Adult African-American figure skater getting back onto the ice while facing the trials and tribulations of injury, illness, odd looks and being a lefty in a righty world.
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Adult Skating Webgrouups
I passed my last Preliminary Dance test one day last month, or the month before. I've now forgotten when. I'm supposed to take the Cha-Cha on May 18th... I think. I'm having some trouble remembering the steps, perhaps because I learned it two weeks ago.
Two evening sessions were added at one of my rinks back in March. I was thrilled. I could leave work early, go to the rink, skate a good freestyle and return home. It was great the first week. Had some timing issues the second week. More people arrived on the third week. Now that freestyle session should be renamed Learn to Skate. I have nothing against beginners or people in Learn to Skate. However, since this was supposed to be a freestyle session, I have no desire to pay "freestyle money" for a Learn to Skate session. And yes, I understand that people want to skate; that outdoor rinks have closed; and where are they supposed to go without public sessions. Yes, I comprehend all of that. However, if I'm trying to do a jump (in the corners because that's where they belong!!!) and I have to skid to a sudden stop because there's a kid who has absolutely no concept of what a cirle is and he's doing a forward outside 8 on the red dot, using the hockey lines, I'm going to be annoyed. I am going to become downright angry when I move over, still trying to get that jump in, and same kid has decied to also move over once kid sees me coming. I am going to want to scream when I have tried said jump 9 times and same kid is now doing forward inside 8s on that damn hockey circle.
Add to that a group edge class filled with people who are beginners and have control issues, kids who decide wherever they are is where they will do whatever they're doing, four or five skaters who refuse to move regardless of what you're doing, a coach using the overhead jump harness, two people in helmets, four skaters trying to get through their programs and the mother of the kid on the hockey circle who never turns her head to see if anyone is coming and you have the evening sessions. Actually, imagine the worse public session you have ever skated, place all the people in hockey skates in figure skates and subtract the ice guards. THAT is what those evening sessions have become. Complaints by coaches and skaters alike have been in vain. It was fun while it lasted.
Back to mornings.
And since I'm on a bit of a rant, I need an explanation. I belong to several adult figure skating groups on Instagram and Facebook. Why are people posting pictures and videos of their kids skating. Congratulations to the kids, but to be honest, I don't care. These are adult figure skating groups and we fought to get a seat at the table, to receive respect and inclusion at competitions. When I see something that says ADULT figure skating, I do not want to see a 9 year old landing a quad jump. I want to see an adult, hence, the name of the group. If you find it necessary to post your child's progress, do it on your own page. Don't post your kid's progress on an adult skating page and then sit back and wait for everyone to say "oooh.... how great". I know some of these posts are from coaches who are also adult skaters. Frankly, I still don't care. Post on your own page. Leave the adult skating pages to adult skating.
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