Adult beginner starting where my kids skate?

[twinskaters]

I don't know why I feel so anxious about this. My girls (8 years old) have been skating a little while now. A year and a half, but with a big gap in there last Spring/early summer when I broke my foot (just walking, nowhere near ice) and couldn't drive for several months. They're at Basic 5 now.

I have never taken a skating lesson, but I skated occasionally with friends as a kid, and we go now as a family sometimes. I can skate around the rink without falling, do swizzles, and snowplow stop. I generally feel somewhere between reasonably steady and slightly scared most of the time and would like to feel more comfortable and keep up with my kids a little. My rink offers an adult class that's at a time I could manage. It starts this Wednesday, so I need to decide before then. Right now, if I believe the web enrollment form, there's only one other person signed up. I guess I'm nervous because I feel silly doing this at my age (43), and somehow will feel weird if the coach is one of my kids' group lesson coaches. And of course I'm a little scared I'll hurt myself.  I know plenty of people here will talk me into it, so have at me. I think I want to be talked into it.

[sarahspins]

I guess I'm nervous because I feel silly doing this at my age (43), and somehow will feel weird if the coach is one of my kids' group lesson coaches.

Why?  I can tell you that as an instructor, I like nothing more than seeing parents take an interest in learning to skate as well - and I don't think it is weird at all to have the same instructor as your kids, if anything it can open up new means of communication since you are no longer just the parent of a skater waiting off-ice, but a skater yourself, so the relationship you have with your instructor and the instructor(s) your kids have will change a little, but in a good way.

Plus, skating is FUN - I don't think any of us here would ever try to talk someone out of taking a class for the first time

[skategeek]

Go for it!  That's a very familiar story... once my daughter's class was at the same time as the adult class, I decided there was no point in standing around for 30 minutes when I could be having fun.  I started right where you are, too... could do basic forward stroking (but not even swizzles) when I started classes.  Age 43.  Two years later, my daughter lost interest and has moved on to other things.  I'm still at it!  Progressing very very slowly, but having a good time.

It's actually really nice to have a small class because you get a lot more individual attention that way.  Have fun!

[Meli]

Go for it!  Adult classes can be really great things, and the people in them tend to be really supportive.  You'll probably be surprised at what you'll be able to do... and then get hooked on it like the rest of us!

[littlerain]

A few of the women in my adult class started because of their kids as well I agree, go for it!!

[icedancer]

A LOT of people start skating because of their kids!! 

Such a great sport and 43 is not by any means too late to take it up!

Good luck - have fun - it's a great sport!

[littlerain]

Oh, and don't worry, I'm the young one in my class (at almost 27!)

[fsk8r]

your kids will respect you for learning to skate. And while they may race ahead, you'll be able to demonstrate perserverance which they'll need at some point.
And skating is fun! And I think it's wonderful when you can share the experience as a family.

[twinskaters]

Thanks so much for the little push. I actually called just now to ask about the class, and ended up on the phone with the coach. I know who he is and I've seen him be super-tough on his competitive skaters, but also very kind to the little ones, and he said it's a really nice group of women who want to have fun and improve, and he definitely talked me into it! Going to sign up online right now and I'm excited (and nervous)!

[littlerain]

Yay!!! That sounds really nice! keep is updated!

[dlbritton]

Glad you are going for it. I started at 59 and am having a blast. Most of the skaters in my LTS classes have been there because their kids are learning to skate. The adult classes have the same coaches as the kids which I could see as a help in getting to know the coaches.

There are a lot of parents (and some grandparents) standing around watching their kids and I try to encourage them into coming out as well. Most complement me on my skating but just say I am braver than they are.

[alejeather]

Yay! Glad you've decided to jump in!

[mamabear]

Way to go!  That's how I started (I was 37) and while one of my kids has stopped skating I keep going-it seems there is always one more skill I'm close to learning and I still enjoy myself.

[ChristyRN]

I also started skating because I figured if I was already there,  I might as well try.  She lasted less than a year. Twelve years later, I'm still skating. I was 38 when I started.

[twinskaters]

I can happily report back that I did it! I was really nervous when I got there, and I ran into the coach who my kids had in their first group lessons, and she was so encouraging and excited for me to skate. The class was good. There's a beginner group at 10 and an advanced group at 10:30. The beginners right now are me and a guy who wants to play hockey. The advanced skaters are a bunch of women who are my age or older, and they were really nice.  A couple of them told me I did better than most beginners do, and that I look like I have good balance and will get better quickly. That was nice to hear. I danced for years and years as a child/teenager, but I've never been athletic in any real way, so I think skating is a great way to push my comfort zone. I had fun, felt a little silly sometimes, and can see I'm going to  have to work work work on my knee bend.

The thing that I didn't think about beforehand was how beautifully empty the place was at 10am on a Wednesday! My last skate there was with a Girl Scouts event this past Sunday, and it was a madhouse, with the boards covered in wallhuggers and daring-but-unskilled little kids falling all over the place. The contrast between that and the peace of having 9-10 people on the ice is amazing! Next task: talk husband into buying skates. 

[Loops]

Yay!!!  I'm so glad it went well!!!  The dance background will for sure help you out.  But the semi-private it sounds like you're getting with hockey-guy will be a really good thing too.  Very very nice.  Enjoy!

[Odessa]

Awesome job!!

[Lola]

I can happily report back that I did it!

You go!  You'll never regret getting out there, and it sounds like you have an ideal situation for lessons. Good for you!

[littlerain]

Yayy!! Sounds like it went really well!

[robinsnest]

Hope you are doing well twinskaters!  I have 8 year old twin girl skaters as well... I started skating last November at the same time they did and now am totally obsessed 

[twinskaters]

That is such a fun coincidence, robinsnest! I am becoming obsessed as time goes on. Now I'm trying to figure out what I will do over the summer because I think my group class goes on hiatus. Eek!