Sorry I can only access the internet at home so I forget others don't. Yes the outfits were scary... but boy can she do some wild stuff for an 84 year old!

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AW1
mum to Miss Lil (6yrs old)
mum to be to #2 due in March 08

Might I add --- always a great idea to have your coach show you how to fall so its not so painful!!

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Keep Evolving. "From this moment forward, every voice that told you - You Can't - , has been silenced." - Freedom Writers

Okay, I did managed to wait 'til my coworkers are gone for the day...

MY, MY....GRANDMA!!! What nice split you have!!! There's probably lots of practice that was done prior to that... and no one in particular was paying much attention to Coldplay playing in the background, which was just as weird...

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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 have to say, I love Coldplay even MORE now.

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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

skatingintheclouds, I dream about doing perfect axels in my dreams all the time. Maybe we'll be at the same rink in our dreams some time axeling our brains out. =-)

Chico

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

There have been some wonderfully different points of view here, and it has helped me a lot.

Dianne, I am sorry if this thread has made you uncomfortable. Obviously you are not upset by what your coach said, and that is important. I have realised that this is all about my attitude, my fears.

I don't consider my age when I skate, most of the time I forget my age - unless coach asks for more knee bend, and then I want to say I am 47 years old, my knees don't bend more than this.

But the replies on this thread have helped me realise that what I want to achieve is possible because I want it, I am prepared to work for it, and I believe in it. And that it is okay to let my coach slow me down and make me work on the basics that need fixing otherwise they'll hold me back.

More power to all the "older" skaters out there pushing on regardless. I think this forum is full of amazing people.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

No problem. as you say, there are a lot of good points to ponder. (But I wont even consider changing coaches - LOL!)

Nor do I think about age - I'm still 16, right?

As to the age excuse, that doesn't work on my coach. When I tried that, she gives me off-ice exercises to improve the flex, turn-out, or whatever. I learned it's smarter to just skip the excuse and keep working at it rather than getting more "homework"!

INDEED!

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

The video just made me weep, this lady is fantastic!!

"Limitations" are only in your head. With good nutrition, proper rest, plenty of excersize, and lots of love, we no longer have to embrace limitations anymore. The old paradigm of retiring at 65 turning into a coach potatoes, or an old stooped over lady, or an old wrinkly man doesn't have to apply anymore if you choose not to take that path. No matter what the age, people shouldn't place limitations on one another, but rather encourage each other to go as far as we can, and, especially, our coaches. Get rid of the negativity surrounding you, and you will see how far you can go, and all of the wonderful things that you can achieve!

The ice is the Fountain of Youth...albeit Frozen!

This is not entirely true. Here is a brief quotation from a recent NY Times article titled "Baby Boomers Stay Active, and So Do Their Doctors ":

"Boomers are the first generation that grew up exercising, and the first that expects, indeed demands, that they be able to exercise into their 70's," said Dr. Nicholas A. DiNubile, a Philadelphia-area orthopedic surgeon, who coined and trademarked the term boomeritis.

"But evolution doesn't work that quick. Physically, you can't necessarily do at 50 what you did at 25. We've worn out the warranty on some body parts. That's why so many boomers are breaking down. It ought to be called Generation Ouch."

You have to sign in to read the entire article, and you may have to be a subscriber or have paid for premium access. LMK if anyone wants to see more of it.

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[QUOTE=dbny]
"Boomers are the first generation that grew up exercising, and the first that expects, indeed demands, that they be able to exercise into their 70's," said Dr. Nicholas A. DiNubile, a Philadelphia-area orthopedic surgeon, who coined and trademarked the term boomeritis.

"But evolution doesn't work that quick. Physically, you can't necessarily do at 50 what you did at 25. We've worn out the warranty on some body parts. That's why so many boomers are breaking down. It ought to be called Generation Ouch."

That's true. Just like there are only so many miles you can put on the transmission in your car before it breaks down, there are only so many moments of impact that each joint can absorb over a lifetime. That's why Tara Lipinski had to have hip replacement at 19 and Rudy Galindo has had to have both hips replaced at a relatively young age as well. So it's not so much a matter of age as it is a matter of mileage.
On the bright side, we should still be able to stretch and maintain/regain flexibility. Also, those of us who did not skate growing up probably have more skating years ahead of us because we haven't worn out our joints yet! (I'd like to think so, anyway). We just need to use good technique and not waste our jump (or sitspin) attempts on the ones we're going to mess up on.

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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 enjoyed this thread very much in spite of it wandering some from the original post......

We all have various levels of committment both for on-ice and off-ice practice to be the best we can. "Life" does get in the way in spite of our best intentions. Jobs and family and home responsibilities must be factored in. Sure, I would love to do off-ice exercising everyday but I go through times when I plane just don't feel like it. I truly admire those people who really dedicate themselves to the 'full' program to maximize their skating.

And body breakdowns do occur - I have spent more time off the ice in the past 3 years than at any other time. But my desire to get back on the ice is still there. It did wane quite a bit this past year after a bad back injury and I wondered if it was time to call it quits.....yet I keep monitoring various message groups and find I just can't quit now. My ortho MD says no jumping as I already have fissures in my femur (landing leg) and things looked quite poorly during last year's arthoscopy. And the back surgeon doesn't want me torquing, nor the ortho MD because of the big shoulder repair he did also. How can I skate without rotating or doing my simple single jumps!!! I have no interest in dance.

I regret that I was not more dedicated to my skating the first 6-7 years. I just didn't put in enough practice time, especially since I am not a 'natural.' We all go through plateaus both on the ice and off. As I turn 60 in December, I still think I can reach some of my goals and just enjoy skating for the challenge and exercise. I am NOT ready to throw in the towel due to age or body breakdowns. I'm getting used to these bumps in the road toward maturity....but it doesn't mean I like them! I do know my old coach would take me back in a heartbeat if and when I am back on the ice regularly. She enjoyed teaching adults and never made me feel that she was making allowances for my age or lack of natural talent. Her patience kept me going when others would have said 'forget it lady.'

It never ceases to amaze me how some people are willing to overlook blatant obvious physical facts. Not everyone can be a great skater. Not everyone can get an axel. The body changes as it ages -- and most of it for the worse. I don't understand what's so awful about admitting these things. There's a difference between positivism and delusion.

As a skater, I'm very positive about my skating. I skate as much as my body can tolerate, am focused, highly motivated, and believe I will land that axel and the doubles I've been chasing. But I'm not so delusional as to think that having the right attitude and working "smarter" with my body is going to keep it from deteriorating. The rest of my joints are going to lose cartilage. I will lose muscle mass at some point. And if I'm not careful (and maybe even if I am), I'm going to have bone density issues once I go through menopause.

I ask again, what is so wrong about acknowledging this? It doesn't make me abandon all hope of an axel. It doesn't make me decide to work less hard. And it certainly doesn't make me stop trying to compensate for the physical deterioriation. But what is so wrong about acknowledging it?

Somebody stop me before I bust into a chorus of "I'm Every Woman" or "Reach."

I think everyone in this thread is a little bit right. Most adults can go further than they think they can, and most adults have physical limitations that their younger selves didn't, even without factoring in time, money, and other obligations.

I'm only 27, and I can see a difference. When I was 15 and dancing, I could jump and land a split cold, no warm up, no split training. At 27, it doesn't happen. Doesn't mean I can't be flexible, it just takes more effort.

The real problem in my case is that I'm beginning to suspect I don't have any skating talent.

"Actually, I'm doing way more at 50 then I did at 25, because I'm in way better shape now due to good nutrition and excersize. I really don't by into this at all, and think it is an unfortunate "mind set," and nothing more or less.

I'm not trying to be "Polly Anna" about this either. The mind and body work together. In otherwords, you do what you are able to do at whatever age, and do it to the best of your desire. It's really not as simple as "oh, I'm growing old, therefore my body is breaking down like an old car, too bad, now I can't do what I really want to do anymore." It's all how you choose to look at it...it's either half full, or half empty...seeing the boomers as "breaking down" is a real negative mind set and seeing the glass as half empty. You can just as easily choose to see it as half full, and say "Wow, the boomers look more in shape, and are aging very differently then our grandparents did." Hmm, they don't look as old as our grandparents did at that age (at least the boomers who choose to take care of themselves.) Hmm, I wonder why? Because they are approaching aging with a positive rather than a negative mind set, and they are the first generation that has excersized and some of them have even given some serious thought to what they are eating, too. Why do you think there is even such a phenomenon as "Adult Skating?" Because it is US not willing to give in and taking far better care of our "cars." Every so often, you see some of those antique cars on the roadway...because, their owners take care of them and maintain them...so, they still go places.

Oleg Protopopov said this to me recently "I reached a point in my life where I looked at my friends, who were deteriorating and their bodies were breaking down. At that moment, I decided I can either walk the path to the cemetery, or I could take the path back to the ice." He and his wife, Ludmila are in the early 70's and train on the ice 5 hours per day. They are a beautiful example of what it looks like to age healthy, robustly, and never give up on life. It's just a choice. Nothing is obvious and nothing is blatent. It is what you choose to do, how you choose to think, and the path you choose to take--either the ice, or the cemetery.

And by the way, Skaternum, you are a beautiful skater and definitely will have your axel and have doubles. Just don't get caught in the trap of thinking you are too old to have them, and you will have them. I'm going to have them, too!

I too have to disagree with this. I probably could have gone a lot further as a child then I will ever be able to go as an adult. And I, like many others, realize that my biggest limitation is fear. But my fear is based in an incredibly serious injury I had as a teenager and wish never to repeat. To some extent, it is also a limiting factor physically- due to loss of range of motion, and due to the injuries I could potentially cause myself more easily than others can.

If I had skated as a child I would not have had to deal with the fear caused by breaking my neck. I would not have to limit my activity to make sure that I do not further damage my spinal cord. But now, because I have lived my life, this injury has happened, and I have to adjust my activities accordingly.

I'm still skating. I know I could seriously injure myself, but at the stage I am skating at now, I think the chance of me hurting myself is about the same as that of other skaters. As I progress in skating there may be a point where my physical condition requires that I stop- maybe stop skating, maybe stop doing whatever is causing undue stress on my body. It is a definetly a limitation. There is nothing I can do now to unfuse my bones, heal the hole in my spinal cord and pretend it never happened. A good diet, rest and exercise won't help.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

And those who are delusional, will have their eyes opened by a collision with reality sooner or later.

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If you change the last word to "ability" I will agree with you 100%!

I left skating 36 years ago after I wrecked and did serious injury to both my knees (in the days before "sports medicine"). I spent many months on crutches and nearly two decades with knee problems. There was undoubtedly damage done that can never be repaired.

Nine months into my "return to skating" my knees haven't given me any trouble but the LAST thing I attempt will be jumps because, if the knee problems come back, it could take me off the ice and I don't want that. If anything gets to the knees, it would probably be jumps (because of the impact and strain) but I would rather be an "Artistic" skater and do Skills than to push too far into Freeskate and loose it all again. I am listening to my body because I want to skate to a ripe old age.

(Did I just say that? The crazy woman who is skating with a sprained ankle???)

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

Skitt,

Sorry to hear about your injury. It sounds very serious. I never meant to imply that just excersise, rest, and good nutrition would cure a serious injury. However, it seems to be something that you are working with, because you continue to desire to skate. In fact, you are a perfect example of a person who thinks "positively" and does what they can do, the best that they can do it, regardless of what happened. I'm not implying that everything has to be perfect. All I'm saying it that the way we think and approach things (including fear) is a very powerful tool! All things being equal (meaning each and everyone of us, including kid skaters, has something chronic, or problematic that we live with. I certainly do, too) aging doesn't necessarily have to be seen as a "limitation." That's all.

By the way, DBNY, I've had plenty of serious injuries from skating, several that have landed me in the emergancy ward and physical therapy. I choose to continue to skate and not to be afraid of it. Thanks for the well wishes.

I'm sorry to hear you've been injured skating, and I most certainly am not wishing more injuries on you.

I haven't read anything here that I would describe as negative thinking, so I don't get why you are preaching against it.

In addition to obvious physical differences, there are differences in how much pain can be tolerated and how much stress or fear, so the fact that you are still unafraid is wonderful, but does not mean that anyone else in your place would, could, or even should be. I've never had anasthetic of any kind for dental fillings, and not even for a crown. The pain just doesn't get to me enough to warrant taking a drug for it. I happen to be more talented in enduring dental work than I am in dealing with prospective injuries on the ice. So what! I'm not saying just get over your negative thinking and you too can have dental work without anasthetic. How foolish does that sound? Yet, what you and some others are saying about your approach to ice skating is the equivalent.

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....oops... posted instead of adding via edit to previous post.

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Looking at everyone's input on both sides of the argument, I'm thinking we might all be able to agree on two things:
1. We can continue to improve our skating skills in one way or another as we get older, especially if we train smarter, rather than harder.
2. While it is true that our bodies eventually wear out and our ability to perform certain physical feats diminishes with age, there is no one pre-set limitation that fits every adult skater. While there is a limit for every person, you won't know what it is until you get there. Placing a set limitation on an adult skater could limit his/her ability to reach his/her actual potential, whatever that may be.

If I were in denial about the amount of abuse my 41-year old body could take, I would still be flinging myself in the air with abandon on every jump and sit-spinning all the cartilage out of my knees rather than limiting the number of sitspins I do per week. On the other hand, if I'd bought into "conventional wisdom," I would never have taken up figure skating at 27 and I certainly never would tried to land my first double salchow and double toeloop just shy of 40. I am expecting to land my first double loop at 41 or 42, and there's no physical reason why I shouldn't be able to. Having said that, I don't intend to ever beat up my body to the extent I see the kids beating up theirs trying to master the double axel, so I'll never find out if I'd be able to land my first one in my 40's or not! But that's just me.

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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

Well said!

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I know that's not what you're implying- but I happen to have a very extreme case that can be used as an example. (And as serious as it is, I was very very lucky, and I know that everyday). But the thing is, even the small things "my knees aren't what they used to be" are limitations.

Skaters can, and should- try to do everything they personally can. But I think it's silly to think that with all the work, coaching, and time in the world everyone could be doing triple axels.

I do agree, however, that people need to leave excess fear at the rink door. A little fear keeps you from doing stupid things, too much keeps you from doing anything!

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

I think the title of this thread is "Older Skaters and Limitations." I'd much prefer to see our "limitations" as "challenges," meaning something that we ALL deal with and have to work through (again, including the kids.) About age, well, it's really just a number. I feel in many ways a lot "younger" now then it did when I was "younger." I'm 50 and don't regard myself as old, or limited. So, back to the original poster; if I had a coach that told me "sorry dear, but you're too old and your car is starting to breaking down," well, I'd go find another coach. That's all.