As a teenager, I designed most of my roller dance dresses for competition and practice. My dad made custom slipcovers, and fitted the dresses on me as if I were a chair Some of them were even made from leftover slipcover fabric. We didn't have stretchy stuff in those days, so it didn't matter much. Unfortunatley, my mom gave them all away after I left home, but I still have a few pix.

Did you ever have to change your costume at a competition because someone disapproved of it or because of a flaw found at the last minute? At roller skating Nationals in about 1965 some moralistic idiot made my parents go home and get another dress because they said the skirt was too short on the one I was wearing (one I designed, and was made from leftovers). That poor fool is probably spinning in his/her grave now

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I haven't done a competition yet, but if and when I finally do one, I'm not going to change just because someone doesn't like it. If they don't like it, tough, I'm expressing me, not their opinion.

Which boot do you tighten first, left or right?

Steven

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"A sure sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." - Albert Einstein
"A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular." - Adlai Stevenson
"Got Edge?" - Steven J. Arness - Coachless, two years and counting.
"He who carves himself to suit others will soon whittle himself away."
"Sometimes you get what you want but loose what you have."

er - you might change your costume if you were told you could not compete otherwise

I always put my right skate on first and tighten it first. I do the right completely, then the left.

No new question here, just wanted to clarify the situation to Steven.

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Actually, the way I read the rules, one would get a .1 point reduction for inappropiate attire, course what I wear at times is a whole thread onto itself.

Steven

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"A sure sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." - Albert Einstein
"A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular." - Adlai Stevenson
"Got Edge?" - Steven J. Arness - Coachless, two years and counting.
"He who carves himself to suit others will soon whittle himself away."
"Sometimes you get what you want but loose what you have."

Actually, that's an interesting question. I know there's a .1 deduction for a costume that's not "dignified, modest, and appropriate for athletic competition" or however it's worded, but does the same deduction apply to the "men must wear trousers" rule? I've never heard of an infraction of that rule, and of course I can't find the answer in the rulebook at the moment. (Is there a reason that the rulebook doesn'thave an index?)

My personal feeling is that the costume is/should be an extension of the presentation mark. I wouldn't deduct for a costume just because I personally didn't like it, but it does factor into my overall feeling about a skater's performance. An gaudy, level- and/or age-inappropriate dress, or one that has a "theme" but doesn't match the music (skating to a strong tango in a feminine, light pink dress, for example) is going to leave me with the same kind of impression as a sloppy ponytail or, less so, dirty unpolished skates. But I honestly don't know what I'd do as a judge, referee, test chair, etc. if a male skater showed up in a dress. I don't know what I'd even be allowed to do. My first thought was disqualification, but I'm not sure that would be allowed. Anyone know for sure?

Anyhow, we're a little off track here. Not that I mind, but I'll add a question anyway.

Do you usually buy your competition outfits off-the-rack, or do you have them made for you?

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

I have all of my costumes custoum made..by my MOM!!

does anyone have any tips on how to hydroblade?

If you PM me your e-mail address I'll send you through some 'tips' from a magazine that I have.

My ex-dance partner is brilliant at hydroblading but his sit spin isn't as sitting as you would expect! When we did a 'couples' one (you can see it on MY WEBSITE I found it more about the 'head' than anything else!! Having the bottle to go for it achieved MUCH more than thinking about it!!

x

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The best whisper is a click

You forgot to add a question, TashaKat!

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"It’s never too late to skate at any age." - Alexei Mishin.

Do you always sit in the same spot when you get your boots on or off?

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MEL
Absolute Skating

I never thought about it before, but yeah - I guess I do

Do you belong to a figure skating club or are you an independant?

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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

Oh heck, sorry Am at work so have to keep shutting down ..... it's hot, I'm tired (had my first show jumping lesson this morning) and there aren't many patients (I'm bored) ......

Erm, what was it now?

Oh, I'll answer the question first .....

No, I skated independently. Our club was either geared to beginner kids or 'recreational' dance adults ie not my scene. I was once told that I shouldn't be doing free skating at my age!!!


Which do you get more nervous for competitions or tests? (I always got more nervous for tests but quite enjoyed competitions )
x

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The best whisper is a click

Jay Kobayashi dressed as Michelle Kwan in a replica of her 2002 LP dress (red) for Adult Nationals Interp. He wasn't disqualified or even penalized - he won! But "extravagant" costuming is allowed in Interps, is it not?

Honestly I don't think any male skater in their right mind would show up for a "real" competition in a dress. Skating tends to be rather conformist about those kinds of things. Not many men even wear unitards.

Jocelyn

I think I get more nervous in tests or compeitions where there is no music involved. (like a moves or compulsory competition)


Do you have a routine before competitions or tests to calm your nerves?

Never seen that about Jay Kobayashi.

And no doubt about conforming, I know many people who don't move on because of it. You say it's a dress, I say it's a kilt, keeps most people happy, black pants are so boring! (I think unitards are even worse! Course their banned from copititions anyways)

Steven

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"A sure sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." - Albert Einstein
"A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular." - Adlai Stevenson
"Got Edge?" - Steven J. Arness - Coachless, two years and counting.
"He who carves himself to suit others will soon whittle himself away."
"Sometimes you get what you want but loose what you have."

Not really; I try to listen to my music on headphones and mentally plan which step comes where. I make sure I am thoroughly warmed-up and ready to go, and then, in an ideal world, I find someone to chat to to take my mind off things! Otherwise I get rather cross, and, trust me, you don't want to be around when I'm feeling like that.....

When is your next lesson booked for?

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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!

My next lesson is supposed to be Wednesday, if I decide to take it... I'm so off right now I'm thinking no, so it will be Friday.

Hmm... How many lessons do you take a week?

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"Without a struggle, there can be no progress" ~ Frederick Douglass

Usually 1-2 freeskate lessons and 1 dance lesson.

Have you invented any new "moves", if so, describe. If not, have you ever tried or wanted to invent any new "moves"?

Oh, yes. I've created several new, signature moves. My fav is the Flying T-Stop. It's most effective if you do it right in front of the judges, at the end of a program. I've also been working on the Singles Death Spiral. It's sort of a hydroblade, but you put your left arm on the ice and scootch around it. It works best if you wear a costume with a white long glove on the left side, so your arm & hand blend into the ice.

Seriously, I have created a silly spin, which I named after a friend. You know that game you played as a kid, where you pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time? You do that while doing a scratch spin! It's a hoot!

On your competition outfit, do you like it "sparkly" or plain?

For my competition outfit, it depends on the event I'm enetering and the type of music I'm skating to.

How far of a drive is your nearest skating boutique???

(Mine is about 2 hours)

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Lisa
I need a partner!!
Je cherche un partneur (parle en Englais si vous plait)
KTJADPA GLFDJEDV UWW

an hour

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what do u think of the new judging system, that had been created after the controversy in the pairs event at the olympics? is it better or worse the n the previous system?

I haven't studied it quite as indepthly as some others have. But just from browsing over some of the dance marking the other day, I have a hard time seeing how the judges are supposed to agree on whether the stroking was "strong," "robust," or "powerful." Doesn't seem to be any less subjective than what we have now, IMO.

How close is your relationship with your coach?

Well, i have 3 coaches, and an ex-coach. lol. My ex coach was a single lady, mid-30's, and we were really good friends. when i sprained my ankle and was off the ice for a month, she would call me just to cheer me up. we would email, talk about our lasted guys we liked, lol. when we were in a lesson, it was all bussiness, but off the ice, we were quite funny, always having fun. it was kinda a sarah hughes/robyn wagner type relationship. i miss her as a coach, but im glad i am with my new coach, cause she will help me go farther. My primary coach now, she is much older, and although we have fun and get along well, it is much different. She is more like a mother figure than a friend figure. I respect her a lot tho. And my other coaches arent my primary coaches, but i have known them for 3 years and work with them in the summer. Both are guys in their late 20's early 30's. We all get along well, and have fun on the ice, etc, but it is much more disciplined and they are very professional with their coaching. But considering i am a teen-age girl, that is the best relationship to have(a professional one i mean). We still laugh and all, and one of them is funnier than the other, lol, but yeah, it is more disciplined. I really luv all my coaches cause they are all so great and each have their own personality and coaching method, so it is interesting to be caoched by 3 different people; each caoch has a unquie(sp?)/different relationship.

How many coaches have you had?(including ones now, and ones fired in the past)

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~Sk8Bunny~
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"I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?"

the same freekate coach all of my life..but 4 diffrent dance coaches..i currently have 2 dance caoches

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thinking back to the dance portion 2003 worlds in washington, the team that shae-lynn bourne adn victor kraatz beat, stated that the main reason that B& K won was becasue they have been in this sport for so long and are retireing after this performance- there for it was all political. Do you think that that was the case, the the dance event was judjed on politics or was B& K better skaters? (personally i thin B&K were had overall better programs)

In my personal opinion, L/A's free program didn't hold a candle to B/K's. I don't think BK won based on politics, because it was a 5-4 split. Who knows if it would have been different if different judges marks had been selected. If anything, I think L/A got their votes based on politics.

What do you think about skate covers and over-the-boot tights?

i dont persoanlly like either

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what made you want to get into skating ( i started beacuse my older sister took leasons and beacuse " i wanted to skate like the peoelple on t.v)