Have you ever felt that way? I sometimes have to stop skating when there're too many good skaters doing their stuff. Like when you're trying to perfect a waltz jump and people around you are doing axel, doubles or just simply skating with confident speed. It's just so intimidating

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** Skate 'til You Drop **

I know it's easy to feel this way (actually, I'm more likely to feel self conscious when there are high level coaches on the ice!), but you have to remember, they didn't get there overnight & they are WELL aware of the work it takes--and they were once where you are too.

When skaters are practising, they tend to focus on their own practice, & while they notice who else is out there, they aren't watching & critiquing them. In my experience, even the kids respect someone who works hard, watches out for others, & is friendly. They really don't judge based on ability.

So go out, work hard, and if you notice someone flying around, appreciate the work it took to get them there & let it serve as inspiration to you! You've paid for the ice like everyone else--enjoy it!

yeah, but then I realize that some of these skaters are 20, 30, 40 years younger than me then I don't feel so bad.

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

Just remember no one is watching you. They are busy training.

And at 41, I am usually the oldest on the ice. At my two rinks, I think I'm even older than all the coaches except for one, and I'm not sure of her age. Most of the skaters are half to 3/4 of my age. And fast. And good. For the most part, they don't see me unless I am in their way, but there are a few who talk to me and even know my name.

Hi, yes I've been there and, as the others said, there's really nothing to worry about.

I used to skate on patch with kids going to Nationals ie VERY good skaters. I was incredibly intimidated at first and literally used to stay in one corner (not a good move I realise now!) However, with time I got to be 'friends' with most of them and they were so kind and helpful to me. It's easy to misinterpret people especially if they are concentrating. The best thing to do is get an idea of the general pattern of the programmes and dances (it's easier than it sounds) and make sure that you follow rink rules.

I've told this story a gazillion times but I'll repeat it anyway ....

I once went to an ice rink before work, first thing in the morning. I got onto the ice and was followed on by this guy who had been sat on the benches (I didn't look at him as the rink was having building work done and you DO get a bit tired of the cracks and the *jokes* after a while). There was only him and I on the ice ..... imagine how MORTIFIED I was to find out that it was Robin Cousins!!!! Only one of my hero's!!!!! There's me doing my crappy little loop jump (I had JUST got it so it was before I really loved it) and he's doing wonderful doubles and THE most amazing spins. Anyway, he was absolutely adorable, if I was ploughing my way (ploughing was such a good analogy btw) round to do the loop he would give way to me. He was SUCH a gentleman. I thought he was wonderful before but that only confirmed my thoughts about him.

Anyway ...... don't worry, you've got as much right to the ice as anyone else. DON'T apologise for being there. You've paid the same money as everyone else. And don't forget ..... strangers are just friends that you haven't spoken to yet You'll probably find that in time you integrate into the 'community' and it will be YOUR turn to welcome some poor sod who's trying to hide next to the barrier.

All the best


Lx

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The best whisper is a click

20 Years younger than Figureskates would make them ... ummm. carry the 1, - Ouch! never mind

Hugs!!
Danielle

ps) Figureskates I know that we met while I was up there, but I don't think I realized who you were at the time.

I skate afternoon FS sessions once or twice a week with kids ranging from LTS type beginners through Junior Dance/Junior FS. The worse part is late winter/early spring when all the kids are getting new programs, and I don't know where they are at when in the music.

It took me awhile to get used to watching for the other skaters...I was a bit intimidated at first. Now, I will yield right of way to whoever has their music on, but if I'm in lesson with my coach, I am less likely to yield to other skaters who are in our way.

The other winter, before I started my new job, I had my lesson on a midday FS session. Thought I was going to luck out and coach and I would have the ice to myself, when Mike Weiss got on the ice. I was worried for a bit, but he was very nice about staying out of the way of my European Waltz, and I stayed out of the way of his triples and quads.

I know this is a different topic, but I find it interesting. At my rink, the rule is that if your music is on you have the right of way. Period. A person in a lesson only has the right of way to someone not in a lesson, but not to someone doing their program.

Not that anyone actually follows any of these rules!

I forgot a few words. I meant to say, "yield to skaters in my way whose music isn't playing." My fingers and my brain weren't in sync... so I edited my original message to correct it.

I think we've all felt that way at one time or another. The really classy ones will yield to you (the Michael Weiss' and Robin Cousins of the world) -- some may be snotty about it (I once overheard two teenagers say about the adult skaters at our rink, "Just run 'em down..." -- those were fighting words for me -- I made sure I got as close to them as possible as often as possible and eventually they left "us" alone).

The worst are kids who have not been taught to look, and to yield. In my book the better skater should always yield to the one with less skills (the better skater knows how to move quickly out of the way) -- those who do not look often have coaches who teach them to be aggressive like that -- they are usually not well-liked at the rink and in a lot of cases, end up leaving the rink altogether (eventually -- sometimes you have to wait a long time).

Good luck, and don't be discouraged. Eventually you will become a normal part of the scene and everyone will know what you are up to! skating should be fun for everyone, otherwise why bother going out and slogging through it every day!

Have fun!

It's actually quite ironic that this topic came up when it did. I was skating on an early FS session the other day with three other girls: one senior level, one intermediate level, and one open juvenile level. Because I'm just shy of adult level age, I'm in standard track prelim freeskate. I'm learning my axel, double sal and double toe, but they aren't consistant, and I've only landed my double toe twice. The senior level skater was practicing triples and double axels, while the intermediate girl had nearly all of her doubles. I was more equal to the other skater jump-wise, but my spins were just rediculously bad comparitively. I finally just looked at the other girls and, laughing at myself, told them "I just cannot keep up with you guys... I feel so stupid."

The senior level skater just smiled and told me not to worry, that she was there too and she was impressed that I was even out there trying. She told me later that she was amazed at how fast I was progressing. The other girls honestly didn't care that I was further behind them, they just skated for themselves and enjoyed the company.

Moral of the long, long story: Same as what everyone else has been saying. Everyone feels inferior to someone at some time, but most of the people we feel inferior to don't seem to care that we're doing lesser elements, they're out there doing their own thing!

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"Without a struggle, there can be no progress" ~ Frederick Douglass

And worse yet--they glare at you as they skate through your path or spinning. I have a couple of these in my group lesson and they look at me like they are daring me to get in their way. If they are like that at 6, what are they going to be like at 10 or 16? I hope they will grow out of it, but both of them seem like spoiled kids.

Unless they have a coach who is advocating that behavior, most of them do grow out of it. As a mother of a 9-year-old, I am constantly amazed at the self-absorbtion (sp) of that age group. (Believe me, I try and try and try to correct it -- I think it's time that will do the trick.) I just try to go around them, annoying as it is. I much prefer to skate with kids 12 and older and adults, no matter their level.

As far as the original topic, I think it is the responsibility of the better skaters to look out for the lower level skaters. I have told beginning adults and kids many times that I will get out of their way, not the other way around. The only thing I ask is that they watch out for me when I'm in my program. I tell them I am concentrating too much on what I am doing to watch out for them - they always understand that. From what I've seen around here, except for a few obnoxious exceptions, that is the rule more than the exception.

Good luck -- have fun -- and don't worry at all what other skaters think . After all, you're skating for you, not them.

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"The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary." -- Vidal Sasson

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Unknown

Oh my gosh, this is so true! At our rink, theres a novice(?) skater who imo, is really good and quite better than me. I look up to her a lot- even though me and her aren't miles apart in our skating levels. But I always feel inferior to her. Until one day this younger skater was complementing me and I was really surprised because, although her skating/stroking isnt too advanced(yet!) she is working on many of the same jumps I am. I never thought of her as inferior, I always thought we were pretty close level-wise. So then it dawned on me, if a skater has 2 more jumps than me, I tend to think they are so so much better, but if a skater has 2 jumps less than me, I get worried cause they are catching up to me and they could be a threat at competitions. Even though they probably see it as I am so much more ahead than them, which isnt totally true. I hope im making sense lol. Anyways, what Im trying to say is, everyone is always both ahead and behind someone else. But when it comes down to it, we all work hard on the ice and no matter what we are working on, we all have the (somewhat)same goals, detrimination, and passion for skating. (And after re-reading this, I just realized Im pretty much repeating what TreSK8sAZ said -sorry about that! Ahh, oh well, ill post it anyways hehe)

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~Sk8Bunny~
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"I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?"

When I was a newer skater I often felt "behind". I now understand that everyone has to start somewhere. I try to be extra kind to new skaters remembering this "behind" feeling. Even now that I feel more capable, I still have "behind" feelings. I've been skating with some very advanced skaters this week and negative feelings have crept in. Then, I had someone compliment me on my progress since they last saw me and I got over it. Reality check. Skating with "better" skaters is a great way to push yourself. Watch their body line, stroking, and tempo. Three days, I feel like my speed has improved. Faster skating or a chance of being run over! Hang in there.

Chico

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."

I'm the old lady on the ice and the youngest kid has adopted me, she's 4 or 5, and tries to teach me sit spins. She can do a beautiful one, I'll never match it and don't really try to. I concentrate on my practice and the little kids mostly respect that. I sometimes take ice at the elite center, and the senior and international skaters are the most respectful of all, and I'm in awe. Me - waltz jump, Them - triple axel, same take off and landing is what I tell myself.

I don't like being on the ice with the pre-teens 8-13 year olds. They're the ones that intimidate me, really. Once a week I'm on that ice and I usually take a dance lesson, so that I have a partner for support as we try not to run them over (although, coach has suggested we do so, but I think it was a joke - was it?)

Yeah, I often use them as an inspiration but when the rink is full of high-level skaters, I can't help but feel obliged to give them way. Anyway, I agree with what you said about we should appreciate them because it takes them time and hard work before they get to where they are now. I so hope I'll become one of them some day, one of the skaters people watch and wish they'd be able to be like me

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** Skate 'til You Drop **

remember...we were all beginners at one time or another. Anyone who disrespects a beginner is probably not a very good sportsman (woman) to begin with. Keep trying

I agree, but I have to say, honestly, that it is very frustrating to have beginners on freestyle sessions, which are much different than public sessions. I was not allowed on a freestyle session until I was taught how to skate on one: giving way to people in programs and lessons, not standing in the middle, keeping my head up and watching where I was going, not playing games, etc. I have noticed that beginners these days, at least at my rink, skate in their own little worlds, and that's dangerous for everyone.

I've seen this topic come up before, and whether it's because I'm at a major training center or what I don't know, but while it makes sense to say that the better skater looks out for the lower skater, that's not what I've seen actually happen. When the more experiened skaters continually yield to the less experienced skaters, the beginners don't learn how to yield- or, more importantly, how to recognize when they should and where to go. I'm certainly not out there running down anyone who skates into my way- I'm actually the "OMG she's only six feet away and I don't know if she's going left or right so I'm going to slam on the brakes even though I'm on lesson" type, which drove my old coach insane- but I watch out for the skaters on lesson/program and I expect them to watch for me, regardless of level. Anyone who isn't capable of doing that 99.9% of the time is either too inexperienced or too young to be on a freestyle. (Edited to add, given the choice I'd much rather skate with beginner adults than little kids- at least I get the impression that the adults want to understand and follow the rules!)

I think I'm a little more sensitive to this topic because I'm a dancer. I can't just move three feet to the right or left to accomodate someone else without throwing off my entire pattern. (Obviously if the other skater is on lesson or doing program I'm going to move). But I worry about beginners learning to yield to dancers because if they don't do dance themselves the only way they're going to learn where a pattern goes is probably by being asked to move out of it a few times (and trust me, this doesn't always do it). The people I skate with every day are no problem; even the ones who aren't dancers are good enough skaters to figure out where my pattern is going and to remember it after a few runthroughs. If the dancers stop in their tracks, or call out to a beginner every time they're in the way, that skater isn't going to learn to predict where we're going. Everyone who skates freestyles on a regular basis can recognize a Lutz setup and haul booty out of the corner, or learn which program music goes with which skater, but how many beginners can recognize the Rocker Foxtrot music, identify enough of the dance to figure who's doing it, and make sure they're not in the way of the dancer(s)? And how are they going to learn this if the coach doesn't teach dance? I tell my beginning students, especially young ones, that it's their responsibility to avoid the person with music on, and if they don't know who that is, they need to get over to the boards and out of the way until they figure it out.

To the original poster, I'd say don't worry so much. Intimidation can be a great motivator. As long as you follow the rules and are respectful of the other skaters, you'll probably get to know some of the other skaters eventually, and even the best skaters are usually less intimdating once you know them.

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

I totally agree! That's how you learn!


Yep!!!


I'm a dancer too, and the kids just don't get that I can't just "go around" them. It doesn't work that way in dance!


Well said!

I do agree that a skater should be able to "stand on their own" in a freestyle session. This means keeping your eyes open, giving better skaters space, knowing the "rules"(jump corners and knowing jump set ups, understanding when moves are being done, and correct spinning zones, etc.) and giving way to programs and lessons. Saying that, it does take a few days to get with the flow. I skated with a pair team this week and found it to be a new experience. Once I learned their program and figured out how to best use the ice with them I did fine, but the first day was interesting. These guys move fast and take up more space than normal. I learned to skate right behind them when working on jumps or spinning. This gave me time to set up and jump or spin before their return trip down the ice. I think a skater should be able to keep up with their freestyle peers. Much slower skaters should look for more appropiate ice. It would be less uncomfortable for them and the other skaters. I have found that kids can be very supportive and enjoy this relationship at the rink. Most parents are too. There are always a few in all groups though who make your hair stand up.

Chico

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."

LOL, ITA!! You only get IN FRONT of a Pairs couple once when they're doing their lifts ..... let's just say it's 'change the outfit' time when you do

I have to say, though, that it's not just the kids that get in the way. The WORST problems I've had has been with 1) a teenage skate princess who thought that she owned the ice, that adults shouldn't have been allowed onto HER ice and who wasn't all that anyway (she used to deliberately run you over) and 2) adults who focus so much on what they're doing they don't see what's going on around them. When I was dancing with my ex dance partner we were stood waiting for our compulsories music to come on, this guy was just skating around and decided that we were in his way ..... he actually pushed me in the back to move me! I was absobloodylutely furious, arrogant git, especially as he was ALWAYS in somebody's way! Another time we were doing our free dance, we had to come round the corner anticlockwise, going backwards on a circle .... this adult female thing just carried on doing her forward cross rolls, I thought "she's not going to stop, no, she MUST see us, oh **** my partner is going to get past but I'm not" and was desperately trying to drop hands but he hadn't realised what was happening and had got my hand in a death grip ..... she slammed into me but we were going quite fast at this point so it was her who hit the deck. Funnily enough she was a bit more careful after that!

I do agree, though, that the better skaters are GENERALLY very courteous AND they can stop better, it's not them that I worry about when I'm on the ice

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The best whisper is a click

Thank goodness I didn't skate in front of those pairs, as I didn't have extra things! =-) I did feel a thrill skating behind them though. Their speed was catching and it was too cool. If I was a kid I just might like to try pairs. Throws and lifts look fun. The challenge of skating at the same tempo looks cool too.

Chico

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."