Hey, everyone.

I got back from Lake Placid yesterday. Since I wasn't there for very long, and I'm still new to (and on the fringe of) the adult skating world, I won't be able to answer many of your questions, but I thought I'd share some of my impressions. So this might be of limited interest, but here goes...

Lake Placid looked beautiful, particularly yesterday which was a crystalline day. I had fun taking pictures around frozen Mirror Lake in the wee hours. And it was great to look out the hotel windows and see skaters wheeling their skate bags up Main Street towards the arena. The only minus about LP in April is that many of the shops and restaurants are closed, as it's presumably off-season. I was talking to one of the shopowners, who told me that he was closing up next week. Thank goodness his bakery was open because he served up the best chocolate raspberry torte. Good training grub.

My initial impression from watching the practices is that adult skating has made a huge leap in quality over the past year. Could it be that more "kid skaters" have entered into the mix, or is it because adults are testing MITF? Contrary to what I often read about adult skaters, speed, good edge quality, athleticism, and tricks were prevalent. Lots of impressive spreadeagles (with straight backs, too).

For me, the greatest thing about Adult Nationals is being able to go into one of the arenas at any time of day, sit anywhere you like and enjoy the wonderful skating. The cafeteria had decent coffee and muffins, but there didn't seem to be a problem with bringing in contraband food. ANs has got to be the most fun competition that US Figure Skating runs.

The event seemed to be run very efficiently. My only complaint centered around practice ice. A number of us had to wait two hours in line to purchase ice time, and the practice ice office was open limited hours. I was hoping to swap my unused practice ice with another skater who really needed it, but the office was closed mid-day and I was unable to do so. I appreciate the fact that it takes dedicated volunteers to help run an event like this, but it was frustrating.

As I mentioned in another thread, I didn't qualify for the final round. I was in a three-way tie for 6th place in a tough group and ended up 7th. Shortly after reading the results, I went to Ben & Jerry's--twice. (More good training grub!) I would love to have skated on the 1980 rink, but with such strong competition, I knew I was borderline. When I think of all the mornings I got up at 4:30 or 5:00 am to train, it's a bummer. I need to assess whether or not to continue. I'm not innately a good athlete, unlike most of the adults I saw this week, and I'm wondering if I'll be able to improve enough to be in the thick of things. I'm considering doing an interpretive next time so that I can get involved in an event where results are less important than the entertainment value you offer to the audience.

Cheers,
Raine

Raine,
Congrats on making it to nationals and having a good time skating! I'm sorry to read that you're a little frustrated. Only you can decide whether to continue to skate, but I would urge you not to make any hasty decisions to stop. Or maybe you meant you don't know whether to continue trying to compete at nationals? I guess the question is whether you enjoyed yourself and whether your skating is improving. I know that I have a long long way to go to ever make it to adult natioals, but I just keep plugging away. For me, it's not about winning but about the whole process. I know it sounds trite, but it's true for me.

Hang in there! I enjoyed meeting you at Chelsea Piers and hope to see you again at a competition in the future. BTW, I'm signed up for the May Day competition at Laurel in May.

Pat

Raine, I think you were fantastic! No, I didn't see you skate (wish I had!), but you were there, and you were competing, and that's what matters. You didn't say whether you were pleased with how you skated - as opposed to the results, which must have been horribly frustrating for you - but if you were, then don't give up. Do Interpretive, by all means - it's enormous fun - but don't give up on the free skating, either. Don't forget that there are some skaters out there who go back year after year with very little hope of finishing other than last, or all but last, in their group - but they still have enormous fun trying, and seeing how they, and everybody else, has improved in the last year!

Come and skate at the Mountain Cup, too - or at the Dune of Flanders Cup at Christmas - to see how you measure up to international standards!

__________________
Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Thanks for your great posts!

If I haven't improved very much or competed well, I blame myself in part for not focusing on the goals I had set last April.

But I do question how much I can improve. I find it amazing that so many adult skaters are doing lutzes, axels, doubles, flying camels, etc. after only a few years of skating. They're superannuated versions of Johnny Weir!

I've been skating much longer, although mostly recreationally in public sessions with occasional group lessons. I can barely do a lutz, which I finally learned at age 48 and haven't yet mastered. I can't do a backspin at all, and for the same reason, I can't do combinations that end with a loop jump. My last resort is to see an orthopedic specialist and/or get new equipment.

Mrs. Redboots, I'd love love love to do an adult competition overseas. Especially if they ever have one in the UK (my favourite part of the world), I'm there!

Cheers,
Raine

oh Raine, I feel for you, I really do. Flips, loops and lutzes have been the bane of my existence since 2000.

Of all things, don't let your placements at ONE competition dictate to you whether to quit the sport you love. Do it for love of sport, not medals. I think we've all been there, I know it's driving me crazy that a friend of mine is an adult ice prodigy, but I can't try to compare myself to her since I'm not a natural athlete and she is.

__________________
Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

Perserverence is everything! If it will make you feel better, I will excise a demon. I landed my first axel in November of 1997 after I had been in private lessons for 4 years and learn to skate before that for 5. I still do not have it consistent, almost 7 years later. The last time it was consistent was summer 2000, and it was on-and-off before that. Since then, it's either cheated or two-footed, and nowhere near putting in my program..... sigh.

ETA: Ugh, that did not sound like a pep-talk at all... what I really mean is, I haven't had a consistent axel in years. I have continued to enjoy skating and learn lots of things and have great experiences regardless. Even if I never get my axel back (!!!) I will still like skating and want to do it. And my axel is at least under my control - judging is not under your control so why let one competition of it dictate whether you keep skating?

I know it's disappointing, but hey, you were at least really close! You could've had last-place ordinals across the board! Is this your first ANs? How long have you been skating for?

One of the big lessons in skating is that sometimes you work hard, skate great and get screwed, and sometimes you slack off, skate poorly and place well. All you can do is work hard and hope for the best. Good for you for training so hard and competing well. Keep at it!!

Raine, I know EXACTLY where you're coming from! I, too, know skaters that have only been in the sport for a few years, but can do jumps up to lutz, in addition to camels, camel sits, etc. I can barely land a loop! Makes me wonder where or how they get the time to practice when they have families and jobs to boot!
It doesn't matter to me though- - I'm planning to train all out to get my Bronze tests passed in order to go to KC next year (this will be try#5 for the Bronze freestyle )
Anybody going to Hackensack in June- I'm thinking about it, but will be a 7 hour drive for me!

There are also adult skaters who don't admit they skated as kids...........so don't take the claims of lutz in 2 years too seriously, or compare yourself. Sure, there are some talented adults out there that have natural jumping and spinning ability...........but the majority of us have to work really hard, and often for years to get one little element consistent. I'm still waiting to call something consistent. LOL! OK, I do have a pretty consistent backspin, but on I'm VERY loop challenged. Play up what you are good at, and keep working on the challenging stuff. Heck, it's the challenge that makes this sport so much fun (and so frustrating).

Good job going to AN!!!!!!!

Oh..........I remember those practice ice lines. I waited 3 hours when I was there, and had to do it twice. I also remember a good German bakery. He was closing for the season the day I went in...........so everything left was 1/2 off. Oh my, the treats I walked out the door with that day.

I don't post much, but I can feel your pain! I just failed my Preliminary Moves last month after working on them for over two years and I wanted to throw my skates in the trash the week after (failed due to nerves mostly). Back to practice, though, and feeling better, hopefully you will soon too.

As to skill level, I started in 1997 in group lessons, never skated before as a kid. I didn't get my flip or lutz until about 2001, and that was two months after my first private lesson. I just got my backspin (on the proper outside edge and correct) in late 2003! I thought I would never get the thing! My coach is really fabulous and has never given up, even when I've done something wrong 8,000 times the exact same way.

I told my coach I would "never" land a lutz, my dyslexic mind just didn't "get" it and I was terrified of the thing. Now it's my second favorite jump (flip is my easiest/favorite). I felt the same way about flying camels and now try them (albeit with bent leg). Axel if I ever land it will be a miracle, but I don't care one way or the other.

My loop still stinks and I can land it, but it's weird. Loops at the end of jumps are torture. Part of my problem with loops and backspins concerned a bum left leg (healing stress fracture in my left thigh) and bad blades from bad sharpenings. I see you are from Boston area--I swear by Scott Cooke in Wilmington, he put me in exactly the right boot/blade combination.

I used to skate 8-10 hours a week and now only skate about 3-4. I am 36, have a full-time job, a big house and no kids. I did nothing but watch Brady Bunch as a kid and play in the yard, never took dance, have no inborn athletic talents and still don't do anything but skate (ice and roller/quads). We're all different and I really respect anyone who takes a chance and competes. I never have competed, the four tests I have taken (three passed, one failed) were scary enough!

My goal in when starting skating was just to learn backwards crossovers, LOL. You never know what you will accomplish, it may be just around the corner.

Congrats on getting out there!

Raine, I applaud you for going to AN!!! Many adults have become 'placement' oriented - that's human. Some of us have a hard time recognizing the good things we did and focus on our mess-ups - that's human too. I'm sure you put in a lot of emotional energy in gearing up for AN, so you are experiencing a post-event letdown - that's human too.

Many of us have had second thoughts about our skating and the years we put in and our 'unnatural' athletic ability. Take a break! Even the kids cool off for a week after an important competition.

If Interpretive appeals to you because you would like to do something more artistic than so element oriented, then go for it! You may find that aspect of skating really calls to you and you blossum forth.

And yes, I agree, I think there are a lot of returning skaters that draw on their childhood memories, like riding a bike, more than they realize. It can be discouraging to adults who learned as adults (like me.)

You might want to just focus on competitions in your area for awhile and see how that goes.

Some skaters have personal lives that allow them to skate every day and they progress rapidly. Others can only get to a rink 2-3 times a week for a variety of reasons. I've been skating a total of 11 years now and still can't spin! But I can do a waltz jump, half lutz, half flip, and am almost secure on toe loop and salchow, have gained much speed, flow, and great edges.

So perk up sweetie! All that you are experiencing is familiar to many of us! Glad you enjoyed Lake Placid - it is a very unique place! Again, what a thrill for you to compete in AN!!

As someone puts as their signature on a message group:
"Don't laugh at me because I can't do it. Smile at me because I tried!"
We are all smiles for you and you should be very proud of yourself for having the courage to try!!!

Zoomana,

You should try competing someday. It's not nearly as scary as testing. I'm the queen of nerves, let me tell you. Although I'm nervous when I compete, it's not the do or die feeling of testing. I freak at every competition, then can't wait until the next one. It's definitely not that way with a test session.

You guys are the best!

I'm happy to hear that I'm not the only one who struggles mightily with skating. Seeing so many adults zipping around the rink in Lake Placid (and with relatively few years of skating under their belts) skewed my perspective.

Especially since I've been skating since 1972.

I don't care that much about winning because it's out of my control in a lot of ways, but I'd like to improve and show significant improvement next year. I'm setting goals for next season, and this time I plan to stick to them.

Already I have very fond memories of Lake Placid, and I'm thrilled for my rinkmates, friends, and acquaintances who have succeeded there this past week.

Happy skating,
Raine

Hi, Raine!

I hate to admit this, but you have no idea how jealous I am that I'm not able to skate well enough to compete at AN this year!!! I really wanted to go, particularly this year, b/c of the 10 year anniversary thing and it's in Lake Placid (and everyone brags about how beautiful it is!) All I ever wanted was to do well enough to pass those rotten Bronze tests, particularly the Bronze Moves tests. (And I'm going on my 5th year skating as of June this year.) It's no fun for me to watch a lot of my adult friends go to AN and I'm stuck at home b/c I don't have my act together in terms of skating well enough to pass those Bronze Moves and FS tests. (I've been working on Bronze Moves now for OVER TWO YEARS!!! And you don't wanna know how long I've been working on backspins and loops.)

However, I count my blessings b/c I have improved a lot in the overall skating this year in terms of speed and control. (Even my backspins are better!) And for the first time I feel that I will have a reasonable chance at passing my Bronze tests (both of them) this year. But it all comes down to the judges that will be looking at my tests!!! I have a lot of catching up to do in the FS area too... and I still have a lot to work on in basic skating!!! I am determined to skate well enough to pass those tests though, b/c it would be a waste now for me to give up and quit after all the work I put myself through and how close I am now to the goal. (And, hey! Overall, I enjoy the journey of working towards this goal!)

__________________
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!!!

jazz, you and I are in the same boat! With AN in KC next year, I have an extra incentive to pass my tests, but the loop is giving me fits and starts. Not at all consistent enough to say I have a loop...

I'll stand behind you if you stand behind me, we'll pass those tests, and we will toast each other's accomplishments at AN next year, no matter our placements.

__________________
Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

Jazz and Mel, I salute your wonderful attitudes!

Here's hoping that you pass your bronze moves and FS tests. You'll arrive on the competitive scene with better fundamentals than I did for sure. And although Lake Placid is beautiful, your first AN will be a great experience no matter where it is.

Cheers,
Raine

Mel and Jazzpants,
Can you guy count me in as the THIRD person training to pass tests and qualify for AN next year??? PLEEASSE??

Count me as a person who would like to be eligible to compete Bronze in club competitions. I've been working on my Pre-Bronze moves for 7 months (although I've been doing edges, crossovers, 3 turns, and stroking for a lot longer obviously) and I'm barely ready to test. I was going to test Monday (and hope for my best performance, which would pass me), but the session is full (it's at another club, and closed to guests in overcrowding situations) so it looks like the earliest I'll test my MIF and FS will be mid-May, and I don't even know if that's do-able b/c it's in the middle of exam time for me. I may not test until June, which will definitely keep me out of the Chesapeake Open (and I wanted to do that local comp so badly) and possibly even Wilmington.

I, too, understand the feelings of frustration. I've been working on a loop for over a year. I finally got it to a point a few weeks ago where I could land it properly (on one foot and on an edge, as opposed to my toe) a couple of times in a row, but since then, I've dedicated all of my practice time to my tests so I don't know what shape that jump is in now. I watch kids that were in Basic Skills and FS group lessons with me pass Pre-Pre, Prelim, and (in one case) Pre-Juv moves and get all their singles and start working on their axel. And I first "learned" a flip over a year ago and have yet to land it (and nearly fell while trying one holding on to the wall. File that under strangest falls. But I keep reminding myself that I skate for the fun of it and whether it's a competition or a club show, the most mportant thing is to enjoy the experience and set my own goals, like not hunching over when I land my jumps or flapping my arms while stroking. Hey, I've got to start somewhere.

DEAL!!! (to Mel, Terri and Debbie!!!)

__________________
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!!!

At least you guys are brave enough to do free skating! I do quite literally a minimal amount - I hate jumping and spinning! And I know quite well that, even in artistic/interpretive skating, although I seem to have a gift of being funny on the ice, I won't be really competitive in this country unless I have a loop jump. I don't. I do have a 3-jump (waltz jump), and have a vague sort of cherry-flip (toe-loop, only it's more of a toe-3!) and Salchow (which rotates beautifully on the ice and then I jump backwards). My spin does 2 revolutions on a good day, and usually not even that. And I can't skate backwards!

So okay, I've mostly focussed on dance throughout my skating career, and I know there are one or two skaters I can beat (on a good day) in solo dance at the beginning levels. But really, realistically, I'm not going to get beyond my present level, although I'd like just once to compete in Bronze at a realistic level.

But so what? I have enormous fun trying; Robert and I enjoy competing, and trying very hard not to come last. I have been known to win Interpretive classes (abroad), and even got a Bronze medal in the UK this year (that wasn't 3rd out of 3). So it's fun, and maybe this year we've improved our speed and flow enough not to come last. Maybe....

__________________
Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Jazz, Mel, Debbie, Terri --

Me, too! I want to be part of the club! I've been skating a little more than 5 years, and forget those bronze moves! Well, actually, I'm starting to have some hope, but everything is such a battle for me to learn. Forget the backspin for now, I just want my forward spin back!

sigh.

Pat, off to her practice and lesson today...

I'd better pack an extra bottle of champagne!

__________________
Champagne in 2005, 2008, 2009 - who's next out of the pre-bronze club...?

Wang chung!

Raine, I'm sorry you're so frustrated...I didn't do well, either. I am a consultant, and all the travel just wore me out enough that I was no longer motivated to train...and I just sucked! (12th in freestyle qualifying, 16th in interp.) But skating with much better skaters just whacked me in the butt (I can say that, right ), and I am now re-energized to do that periodization thing that my sickness last summer popped me off of.

I wish I had met you while you were there. And I wished you stayed. There are so many great memories, and even though I had a tough year, I skated better than last year.

My only disappointment is that they are discussing changing the age divisions so younger skaters can compete, so I may never meet my original goal of competing as a Gold I.

I do have some gripes with the bronze freestyle event, mainly about how Bronze no longer means beginner the way it used to. But that is another discussion for another thread...

Raine, I hope you continue, and I hope to meet you in KC, if not before!
Erin
(who would like to find her flip and lutz, which disappeared between the warm-up and the competition)

Erin, congratulations on skating better than last year! That's definitely something I didn't do. I'm glad that you have great memories of LP. I went home on Thursday which I had planned to do all along if I didn't make the final round. It was just too expensive to justify another 3 days, although I would love to have watched more great skating. I'll probably order the highlights video if I hear that it's good.

I had a good practice today, so hope springs eternal!

I agree that with the way Bronze is headed (and I'm proud of the progress of my fellow bronzers), they'll have to establish another group IF they want to keep ANs inclusive. How does Pewter Ladies sound?

Cheers,
Raine

Raine, and any other person interesed in purchasing the highlight video. DON'T. They showed at the competitor's party, and it was awful. None of the good interps made it in (including Torvill and Dean, Hoop Girl, and Sonia Henie), and they put cuts of rock videos in it without any skating.

Pewter? I like that , but I think it's called Pre-Bronze. It just breaks my heart that beginners no longer have a place at AN's, considering the buzz about not making it a qualifier-only event.

Erin
who knows that AN's will always be open because of the $$ generated by starts...how many people actually go to AN's as spectators? And were they on Lifetime or Oxygen?

Well, it's called Pre-Bronze, and it's too bad that they don't have a comp at that level at ANs. I guess it's b/c of space and time.