BTW, I want to add, as a teenager I had a solid axel and 2loop and sometimes 2sal and 2toe.... and an arsenal of spins I don't have now (flying spins, donut, haircutter, etc), and I don't think it's any easier for me re-learning those jumps or spins after 10 years away from the ice than it would be for someone starting as an adult and learning them for the first time. I got some singles back fast, but others continue to be a struggle.
I skated from 13-19 and then stopped.. had 3 kids while I took TEN years off the ice and returning has had it's ups and downs. I don't have the same body I did before, and I was off so long that any hope for muscle memory kicking in is all but lost.. it's just not there.. the only lingering benefit I have is that I have a better understanding of the mechanics.. but that doesn't always translate into doing. Some things came back relatively easily (certain MITF, some spins), and others have taken a
lot more work than I thought they ever would. It's frustrating sometimes, I hate how slow my progress feels compared to where I want to be, and I feel like I work every bit as hard as any adult-onset skater does to get certain jumps - my point is that nothing at the point where I am now is coming any easier for me because I skated before than it would be for any adult-onset skater. The notion that it does is just silly.
Then there are people like this guy (who is older than me by about a year).. who make things look TOO easy... if you watch his other videos I think he has all of his doubles now, but he had his axel after only 9 months of skating and he's only been skating for a little more than two years now. It just boggles my mind because it's so impressive
BUT, it's a good example because his progress isn't exactly a good representation of what everyone should expect. He started skating about the same time I got back on the ice (which for me was march 2010). I'm nowhere near his level now, despite having the "advantage" of skating as a kid and being able to do some doubles then.