Am I a figure skater?

[Christy]

Competitive recreational skater 

[rachelplotkin]

I'm a competitive recreational skater

[WaltzJump413]

But what you don't see is that the person gliding on the ice the way they want to (in your mind) is unhappy with some aspect of it because it's not the quality that he/she wants.  One thing about skaters is that generally they are all perfectionists.

Exactly! 

I don't know what kind of skater I am. I'm in Freestyle 1 in group class, and even performed in a show once. And I have my own skates. I like to think I'm really committed to improving. I've never taken a private lesson, though.   

[dlbritton]

Currently a casual skater but am an aspiring "competitive recreational skaters".
Once I complete basic skills I will become a test skater then move on to competitive recreational skater.

[icedancer]

I am a recreational skater who occasionally drifts into the test skater or competitive skater realm.  I have also been a synchro skater.

I never thought of myself as a recreational skater until a friend of mine - also a judge (and a National Judge at that!) described herself as a recreational skater because she no longer tested or competed.  She loved skating at all levels and encouraged everyone to skate.  I really admire that about her and thought, "I'm a recreational skater!!"  - yea!!

[skategeek]

I notice that none of those categories are "figure" skaters.   

Seems to me that there are two different categories involved here:  the level of involvement (recreational, test, competitive, etc.) and the subdiscipline (freestyle, dance, synchro, figures, etc.).  Both have fuzziness... for example, right now I'm working on basic skills, don't take privates normally, but am about to work with a coach for an ISI Alpha level competition.  But I wouldn't call myself a competitive recreational skater, since I'm not even onto the real test track yet.

I think I'll just keep it simple.  I skate.

[AgnesNitt]

I had a chance to reconsider the OP's question.

"Am I a figure skater?"

I think my answer is this:

Do my blades have toepicks on them?
Do I own my own boots?

Yes to both? I am a figure skater.

If I'm skating in  rentals then I'm either 'not there yet' or 'used to be' a figure skater. I think boot ownership makes the commitment that you're staying with the sport and making a commitment.

[icedancer]

I actually like skategeek's explanation although I often fall into the category "ice-dancer" or "figures-skater" or "Moves-in the Field Skater".  I actually think of myself as an "Ice Skater".

[skategeek]

I actually like skategeek's explanation although I often fall into the category "ice-dancer" or "figures-skater" or "Moves-in the Field Skater".  I actually think of myself as an "Ice Skater".

Thanks!   

Geek that I am, now that I've got two variables (one roughly continuous and one more categorical), I'm trying to think of good ways to do a graphic representation of this...