My Brother's caught the bug...

[Tonichelle]

Duane, my 10 year old brother, is taking skating lessons... and he's now hooked.

He's always wanted to learn and be "the next Kurt Browning" (ie his hero) but mom didn't think he was that serious until his last group lesson where he got upset that the coaches were busy flirting with each other. I think he said something along the lines of "this kind of coaching will not get us to Worlds" He has high expectations


mom is worried though... she's not sure we have any coaches in Kenai that are "good enough"

[Mathman]

...he got upset that the coaches were busy flirting with each other. I think he said something along the lines of "this kind of coaching will not get us to Worlds"

Don't you just hate it when your coaches carry on like that?

[Tonichelle]

Don't you just hate it when your coaches carry on like that?

yeah well I guess Duane wasn't impressed

I guess there are two coaches teaching the beginners class a lady and a man... the man keeps telling Duane how much fun he'd have in hockey and Duane told him the first week that "Hockey players don't do Triple Axels"

that's my brother

[Mathman]

Duane told him the first week that "Hockey players don't do Triple Axels"

Duane rocks!

[julietvalcouer]

yeah well I guess Duane wasn't impressed

I guess there are two coaches teaching the beginners class a lady and a man... the man keeps telling Duane how much fun he'd have in hockey and Duane told him the first week that "Hockey players don't do Triple Axels"

that's my brother

So can we clone him? And make lots more like him?

[Tonichelle]

So can we clone him? And make lots more like him?

NO! one is more than enough (seriously he may be all business on ice, but he's a hellion the rest of the time)

[dlkksk8fan]

Toni-
Hope your brother knows what he has gotten himself into! Once you catch the bug it's hard to get rid of

Let us know when he lands his first Axel

[Tonichelle]

Toni-
Hope your brother knows what he has gotten himself into! Once you catch the bug it's hard to get rid of

He's wanted to be a skater since he was 4. Because of his biological father having 51% custody and our family only being a foster family we couldn't enroll him because his father was overly homophobic (among other things) and threatend my family with death if we even suggested it (dad said it would be for hockey, but noooooooooooooooo Duane went and screwed that up lol) so we couldn't get him into lessons until this year as we've now adopted him.

Unfortunately I don't see him getting much of anywhere as figure skating is not a sport of interest or even importance down on the Kenai... even the coaches don't much care past getting the kids standing up and skating around the rink

and yet we do have some kids that on their own at least get to compete in sectionals.... if he were to get serious he'd probably have to train up here in Anchorage, but that's a 3 hour drive one way and my parents aren't going to relocate anytime soon lol

[NJSk8Fan]

Toni, I remember you posting on the old SF forum how Duanne was trying to skate in the driveway and how he wanted to be the next Kurt. I'm glad he's getting a chance to have lessons. Who knows, maybe he *will* be the next Kurt. Kurt is certainly a great role model for him! Good luck Duanne! Keep those silly flirting coaches in-line, too!

[Tonichelle]

Toni, I remember you posting on the old SF forum how Duanne was trying to skate in the driveway and how he wanted to be the next Kurt. I'm glad he's getting a chance to have lessons. Who knows, maybe he *will* be the next Kurt. Kurt is certainly a great role model for him! Good luck Duanne! Keep those silly flirting coaches in-line, too!

yeah everyone on there took to calling him Kurt Jr. IIRC

[Mrs Redboots]

Duane told him the first week that "Hockey players don't do Triple Axels"

that's my brother

Here in the UK we have a saying "If figure skating were easy, they'd call it hockey!"

More power to your brother's elbow - I do hope he realises his dream, or at least gets as far as he is able.

[Tonichelle]

he's going to be taking more lessons and is demanding skates for Christmas (he obviously has no idea how much they are... lol)

[dlkksk8fan]

Toni-
He has to have his own skates! Beginner skates aren't too expensive.

I want new skates for Christmas too

[Tonichelle]

Toni-
He has to have his own skates! Beginner skates aren't too expensive.

I want new skates for Christmas too

Mom and dad want to wait on the skates until he is positive he wants to continue, they'll also start looking into more one on one lessons if his heart so desires after the next session...

what do beginner skates cost anyway? (his feet grow faster than any other part ofhis body right now... he's gone up 3 shoe sizes this school year alone I think he's part big foot )

[dlkksk8fan]

Toni-here's a little info that might help:

Beginners’ Skates:

Should you be someone who goes to the rink to skate and socialize a few times a month then you don’t need to invest a lot of money in equipment. You can spend anywhere from $80 to $150 and be satisfied. The advantages to owning your own skates are:

* They’re more durable than rental skates.

* The blades will be sharper.

* Only YOU will wear them!

* Your own skates will be a wise investment, especially if you have to pay for rentals every time you skate.

Advanced Beginners’ to Intermediate Level Skates:

If you answered yes to more than 3 questions, you’re probably a candidate for a better type of skate. Should you be interested in freestyle [jumps and spins], ice dance [ballroom on ice] pairs [you and a partner jump and spin] or precision skating [think Rockettes on ice], then you’ll want to invest in a long-lasting pair of skates. The main questions are: How much are you willing to pay? Do you want to buy the boots and blades separately?

Often the beginner will wear skates that come from the factory with the blade already attached. Since not much more than forward and backward skating will be done, the boot is soft and the blades will have small toepicks.