I wasn't allowed to use padding my first year of pointe, and to this day, I cannot for the life of me understand why. Hahaha. My feet recuperated pretty nicely, I think I'm lucky though. Just one bunion. Not that those aren't a pain (literally).

-FadedStardust

I would have never thought before kids about home schooling them.It kinda just worked out for our family and the way we parent them.We really do like being with them and watching them grow.They are kewl kids
But then im an older mom and not very mainstream about most of our choices.

Can I please clarify that I did not even mention home schooling



I was talking about kids that are taken out of school completely and, if you read what I said I was actually talking about a girl that I knew who was taken out of school to concentrate on skating and has amounted to absolutely nothing in life or in skating.

twokidsskatemom I was not aiming anything at you so please don't be so defensive because I don't know you or your situation in fact I don't think that I've come across you before so nothing that I said was personal to you. You mentioned 5/6 year olds that skate full time, I commented on that. Period. At this juncture I think that I'll bow our of this conversation.

__________________

The best whisper is a click

Guess i ASSUMED when you said she was taken out of school, then she was HOME SCHOOLED.You didnt give enough facts i guess but most kids taken out of school have to do school at home unless they are more than 16.
Im not defenstive, in have no issues at all with how we are raising our kids.Just make a comment on something said, thought that is what this board was for.
have no clue why you are so upset but have a nice day.

If they are going to be competitive skaters, they have to start very early. In EOS there is a program run by the section called "Jumpstart" for talented young skaters. In order to have their skaters admitted to the program, the coach must submit a videotape audition to the section development office. The skater must be able to do a clean axel at seven years old and a clean axel and at least one clean double jump at eight years old. (I mentioned this in the other thread too)
When the coaches at our club are looking for talented skaters in the Canskate program to move to private lessons, they are only considering kids 6 and under. Otherwise, unless they are mega talents, it is too late.
Of course anyone can enjoy being a recreational skater on the Starskate side of things.

I wish more people felt that. There are too many parents who have dreams of their children one day skating for their country. Well, it could happen, I suppose - my niece is on the under-21 national squad in her sport, which is not ice-skating - but it rarely does. They get to a certain level, it seems, and then suddenly walk away - their senior school, or public exams, or a new boyfriend, or even going to university, all take their toll.

Mind you, for dancers, you can always come back. I know a dance couple who gave up 5 or 6 years ago ("I gave away all his trousers!" said his mother), but have just returned to the social dance scene, which they are loving!

__________________
Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

wish more people felt that. There are too many parents who have dreams of their children one day skating for their country. Well, it could happen, I suppose - my niece is on the under-21 national squad in her sport, which is not ice-skating - but it rarely does. They get to a certain level, it seems, and then suddenly walk away - their senior school


We dont want that, just for her to be happy and do well no matter what she does.
skate for her country nope, something in skating would just be fine.or something else in 10 years.

That's why Canada has the Sandhu's and we've got the Weirs. I seriously think coaches thinking that way is such a waste. There was even a big special on jumping and young kids during Worlds broadcast over in America, and how bad it's become, and how it's the coache's fault so many kids are injured and that they should take it way slower. It's just...sad. If you're 7 and you've got 3 doubles and then you don't progress for 3 years or you're 10 and you fly through the levels in a year, you're exactly at the same speed. Not everyone's talents blossom at 2. Maria Butyrskaya won her Worlds at what...29 years old? She'd been falling all over herself for 10 years before that. I'm sure she's glad she didn't quit cause everyone called her a hopeless old lady.

-FadedStardust

when i was little, i lived in ukraine, and there they have a special trainging regime, and you have to start at age 3 or younger, they dont accept you if you're 4. they also do VERY strict off-ice and ballet included, and they chose children to go into a special trainging program. i moved to canada when i was 4 and my parents were shocked by the lack of disipline. in ukraine kids trained and trained, and were sponsored by the government, and chosen into olympic training programs, but in canada we had canskate and ppl skating, but not really in it to win. maybe that why the russian skaters, whether they be singles, pairs, or ice dance tend to be stronger than the canadians.. however, the ukrainians work on building a stable foudation of stroking, and flexibility, before starting work on jumps. so they might take longer to achieve a "peak" but they will probably be better in general because of their artistry, speed, etc. also because they started so early they will be with ppl the same age as them.

But, what happens in the Ukraine if someone who has trained and trained since they were 3 reaches the age of 14, hits puberty, and says, "I don't want to do this any more?" Can they walk away, the way a British or Canadian skater can? Or does the Government say, "That's tough; we've invested all this money in you, you have to do it!"

Actually, and in all fairness, where the Ukrainian system has some advantages is that you do learn how to work. I read an article once where a group of Russian gymnasts did an exchange visit with a group of British ones. When the British kids visited Russia, they were amazed that "The gymnasts worked and worked, even when the coaches weren't watching!" But the Russians had a lovely holiday and nice rest when they visited our gyms!

__________________
Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

We don't need to discuss political systems, those days are gone. People that are different are just different, not in need of correction and civilizing. The world is a delicious rich soup.
Like it or not, starting that young is a reality if you want to be a successful competitive skater these days. Coaches don't necessarily think it is ideal either. But remember, they are working within the structure of their associations. Juvenile competitive tests must be passed by before eleven years old for girls, otherwise they must be pre novice. Pre novice skaters need a double axel and a triple attempt to be near the top of any competition.
You can start later, but you won't be as successful.
The rules change over the years as well. Ages are being pushed downward in the test system, but that may change in time as new ideas prevail. Time will tell.
Yes, Canada has Sandhu, who has developed amazing talent but hasn't learned to compete. But Canada also has developed Jackson, McPherson, Orser,Stoiko, Browning...

I hope you don't think I was referring to any political system. I wasn't. I was referring to training systems, which is different.

This is alleged to be true of many sports, including gymnastics and swimming. But my (male) coach didn't start to skate until he was in his teens, and he was pretty successful at a national level before turning professional. And male gymnasts and figure skaters tend to be up to ten years older than their female counterparts..... I think we ought not to buy into a mindset that thinks you are washed up by the age of 16.

My daughter could have been a great competitive swimmer, but I was not the kind of mother to find a club and insist she train. My niece, on the other hand, with just that sort of mother, is now in the under-21 squad for her sport (dressage)..... but she didn't start to train seriously until she was well into her teens.

__________________
Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

No ,sorry, I was the afraid the discussion would get into political sport systems, and I didn't want that to happen.
I agree with you. There are exceptions to everything. It is the structure of the skating system that directs what happens. These young age requirements are fairly recent and they may change, if they aren't working.
Starskate was intended to take all those skaters who weren't going to be strong competitors and give them a viable outlet. It has become pretty competitive too. At all Ontarios recently, the Preliminary men's event had skaters doing strong double flips. Preliminary! What are they doing there?

sry, mrs redboots, i dunno. i guess you could quit, but i suppose it might be kinda hard....
anyway, you're right on the work ethic- thats exactly like figure skating. the russian gymnasts must have had fun on their little vacations ;-)

My daughter started skating at 2 1/2. She did her first competition in basic skills snowplow sam a week after her 4th birthday. She loves competing. She likes getting onto the ice by herself and performing in front of everyone. At 4 1/2 she started to take 2 private lessons a weeks and practices 2 other days. On her practice days it is more like her playing. She will be 5 in a few weeks and her favorite place to be in on the ice. She just loves to be on the ice. SHe can be in the worst mood and gets on her the ice and she can't stop smiling.

I've skated at Parent and Tot skates since I was about 3. I continued Public skating until I was around 8. When I was 9 I started CanSkate at my figure skating club. Since I knew how to skate already I accelerated through CanSkate quickly...only took a year. I started private lessons when I reached level 7 (prepreliminary) in Canskate w/ my current coach, mostly to help me get through CanSkate sooner. Now I'm 15, I'm working on all my doubles. I've got my axle and double sal. Considering I didn't start until I was almost 10...in 5 years...not even 5 FULL years, I've accomplished alot. I think as long as you have the dedication then you'll succeed no matter WHAT your age is.

I started CanSkate when i was about 11, and did that for two winters in a row, then moved up to preJunoir (Canskate 7- that spring) and started private lessons. I think i was about 12.5 Now I'm 14 and I'm working on my axel. I only really got serious about skating about a year ago, and i really hope i can land my doubles and axel especially, before i turn 15.

As an info , my brother started skating when he was 5 years and a half old and did his first comp when he was 7 . Now , at 8 , he has comps every 2 weeks and trains 10 hours per week in our club in France .He is currently regional champ and has won all his comps this year ( even thouh he was often alone because he's a guy )