Introduction/Background Info
My name is Jennifer, and I skate in the Upper Great Lakes region (according to the USFSA). I consider myself an teen/adult skater since I started figure skating when I was about 12yrs. old, but I plan on competing in the adult category now that USFSA changed the age requirement to include 23yr. olds. It seems like a lot more fun than getting annihilated by teenage stick figures.
I started my skating obsession by watching Kristi Yamaguchi at US Nationals - I'm pretty sure that was back in 1991 or 1992. Back then, there wasn't an ice rink near me. However, there was a roller rink where I could skate all day on Saturday and Sunday for less than $5. And roller skating in my driveway was free. I used to imitate the moves I was on TV (the easy ones anyway). I taught myself shoot-the-ducks, spirals, and crossovers. And I'd bring the really big, 80's style tape player out and make up routines to my little sister's Disney tapes.
A rink opened near my home when I was 13. I couldn't take lessons at first because my parents didn't have enough money for two kinds of lessons(I was already taking horseback riding lessons). My neighbor did start group lessons, and taught me what she learned. I learned a 2-foot spin, 1-foot spin (in stork positon-not very well done), forward outside 3turns, forward inside mohawks, walt jumps, 1/2 flips(my crowning achievement), toeloops(remedial), and salchows(remedial). Eventually I found a job as a working student at a stable, and my parents paid for skating lessons.
A few months later, my family moved. I ran cross country during the fall my freshmen year in high school which kept me too busy to skate much. Once cross country was over, I wanted to take skating lessons again. There wasn't a rink near my home, so my parents would put me on the train (1hr. ride) and I'd stay with my grandma on the weekends. There were several rinks near her home. The bad news was that the only ice time available on weekends was public ice. Eventually, I came made the trip for one weekday freestyle as well.
By the time I graduated high school, I was a solid FS5 skater.
Now, I'm working full-time and attending school when I can afford it/fit it in between work and skating those lovely daytime public sessions.
Unfortunately, my early skating (jr. high and high school) was mostly group lessons and public sessions. The rinks I skated at weren't known for teaching sound technique either. I developed a lot of bad habits that I'm still working hard to correct. I sometimes wonder if it's coincidence that my worst jumps are the ones I learned myself (waltz, toeloop, salchow).
I am currently working with a fantastic coach (been with him for a little over a year). It's quite a drive for me, but the intricate technique that he teaches is well worth it. He rebuilt my jumps from scratch, adjusted my spins, and taught me footwork. Funny how I can get to FS5 in group lessons without ever learning more than the FS3/FS4 footwork. A few months ago, I marathon tested my MITF (pre-prelim through juvenile) and my pre-preliminary freeskate all in one test session. I'm working toward testing intermediate moves in October. Coach says they're testable now, but most of the moves still feel stiff. I'd really like to wow the judges, not just scrape by. I'm not sure what I'll do about testing freestyle. I'd like to see how far I can go on the regular track (I've never had consistent doubles, but not that I have a good coach, who knows!). I would also like to compete as an adult, and I'm not sure if I can test regular track and compete adult(I'm looking to compete in adult gold right now, not masters yet). I'll have to look into it. I'm just exicted that I can start competing as an adult now - I thought I'd have to wait 2 more years.
I started my skating obsession by watching Kristi Yamaguchi at US Nationals - I'm pretty sure that was back in 1991 or 1992. Back then, there wasn't an ice rink near me. However, there was a roller rink where I could skate all day on Saturday and Sunday for less than $5. And roller skating in my driveway was free. I used to imitate the moves I was on TV (the easy ones anyway). I taught myself shoot-the-ducks, spirals, and crossovers. And I'd bring the really big, 80's style tape player out and make up routines to my little sister's Disney tapes.
A rink opened near my home when I was 13. I couldn't take lessons at first because my parents didn't have enough money for two kinds of lessons(I was already taking horseback riding lessons). My neighbor did start group lessons, and taught me what she learned. I learned a 2-foot spin, 1-foot spin (in stork positon-not very well done), forward outside 3turns, forward inside mohawks, walt jumps, 1/2 flips(my crowning achievement), toeloops(remedial), and salchows(remedial). Eventually I found a job as a working student at a stable, and my parents paid for skating lessons.
A few months later, my family moved. I ran cross country during the fall my freshmen year in high school which kept me too busy to skate much. Once cross country was over, I wanted to take skating lessons again. There wasn't a rink near my home, so my parents would put me on the train (1hr. ride) and I'd stay with my grandma on the weekends. There were several rinks near her home. The bad news was that the only ice time available on weekends was public ice. Eventually, I came made the trip for one weekday freestyle as well.
By the time I graduated high school, I was a solid FS5 skater.
Now, I'm working full-time and attending school when I can afford it/fit it in between work and skating those lovely daytime public sessions.
Unfortunately, my early skating (jr. high and high school) was mostly group lessons and public sessions. The rinks I skated at weren't known for teaching sound technique either. I developed a lot of bad habits that I'm still working hard to correct. I sometimes wonder if it's coincidence that my worst jumps are the ones I learned myself (waltz, toeloop, salchow).
I am currently working with a fantastic coach (been with him for a little over a year). It's quite a drive for me, but the intricate technique that he teaches is well worth it. He rebuilt my jumps from scratch, adjusted my spins, and taught me footwork. Funny how I can get to FS5 in group lessons without ever learning more than the FS3/FS4 footwork. A few months ago, I marathon tested my MITF (pre-prelim through juvenile) and my pre-preliminary freeskate all in one test session. I'm working toward testing intermediate moves in October. Coach says they're testable now, but most of the moves still feel stiff. I'd really like to wow the judges, not just scrape by. I'm not sure what I'll do about testing freestyle. I'd like to see how far I can go on the regular track (I've never had consistent doubles, but not that I have a good coach, who knows!). I would also like to compete as an adult, and I'm not sure if I can test regular track and compete adult(I'm looking to compete in adult gold right now, not masters yet). I'll have to look into it. I'm just exicted that I can start competing as an adult now - I thought I'd have to wait 2 more years.
posted by Jennifer @ 1:50 PM
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