Adult Skating Struggles & Advice

[PatineusePattinare]

Hi all. Long time lurker here and in need of support and advice.

I am an adult skater who skates at an ISI program, started 12 years ago. Mostly did group classes but over the last 5 years or so been almost exclusively private lessons. I compete ISI, so definitely recreational. I love competing because I get to perform and ISI has so many categories, it allows for so much options and creativity. I have been competing for 4.5 years and generally enjoy it.

I have tested at Freestyle 2 for 4 years now. And while I have taken group lessons up to FS5, I do not yet have the skills to pass FS3. The change foot spin and salchow have been giving me fits for YEARS. I had a competition this last September that took the wind out of my sails a bit. Am in my late 40s and was competing against 3 other women, the youngest of them was 61. And I came in last.

And I realized I was not improving. The fact I have not moved on from skills after so many years has started to weigh on me. It is so, so difficult to not improve when you work so hard. I know progress is not linear but man, is this deflating. I do off ice, I work with a personal trainer. I have upgraded my equipment. I have done everything possible both on and off the ice to improve. And yet, am not.

And while I decided to take a mini break, my coach asked me if I wanted to be in the winter show (she is running it). I accepted. She said there were adult numbers and "maybe find me another spot. in a solo/duo" Well, the adult number she assigned me to has such exceedingly simple chorography that when I started skating 12 years ago, I could have done this. It was a huge slap to my face. And needless to say, she found "no other spot for me." She was aware of how I was feeling before all of this, and yet this placement is humiliating. While I know I am not entitled to anything, I cannot explain the amount of hurt I am feeling. It was almost like my worst fear was reinforced.

I am not sure where to go from here. The thought of even stepping on the ice fills me with so much anger and pain. And yet, taking a break comes with a lot of grief as well. My social life is at the rink, I love the exercise and being away from it is so hard. I am looking to expand my activities, but it's hard given the time of year and schedules are weird because of holidays.

Any advice for those that have gone through something similar?

I know I am new here and really hoping I posted in the right area!

 

[sonitaskates!]

Hi all. Long time lurker here and in need of support and advice.

I am an adult skater who skates at an ISI program, started 12 years ago. Mostly did group classes but over the last 5 years or so been almost exclusively private lessons. I compete ISI, so definitely recreational. I love competing because I get to perform and ISI has so many categories, it allows for so much options and creativity. I have been competing for 4.5 years and generally enjoy it.

I have tested at Freestyle 2 for 4 years now. And while I have taken group lessons up to FS5, I do not yet have the skills to pass FS3. The change foot spin and salchow have been giving me fits for YEARS. I had a competition this last September that took the wind out of my sails a bit. Am in my late 40s and was competing against 3 other women, the youngest of them was 61. And I came in last.

And I realized I was not improving. The fact I have not moved on from skills after so many years has started to weigh on me. It is so, so difficult to not improve when you work so hard. I know progress is not linear but man, is this deflating. I do off ice, I work with a personal trainer. I have upgraded my equipment. I have done everything possible both on and off the ice to improve. And yet, am not.

And while I decided to take a mini break, my coach asked me if I wanted to be in the winter show (she is running it). I accepted. She said there were adult numbers and "maybe find me another spot. in a solo/duo" Well, the adult number she assigned me to has such exceedingly simple chorography that when I started skating 12 years ago, I could have done this. It was a huge slap to my face. And needless to say, she found "no other spot for me." She was aware of how I was feeling before all of this, and yet this placement is humiliating. While I know I am not entitled to anything, I cannot explain the amount of hurt I am feeling. It was almost like my worst fear was reinforced.

I am not sure where to go from here. The thought of even stepping on the ice fills me with so much anger and pain. And yet, taking a break comes with a lot of grief as well. My social life is at the rink, I love the exercise and being away from it is so hard. I am looking to expand my activities, but it's hard given the time of year and schedules are weird because of holidays.

Any advice for those that have gone through something similar?

I know I am new here and really hoping I posted in the right area!

hi!! im a skater whos younger then you, and im also a lot less experienced so i dont have knowledge on tests, but i wanted to tell you that I see ladies older then me on the ice in my figure skating club and I just want you to know that I see all of you with so much beauty. its so inspiring to me, especially with the weird stigma that after youre out of your youth your figure skating career is over, and its not definitely not true. I bet youre an amazing skater whos a lot more then tests and skills, and I can tell that you love skating. My tiny advice to you is to maybe go on the ice with a different mindset, instead of seeing other skaters as opponents maybe see them as a timeline, when you see a begineer figure skater think about how you use to skate, and how far you've came now. And when you see a more advanced skater think about it as your future, and use that want for what they have as fuel to get even better. I think sometimes believing that you can do something gives you a fire inside of you, and I believe that you can do it! I haven't done any tests but ive gotten dropped from a class in figure skating, it was humiliating and it made me angry to skate, but I had to take that anger and make it my tool to success instead.

I wish you the best of luck!