Empowering/Embarrassing Lessons & Practices 6/30-7/6

[Cinderella On Ice]

Re: Empowering/Embarrassing Lessons & Practices 6/30-7/6

Figureskates - I MUST know more! Tell me about your early years of skating and then why you stopped and why you are back. How long have you been back (after 30 years)? What are your greatest challenges? How far had you come along when you first skated and have you made it back to your former glory yet?

One of my biggest challenges is that my brain has not yet registered that this is a completely different body than I had 30 years ago. Also, I'm frustrated that I don't have quite the stamina I used to (YET ... I'm working on it! :lol: ) and it definitely takes my muscles longer to recover. I don't think I can skate 6 days a week any more and skate in top form. But I'll reserve judgment on that as I try to develop my strength and conditioning!

So tell me all about you ... inquiring minds want to know!

 

[Figureskates]

Re: Empowering/Embarrassing Lessons & Practices 6/30-7/6

Started skating when I was 10. My first teacher was a Hungarian who had just fled Hungary during the 1956 uprising. There were 8 of us in her class and she was a strict disciplinarian!! I made it up to about freestyle 1. When I went to college, I went to a hockey school (Clarkson). Males just did not figure skate back then (1964). So I played hockey. The coach knew I was a figure skater since I had the best edges on the JV team. I played 2 seasons before my left knee was literally destroyed during a game. I had to get what was then a rebuilt knee (they took out all the cartilege, smoothed the ends of the leg bones, and inside the patella, plus tightened up the tendons which were stretched and torn. I was off skates from 1967 to 1997.

Started rollerbalding in the summer of 1997 and decided in the fall I would give skating a try again. Three problems: 1) I k=have no feeling in my left leg from about 6 inches above the knee to half way between my knee and ankle. This was due to the surgery whic cut some of the nerves. As a consequence, my left foot floats below my upper leg, not being able to feel anything inbetween. 2) Completely flat footed, I mean I have callouses on my arch because it hits the floor when I walk on it. 3) I was a CW jumper before, but can't do that now since I can't land on my left leg because it would be bone smashing on bone.

I have in the last 5 years, gotten back to freestyle 1 and 2. I can do waltz, so so salchow, hald flip, and working on toeloop. Have passed pre-pre moves. This September will test pre-pre free and prelim moves. Big problem is "rewiring" my brain to go CCW when I naturally go CW. Second problem is having to gage where my left skate is by the pressure in the hip joint since I have no feelings in the mid leg area. My caoch has been marvelous in helping me overcome the problem. My weakest element is back crossovers in the CCW direction. I have not fully comprehended where my left skate is and I have a tendency for the dreaded "click of death" in that direction. It is coming, if not ever so slowly.

I would like to compete in Adult Nationals, if only once, at the Bronze level. I will be at Lake Placid in April anyway, either as a competitor/volunteer, or strictly volunteer.

I agree with the body. My brain knows what to do, it is getting my 57 year old frame to follow commands. It is definitely a wiring problem. It is challenging and I am having fun but I also see progress. Where I skate during the winter season, I have been the only male and the oldest in adult group sessions but I have found this not to be a problem at all. All the ladies are very helpful and encouraging which has been a big plus in my progress.

 

[rachelstarlet]

Re: Empowering/Embarrassing Lessons & Practices 6/30-7/6

There are freestyle sessions on Saturday mornings, but I'm too timid to go to those. Maybe when I'm done w/ Basic Skills, or if I can drag Tricia along with me (she's not as gung-ho on practicing as I am). The afternoon/evening sessions are a lot more hockey-heavy (actually I think the rink in general is very hockey-oriented, pfft) but I've found that the morning sessions during the week are pretty nice - not heavily attended, and hardly any hockey skaters. Actually the past few times I've gone in the mornings, it's been me and 6-12 more advanced skaters. I don't think we have an adult session, but that would be nice. The rink I will be skating at during the school year has two ice surfaces. I'm excited!

 

[Cinderella On Ice]

Re: Empowering/Embarrassing Lessons & Practices 6/30-7/6

Before I respond to the other posts, I'd like to get my thoughts down about today's practice.

EMBARRASSING: I was very disappointed in myself this morning. I've always said I'm not a morning person. Well, this morning I had planned to skate from 7-9 at a rink in another town an hour away (as ours has no freestyle skating on the weekends--only public skate and hockey). I dutifully set the alarm for 5:40, let the dogs out, and discovered torrential downpours. I just couldn't bear the thought of driving in all that rain, at that hour, feeling all sleepy faced, so I brought the dogs back to bed and hid under the covers until 9:00. Then when I woke up, it wasn't rainy at all, but hot and steamy (meaning I would have been driving home in this, and not the rain) and I felt like I blew it and missed a good skating opportunity. Since my tests are only 2 weeks away and I am not really ready, this was a stupid mistake on my part.

EMPOWERING: After moping around for awhile because of not skating, I convinced myself that I would go to the 2:00 public skate and count on the fact that everyone would be at the holiday parade and gala festival. And it worked! Even though it took me an extra 20 minutes to get there because the parade was blocking the route, I was able to skate for an hour and 40 minutes for only $5 (that would have cost me $24 this morning!) and there were only 4-6 people on the ice at any time. I basically could do whatever I wanted, especially in the middle, so I practiced all parts of my program and my moves test and I am just on a total high!!! At the end, I did my endurance training and left there all sweaty and smiley and sweaty and smiley (and did I say sweaty??!!). Yee hah!

 

[Cinderella On Ice]

Re: Empowering/Embarrassing Lessons & Practices 6/30-7/6

<strong>Figureskates</strong> - Well add me to the line of admiring women who are encouraging you in your skating endeavors! Your story is simply amazing and I totally respect your perserverance in getting out there and especially changing direction to accommodate your previous injury. There was a story several months ago in skating magazine about someone who had to change direction due to hip or leg problems.

When I skated as a kid, one of the things they taught us was to do things in both directions. I only got to the point where I could do simple singles and an axel in the CW direction, but I'm really glad because the other day when I was messing around I found that I could do half jumps that way with no problem. I think that can be a very pretty thing in a skating program, and I like to think that it's insurance in case I'd ever have to change direction.

You are truly an inspiration, especially with the "floating foot" syndrome. I can see that with enough practice, your brain will accommodate, in the same way it tries to "flip" images the right way if they are projected at you upside down for a long time.

Thanks for sharing your story. Let's keep encouraging each other. 30 years is a long time, but inot insurmountable! I'm a real fan of your progress!

<strong>Rachelstarlet</strong> - Most of the rinks I've skated at as an adult seem to be hockey oriented. I can't count the number of times our practices get moved around in order to accommodate the hockey. I think they make more money off of it than the figure skating. Or else it's just the politics. But at least our rink tries to separate the hockey skaters from the figure, so I'm not complaining. It's great to hear that you are so excited about skating (and practicing). You will go far with your enthusiasm!

 

[Glacierskater]

Re: Empowering/Embarrassing Lessons & Practices 6/30-7/6

This is my first post in this area. I like the idea of expressing my on ice feelings on virtual paper.

Empowering: Hmmm...I did not feel so empowered this week.

Other: I am working on my sit spin...get lower, get lower, get lower. I got lower...right to the ice on my rump. I worked on those so much that my quad was killing me for 2 days...like limping sore. I worked on my loop. Someone tell me once again what is to propel me into the air from these back crossovers? Just catch the edge? I spent lots of time landing on ice (on my side) after my edge slipped out from under me repeatedly. Ouch. I worked on my back power crossovers. Why is it that I cannot get the idea that the leg of the inside edge is to be BENT, and the free leg is to be EXTENDED? It was pitiful. I don't know what you would call my maneuver, but I am sure that the judges would not pass it. The alternating 3 turn thing on the line...yeah. I can do 3 turns, apparently not in any form or fashion, when required. And my boots gave me a blister for the first time in months. I have figured out that my most redeeming quality about my skating is my humor and ability to laugh at myself. I am regrouping, and will be back to practice on Tuesday. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":\">

 

[Glacierskater]

Re: Empowering/Embarrassing Lessons & Practices 6/30-7/6

FIGURESKATES
Add yet one more fan to your club! I think that your history is fascinating. And you immediately endeared yourself to me when I read that you are a (excuse me, WERE) a CW jumper. I am a CW jumper too. I guess it is like being left handed...I love it when I meet another kindred left-handed soul. I so admire what you are doing. Learning to jump, and I assume spin, in the opposite direction. That is most admirable. I find your progress inspirational. I am getting so excited about the prospect of adult nationals, and I am hoping to meet friends from the forum so that I can cheer for them.

I had ACL reconstruction when I was 20...that was about 13 years ago. I had always taken my knees for granted. I had to learn to walk all over again, and it was hard. I am thankful everyday that I can skate. I will keep my hopes up for you and your progress. Keep up the good work! I will be on the lookout for your further posts.

CINDERELLA:
I did not get up for Saturday skating practice either! I felt bad. Not so bad that I got up though. My sit spin had my quad in knots, and my skates ripped the skin from the inside of my heel. Weird for year old skates. So, like you, my Saturday morning was set aside for snuggly time with my puppies. And look at you! You made it to the rink, as I did not. Actually, I have to work Saturday night, so I could not have skated later in the day. You save money, had less people, and had a great practice. You will do great on your tests. I will be keeping up, and I will be curious to see what feedback you get, if any, from testing. I am testing in August and my stomach is in knots now thinking about it. Keep up the good work, and keep us posted!

RACHELSTARLET:
I would like to encourage you to attend some freestyle sessions. I used to be timid as well. In fact, most of the skaters at my rink are under the age of 18. I was 29 when I started skating seriously (for me) and I felt awkward when I would be trying things that kids half my size and age were doing. Then, guess what? I got better. And then I got even better. I practiced, and now I am working on Freestyle 4. Don't be fooled...I still get intimidated. After school I am the oldest one out there by about 20 years at least. Sometimes I feel so out of place. But the kids are so supportive and nice. And at competition, they are wonderful. No inhibitions about screaming their heads off to cheer you on. Just think to yourself that you have every right to be out there. Everyone was a beginner at some time, and they had to practice to get to where they are. Just a couple of months ago I went to Colorado to visit my mom. They have very competitive rinks compared to what I am used to here. I was really intimidated about skating there. But I met so many nice people, and it was fun. I have found that the best practices for me are the ones with the fewest amount of people. Are you taking lessons now with a private coach? That also helped me. If you don't mind disclosing, where are you going to school? Two ice surfaces sounds wonderful!