I think I may have mentioned this before, but last May, at our senior dinner in the chemistry department, the chair talked about all of the seniors. When he got to me, he said "Sue is a very good student, and she likes to skate. She's always telling us of these progresses she's making, but we're not sure how good she really is since she's always getting injured. She's had concussions, knee problems, in fact, I think she has a wrist brace on right now." I did have a wrist brace on, but I got that from falling up the stairs, not skating.

I guess I wasn't an adult skater when I got asked this question (was 17), but I was with a group of synchro skaters on the team I was on, and this little boy skater comes up to me (he's now a national novice medalist! ) and, upon hearing that I've passed my juvenile freeskate he says, "But you have to land an axel to pass that test. . .I didn't know synchro skaters could do jumps."

And then there was the 9 year old at the rink during Adult Mids this weekend. When I told her I was 23, I was expecting a "wow. . .that's really old!" comment, but instead she said, "That's pretty young. You've got lots of skating years left." This, coming from a little 9 year old. Pretty cute.

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"Without Vision the People Perish"
שלום לעולם תמיד

When I was at school my friends would ask me if i could do the... and then they'd be at a lost for words and start twirling their hands in the air... then I'll say like spins? Yeah... then they will gesture somemore then I say ... yeah combination spins I can do that... lol

Some people ask me like if I win money at competitions too then I'll just tell them no I pay to compete... not win money lol

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Tidesong

A pet peeve of mine is that everybody seems to think that if you're an adult skater here in the Netherlands, well, then you should join a synchro team because that's the only way you'll ever get to nationals. So everybody keeps telling me how great it is to be on a synchro team and that I should join. Ughhhh...

I hated every group dance we ever did anywhere, in kindergarten, in school, in ballet class, in dancing class, in highschool, even though I did love dancing, so I'm most certainly NOT joining any team - especially considering the costs of being on one!

I know I've said this before, but my boss regularly threatens to wrap me in bubble wrap!

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When asked what his "secret" to success was, Wayne Gretsky said: "Skate to where the puck is going and not to where it has been."
Is the figure skating version of this: Skate as if you're doing an axel and not just learning how to hop?

LOL! I also always thought it would be a great halloween skating costume to wear a suit that was padded like the Michelin man....

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Ask me about becoming a bone marrow donor.
http://www.marrow.org
http://www.nmdp.org

*Pop* *pop* *pop*...

My favorite ever had to be the on-ice costume party this year when a parent decided to put the kid into a big, padded "Cars" costume that was as long as he was tall. Every time he fell down, he'd bounce right back up!

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When asked what his "secret" to success was, Wayne Gretsky said: "Skate to where the puck is going and not to where it has been."
Is the figure skating version of this: Skate as if you're doing an axel and not just learning how to hop?

Another cute comment:

Today, the mother of a 9-year-old girl I skate with, who has the same coach as me, told me that her daughter had asked her "What grade is Debbie in?" LOL! I laughed and started counting my years in college and grad school and came up with something like 20th - the mother said she told her daughter that I was a senior (I'm only 35, so she meant senior in high school) - lol!

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Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

Haha last year when I'd just started skating and was attempting bielman spirals when I couldn't do a normal spiral (yeah well I've always been one for pushing the limits) my BF told me to go dressed up as spongebob.

This year at artistic skate in Deventer or Groningen or something, somebody actually went as spongebob judging from the photos...

We've just finished the second series of Dancing on Ice here in the UK, where a celebrity dances with a professional skater. In the final, the celebs have to "fly" - they are hooked to a harness, and do all sorts of aerial tricks, as well as skating. The sole woman finalist found the harness hurt her hips, and made herself a clever pair of pants (short pants) out of bubble wrap - apparently you could hear it popping all through her programme!

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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!

Along similar lines. An adult skater at my rink got new skates because her old ones were too big and one of the kids asked her if she was going to keep them as she would grow into them. Bless. She told him her feet had stopped growing a long time ago

I'm 31, but I get mistaken for being younger a lot. I had a 9 year old kid ask "Are you a real adult?" I told the kid, "As much as you're a real little boy!"

I don't know if it's a combination of looks or my skating level - i tend to just "go for it" when working on jumps and spins - but I get the high school thing a lot. I suppose if i skated more tentatively and slowly, i'd be taken more seriously for being an adult. LOL.

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

Mika, I went to a club halloween party in a bubble wrap skating top and skirt. I also had "fragile" and "special delivery" stickers, and a bubble wrap bow for my hair.

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Recycle Love - Adopt a homeless pet

A few years ago when my son still skated, a little girl cried to her mum and said "why can't I wear a head band, Karl's mummy is allowed"

LOL we ARE privelaged indeed
Lyle

You should just say that you skate for fitness and enjoyment of skating, and if they try to backchat, then tell them to shut up.

Award,
I like what you said, especially the 'shut up' part.

You should have answered "Yes."

A bunch of really overweight and obese relatives once asked me : "Why bother skating? You should just quit! you're not going anywhere with it! It's a waste of time!"

I said, "I skate so that I don't become diabetic, obese and develop heart disease like you do!!"

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

Last year I came in the hotel wearing my medal and some drunk in the elevator asked me if I won an Olympic medal. I looked him in the eye and said, "Yes, yes I did"

j

did he buy you a drink atleast?
Lyle

"Is it hard?" Yes!

"Does it hurt when you fall?" Duh!

"Can you do a triple axel/triple anything/back flip?" Uh, no, can you? (People are usually disappointed that I can't do triples - I'm 27! I started skating less than 2 years ago!) On the other hand, a few people ask if I can do a Lutz, and for some reason are impressed that I can. I guess it sounds fancy.

"Can you spin?" Yes, badly!

"Do you get dizzy?" Of course! (I really don't understand that question - do other people not get dizzy spinning around on the floor or in an office chair?)

"Can you do a Hamill camel?" Huh? I'm working on a camel/sit - I think that's the same thing.

"Do you skate every day?" Pshaw, I wish.

"Do you have your own skates and everything?" Sigh...how many more stupid questions are you going to ask me?

"Do you compete?" Not yet, but I have a comp. in June. That impresses people until they find out my program is 1 minute 40 seconds. Hahaha!

Yeh then I ask em, well just how long can YOU hold your breath?
Lyle

heehee! that is such a good point!

i can't remember who started this, but it was such a great topic. there are very few adult skaters here, so i really enjoyed hearing from everyone. i think it's hilarious we all get asked the same questions!

I usually take the typical adult skater comments with good humour.

But I have never forgotten how hurtful I found it when a parent thought it was necessary to point out to me (with obvious enjoyment) that his daughter (who I had coached in Learn to Skate) had beaten me in a competition.

I was so hurt I didn't even reply... how do you explain to someone that pigheaded, the difference between competing as an 8 year old compared to learning to skate and compete in your 20s?

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Mark Twain