See, I should have known better. I didn't want any of my coworkers at my competition, and really, I didn't want to show them the video either. Because I'm not an olympian, I'm a 40-year-old adult bronze skater who is just past test level, but not quite competition level in technical difficulty (no lutz).

Coworker begged and begged so I sent her the link to the video, knowing it was probably a mistake.

Well, she didn't say anything nasty, exactly...it was a more of a "how cute, that was fun to watch..." and a look of total disappointment.

I'd like to see her get out there and do a loop jump!!!!!!

I never learn....

/end rant

__________________
Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

When people find out I skate, they invariably ask whether I compete, or whether I can do X or Y element. I always say to them that I look nothing like anything they've seen on TV - lol. And I don't really take videos of myself skating - well, I buy the video from the official videographers, but I don't post it online.

A few weeks ago, I was practicing at a rink complex that has a rink on one side and an indoor turf field (designed to be used for soccer and lacrosse rec leagues) on the other. Apparently, some kids were either finished with their soccer game or taking a break, b/c I noticed a group of them (mostly girls but a few boys) gathered at the end of the rink near the lobby door. I was coming down the ice doing the FI-BO 3's (Silver MIF) and when I got to their end, on the last BO turn, I ended up very close to the boards where they were standing (but thankfully didn't hit the wall like I did once before) and as I turned, I ended up looking straight at them, and they applauded. LOL!! (actually, they probably don't know just how much of an accomplishment it is to finally get my turns on axis )

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

I've recieved nothing but support from non-skaters when I tell them I skate, but like Debbie, I prepare them for my skating by letting them know it is NOTHING like what it looks like on TV. When I tell them I get a jump and am thrilled, and then they want to come watch- I make sure to tell them my jump is only a few inches high. But it's hard to do! Most can either barely stand up on skates, or feel accomplished by going backwards, so they are still pretty impressed.

I have found that most people are VERY impressed by our synchro team. We routinely get small amounts of applause from passerbys and I was chased down by one of the regular loiterers at the mall because he recognized me as one of those 'girls who does that group skating thing'- and he told me they come in on Wed. to watch us, instead of gathering outside. That was kind of cool. We have fans.

I've been having knee problems and my NP (who is my primary care) has been very supportive that skating is important to me. When she was thinking I might need surgery (thankfully, I don't) she even asked me when my season would be over, so that the schedule would work the best. I explained to her that skating is important to me, but I'm not enough of an athlete that the "season" would affect when I could have surgery. Still I really appreciated that she took me seriously when I told her I skated.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

That's hilarious about those kids!

Yup I always tell them too - people are usually supportive and in-person is always better than competition video (especially this one) (which I have on google video but is unsearchable!).

I think this particular person was a bad choice perhaps, she can be difficult anyway, but now NOBODY at work is seeing this video!

__________________
Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

I count myself fortunately. My in-laws were very support of my skating from the beginning and this was years ago. (I don't think they've seen my recent videos yet either.)

I think I only had one coworker watched it. He's male... he doesn't *get* this stuff. I just plead it to ignorance and moved on. I don't think I'll be showing it to the rest of my coworker. Only person that has a clue is my boss. (He's a active guy... and has visited Lake Placid before!)

I will add though my boss and a few of my coworkers knows one of my fellow rink mates!!! LOL!!! In fact, my boss tipped me in on what to throw to her on the ice after her program in lieu of stuffed animals. She loved it!!! Tee hee hee...

My non-skating husband is learning about skating and what I go thru from my primary coach... saves me a lot in therapy bills!!! (BTW: techskater... you were right! Hubby would have gotten in the way... probably a good thing he didn't go! I think the last minute changes to my schedule and when to come back to the hotel room is enough to drive him batty, never mind QT with him!!! LOL!!!)

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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!!!

Actually, it was only a couple of them, but it was cute. I was thinking that if they thought my 3-turns were worth applauding, they should watch them being done correctly - lol. But they seemed very intrigued by the skating.

On another note, my club had a test session at this rink that ended right before a public session. The people who arrived for the public were looking in the windows and asking what was going on. A skating parent told them what it was and someone said "Oh, like a competition!" Most seemed interested, but there were a few who kept trying to get in, b/c they were annoyed at having to wait (a skating dad stood guard at the door - lol) and earlier, a few random people who were probably there for soccer or something on the other side, walked in to watch, and one of them (a father with a young son) made a call on his cell and talked loudly (well, loudly when you consider that the rink was completely quiet). One of the skating moms went over to quiet him down, explaining that it was testing, it was very important, etc, and the guy seemed rather oblivious to it, but he did start moving, slowly, toward the door as he continued to talk. The skating mom opened the door and shooed him out.

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

Laypeople are usually more impressed with spins than with any jumps we can do. Also a fast scratch spin fascinates them far more than a sit spin, and a biellmann spiral more than, say, a camel spin. To them the camel pose is like "Ohh I can do that" (same for normal spiral, cuz they don't see where they're holding their free leg so they think it's like way up in the sky) and as far as the scratch spin fascination is concerned it's like "ohh glittery" but only more like "ohh blurry!". And any flexibility you have and they don't will impress gravely.
One fun thing I love about empty public sessions is how I can do a lap of XO'vers very fast and then get into a biellmann spiral and do like the full length, curve into the edge and then another third of the ice rink or so in that position, just like gliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide it's so fun, and people love to watch that and come ask how I got the balance to do it. I usually tell them the balance isn't so much the problem, the flexibility takes all the work.
Oh yeah the ability to dislocate your thumb and then put it back will impress too (especially kids), but probably not "as a skater" so if you're just that flexible due to your natural bone structure, omit that part

Actually a pretty cool skill to have is the ability to spin on the floor, and do it well. Also if you have a spinner around, and you can do a sit spin on it - let them try. It's very, very funny to watch.
People invariably try to spin on the spinner or on the floor and realise just how hard it is, but the majority also has a fun time trying (must be some latent unlived childhood issues I think, LOL!) and also realise why you think skating is such great fun.

BTW if you want to keep kids occupied for an hour, give them a spinner and an empty space (patch of grass is good) so they can't smack into anything too dangerous.

When you take people out to skate, don't turn them into spectators, let them try things, that way they seem to invariably want more afterwards, too At least this has been the case with all my friends. Except BF, but I think that's got to do with his sourness about having lost most of his hockey skills in the past years of non-skating.

Yeah -- it's really interesting skating in a mall, LOL! I don't pay attention too much to the people out there, but every now and then I'll notice someone really peering in at what I'm doing and it is usually because they're trying to figure out if it really is me on the ice because they know me from other aspects of my life. Or I'll have friends who happen to be down at the rink on Wed night choose to take a coffee break or dinner break by the rink to watch the team skate.

I think the team gets so much notice because we look so different practicing than a public skate or freestyle.

I always preface any video watching with, "Now, remember, I'm a crazy fat lady on skates who doesn't like to turn, jump or spin..."

I've never seen video of just me skating, so that will likely be quite the eye opening experience...

First you go histeric and never wanna skate again. Then you don't watch the video for a few months. Then you watch again, thinking, it can't be so bad, and after watching it, you think, yes it is, and you wanna burn the tape. Then a while later you watch the video again and think, "hey I wasn't so bad back then! but it's a good thing I can do so much more than back then, I bet I don't look so ridiculous anymore!" and you go out and make another video of yourself. After which the cycle begins anew.
After a while, you get used to it though.

Are you planning on taping your freeskate? I was going to ask you if you'd tape mine.

And yeah- it is really depressing watching yourself skate. What is in my mind is NEVER what shows up on the video. But what's nice about a video, is if you retape the same elements a few months later, they are almost always way better!

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

Yes, people's reactions are strange.

Most of my coworkers know I skate and compete. When I came back with a 4th place finish in my first Nationals last year and a Bronze this year, the first question they ask is "How many were in your group?" I tell them it is an open competition so everyone who wants to compete was there

I skate at a "competitive training centre" with Star Skaters and competitive skaters (all DECADES younger than me) and when I did my first complete program run-through last year, the young women all applauded. (It wasn't good, believe me!)

Skaters "get it", non-skaters haven't got a clue.

__________________
Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

I *never* let coworkers or non-skating friends watch my skating videos. (Except my "Crazy" interp video on youtube, because they're always impressed that I can skate in a straightjacket.) All they know about skating is what they see on TV, and I don't look anything like Michelle Kwan or Sasha Cohen, so they're invariably dissapointed. I haven't shown a video to a non-skater in years.

Hi all

I NEVER share my skating with non-skaters other than my partner at home, and even then I do not subject him to my foibles.

I tell people watching me would be equivalent to hearing karaoke in a bar, and that seems to shut them up when it comes to asking for video.

Pictures, yes, those I share, but video, nope....

they just don't get it.

Cheers!

Larry

That is all so true! I think the problem is that they don't realize this stuff is just as hard for us as it is for them. That's why the best way to impress a friend/family member/co-worker is to bring that person to a public session with you. MAJOR perspective! They will think you're amazing.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

Jessi -- I was actually going to bring my camera down and ask if your DH would tape me, LOL! My DH would do it, but he's loading in an opera.

I have the sneaking suspiscion that we're going to be skating pretty close to me right before you... I'm assuming that they'll go FS 1, 2, then 3. I have no issue taping you because I'll be done, but you might not want to tape me right before you skate. Or maybe you do? Harder to be nervous if you're doing something. Who knows. I figured that if I brought my camera, there would be someone down there I know who could tape. I'd prefer someone sitting on the same side as the judges as I really don't need to see 1.5 minutes of me bum...

That actually made me burst out laughing!!

One of my best friends is always totally impressed when I take her along, she is a real confidence booster! My bf is awful, he has always said unuseful comments. The only time he was rink side he spent more time reading the paper and missed all the good bits

My work colleagues are really impressed by it, although they have never seen me skate, only photos. One lady I work with in another office begged me to take photos along one time. She wants to see a video, but I am not sure yet.

HA! So funny....I videotaped and watched myself the day before the competition, can you believe it? As soon as I saw it I thought, WHAT HAVE I DONE??? LOL.

__________________
Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

I'm nowhere near competition standard and being a guy wearing figure skates trying out figure skating moves in public sessions havn't yet earned me any strange looks or comments that I'm aware of and would have no problems with any friends or family watching me

I seem to be missing the part of my brain that co-ordinates embarrasment or shyness

Hmmmm, I heartily recommended that a work colleague should give it a go. I told her she's have so much fun. She knocked herself out on the ice and ended up in A&E. When she returned to work she told me how much respect she had for what I did.

__________________
Level one Field Moves......PASSED 05.06.08
Level one Free dance.....PASSED 02.10.08

GOALS FOR 2009

• Level One Compulsary dances.......PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Elements.....................PASSED 10.07.09
• Level Two Free dance.................PASSED 19.02.09
• Level One Free...........................
• Level Two compulsory dances.......

Loving it, Loving it, Loving it!!!!!

After my club's exhibition skate, I was at work and one of my co-workers commented that he was there and saw me skate...um yeah. He was there to watch one of the younger skaters (she babysits his kids).

I really didn't know what to say to that. Yeah, it was this year's "chair" routine too......he didn't say good, bad, whatever. I did NOT ask him how he liked it, tho.

__________________
Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

My ice dancing is pitiful. I was taped without my knowledge, given the tape, and wanted to scream. My husband is actually pretty good on it for him (he's a total beginner, a good edge is an accomplishment for him and he tries and has natural talent), but I look like a bull, errrrr freeskater, in a china shop. So I can imagine a non-skater thinking we look bad, but it's really difficult!

Yet my freeskating is pretty good, I have every jump but the axel (and that's rotated almost but not landed). However, my father saw me doing a pancake spin on tape (I'm 40 and started as an adult!) and said, "Is that in slow motion?" He wasn't kidding. Honestly, it's not super speedy, but I'm all the way down, butt near the ice, nicely centered. My only grody spin is the hideous layback, I really have no bend in my back, and the dead foot doesn't help.

I agree with everyone else, anyone who is saying this and that, you go do it! My challenge has never been fear of falling, but lack of understanding how to go about it and fix it!

My "least" favorite question at the club from new members is "which one is yours" (i.e., child out there on the ice), and I reply, I am the skater, and they look dumbfounded. I know they're not being mean, but adult skaters are really rare at my rink, and I don't compete, so a lot of them don't know and assume I'm a parent (I only have fur kids, by choice).

I respect anyone who is willing to take a chance and try, no matter the age. It's tough to put yourself out there, whether it's lessons, tests, or competing, it's a tough sport!

Yeah, I'm on the same page as most of you. I rarely show my videos to non-skaters. But... recently my physical therapist asked to see one. We had developed a relationship so I thought it would be OK. She asked if she could watch it after they closed. Which meant I would have to leave it. Which probably meant that she and everyone else that worked in the office watched it after closing. Again, I was OK with this.

So, I went in for my next appointment that week and the ladies at the desk didn't say anything to me. I figured maybe they didn't see it. Then I see my PT and she gives me back the DVD saying, 'It was lovely' or very 'nice'. Something that lead me to believe she expected more. ANNNDDDD, everyone else in the office saw it too. Apparently, from thier lack of comments they thought I sucked. Never again. Now she wants an 8x10 picture of me!! Forget it. Just like you guys my pics do look better that the DVD's but she's not getting one.

I was proud of the performance I showed her too. I had worked hard to get to the Silver level and thought it was pretty good. Hmmpf.

One of the teachers at my daughter's school said, "You skate? Do you do triple axels?"

I'm very careful who I tell that I skate. Some folks really are interested and others. . . Well, you can tell they think it's a little strange. I guess most folks don't think of skating as an adult sport. One of my most common questions is, "Why?"

My biggest funnies.

I was picking my child up from school, office. And the secretary asked, "Are you the mom who ice skates?!" The way she said it I felt like I was from Mars or something. She also wanted to know if I was SOMEBODY. I was a little annoyed and told her I was, "ME!" =-)

My sister-in-law has been known to introduce me, "This is my sister-in-law the LITTLE ice skater. Isn't that cuuuuute?" No, she hasn't seen me skate. I would love this "little skater" to show her a thing or two. =-)

teresa

I've heard this a few times too- it just really shows how woefully unaware of skating people are. I usually just laugh and tell them I can do a 1/3 axel (a waltz jump!) and that only very very few of even the best female skaters can do triple axels.

__________________
-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)