Stardust, that was the best and most encouraging response I've seen, and just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to post it. Sometimes it's too easy to become caught up with age, and stop trying as hard as a result, which is dumb. So, even though I'm quite a bit older than the person you were addressing, I'll take your words to heart and try to remember them during despairing moments myself.

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Casey Allen Shobe | http://casey.shobe.info
"What matters is not experience per se but 'effortful study'."
"At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable" ~ Christopher Reeve

See, I agree with this... I don't think you have to go into a sport wanting to compete at the Olympics or anything. I'm just saying that if she WERE looking to go to the Olympics, it's probably too late, and if it weren't, she didn't have a huge chance of getting there anyways (just because, like you said, not most people get there even when they start really young).
Skating is about the FUN of it. And yes, you can do some USFSA or other competitions and have fun with it... probably not become nationally known or anything, but it's possible.

If you go into skating - or any other sport, for that matter - with the objective of making the Olympics, you are almost certainly doomed to disappointment. If, however, you go into it for fun and fitness, and determined to become the best you can possibly be, you will have fun - and who knows, you just might reach the top of the tree! But why waste a very great deal of enjoyment by taking it too seriously?

Actually, skating is such a small world that you will become known in your area, should you choose to compete, within a very few years.

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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 with Mrs. Redboots, it's easy to become Nationally known if you so much as go to Regionals/Sectionals at the Novice and above levels. You don't even have to place well, people will know who you are. And of course.... www.unseenskaters.com will know, too.

And Casey: Thanks for the thanks! Stick through it!!!

I don't think so. I'm 14 (I'll be 15 in 2 months) and thinking of starting up skating, also. I did loads of sports when I was younger, but I quit them all about 2 years ago due to some personal reasons. I miss doing them, but I want to try a new sport. While you might not be an Olympic Gold Medalist, you can certainly do well. And who's to say that you even have to compete? You could take on ice skating as a hobby.

I think the best time to start is when your five or six, I know you're twice that age, but you've done ballet so you have the artistic and flexibility stuff under your belt now put it on ice...it will be verrrry hard at first but don't give up, and you could do great!

I refuse to believe that I can't make the olympics. It isn't my goal; my goal is just to go as far as I can. If that means Vancouver in 2010, it means book some tickets to Canada. If it means Adult Nationals 2007, then it means save me a spot on the roster. If it means local competitions only, well at least I'm saving on airfare.

I have only one true competitor: myself. I think someone telling anyone, 14 or 40, that they can't do anything is ridiculous, unless that person is a doctor. Possibly a coach, although time and again we hear of coaches making bad calls too. Even doctors have been known to be wrong.

Look at the Olympics. Already we've had amazing wins. My fellow Texan, Chad Hedrick, taking the gold in speed skating after only entering the sport three years ago. And he is not alone, there are several athletes who have decided what we have decided: to do, instead of wonder, and in amazingly short periods have come to olympic glory.

I do agree, going into any sport for the sake of Olympic Glory is a silly notion. But entering in the sport to see how far you can take it, that may well end in amazing feats, but however it ends, knowing you have done your best will make you see that you have been successful, and no one should be able to argue you have not.

Not to dash your Olympic dreams, Kevin but... wasn't Chad an accomplished rollerblader prior to taking up ice speed skating?

And dude, I will see you at Adult Nationals...well, someday... depends on whether *I* will ever get out of being a Pre-Bronze lady or not!!! (See my signature...)

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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!!!

He certainly was, but that doesn't mean he didn't do amazing in a short period of time. And I don't have olympic dreams, at least not specifically. That was my whole point. I can't recall who said it but there's a very applicable quote for my attitude, "Fate is the hand you are dealt, free will is how you play it." If the olympics is in the cards, then I intend to play that hand. If it isn't, that just means I'm playing for a different goal. Is it likely I'll make the olympics? No. That's why I'm not entertaining it as a specific goal. But, as stated, I am quite unwilling to accept any claim of limitation before I have even tried.

And I look forward to seeing you at Nationals, in a competitive capacity of course. I will be there this year as a spectator.

Ich hab vor 2 Jahren mit figure skating angefangen... at the "ripe old age" of 38. You're never too old to start!!!

Was willst Du Dir denn als Ziel setzen? Skating als ernsthafteres Hobby mit competitions, nur so als Zeitvertreib oder als Einstieg in eine eventuelle Karriere (was wohl mehr wie nur schwer werden wuerde)?
Ich habe erst mit einer Stunde pro Woche angefangen und bin dann auf 3 mal 1 1/2 Stunden die Woche umgestiegen als ich freestyle 1 erreicht hatte. Allerdings hauptsaechlich weil ich die Zeit dazu habe und es mir so viel Spass macht!