#1
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adult figure skating
hey guys. i'm 18 right now and i'm interested in taking up figure skating! i have been skating for about a year, can do turns and stops. i do yoga so i'm somewhat flexible but of course, flexibility can be improved upon.
i am going to start taking figure skating classes next term. do you guys have any tips/suggestions for me as an adult figure skater?? would i be able to make it to competitive level by the time i graduate? (when i'm 22) thanks for the feedback guys i really hope to join u guys on the ice one day |
#2
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You could compete now. They have competitions for all levels.
j |
#3
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oh really? where can i find more info? i live in canada
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#4
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There’s a little bit of information on the Skate Canada website:
http://www.skatecanada.ca/en/skate_f...ms/adultskate/ More detailed info about the programs being offered in your area can be obtained from the applicable Section office: http://www.skatecanada.ca/en/contact_us/ Unfortunately, we don’t yet have an adult test system in Canada, but you’re young enough to be able go quite far in the regular StarSkate system if taking tests interests you. Our “competitive” system for adults is still a bit of a joke IMHO since we don’t have any sort of criteria or qualifying process for adult competition. Basically, if you’re willing to shell out the $$$ for the entry fee (and travel/hotel costs) you can participate. But, it can be a fun way to learn more about the sport and get a little taste of what elite skaters experience. |
#5
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I wouldn't exactly call our adult competitive system a "joke" because it doesn't require qualifying (yet). It is small and has been slowly growing over the last five years to 135 skaters for the Adult Championships in Calgary this past spring. As the numbers continue to grow we will see qualification requirements in some categories, particularly the younger age groups.
The one fly in the ointment for qualifying is that if qualifying is required it will simply weed out those who started skating later in life and leave only those who have skated for their whole life. If you talk to those who attend the Adult Championships you will find that it isn't about "the best" in the adult skating world but about DOING IT! There were novices (like myself) who could barely skate who got as big an ovation from the crowd as the Masters level skaters. Even Skate Canada recognize that we aren't trying to be the "Geriatric Olympics" but are a group of adults who enjoy the competitive venue, push ourselves to be better than last year, and celebrate everyone else's progress. Ain't none of us going to the Olympics and only a few that are "good" but we have a damned fine time! Competitive skating isn't appealing to many adult skaters but I, for one, enjoy it and I love the energy and Spirit of the Adult Championships. It isn't about being "The Best" - it's about being YOUR best.
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Dianne (A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! ) |
#6
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Well said!! Could not agree more
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#7
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Quote:
I really think you should withdraw that remark, as it was rather offensive.
__________________
Mrs Redboots ~~~~~~~~ I love my computer because my friends live in it! Ice dancers have lovely big curves! |
#8
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j |
#9
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I think I kind of understand what shutterbug means. It's not so much that the skaters are a joke, but that the system is not catering to everybody's needs, which comes across almost as non-appreciative of adult skaters and is therefore very hard to take seriously - considering it doesn't take the skaters serious! We have something like that in the Netherlands as well, there's basically no qualifying events after you're 36 for you. Which is kind of an insult to those adult skaters who train very hard and very seriously and who wish to compete against the best and not against who-ever feels like showing up that day. A skating friend of mine is coming up on that age and she's seriously questioning what she's working for at all anymore.
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#10
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I think Shutterbug is trying to convey that within the Skate Canada system, you can sign up for pretty much whatever level floats your boat - there's no real test standards required. Shutterbug?
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#11
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actually there ARE test requirements. There is no adult test system like the US (which I'm soooo glad we donn't have) but you MUST take starskate tests in order to skate at that level. So in Canada that means I'll never be a "gold" level skater as you need all your doubles to pass the starskate gold test.If I was in the US I would have my gold...or be working on it because I have my junior bronze freeskate (which is equal to adult gold in the US).
Some peopel really want an adult test system...some do not. You can't please everyone. What we all do agree upon is there needs to be an introductory test...pre-preliminary...for ALL skaters as the prelim test is the first real test and it is quite difficult to pass if you have only just started skating not that long ago. |
#12
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And since this is going to be the 5th year of adult nationals and we have grown from 69 skaters the first year to 150 the 4th year, we STILL don't have enough entries for qualifying. So be it. We do now have a competitive stream for those returning competitive skaters. For example, my brother and his friends could come and compete but they don't because all of them were senior men's skaters and still havea huge array of triples. They are still a little too competitive and it isn't fair to the gold level starskate adults who have a few doubles. We'll see what happens this year.
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#13
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To figure8s: What part of Canada are you from? There are Canadian Competitive Adult Skaters all across the country - probably for every one of the 135 adults that were in Calgary this past spring there's at least three or four adults who did not go. Adult Skating is coming into its own in Canada - welcome to the "Great Obsession" See you at a rink sometime!
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If you keep your eyes on God, you can walk on water. |
#14
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I'm from Toronto.
I see you're from BC I really hope to see you in competition one day!! |
#15
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Adult Nationals is in Brampton this year. You should come and watch if you can. The university skating club has LOTS and LOTS of adult skaters. They cater to adult skaters. Western Ontario region has lots of adult competitions and so does Eastern Ontario. Toronto has the Max Gould competition which is a great adult comp as well.
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#16
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Nevertheless, those who compete in Adult Open and National competitions do take it seriously, go out there to skate the very best we can, and to have fun while we do so. Come to the Mountain Cup this year, then you'll see what adult skating is all about!
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Mrs Redboots ~~~~~~~~ I love my computer because my friends live in it! Ice dancers have lovely big curves! |
#17
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Yes, well you have a good point there, the pool of adult skaters is, indeed, a universal problem... Still, sounds like you have a pretty good system in place. I take my comment back.
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#18
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__________________
"It's not age that determines but the heart." "Skating is not just a sport for the young but it's a passion for the soul of the young at heart." Brigitte Laskowski I am a nomadic adult skater who is a member of Windsor FSC (Skate Windsor) WOS SC again since Sept. 1st, 2008. http://eastcastlemusic.tripod.com Singerskates Sports Music Editing |
#19
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Quote:
__________________
"It's not age that determines but the heart." "Skating is not just a sport for the young but it's a passion for the soul of the young at heart." Brigitte Laskowski I am a nomadic adult skater who is a member of Windsor FSC (Skate Windsor) WOS SC again since Sept. 1st, 2008. http://eastcastlemusic.tripod.com Singerskates Sports Music Editing |
#20
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No, not the dreaded Bunny Hop! I'd rather work on the Axel than the @$#% bunny hop!
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Dianne (A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! ) |
#21
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I got an Excellent on the Bunny Hop!
figure8s, sounds like you're in school in Toronto if you're going to take skating in your term. Ask at your school athletic department for names of coaches who do private lessons and when there is available ice. The way to move quickly through the sport is with one-on-one coaching. A coach can give you advice on competitions and joining a Skate Canada club. Good luck! |
#22
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I am glad the number of adults attending adult competitions is growing at the national level, but locally it is always the same skaters - might as well mail the medals because skaters won't move up. There also needs to be a better way of divisioning the age groups and abilities. Last year in Calgary, there were large numbers of women in the lower age groups, and then groups of just 3 in the middle groups - so everyone in that group got a medal when the groups should have been better divisioned. There needs to be a better test system in place, whereby adult beginners can try a pre-prelim type test or try a gold adult test - so that skaters are actually encouraged to better themselves rather than sit back and take away medals from those adults who are truly at the lower levels. |
#23
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There are the same complaints here in the US - people stay at levels too long and "take medals away" from people who "really belong at that level". What you usually find is that there's a very good reason why the supposed "sandbagger" is at that level. The usual answer is that they can't pass the requisite MIF or they don't have one of the elements required to pass the FS test even though everything else is strong.
I just don't see that the Canadian system really has strength in that area - meaning the test structure holds people in lower levels than it could. We lobbied for a test structure and got it. |
#24
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I agree, sandbagging can be a problem - it is obvious watching the tapes to see who should be skating up a level (or two!).
Short of giving the judges the prerogative to move a skater up, I don't see any way around it with adults. You can have a 30 year old who has skated his/her whole life and never tested competing against a 40 year old who first put on skates last year. Skate Canada did a reasonably good job by dividing events into groups and trying to sort skaters by both skill level and age. It left some small groups and some "automatic medals" but it was better than last year (2006). If there had been twice as many skaters, the divisions would have been even better.
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Dianne (A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! ) |
#25
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Sandbagging
Sandbagging rule of thumb:
Anyone who places ahead of of you is sandbagging. Anyone who places below you is skating at the correct level.
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Denver Synchronicity |
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