Hi All,
Has anyone read Mr.Edge's article yet in SKATING magazine this month? I found it to be sarcastic and basically his stage to make fun of the adult skater. I emailed him and told him how I felt. What do you all think? Some of his advice is sound but again between the little bits of advice were... I can't even go on.

I didn't take it that way at all. I think he was just trying to be humerous. Here's the article, for anyone who wants to have a look now. I haven't gotten my mag in the mail yet.

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I also didn't take it as a slam against adult skaters. If anything, I took it to mean that he's actually trying to make more of an effort to understand adult skaters needs, which is totally different from child skaters.

I went thru a similar battle between my body and ego for my lower back last Tuesday. Ego won out but I did way too many jumps!!! Took a couple of days for the lower back to be well enough to jump again but it's a reminder that I have to make due with what my body can do...

This week my secondary coach knows to give my lower back a break! Didn't jump 'til the last 5 minutes!!!

But yeah, I could see the 40 year old comment kinda got to me a bit. I mean I'm almost 40... and I'm determined to skate like this year's Midwestern and Pacific Coast Adult Sectionals Champ Gold Ladies champs when I grow up!!! (Thank you Cinderella and Carolee Prudie!!! They're my heroes!!!) ETA: So is doubletoe too, since I see she's posting to this thread 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 don't find it very funny either. Maybe it's just his poor writing, but to me it comes across like he doesn't know much about adult skating/skaters. And isn't one himself. I will definitely NOT be stopping by the Harlick booth at AN to say hello!

The only really good point he makes is to make sure you get a good fit in your boots & that you're not over booted. A skate technician knows nothing about maintaining fitness levels as an adult athlete & shouldn't pretend he does. (basically he says, "slow down, take it easy, don't work so hard. It doesn't matter anyway, & you'll never be able to handle it. You probably can't do it anyway.")

He apparently thinks that once you hit 40 you're no longer an athlete, no matter how active you've been your whole life. Wonder what he thinks of the 60-70 year olds who do the Ironman every year?!

The part that bugs me the most is when he says, to '...take a break, sit down and have a cup of java. It's OK to relax, take your time and talk to other skaters.' Ummm, I don't spend $11- $23 and hour for freestyle sessions to have a cup of coffee. I may do that after but not during my session. And if I'm hurting so bad that I have to get off, I go home!!

I think the recommendations he makes are very worthwhile; it's just a shame some of his valuable message gets lost in his attempt at being entertaining. Probably because he himself is an adult, he feels like he's got some license when it comes to painting a humorous picture of skating as an over-40 adult. Unfortunately, he indulges in a few stereotypes that I found annoying as a serious over-40 skater who can do a low sitspin and does not trip over my big toepicks. . . Excuse me, but a "cup of java" during a skating practice??

Oh, Herniated, I just saw your post, LOL! Yeah, exactly. Not only is coffee NOT the sports drink of champions, but I only WISH I made enough money not to count every single minute on those expensive freestyle sessions (and, no, I don't mean "coffee club" LOL!).

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Both good points. I agree that the content is not positive, but I really don't think the guy meant any harm. Perhaps a well thought out written reply is in order.

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herniated - just noticed you're in NY. Which boro?

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Uh, oh!!! (I do have my joe with my egg whites, chicken sausage and veggies... would that count??? ) Keep me away from the donuts at coffee club too!!!

Yeah, I know! My FS session ain't cheap either, though definitely not that bad compared to the NYC rinks!

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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!!!

Hi dbny,
I live in New York, but not New York City. I live on eastern Long Island!

You eat egg whites, chicken sausage and veggies WHILE SKATING?!

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

I've never like his column, regardless of the topic. They're poorly written, and he comes across like an a**hat. I found this column to pretty much bear that out. Love the "reality check" at the beginning. Duh. Then there's this:
This is just insulting to me. At the age of 30, when I started skating, I knew my body better than any of the 9 year olds on the ice with me.

The main point of his article, which had almost nothing to do with equpiment, by the way (when did he become a part time therapist and personal trainer too?) is that we let our egos push us beyond where our bodies can take us. Puhleeze. GMAFB. If anything, the adult skaters I know are overly cautious. You could say the same thing about the kids at the rink. How many of them can't take more than a day off of their training when they're sick or injured?

I feel a letter to the editor coming on.

Even though it looks like Mr. Edge wasn't trying to be particularly nasty, his style does sound patronizing. There are many adult skaters who manage to learn difficult moves, to compete and to become very good skaters. Personally, I think the main difference between a child and an adult skater is that it takes an adult more time to learn a certain element. But it doesn't mean that an adult skater has to give up when he/she can't, let us say, land an axel right away. It may take years to land it, but why give up? Listening to your body is fine, but not challenging it is not right. Of course, if you are tired or sick, you need to take it easy for a while, but giving up is not even an option.
As for coffee breaks, when I'm on the ice, I'm so excited that all I want is to keep practicing. Of course, I've never practiced more than two hours at a time. If I skated four or five hours a day, then, sure, I would take breaks, but not during a short practice. By the way, my coach sometimes has to tell the children to get back on the ice and practice, but she never has to tell me to stop wasting time.

I also was a tad irked at his column. He kept saying "ego" tells us to do something (get out there and skate too hard) and then common sense tells us to be more sensible (not overdo it). The use of the word itself bugs me - it's not "ego" in adults, necessarily, any more than it is in kids. It's keen interest and desire!

I agree that he probably doesn't mean the tone of voice to offend. He's a bit tone-deaf, though, which is unfortunate in the one columnist covering adult skating this month. So thanks for emailing him, herniated.

I was going to say the same thing, I find his column to be the least useful or interesting thing in the magazine. Not sure what an a-hat is though.

No kidding...I thought his advice to basically give up if you can't do an element, geesh that's the last thing I need to be encouraged to do. He'd have probably told me to quit trying to pass the Dutch Waltz after my second try!

j

OK, just read the article (I haven't yet received the new Skating Mag, either). I agree that it's poorly written and is a bit snide, like many of his columns. As far as his "Skate Safely" tips, I do agree with #1 and #2. I think with #3, he was trying to say not to skate more hours/sessions than is productive, esp if you are feeling pain somewhere....but that's what anyone will tell you about any activity, including gym workouts. However, the suggestion of getting off the ice in the middle of sessions we've paid for (unless there's some injury that needs to be attended to immediately) to socialize and take a break is ridiculous.

As for #4, I don't know what the guy means by "perfection" vs "ability to do it", but for those of us who compete and/or test, we sure as heck need to perfect what we're doing, or come pretty close. I don't know if the judges will pass an 8-step mohawk sequence where the mohawk is flat and the feet step too far apart - so despite my wipeout while practicing that move on Sunday (my blade hit the ice heel first), I better keep practicing it and not be content with my current ability and "move on", b/c I'll never pass Silver MIF. (and don't get me started on the cross strokes and 3-turns)

The Ego-Body "conversation" was kind of pointless. Most adults are very in tune with their bodies, much more than the kids. That doesn't mean that we won't get aches and pains, as we (and kids) would get with any activity, but that doesn't mean we should stop skating. As phoenix said, fitness issues aren't exactly his domain - he should stick to skates.

The advice about boot fit and not getting over-booted was helpful. The blades advice was kind of strange, though. I don't get the part about getting a blade that "goes end to end" for more stability, but that it makes spinning harder. I thought blades (well, the plate that attaches to the sole, anyway) were supposed to go end to end.

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Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

Oh, NO!!! LOL!!! Just before I leave for the rink though! I skate on the ice!!! I bought ice time and I expect to be skating and practicing the whole time I'm on ice!!! I'm just commenting on the comment about "coffee not being the beverage for champions" part. LOL!!!

I thought about #3 and my answer to him is "Yes, it's quality time for me!!! And that's all the more reason why I would want to STAY on the ice!!!" And if I'm really hurt on the ice, I would not just go and sit on the bench and have a joe! I would be calling my GP or my chiro (who's on my speed dial) for an appt. PRONTO!!! (Can't 'ya tell I have AOSS???) And as for talking with people... for some people, they just want to get their skates on and get on the ice and then get off the ice and rush to work. I try to limit my time with people, though obviously I'm still polite enough to say hello and how are you and stuff.

#4 is a "It depends!" My experience with loops and flips is that on the days that those jumps go on a weekend getaway, the last thing I want to do is force it to happen. I'm more likely to reinforce bad habits. Sometimes you have to know when to back off and say "You know... I'm teaching myself some bad habits trying to fix it. I better have my coach look at it instead." However, there are cases where your aim is to keep practicing it until your good habits becomes automatic! (Like my backspin exercise!!!) :rolls:

herniated: My in-laws are in LI too! But I'm WEST and South LI... My LIRR train ride into Manhattan is only a half hour away (assuming I get the train right on schedule.)

Skaternum: a-hat!!! LOL!!! (I'll have to remember that one if I wanted to call someone by a much harsh name but not get censored by the auto-language censor that's on this board! Tee hee hee... ) But yeah, in my case, I'm on the "overly cautious" end and that kept me from progressing. I'm starting to get a bit more "brave" now and trying to risk falling more. Majority of the falls I take so far (*knock on ice*) aren't that bad, especially at high speed and I'm sliding down the ice on my butt. (Now if I went bowling and knock another skater, THEN it would hurt!!! )

If Mr. Edge wants me to be more "cautious", I think he have to answer to pretty much ALL my coaches!!! They all will have a few things to say about that!

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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!!!

Makes me wonder what adult skaters he knows.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

I don't know why he didn't go the whole hog and just say 'Why do you adults bother skating'.

I take this guy and his 'advice' (otherwise known as 'common sense') with a large pinch of salt.

...or maybe I should fly over to the Harlick booth at the Adult Championships in Bensenville and kick him in the (edited) with my unnecessarily large toe picks - if my ego doesn't stop me, that is!

S xxx

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

Hmm...

Am I the only one who got a little chuckle out of the article? It does reflect a little bit of reality as far as I'm concerned. Maybe being 57 makes me more familiar with the ego/body discussion in the article.

I don' t like coffee though.

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Bill Schneider

I look at it this way: he's a pro shop guy who takes the time to write a column. He's not a comedic writer learning about boots and fitting. I don't think he's a coach or adult skater. I take what he says with a grain of salt, but his columns usually include some advice that's worthwhile.

It wasn't particularly funny, but I did smile once or twice and I really wasn't offended.
I thought most of his comments were right on (for me) - although on bad days, this 45-year old brings the java on the ice instead of a water bottle.

BTW - TODAY IS FREE ICED COFFEE DAY AT DUNKIN' DONUTS! HAPPY SPRING!

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Me thinks he's been hanging out at the COFFEE CLUB crowd.
Hate you guys in the East Coast! (We don't have ANY Dunkin' Donuts in Calfornia...)

OMG!!! (And report back 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'm with Bill S. I didn't mind the article. But then I'm 53, I've been skating as an adult for more than 20 years and I've learned to listen to my body a long time ago. There are just some things that my body cannot do (spread eagles, for example) so there's no sense stressing myself out over it. I did like his points that skating's supposed to be fun and that for most of us, there's a job waiting that wouldn't be helped by an injury. We do have to be realistic - or at least I do.

I didn't take the coffee remark as offensive either. Sometimes it's wiser to realize that, for some strange reason - bad biorhythms, planetary misalignment, hormonal upheavel, a cold coming on, whatever - this isn't a good time to skate and that a break may be what's needed to set things on track again. Yes, ice time is expensive but so is hospitalization. I'd rather take ten minutes out of a freestyle session to get myself together than push through an ache or a pain and do major damage to my aging bones just so I don't "waste the money."

I've said this before, but one of things I like most about skating as an adult is that I don't HAVE to pressure myself to master X number of skills before my next birthday. I work at my pace and as long as I see progress, that's fine with me. I'm here to enjoy the ride, even if it is, at this point in my life, downhill.

You go Sonic!! My thoughts exactly!! I think if he says anything stupid at AN he will get an earfull. I wish I was going this year just to see the fall out, but I must get rid of my kidney stones, Alas

My skate boot guy who shall remain nameless, knows this dude and feels he is a big doofus!