I'd agree with that, kind of. My circle of friends has increased due to skating. Luckily I don't have to worry about grades any more!

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Amanda

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance . . . "

My Skating Journal

it's hard to fit friends in along with skating 5 days a week and working 2 jobs, and they don't seem to understand my obsession! but i still manage to get together for dinner or drinks and try not to talk about skating the entire time i've never been all that outgoing, so i don't mind skating alone most of the time. i've met a few interesting people to chat with at the rink, though. my boyfriend is my coach, so i'm lucky to see him at the rink and at home, and we have skating in common

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The skating may not sparkle, but my dress sure does!

Just passed: Pre-Bronze MIF & Freeskate. Next goal: Bronze tests in July.

I tend to be very comfortable solo and don't mind it so I have to make a conscious effort NOT to become a recluse and social hermit!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Interesting idea!

I would bet there is a relationship between the kind of skating a person does (recreational, test, competition) and personality type but I think the combinations wouldn't fit a poll. Maybe I'll start another thread about personality types v.s. type of skating.

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Most of my very favorite friends are the people I have met through skating (yes, you Looplover!). Since I work full time, and am married with lots of pets, I don't have a lot of time or inclination for dinners, parties, etc, I'm kind of a recluse. However, when at the rink, I feel like I am among my very good friends that I care about and who care about me.

As I've said many times before, one of the absolute joys for me, about skating, was making so many new friends from all over the world! Before we started skating, I really only knew the people at my very small church (I worked in a tiny office, only about 3-4 of us, and didn't often socialise at work, anyway) - now I know people from all over the world, and it's fantastic!

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

I'm a typical Gemini- love being alone/love being around people, it totally depends on the day. I love skating for both reasons really. If I am feeling unsociable or solitary, I can show up, say hello and float around by myself. If I'm feeling chatty, I can skate, chat, skate, chat. It's perfect for my confused little personality!

I have a tendency to choose my own company over others probably too much so I love that my very fixed skating regime (I rarely veer away from it, my organised brain couldn't cope!) forces me to interact with people and reminds me that other humans are really ok, if that makes any sense!!

Since I am lucky enough to live crazily close to the rink now (a 3 minute walk), my schedule is much more reasonable that it used to be.

Tues- up at 6, skate 6.30-8am, work 9am-5.30pm
Wed- up at 6, skate 6.30-8am, work 9am- 5.30pm, skate 6.45pm-8.15pm (ish)
Fri- up at 6, skate 6.30-8am, work 9am-5.30pm

Am currently considering adding Thurs morning to the mix...

As I don't skate weekends and have only a little flat to look after- no hubby, kids or pets- I have plenty of friend time then. It all works for me

Clare

I find that my social life has changed since skating but not too much. Some of my friends say they don't see me as much but we just make the most of the time that we do spend together. I have a lot of very enriching hobbies and social circles with each one. I think it helps that I have a very understanding boyfriend who has his own rich social life.

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Happily defying the laws of physics when I skate...and not in a good way

If I could meet ole Axel Paulsen, I would kick him in the teeth

President and Founding member of the I hate Toe-Loops Club

Still a member, but trying to get out of the Pre-bronze peanut gallery.

Visit my skating journal

"I think it helps that I have a very understanding boyfriend who has his own rich social life."

Scarlett - good point. The beau I had while skating started skating with me, and even continued for a while after we no longer dated - I coached him and he cut my music!

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I definitely think that people who gravitate towards individual pursuits or sports are going to be relatively comfortable with being alone. Skating definitely takes a lot of time and energy, even when you are not on the ice. Working out, stretching, thinking, planning etc.

I actually have more of a social life since I've started skating.

I've made some great friends from loads of rinks, that I actually have something in common with as the rest of my friends think I'm mad spending so much time at the rink and in general find the adult skating community in the UK a pretty friendly bunch.

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If you want the best seat in the house, you'll have to move the cat!

There is really something magical about skating, because it has a tendency to rule everybody's lives. I'm not an exception. When I first started taking lessons, I skated twice a week, then I added another practice, then another, and now I skate five times a week. It's great; and I'm happy.

Yet I do feel a little lonely, for the only person I can discuss skating with is my husband. He also skates. The rest of the skaters at our rink are children. And though we sometimes talk to them, of course, it's not the same. As for people outside the rink, like my co-workers or my other friends, well, they think I'm nuts, or, if you use a more polite term, 'eccentric.'

I think it is fascinating that so many here seem to have fairly low social needs. I have never been a particularly sociable person, never had many friends at a time. Having a hyperactive child with an autism spectrum disorder has probably isolated me and my natural loner husband even further (yes, 1+1=3 but am not sure where the hyperactivity comes from, sure ain't me ).

This really is the only place I can talk about skating, amongst others who understand how what might seem a small achievement (eg, yay, I'm doing lutzes again after 20+ years) can be a breakthrough.

And I do think skating is such a glorious feeling, that it naturally attracts those looking for peace in their lives. I enjoy social interaction at the rink, without having to be all in-depth and meaningful. But most of all I love the feeling of skating.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

Somehow I don't really feel that often. I only do when the rink is completely devoid of figure skaters, that's when I realize I don't have anyone to randomly chat with when I feel like it. So I do socialize at the rink, but not so much because I do get in quite some practise... so it must be somewhere in the middle for me at the moment....

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Tidesong