What age were you when you started taking lessons?

[amandascw]

Just curious I started when I was 12. I got awards with all the littler kids 

[skategeek]

43 for LTS classes, 45 for privates.  Skated occasionally as a kid but I don't remember ever taking classes.

[Bill_S]

50 years old, but I skated on frozen ponds a LOT when I was young. I learned a waltz jump on the ponds, and had a decent two-foot spin.

Skating shows viewed on ABCs Wide World of Sports became my tutor.

[davincisop]

Taking lessons: 10 (4th grade)

Skating though since I could walk. My parents used to take me ice skating when we would visit my grandma and so it was a yearly thing. I loved watching it on TV and as soon as I found out there was an ice rink in my hometown (a few friends were taking lessons there), I begged my mom to take me skating. I went almost every day that summer and finally worked up the courage to ask her if I could stop taking piano and instead take skating lessons.

Ended up stopping in high school because the time commitment did not work with choir and IB. But I came back to it at 21 in my junior year of college and am still with it 7 years later.

[ChristyRN]

First time on ice was 38 for LTS. I figured if I was going to the be there with my daughter, I might as well try it. She doesn't skate anymore, but I'm addicted. I started privates about a year and a half later.

[icedancer]

Started lessons at 6 - and skated pretty seriously (or maybe just consistently) until I was 13 when my parents decided that it was time to quit (I hadn't passed some tests, etc) - came back at 34 and started lessons again - very seriously this time and tested a lot of dances and a couple of Moves - and oh yes, Figures!

Now I'm 61 and take an occasional lesson or class.

[Neverdull44]

I started at 9ish, and skated hard until 12ish.  Then, we moved far away from the rink and was only able to skate a little (when parents would drive me).  Then, that dwindled to nothing.   Picked it up again when I turned 26 and skated until 33.   Had baby & moved far away from rink   Then, no skating until 44 years old, when I moved back to where there was a rink and kids were not itty bitty.    I am now 47, with the heart of a 13 year old on the ice.   I take lessons about once a week, or every other week.  Depends on work, life, money, and skating goals.

[sparkleskates]

I was 10  the first time I took LTS, my 4 year old brother wanted to play hockey, so my parents put us both in lessons. I switched to privates at 11, and skated until I was 14, then hockey took over our lives, so I stopped and switched to hockey skates. Came back to adult LTS to remind myself of the skating basics at 33, and hopefully will be able to find a coach soon for private lessons.

It's encouraging to see so many adult skaters on here, makes me feel less alone.

[Loops]

I started at 5 or 6 in groups.  Moved to privates and skated seriously by 8 up until the age of 15 when I was over the politics/culture at my rink.  I did the works Free, patch, dance and precision (now= synchro).  I came back at the age of 39, and am doing dance and synchro.  Not doing free (or figures!) but only because my rink doesn't offer them....my scribe is at the ready, and my patch blades are waiting for boots on which to be mounted!

[aussieskater]

First time I ever laced boots on was age 38 and I started group lessons soon after.  Privates started maybe 18 months later.  I've been completely addicted almost from the start.  Now very slowly learning dance, and have also just started learning old-school figures (a long-held dream).  Last week I discovered that actually tracing forward circle 8s to figure standard - as opposed to moves standard - is waaay harder than it looks!

[PhysicsOnIce]

Rollers: I got my first pair of skates at 1.5 because i kept running after the "big girls"  and sitting on the edge of the roller rink in Spain watching their practice when I would come home from day care. (yes there is pictures to prove it!,) we had to get custom skates ordered from the US because in Europe they did not make them small enough.  I started taking lessons the moment I turned 2.  or so my mom tells me. 

Ice: fell in love with the ice  and started taking lessons at  8 (quit at 12/13 due to injury and finances ) and then picked it up again seriously  at 26. it's my second full season back.

[EnjoyTheGlide]

I took my first ever steps on the ice in group lessons when I was around 4-6 years old but I literally quit after the first day.  It wasn't until I was about 15 years old that started group lessons again and stuck to them.  I was put in with the little kids too, haha.  I took private lessons for about a month during one summer break from college and now I'm back taking group lessons, but with adults.

[mamabear]

I started in LTS when I was 37.  I had always loved watching skating but there either weren't rinks nearby (usually 3+ hours away) or my parents didn't have the money for lessons when I was growing up.  I had skated I think 3-4 times when I first started in LTS.  If you count roller skating then quite a bit more since those rinks were a common youth group & school field trip activity. 

I moved to private lessons when I was 41 or so. 

[twinskaters]

I always wanted to skate but my mom had no patience for the cold so I did ballet instead. Got my kids skating at 6, and I started adult LTS at 43. I'm on hiatus right now trying to figure out how to fit skating, my fluctuating freelance work schedules and life all in with their school and skating schedules.

[dlbritton]

Started LTS at 58 ( to regain form / rehab my knee after a torn MCL from a skiing accident). Planning on starting privates this spring once ski season ends. Totally addicted and skate 3-4 times a week, including LTS.

[beginner skater]

Started LTS at 58 ( to regain form / rehab my knee after a torn MCL from a skiing accident).

Did that work for you? I have twingey knees, not formally diagnosed, and I think they get a battering from skating, and they limit my progression. I have tried knee exercises with varying amounts of zeal, and they only seem to make my knees more sensitive 

[Christy]

My Dad taught me to skate when I was around 4, but my mother didn't skate so stopped us going, then a friend started having lessons when I was around 10 so I joined her but my mother did everything she could to make it as difficult as possible for me to skate, and eventually stopped me from going when I was around 12/13. In those years I really didn't progress much at all, but I really loved the time when I was able to skate. Then I lived in places where there wasn't a rink for miles so the opportunity didn't arise until a few years ago when we moved house and I realised there was a rink a few miles away. For the first few years I just skated circuits on public sessions then a friend of a friend mentioned a club / adult lessons and I've been going ever since. I've now done my first ice show, first competition, and passed several dance tests. I just wish I'd had the opportunity 20 years ago.

[riley876]

Some LTS (on wheels) @38, privates @42.    Never had put on skates before then.

[axelwylie]

I did LTS once a week from 4th through 8th grades. I took a hiatus and came back as an adult after I had graduated college (and only took LTS in the winters). I started skating more seriously about 9 years ago and am new to competing.

[LunarSkater]

I'd skated a bare handful of times as a kid, but I did a lot of rollerblading. But I usually didn't live near any rinks as a kid (or when we did, I never pestered my parents for lessons even though I loved watching it) and never really had the opportunity.

I started skating at age 28. Saw the 2014 Olympics and decided to go for it because I loved it and why the heck not? I started LTS and then began supplementing with privates about a year later. I'm still doing both (though decidedly in the Freestyle section of LTS) and am skating as often as my schedule, health, and finances allow.

[dlbritton]

Did that work for you? I have twingey knees, not formally diagnosed, and I think they get a battering from skating, and they limit my progression. I have tried knee exercises with varying amounts of zeal, and they only seem to make my knees more sensitive 

I originally took up skating after my Orthopedist and Physical Therapist cleared me to ski again (in April when there was no snow left) and wanted to just get used to gliding and balancing on frozen stuff. I had been doing leg lifts and curls, leg presses, etc. to strengthen my knees and decided skating was a good form of exercise to build up my endurance again.

I found leg presses hurt if I go to 90 degrees so the PT limited me to about 60-70 degrees or so, same with leg lifts. This doesn't bode well for trying sit spins in the future.

I am just starting to jump and my right knee (landing leg) is not real happy with the prospect. Other than jumping skating doesn't bother my knees. I had been using an elliptical machine at the gym for a number of years which mimics skating somewhat. I don't like stair climber or tread mills, both of which do bother my knees.

[beginner skater]

Thanks dlbritton, guess I should do my knee exercises with steadier amounts of zeal. It gives me hope to hear of your sucessful rehab

[Ellessbee]

I started skating as a teenager- once a week through the winter on very busy public session. I remember Telstar was played a lot - so that dates me! When I could find frozen puddles I'd take my mum's trannie outside for music and try to dance and spin. I started proper skating lessons in my 40s when my children were learning to skate. As others have said it's much more fun being on the ice than just sitting watching.
Over the years I've sometimes had to have quite long breaks from skating- not my choice, I love skating and would skate
every day if I could. Skates go with me when I travel. My son lives in Australia and before my first visit, I'd got where I'd be skating all sorted out. I just love the adult skating community. Same welcome all over the world.
Re twingy knees. Arthriticy knees run in the female side of my family. I started to feel twinges in my 40s. My doctor's advice was keep those thigh muscles strong. Skating does that brilliantly. I'm 68 now. I wear gel pads to protect my knees, but the skating has kept the arthritis at bay.
Smooth ice, great music- heaven!

[cittiecat]

I've been skating since I was too young to remember how old I was, my mom took me down to the lake when it froze. However my actual first lesson was this January in LTS. I'm 24.

[Bill_S]

I remember Telstar was played a lot - so that dates me!

Oh, Telstar! I loved that music as a youth.

I remember purchasing the 45 rpm record. I probably still have it somewhere at home.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane!