I recently found this forum and am so excited! I have a severe case of the Adult Onset Skating Disorder and have not found a proper place to display my symptoms. I was so delighted to see my very own symptoms running so rampantly on this forum!

I started skating in skate school in January. I was doing some serious wall hugging. I quickly found that I was powerless over skating and that my life had become unmanageable without re-enrollment to the advance classes, adding private coaching and skating 3-5 times a week! My wall hugging days have ended. I am currently spinning, jumping and even did my very first salchow this weekend!

I am particularly delighted to see the older adult skaters posting as I am currently 43. Who knew that I would be skating, risking hips, wrists and knees at this age! I have learned a ton from you guys just from lurking the threads the last few days. I am full of questions but thought I should first say howdy and gently integrate before overwhelming the board with my every addictive question or fully demonstrating my pathology for this sport! giggle.

So glad you are here! I look forward to posting with you regularly. Could not figure out how to register as it sent it to my spam folder. I felt so rejected! giggle again. I needed to ask a 7 year old how to work this site but did not have one handy. Will slowly add my questions over the next couple of weeks!

welcome aboard!

happy skating

Hi DallasSkater,
Welcome! I am visiting your area the end July by the way. Hopefully I can take in a Public Session at Grapevine. Soon you start planning your whole life around your Rink's skating schedule. And don't ever plan on moving unless it is within 1 hour driving distance to the nearest sheet of ice. In fact 3 1/2 hours drive is not even so bad to skate pairs. AOSS is one of those things where the more rampant, the better and more fun!

LOL Sk8pdx....my life has already started revolving around that skate schedule. I have rescheduled my work around my private lessons! My friends now call me skater girl and claim I am not doing as well in nurturing those relationships with my time as I am always on my way to skate, skating, or too tired because I just skated...giggle.

I skate at Polar Ice in Grapevine. Careful of public sessions. School is out right now and there are day camps coming in daily in little herds of tiny ice obstacles. Freestyle time slots are better! Is that the rink you will be coming to? What brings you to Grapevine?

I don't want to hijack your thread Check your PM for details there. I am traveling there for Business.

Welcome! Look forward to you posting about skating and stuff

__________________
~
Tidesong

Froggy: Thanks for the welcome! I love your screen name...too cute!

Tidesong: Thanks to you for the welcome as well. Geez, I should have been more creative on my screen name selection. You guys have really cute ones!

Sk8pdx: Thanks for the PM. Took me a while to figure out how to get to it. Will have to wait until at least tomorrow to figure out how to respond to one. (Did I mention my lack of a 7 year old? giggle My fur baby is no help what so ever). I am techology challenged but can usually eventually figure things out. That is my rink! Will send you a pm tomorrow....if I figure it out..lol. Glad you will get to skate while here!

Good night everyone!

Welcome to the 24-hour ice obsession fix!
Better late than never, and, as they say, "It's never too late to have a happy childhood."

Hi DallasSkater!
We too have been planning our lives around Polar Ice Grapevine since about November when one dd started groups, then seriously in March when said dd started privates and second dd started groups. Pretty much there 4 days a week skating lessons and/or the public times that are near the lesson times. I must say I have gotten a lot of paperwork done sitting at those metal tables!
The forums are great, because we are pretty new to the sport, and I have learned so much at the forums so I don't have to ask their coach a million silly questions - most of them are answered right here just by lurking!
(I am a serious lurker! )

Maybe I will get the courage to get on the ice someday...............

Spa Mama

Welcome, DallasSkater!

In replying to PM's the only way is to click the "Quote" button, and then edit out whatever you don't want quoted in your reply. There used to be a "Reply" button, but it's been gone quite a while now. Hope this saves you some time.

__________________

Wow you have certainly got the bug Dallaskater.

Welcome to the insane world of skating!! You have achieved quite a lot since January, may your progress continue but dont forget the basics now, its at the begining when you really learn them and much harder if you leave it till later when all the bad habits have set in, as in my case and in competition and tests you will be marked accordingly.

Cheers
Samba

Hi Dallas!

We just returned from Dallas, Tx from the Adult Nationals competitions! It was held in the skating rink that's in the mall. I know that the Grapevine Polor thing is all over TX and has several rinks, but we skated in the one in the mall!

Welcome aboard Dallas! I might mention that it might be a good thing to start looking into taking out a second mortgage on your home right about now! It's really worse than a cocain additiction and you sound totally hooked!

Best,
Lovepairs

For fun, visit: www.adultpairskating.com

Spinning, jumping and salchowing after just seven months?

Shut ... up.

doubletoe: Too funny on my attempt of a second childhood! Truthfully, this might be childhood 3 or 4.....giggle.

SpaMama: I so do hope you will consider the classes! We need more adult skaters at that rink so they will offer more variety of adult classes. I practiced a ton over the winter during adult "coffee time" and had the entire rink to myself! Have you noticed the progressive increase in the adult numbers in the groups each semester? I even arranged a special class through the skate director for this semester! Would have never happened without the numbers available. That is awesome that you are starting your girls young. I am always blown away when I see the tiny bodies doing incredible elements beside me and have some envy for their abilities. Seems that those that started so young have the grace and technique I so desire. The skate director even mentioned that she is now considering an adult syncro team for our rink to compete with the Texas Chili Peppers! How cool is that? I told her I would likely be interested but would need to see the "uniforms" first as I fear sleeveless at 43! giggle. Hope she will actually do that. I will have questions for this forum about some dynamics I have noticed around the ice rinks that are bothersome. Hope you will close your eyes for those as I need anonymity to get those answered...giggle again! Which coach are you using?

Dbny: Thanks for the tip! I will try tonight.

Samba: That is exactly what my coach said. She has started me on beginning moves in the field early reflectively. I thought it sounded right too. I never thought I would ever want to compete as I already do not really like to be watched but have reconsidered it for maybe little competitions as it could add focus to what I am attempting. Maybe next year or so?

Lovepairs: Yes, the Adult Nationals were held at my rink. I was on vacation that week but did view the pictures. Of all weeks to have scheduled a cruise! I am so addicted I almost canceled my cruise! giggle. I am a bit shocked on how expensive skating is. Our rink does allow free public sessions when you enroll in group classes but I still pay for freestyle times, coaching and lessons. Next semester I will also take two classes, one at my rink and one at another rink close by to have two rink schedules to hopefully coordinate better with my work. I was also shocked when I custom ordered skates! lol. They are great though and I somehow managed to justify the costs! Thanks for the link. I will visit it tonight after work. Better get my bottom in gear to attend to the work life that supports my skate life!

Have a great day everyone!

Falldowngoboom: Notice how I did not say I did them well! giggle. But yes I am quite pleased to have gotten that far so soon. I think the private coaching really pushed it up a notch and I am truly skating every available time. Thanks for the kudos though!

January? Spins and jumps?

*** ***

(who started in January at age 56 and doesn't even have her backward edges yet!)

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

Welcome to the board!

I've noticed we've had quite a few new members lately and I think it's great to get everyone's input!

So welcome, everyone!!

__________________
Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

Welcome to the wonderful world of Adult Figure Skating!

I'm 60 and have been at it for about 8 years. I have my waltz, salchow, and toelopp but in the last year or so I have gotten more into figures.

It's a fun sport, you meet lots of great people, and a great form of exercise.

I have gone to Adult Week at Lake Placid every August since 2000 and my wife and I plan to retire there is a few years and it's also my home club!

__________________
Keeping School Figures Alive!!

Welcome DallasSkater

...as you've probably figured, there's quite a few adult skaters here at all different levels. I returned to skating in January after nearly 2 decades and was really pleased to find there's so many of us, er, 'oldies' doing it.

S xxx

Dallas Skater - I sent you a pm

Welcome DallasSkater!

You and I are the same age, although I started skating at a young 34

Rusty Blades: I am inspired that you started at 56! You are my hero! I am working on edges now too. Backward sure are harder than forward. I have the outside back but inside still do not look too pretty..giggle.

Icedancer2: Thanks for the welcome!

Figureskates: What is adult week? To retire in Lake placid sounds heavenly! I will make a good retired person....or lottery winner!

Sonic: I love that there are "older" skaters on here! WTG for returning to skating after 2 decades....did you retain a lot of the skills?

SpaMama and Sk8dx: I attempted to send you return PM's. Let me know if you do not see one from me as I am not completely certain it actually left my folder..lol...is it normal that it would be stored in my box? At least it referenced in the space as sent. Thinking that was a good sign!

PattyP: Oh how I wish I would have discovered this at 34! I am amazed at the amount of stress management it affords me. There is something quite serene about skating especially when I luck out and get the entire rink to myself. I love when it is quiet and the only sound is the hum of the air system and the sound of my skates cutting the ice. I am glad to have the option now though. I remember just feeling so grateful that the skate school offered adult classes. It just never occurred to me that it would be an option. Happened upon some information about adult skaters and before I knew what was happening I was enrolled! Do you skate competitively now?

I know exactly what you are talking about. Some mornings when I get there early enough I'm the first one on the ice. There is nothing like it.

I happened to find the Adult class flyer when my husband took me to a public session for fun all those years ago. A decision I'm sure he now regrets! That's when it all started for me. From that first class I was completely hooked and entered my first competition 5 months later. I was at Adult Nationals in Dallas this year, so yes, I still compete.

DallasSkater: Welcome to the forum!!! There are a LOT of skaters just like you starting back up as an adult. I am 38 now and started back skating when I was 31 after a 17 year break from skating on rentals & public session for 2-3 years as a little kid. Never in my life would I imagined when I first got on that ice at age 31 that years later I would be skating 5 days a week, doing jumps and spins and "fancy footwork!" And despite my glacially slow progress, I'm getting a little better at it each year. Maybe one of these centries I'll make it to my goal -- to skate at Adult Nationals. But for now I keep working and dreaming...

SpaMama: Allow me to encourage you to go on the ice this way: "C'mon in! The (frozen) water's fine!"

__________________
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!!!

Patty: Wow that you skated at the Adult Nationals! I bet your husband is nothing but extremely proud! That is truly inspiring and impressive!

Jazzpants: Thanks for the welcome! What a wonderful goal and I am sure with your determination you will reach your goal. What an exciting day that will be! Too funny of the frozen water being fine! I am interested in the pre bronze for now and maybe a few tiny competitions in the next year or so. The Adult Nationals seem so....big time! Are you doing smaller events to prepare for the day?

SpaMama: I agree...hope you will skate! Just a little healthy peer pressure for you to venture out there! ....Do you feel it? giggle.