The British Solo Dance Championships are being held in the UK this weekend; among the competitors are no fewer than three adult skaters, one of whom is well into his 50s. He skated until he was 18, but never quite made it into the highest rankings, and gave up when he went to university, as so many young men do. Thirty years later, his youngest daughter began to skate and was hooked - so Daddy went back on the ice to keep her company, and now, four or five years later, Daddy is competing against the best in the land! And may very well win.

Then we have another adult woman dancer who is competing against the best in the land, too - and she didn't start skating until she was grown up. So it can be done! (The third adult is continuing her skating career and has already won at least one category in the Championships!)

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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 totally agree with you! Kids out of high school can risk a year just flitting around and finding themselves, but it is a risk and in my opinion to become a part of the college culture is far better if in fact you are not making skating your career. Life does get in the way and you feel behind if you don't strike the education iron while it is hot. I know personally a national medalist who decided on college over skating (very hard) and cannot believe how the world has opened up. Skating is a tiny, tiny culture with no future in most cases.

Here, most universities actively encourage students to have taken a year off before going up; you are often more likely to be offered a place, especially for the younger ones, who will only just be 18. They would far rather you were 19. This is not true of all universities, but a majority. It has been shown, I understand, that students who have taken what is called a Gap Year are far less likely to drop out during their course than those who have not. Presumably because those who have found that a university degree isn't for them at this time of their life don't go, or withdraw their applications during the year.

As for skating being a "tiny culture with no future", it surely depends, very much, on what you want that future to be? If you mean national- and international-level skating, well, yes, obviously only a very few make it. But there is a huge network of skating clubs out there, of recreational skaters who do it for fun and exercise, and take pride in being the best they can be, and a huge network, too, of adult skaters competing at a national and international level against skaters of the same age and ability. Even I have 3 international gold medals to my credit, which is not something anybody would ever have believed.

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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 agree. School can come later, *IF* that's what interests you.

I put off college for a year, then went but it wasn't the end all be all, and I didn't finish because I realized all I really wanted to do was be involved in skating... so I started coaching.

Do what's right for YOU. If you want to continue, and have the means to do so, go for it.

I don't believe that going to a university ever eliminates you from skating or teaching or for fun and exercise. That seems pretty obvious to me. I am speaking of the major choice in life to either get on with the education that in today's world you require unless you don't need to earn money or the choice to stay in the figure skating cycle of 6 days a week stuck in a rink, putting together new programs, fittings for costumes, music and the endless competitions and expense. If you are a Sasha Cohen or Michelle Kwan then you have little choice. In my academic work environment you can't find anyone who knows the top figure skaters.....maybe Michelle Kwan. They may know what a double play is or a forward pass, and everyone certainly knows all the players in those sports, but you can't find anyone who really knows what a double axel is. Personally speaking, when we as a family were so totally immersed in the sport of figure skating it seemed the ONLY sport. We have learned since "our" star left the figure skating world for the educational world that perspective has returned and we have seen a happier, hopeful, young person who now participates in life full force; even meeting people other than skaters is now possible. Going to a university is more than just academics. It is broadening your horizons, discovery, meeting people and laughing. The coach our skater had didn't allow for any laughing, only hard work and criticism. It was a hard decision to make when you have devoted your entire life, save a few years, to the sport, but yes our skater has coached and taught here and there and has never regretted leaving the competition scene.

As far as 18 or 19 when you go to college, or if you take a year in between or not that is up to the individual, it may benefit some and may not others. Some 19 year olds are not mature and some 18 year olds are very mature.

There's competitive, then there's competitive.

I think you need to decide your own personal goals for skating. What will make you happy? What will satisfy you?

If singles aren't working out (you aren't at a high enough level to satisfy your personal needs, perhaps, and see lots of obstacles to getting to the "right" level), then you could consider dance or pairs. Perhaps a good fit - consider synchro. There are lots of colleges with synchro skating teams right now, some of them varsity and they do compete. This might be a fun way to continue skating, to continue to achieve, and to actually skate at quite a high level within a different discipline.

There are ways to combine skating and college if you want to. You could go to a college with a rink and/or a team (UMass Amherst, U Delaware, etc.).

Other options: You can be serious about skating and make skating a career and yet still get a college degree. A few examples: Part time school, full time skating: Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle Kwan. Full time school, full time skating: Matt Savoie, Derrick Delmore, Paul Wylie. Full time school, part time skating: The vast majority of college-age skaters in the US! These people sometimes choose to make skating their career, sometimes not. They can coach, manage rinks, work with the USFSA as staff, manage skating schools, market skating tours...become orthopedic surgeons...doctors, lawyers, managers...all related to skating, but requiring a college degree or more.

My first reaction to your question is....... you know when to "give up" when the fire inside you has subsuded.

If you want to skate, then do it. Don't let anything stand in your way. If you want to see how far you can go, then do it. School can be worked around, take a few courses through distance ed, online, or very part time at a university/college. It's just my opinion, but the things you want to do can be done, it's up to you to find the balance. And it depends on had badly you want it.

If it's in your heart to skate, then skate. If it's not, then don't. Whatever your choice, do what will make you happy. It's easier to look back and say "hmmm, maybe I shouldn't have done that" rather than "man, I wish I did."

No regrets. Good luck!!!!!!

I agree with Canucksk8r... If you still love skating and you love competing, continue... I would offer that friends who have toured have shared that it is a fun life - the travel and the friends you make on tour - but it is a hard life. The pay is not great, you work HARD, and there is a lot of pressure.

My story... I quit skating as a teen when I suffered a serious back injury and skating just wasn't fun anymore. No regrets, I just couldn't do it anymore. I knew I was done because I couldn't drag my but to the rink for 6:00AM practices anymore!! But, I do regret that I didn't continue with the parts of skating that I enjoyed - finished my dances and in hindsight, continued with figures. I just couldn't be competitive anymore and in that time and with the culture of the club, if you couldn't do freeskate, you didn't skate... I wasn't able to stay away from the sport - I returned to skate precision in highschool. I stopped precision when I entered university because I thought it was time to 'grow-up' - go to school, find a career, get a job, etc.. But, I was miserable so I ended up coaching through university and it was wonderful!! Great way to work few hours, make lots of $$, and do something you love. I would offer the advice that if you do decide to attend university, it's nice to have a break from the stress and studying (whether that is training or coaching). I worked hard when I coached, but it was a pleasure to go to the rink after school and then I could go home and study with more interest. Now, I'm a professional and I'm no longer coaching. I skate for fun and continue to love my sport.

Whether you decide to continue, tour, coach or go to school - just take some time and don't stress about the decision. You will know what is right for you. And, it's not like it's set in stone - if you decide to tour you can do that for a year and if it's not right for you, you can return home to go to school. Life is full of twists and turns, that's what makes it fun!! Good luck with your decision...