting when I got back into it at 25. Woo-hoo!

2. How long have you been skating?

6 years as a kid, 6 as an adult. Much more fun (I think) as an adult.

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?

4 days a week, averaging 1.75 hours each day

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?

Privates. Always one 45 minute freestyle lesson per week and one half-hour figures lesson (no, I'm not kidding) every other week. When I'm feeling rich I take an occasional spin lesson from a spin specialist nearby, and I hire an awesome local choreographer once a year for my program.

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?

I own mine. I would highly recommend a good beginner boot. They'll last you a long time since A) your foot has stopped growing and B) you won't be learning anything at first that will break to boot down tremndously. Very worth it to have a good boot and blade.

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?

Skill I'm most proud of now is 2salchow-2loop combination! I landed it for the first time ever just days before my 31st birthday! Now it's about 50% consistant.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal?

Passing the Novice Free test on November 30th, so I can skate Junior at Adult Nationals.

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )?

In 6 years the worst thing I've done (knock wood) is fractured a finger. I slipped doing crossovers and slid into the boards, finger-first. Otherwise just bumps and bruises, but lots of them.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport?

Not my enjoyment, but I would absolutely love to skate more and just can't afford it. I would love to take more lessons to progress faster. I've applied for a sports grant (didn't get it) and buy the occasional lottery ticket! Now if I had only married a rich guy...

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?

Easiest: spinning.
Rewarding: two things:
1) the feeling of really using my body to not only push myself physically but express myself artistically.
2) Finally overcoming my major weakness (presentation...I used to look sooo constipated when I skated!) to win Champoinship Adult Gold two years ago and get my picture in Skating Magazine! Had to buy multiple copies for my proud dad. I still have people tell me what a difference there was in my skating between the year before and my winning year. I just really worked on my presentation. Now I think it's one of my assets. Because frankly, as a drag queen friend of mine once said, "even if you fall, you have to do it with a wink and a smile!"

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect?

Hardest: getting jumps consistant.
Frustrating: not having the money to skate more, because I know I could really improve fast with more ice/lesson time.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie?

Don't get frustrated. Know when you start skating that this is a sport that requires a lot of practice and repetition. But it's very rewarding even when learning the smallest steps.

1. When did you start skating (age)? 28

2. How long have you been skating? 7 months

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)? about 3 hours a week

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons? Group lessons, ISI Beta Level

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals? I bought my skates (Reidell Gold Stars) after I passed Pre-Alpha. I have very flexible ankles and I'm overweight so beginner or rental skates didn't have nearly enough support for me. My Gold Stars have never caused a blister, though my feet cramp in them if I'm cold or working too hard on inside edges. They're not quite broken in, but my skating improved DRAMATICALLY when I got them. I think it's ok to do your first group lesson in rentals to see if you and skating are a match.

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)? I have a weenie waltz jump and weenie toe loop at the boards. I can do about 3-4 revolutions in a two foot spin and in a two foot sit-spin. I have a great lunge!

7. What is your next realistic skating goal? Backwards crossovers, forward outside threes and inside mohawks. I'm minutes away from all of these skills!

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )? Nope. I can't say I've really fallen, either. But I haven't really done anything too difficult yet.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport? Yes. I'm dying for a pair of Coronation Aces, maybe for Christmas! Time is more of an issue -- two jobs = not much time to skate.

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding? The easiest part is enjoyment -- I'm having a terrific time and generally don't take myself too seriously. Hubby and I take lessons together and spend much time laughing and cheering for each other.

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect? Fear. Fear. Fear. Clearly I have good balance, since I've only fallen three or four times, but you simply cannot convince me of that when I'm skating backwards!

12. What advice would you give to a newbie? Don't expect too much of yourself! Have fun! Join a group class full of other adult beginners and make some good friends! Crack your instructor up regularly -- the kids don't do that and they love people with a sense of humor!

OK I guess I might as well weigh in.

1. When did you start skating (age)? I first set foot on ice at age 21, but first skated on a more-than-once-a-month frequency at age 27

2. How long have you been skating? 5 years, the last 4 being with a coach. So you can do the math and tell how old I am!

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)? 45 mins - 1 hour, 4 or 5x a week.

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons? Private lessons, 2x a week

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals? I own my own skates, custom Harlicks with Pattern 99 blades. This is my 3rd pair of boots and blades. I would strongly suggest not to learn on rentals. Even a cheap pair of store-bought skates would be better.

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)? Axels and two-footed double Salchows. Flying camels and various change foot combo spins. Tested up to Preliminary MIF, but I use Pre Juv & Juv MIF as warmup exercises during daily practice.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal? Qualify for Ch. Gold Men at AN 2003.

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )? When I first learned my Axel I would get a lot of groin pulls. Once when I fell on a jump years ago, I slammed my hand to the ice and I could swear I broke one of my little wrist bones because it hurt for weeks afterwards. I'm a wimp when it comes to pain.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport? Even if I had more money to spend on lessons, ice time, etc., I don't know if I'd have the time or the enthusiasm to go and do it. I can afford my current level of commitment to the sport, but I like to be involved in things outside of skating too, so it isn't like skating is my life.

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding? I've had a relatively easy time with jumps. What's rewarding for me is when I hit a program in competition, especially after having had bad practices leading up to it.

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect? Spins and field moves. Frustrating: when you lose skills you thought you had!

12. What advice would you give to a newbie? Don't make your goal to go to the Olympics... yes I know that sounds funny, but there are some adult skaters out there who think they're going to make it to Olympics. (As much as I would love to name names and say who they are, I won't.) Also, don't compare yourself to other skaters... progress at your own level and don't beat yourself up for not having a skill that someone else has. Don't obsess over a placement at a competition, be it 1st, last or somewhere in between -- rather, focus on how well you skated, what you learned from the competition experience, and what things you need to work on for the next competition.

And for heaven's sake, don't skate to Malaguena, Don Quixote, Rhapsody In Blue, Carmen, or Swan Lake unless you're sure you know what you're doing.

Age when I first started to skate: 38
Skating for 7 years.
I started with a private 15 min lesson every other week, then increased to one every week, soon it was 2 half hour lessons every week. This sport can really suck you in!
I skate 4-5 mornings a week on the 6-7:15 am session before going in to work.
Do spend the money on some half decent skates- you won't get any where in rentals. Make sure someone who knows skates helps you get fitted.
Highest skill learned: lutz-loop combination on a good day, just starting to learn camel-sit spin. Spins are generally weak for me- my footwork is truly pathetic! Jumps are easier for me to learn.
Ever been injured? Well, my screen name is a big clue! So far, one broken wrist, one concussion, and one herniated lumbar disc (from trying to learn the lutz-loop combo!) I wear wrist guards on the ice all the time except when I'm competing, because I'm an orthopedic therapist, and can't work without my hands.
Most rewarding thing? Anytime my coach says "That was good!". Most frustrating- things that you can do one day and the next seem like you've never done before.
Best piece of advice for a new adult skater- don't expect to learn things as quickly as the kids do. It takes a lot more work to learn new motor skills as an adult, especially in a sport like skating that is a combination of strength, agility, endurance and grace. Do it just because you want to and enjoy!

Come on out and hit the ice with us! Skating is a wonderul sport, and you're never too old. Here are my answers:

1. Right after my 30th birthday.
2. 7 years.
3. 4 1-hour sessions a week.
4. Started with group. It's been private for about 4 years.
5. This is my 3rd pair of skates. I think it's possible to start in rentals, but if you like it after about 4 months, I'd invest in a pair.
6. I'm working on an axel. I have solid singles and combos of all the single jumps.
7. To not humiliate myself in competition at the Adult Silver level. (I just tested up to this level.)
8. Not really, but I do have chronic lower back problems which are aggravated by the skating, especially pairs skating.
9. Not really. It's a priority for me, but I don't go hog wild on stuff like costumes.
10. Easiest has been jumps. Most rewarding has been mastering a camel.
11. Hardest is spinning. I suck at spinning.
12. My advice for a newbie would be (1) get started! and (2) set realistic and achievable goals. Skating decently is an achievable goal, but it does take a little work and practice.

1. When did you start skating (age)?
53
2. How long have you been skating?
2 years
3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?
1.5-3 hrs/day, 3-4 days/week

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?
1/2 hr private lesson once/week
5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?
I own, you can start with rentals
6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?
Juvenile cross strokes, F & B
7. What is your next realistic skating goal?
B Inside & Outside three turns
8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )?
Colle's fracture of R wrist about a year ago
9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport?
I skate to the limit of my finances
10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?
form (because I was a roller skater), feeling at ease on the ice
11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect?
fear stands in my way almost all of the time
12. What advice would you give to a newbie?
It's never too late to start. I was a couch potato and only
got halfway around the rink my first time. I have lost 45
pounds through skating and Weight Watchers. Go for it

__________________

1. When did you start skating (age)?
Started skating at 12. That lasted for about a year and a half. Picked it back up again when I was 24. I'm 26 now.

2. How long have you been skating?
For what really counts, almost 2 years.

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)?
Unfortunately, it varies with the seasons. I don't have a year round rink in my hometown so in the summers I have to travel about half an hour. During the regular season I skate two sessions a day (one lunch, one after school); summers...I can go up to every other day but it usually ends up being twice a week for about 2 hours at a time.

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? Details/frequency of lessons?
I take private lessons once a week with a coach. I often tag along with the group freestyle class too when my hometown rink has it.

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals?
Definitely have my own skates. I first learned in rentals, and began teaching myself simple moves in them (then again, I was 12.) I got up to a lunge, spiral, bunny hop, and a two-foot spin on my own after about three sessions, then mom and dad decided I needed my own skates. The rest is history! I don't recommend rentals though--they treat your feet like chew toys. Ouch!

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)?
Jump on ice--flip jump; jump off ice--axel. Spin--layback

7. What is your next realistic skating goal?
Get the flip consistent, and start on-ice practice with my axel by the spring.

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )?
These days, no. I'm much more cautious than I was when I was young. (Perhaps that's why my spins are two levels higher than my jumps! I looove practicing spins.) I have hit my head though on a flip attempt. Took me all summer to work up nerve to try that jump again. Most brutal jump for me has been the loop--have taken many softball-sized lumps on the hips and butt for that one.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport?
Not usually, and I live off a graduate student's salary. The key is skating on very sparse public sessions, which in my area are half the cost of a freestyle. I don't do other things like buy new clothes very often (uh, that new skating dress doesn't count!) or eat out much. I rent the DVD instead of going to see the movie. Hence, my boyfriend appreciates the fact that I am a very cheap date.

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding?
Getting my blurred scratch spin back was the easiest. I am very proud of that move. When I'm on, I can spin on a dime, sometimes for more than 20 revolutions. The most rewarding thing has been reviewing the beauty of some of the most basic edges and turns, and the physics behind them. I have a degree in physics so I'm always looking for the physical principles that govern my skating! I also found it very rewarding that I could do backward inside 3-turns almost off the bat, a maneuver that many have great difficulty with. My strengths definitely lie in my good balance, natural center, and ability to really feel my edges.

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect?
Hardest aspect has been getting over the fear of getting hurt. I am not afraid to fall or try new things. I just don't want to be too banged up. I work with my hands a great deal and move around a lot during the day, and I don't want that compromised if at all possible. The most frustrating aspect, by far, has been the lack of a year-round rink. There is an obvious demand for one in my hometown. We cannot seem to bring in a private investor, or get the city interested in operating a year-round rink. (Heck, they don't even publicize the fact that's there's ice at the coliseum!) When we do have ice in the fall and winter, much of it is dead during the day. The arena staff do not want to come in early and open the place up so we can have an hour freestyle before school. I would turn into an early bird for that, and I am about as night owl as they come. They will not let you walk in and pay for a freestyle if you want to come in at an off-time either; liability maybe. I dunno.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie?
Have fun! Take your time learning. This is an activity for YOU, and you are free to set your own goals and move along at your own pace.

__________________
All that glitters has a high refractive index.

1. When did you start skating (age)? 28

2. How long have you been skating? 4 1/2 years

3. How often do you skate (hrs per day, days per week)? 1 hour a day, 4 days a week

4. Do you take private lessons, group lessons or are you self-taught? private/group

Details/frequency of lessons? I"m in ice dance, moves and synchro group, private for freestyle

5. Do you own your own skates and do you think it's possible to learn (at least at first) with rentals? I've never tried skating without my own

6. What is your current/highest skill or achievement (jump, spin, move, etc)? most difficult thing I can do is a flip and loop, and those aren't consistent.

7. What is your next realistic skating goal? USFSA bronze, freestyle 4

8. Have you ever injured yourself beyond bumps and bruises (this is a scary thing for me, LOL )? I have a slash on my leg from a blade and a scar from falling on another skater who caught me with her toepick on my arm.

9. Do finances or lack thereof play a large part in your learning to skate and enjoyment of the sport? It did as a child.

10. What has been the easiest part, and what has been the most rewarding? Easiest was adapting roller skating skills to the sport. Rewarding has been the friends, the travel, the team, and the fact I'm not sitting on my butt at night.

11. What has been the hardest, and what has been the most frustrating aspect? Learning to skate backwards and not passing levels as quickly as I would like to. Also, the sticker shock of traveling, competing and lessons.

12. What advice would you give to a newbie? One of the coolest things about this sport as an adult is the overwhelming support you get from your friends, family, coworkers and fellow competitors. Rare is the person who thinks it's not cool, most people think its pretty neat and rather brave for you to go out there.

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Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

Heres the info. I'm in my 30's. I've been skating 3 years. I skate 4 or 5 hours a week. I get one 1/2 hour lesson a week. My hardest jump is the 2 sal. My personal hard jump is the lutz. I own my own skates. Good boots are important! My personal goal is a double loop, awsome footwork, and a good program. I get bruises and bangs daily skating. Worst injury is hitting my head on the ice. The loop is my personal easy skill. Hardest is making myself work on things I dislike, but know I need to do. My most rewarding experience skating is doing what I once thought I couldn't, and finding it easy now. My most frusterating experience has been the backspin. My advice? Get your own boots. Start with group lessons. Make friends at the rink. Choose a coach carefully. Have FUN and work HARD. Be positive even on the "bad" days. Never quit after a bad anything, but do stop when you have a really good outcome. Example" You land a wonderful " ", don't keep doing it. Leave the positive skill in your brain. Work on skills on both sides of your body. Learn the basics!

Chico

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

Thank you so much for all of your responses, reading this thread has been very encouraging! I looked at schedules and info online for 3 local rinks today. I'm working up my courage to go and just do it. I've wanted to skate for so long now, but for some reason I've been afraid to take the plunge. You have all helped!

YOU GO, GIRL!!!!!

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!!!!