Unprepared for competition

[sk8dreamzzzz]

Hi Skaters,

I could use some advice. I had an injury which didn't keep me away from practicing, but meant I had to modify my practicing for the last 6 months and avoid certain movements on one side. It's now healed and I have already signed up for a competition which happens in about a month.

It will be my first ever solo program and I WAS very excited. However, there were very few ice times available this season and my coach was away for part of it as well. I don't feel prepared for the competition and if I do it, I will be knowingly doing it poorly. I'm not sure if I should simply sit it out (despite paying...) and try a competition later in the season or if there is any value in doing a competition poorly?

Thank you for your thoughts!

 

[Clarice]

Define your goals. As an example, I compete in solo ice dance. Because I have difficulties controlling my nerves in competition, it's beneficial for me to do a warmup competition before US Adult Sectionals and Nationals. The local competition I do doesn't offer solo free dance, so I enter my program as a free skate. Obviously, it doesn't include any jumps, so I know I'll come in last. I don't care, as placing well is not a goal I have for that competition. Maybe your only goal for this one is to begin a comeback from your injury. Maybe you can't include all the skills you will eventually have in this program. Maybe you go into it knowing that you won't have the content to really be competitive. Maybe that doesn't matter this time?

 

[Diana Delafield]

Just think of it as getting used to the atmosphere of a competition. Wading in the shallow water before diving into the deep end and actually swimming. A dress rehearsal before the actual opening night. Doing a complete runthrough of your program before a few friends so they can tell you if your costume works or needs an alteration. Anything you can think of that removes virtually all the pressure of trying to score well or win a medal. There will be a smidge of nerves because you're out there all alone, but remind yourself of competitions you've watched on TV or your computer screen. Did everyone there stop still to watch the skater performing? No. There are always people walking around off the ice, coming in and out of doorways, maybe glancing at whoever is on the ice but not really paying much attention.

I remember a friend who was at her first competition in almost a year after breaking her leg. She walked in to the dressing room and announced: "Anybody who's worried about coming last, don't. I will. I'm just here to test out my leg and find out if it's completely healed." After she skated (quite well, considering) she got back into her street clothes and left without waiting to find out her marks, which were posted at the end of the event since it was a low-level local competition. She didn't care. That wasn't why she was there.

Think of it as you testing yourself, finding out how competitions work, what you need to find out about the off-ice routine, what the etiquette is among competitors. Once you know the ropes and feel comfortable off the ice as a participant, then you can breeze through that part the next time or a few events down the line and start to concentrate on your performance on the ice. It won't be perfect, but very very few performances are even at the highest level. You've been injured, your training time has been less than ideal, so you'll find out how you cope when the situation isn't perfect but you're giving it a try anyway.

What happens on the ice isn't what matters this time. (You may surprise yourself!) Just take part, make new friends, enjoy yourself, feel a little bit special as a participant not just as a spectator. Go home and continue to train for the next time, proud that now you can call yourself a real figure skating competitor!

(And let us know what happened )

 

[sk8dreamzzzz]

Thank you both so much for your thoughts! Yes, I can try and look at this as a dress rehearsal. I may even have to ad-lib the end of my program since it isn't finished yet !

 

[Diana Delafield]

Thank you both so much for your thoughts! Yes, I can try and look at this as a dress rehearsal. I may even have to ad-lib the end of my program since it isn't finished yet !

Improvising to music you like is fun! Your chance to let loose and weave together your favourite moves with the whole ice to yourself !

 

[sk8dreamzzzz]

Hey guys, I thought I would update you. I did the comp. I competed in 2 categories, but I was most apprehensive about the artistic skating since it was my first program with jumps and choreography. I ended up falling on a simple step right in the beginning, which I didn't think was a problem. I got up immediately and continued, but my left leg was weird right after and I realised it wasn't really able to support me like normal. I became more and more concerned about it during the program and had to adjust and leave some stuff out. I was so confused. Placed 2nd to last...

The other category was better, solo ice dance. I placed solidly in the middle, which I think is pretty good! If only I could understand these complicated scores...

At home, I realised it was the same pain I had recently recovered from. I must have triggered the old injury which was muscle damage from falling on my outer thigh/hip. I guess I fell on exactly the same spot and had an immediate reaction? I had the pain and weakness for a week or two on that leg and it seems fine now. I'm going to try again in a month at another adult competition.

I'll say it was worth it, even unprepared. I got to see all the many costume issues I have, which I didn't expect! I could really see from the video and pics afterwards what I need to work on for my posture. It was also fun to compete with friends. There was hardly an audience and they were all local skaters who were supportive, so it wasn't that scary!