Some motivation for ya - Why I Skate

[lindafmb]

I wanted to share the following excerpt with you, to thank all of you who've responded publically and PM'd me regarding my recent testing fail. It really means a lot to me to have such an outpouring of support. 

A friend of mine recently published a book on training adult figure skaters. She asked me to write a section for it, a sort of "In Their Own Words." Here's an inside peak at what I wrote, and what I need to remind myself of every time that "fire in my belly" starts to give me heartburn. The book comes out in the fall.

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I am what you call a "true" adult skater. I am adult who learned how to skate, rather than a skater who became an adult. I began learning how to figure skate about five years ago, after having worked as an off-ice conditioning coach for competitive figure skaters. Although I first started to gain an inside look at my athletes' sport, I soon grew to love it. Everything about figure skating was right up my alley—because it's HARD! In addition to becoming more relatable with my clients, figure skating has given me a perfect athletic outlet for my intense brain/body drive, that thing that I have that pushes me to keep learning new things that challenge both my body and my mind, things that seem out of reach and almost unattainable. Those are the things I live for!

In the past five years, I have passed the first five USFS tests in Figures, Moves in the Field, and Free Skate in the adult track, and my preliminary solo dances following the standard track. My primary coach, Danette Green, pushes me and essentially "trains me like a kid," without imposing limits because I'm adult. I've already told her I will buy her a car when I pass my USFS Senior Free Skate test—standard track! Glenn Patterson is my ice dance coach, and has been a tremendous influence in helping me control my feet and understand how to use my blades with precision. I am grateful for the good fortune that it is to train with them.

When I'm practicing on public sessions, people often ask me if I compete, or if I'm a professional, which of course makes me giggle, since only a few short years ago, I couldn't even make it around a hockey circle without clutching Danette's arm. For now, I am simply enjoying the journey of learning HOW to skate, and for me, that's my gold medal and what brings me to the rink almost every day for the past five years.

[Harleyboy]

Excellent...Makes me feel like I'm not chasing an impossible dream. Some people have a hard time understanding why I started skating at my age. I think you would understand.. Thanks

[jjane45]

Wow that's powerful. Thank you for sharing Linda.

[fsk8r]

Buying coaches a new car when you finish the tests. My God you're setting the standards high. I hope all the other coaches don't read this, or they'll all be expecting one!
But thank you for sharing. It sums up a lot of the motivations we all probably have for skating.

[Nate]

Hrm...  I'll get mine a bicycle.

A car?  Not so much...

The post was a good read, though.  Thanks for that...

[Isk8NYC]

Topic moved to "On the Boards"

[lindafmb]

Buying coaches a new car when you finish the tests. My God you're setting the standards high. I hope all the other coaches don't read this, or they'll all be expecting one!

Hahaha, I say it kind of tongue-in-cheek, because (1) my coach REALLY needs a new car, and (2) in all honesty, has that EVER happened? Has any coach ever taken a 38-year-old adult who didn't know how to skate all the way through passing Senior FS standard track? Ever?

It sounds like a goal I might be crazy enough to chase, though 

[icedancer]

Hahaha, I say it kind of tongue-in-cheek, because (1) my coach REALLY needs a new car, and (2) in all honesty, has that EVER happened? Has any coach ever taken a 38-year-old adult who didn't know how to skate all the way through passing Senior FS standard track? Ever?

No but I have seen a 28-year old just learned to skate skater pass several Gold and International Dances - Standard track.  It took about 10 years...

[jjane45]

I brought the question up on Xanboni once about adult onset skaters passing senior free test, and the replies seem to indicate the required stamina is more grueling than achieving the jump contents. But... GO LINDA!

[Teresa]

I'm a "true" adult skater too. I love the way you explained "who" we are, perfect description.

I also giggle when a skating mom or "watcher" think I skated as a child. It's a nice giggle! I'm sure my coach would have a good laugh. I'm positive I'm her dinner time humor some days.

Thank you for sharing.

Teresa

[Purple Sparkly]

By the time I get to Senior Freeskate, I am sure I would have paid my coach enough money for her to buy a car.

[TheAquarian]

I can relate to that,  I haven't been skating anywhere near as long as  he has,  nor have I accomplished even close to what you have.  That said, talking to new people at the rink,  I find that people are usually surprised when I tell them that the first time I set on the ice was in October.  I suspect that I will be in a similar situation in 4.5 years provided I find a good coach when I move overseas.