Indeed, welcome from another adult skater. I was a couch potato in my 40s when I started - now I'm well into my 50s, and just beginning to be competitive against other dancers of my age and ability level!

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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!

SpaMama: Allow me to encourage you to go on the ice this way: "C'mon in! The (frozen) water's fine!" [/QUOTE]

Jazzpants and DallasSkater - I have always loved skating - skated on our lake in Indiana growing up every winter -(never any good, just little kid skating), and then the last 10 years or so taking my Grandmother to COI or SOI every year for "her" Christmas present (mine too!). So I love the sport and always have - guess I am afraid I will REALLY love doing it, and, well, there goes my life as I know it! I already tap dance at the studio my kids dance at in an adult class, so it wouldnt be unheard of for me.................

SpaMama

Welcome DallasSkater! I've been in my own lurk mode lately, but your enthusiasm has brought me back out

Adult skating is a lot of fun. As for competing, I usually do a local here in February, the Deborah Burgoyne North American Invitational (all adult) in March, Adult Mids, then Adult Nationals. I wasn't in Dallas this past year, but will do my fourth AN in Chicago next year. I did pairs this year at the DBNAI and Mids too, which was fun. Sometimes I'll do another local or two, but not every year.

As for PattyP, she's a very nice skater (and person) and it's even more impressive since, unlike me, she did not skate as a kid. I had the pleasure of competing at Adult Gold with her at the Kansas City AN. She does some pretty cool interps, too!

I plan on meeting Jazzpants at Chicago, as I'm certain this one will be the charm for her.

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"The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary." -- Vidal Sasson

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Unknown

You are way too kind! Thanks!

I plan to be at the Chicago AN too!

Dallas, you can do it. The way you are progressing, it's possible. I started in January of '98 and attended AN as a Bronze skater in April of '99. But, back then, we didn't have those pesky MIF tests...

Mrs Redboot: That is awesome that you were able to transition from a couch potato to a competitive skater! It is such great exercise that I bet you have added years to your life and healthy years at that!

SpaMama: See it will be such a natural thing for you! That dance background is really going to be helpful. I have had no dance in my background. For the last two decades I have been an aerobics junkie....mostly step classes. Unfortunately, that is not going to help me with the grace in movement. I have recently considered taking some sort of dance as I bet it would help me if I ever do want to enter into anything. Have no idea where I would fit that in to my schedule! There is a 22 year old in my adult freestyle class. She is a competitive dancer. There is a huge difference in how she is able to address new things introduced from the rest of us. I think it is because she has that background. (Ok, it might be because she is 22 too! ...giggle).

Sk8er1964: Hi! So glad you came out of the lurk mode. Sounds like you are quite the competitor. Congrats to all you have accomplished. I hope to get to attend the next AN as a spectator. I will be there to cheer you and the others on! I still can't believe I missed it when it was at my rink! It looked so interesting from the coverage I have seen that I will travel to see it!

Patty: I have heard there have been changes. I am hoping since I was oblivious to what was required that the current requirements will not overwhelm me. I think just working toward the pre bronze is intimidating me so I try not to think of what I would have to be able to do for anything else. I have heard that even moving to bronze is a major leap from pre. Since I am starting as an adult I feel I will definitely hit a limit to how much is possible. What is so great is that I can feel I am not even close to that limit now! I will always admire those of you that made it so far and feel inspired to push the boundary!

Well you do! I enjoyed your interp at AN in Lake Placid!

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

DallasSkater, I'm with GoBoom:

But, welcome. I'm 37 and working on my basic 8 (USFSA) with the eventual aim of pre-Bronze. . .Great at some things on that list but terrible at others. Keep at it!

I am inspired b DallasSkater to come in from lurkdom and say hi

Although I skated fairly regularly as a child- no lessons, purely skating round and round like a little fish in a bowl!-I'm a very new adult skater. I'm only in my eleventh week and skate at the same rink as Mrs Redboots (I'd say hi if I had even a vague idea who you are, Mrs R!).

I'm loving every second of it so far; I love the fact that I, a person whose legs and arms will not co-operate to do step aerobics, am actually learning a wonderful skill, improving my posture and fitness and generally looking forward to each visit to the rink more than I look forward to anything else!!

I'm glad I found this place

Clare

Good for you, Clare! Welcome to our world (where the reception is not so "icy" after all).

Liljen: Wonderful that you are at basic 8! I am interested in the pre bronze as well. It will be a while. I am having a blast so even if I never make it, it will be ok. It is fun having something to work towards though. Not sure if I understand all the skills that will be required. A woman at my rink recently got her pre bronze and she has shown me some of the things I still cannot do at all. I look forward to learning though.

Clare: Isn't freedom from lurkdom grand! giggle. Sounds like you are hooked too. I will be interested to hear how you are progressing! I skated on a cranberry bog as a child occasionally. Those were the days! We did that fish bowl circle on the bog too! Your post reminded me of that time. Thanks for the brief visit back to such carefree days!

Doubletoe: Your right...it is warm and fuzzy in here! giggle.

I was supposed to go to a seminar today but it was canceled...of course only after I drove an hour to get there. The prize was that I got to skate this afternoon! I feel better prepared for my lesson tomorrow with that extra skate in there! You guys have been impressed with the mention of the salchow I did last week while in lesson. However, I apparently need more instruction on that little number. I could not do anything close to it for the life of me today. Not sure I am remembering everything. Glad I have my lesson tomorrow to help remind me!

Glad to see you come out of lurkdom!!!

We'll see... tests still needs to be passed and money has to be saved up for the trip. We'll see how it all comes out of the wash when it's time...

SpaMama: If you never try, you'll never know...

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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 think the thought of putting my feet in those gross plastic rentals is holding me back!!!!

LOL Spamama! Those rental boot sure are brutal! I wore them a few weeks in getting started. But to demonstrate that there is no excuse.....Sports Authority has simple cheap skates that are fine to start in. I bought them as I was waiting for my skates to be made and needed something...anything.... better then the rink ones. They were 59.00 big bucks on sale for 30.00! what a bargain! Cheap but just fine for the beginners learn to skate program. By that time you would know for sure if you would be continuing and need real ones!

Feel the pressure! giggle.

LOL!!! I've been thru those gross plastic rental ski boots!!! I still managed to like skating enough to go on to my own skates!

Yes, DallasSkater's suggestion of getting some cheap boots to start with is a great idea! At least then you'll have a consistent fit and you can then find someone COMPETENT to sharpen the blades than "the guys in the back."

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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, Clare, and welcome. Which sessions do you skate on? Are you having private lessons (if so, who with?), or are you in the classes?

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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 just having group lessons at the moment- Thursday evenings with Roland. I also usually skate Saturday morning (dodging the very fast little people!!), Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening if I can squeeze it in.

Clare

Ah yes. I'm not skating evenings at the moment, although I must go to dance club on Thursdays again soon (but the Husband says there are so few men that I don't care to add to the pressure on him with all the other women he has to dance with!). Friend of ours skates Saturday mornings - we're usually long gone by the time the adult classes/lessons starts, though.

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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 usually watch the dancers if I arrive early before my lesson on a Thursday and you're right, they seem very short of men at the moment!!

Clare

The skinny balding one with a Northern Ireland accent is my husband - do make yourself known to him; he knows all about Skatingforums, although he hasn't time to lurk here himself!

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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!

Oh gosh then I'm sure know which one your hubby is- it's very easy to narrow it down when there are so few men!! I already know Bob so that doesnt leave many- they were a very small gathering this past Thursday.

I'll say hi next Thursday

Clare

Yes, do. Actually, I don't think he would have been there when you arrived last week, as he was supposed to be at another meeting at 7:45 pm. I don't think he actually got there on time....

I find I get too tired to go after 90 minutes' and more training on the previous two days, and then a further 90 minutes on Friday & Sunday mornings. But I must try and come down one of these weeks....

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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!

Oh, Annabel--I do so ***adore*** the Northern Ireland accent (and also Scottish accents). I think the vowels sound soooo lovely. I spent 1 year of uni at UCC in southern Ireland, and one of my flatmates was from Omagh. She had the most beautiful accent.

(Sorry, DallasSkater, I know that's totally off topic!!)

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