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Any figure skating parents around?

68 replies

LollipopViolet · 26/05/2019 13:40

Not a parent myself but am a skater who would love to share the ups and downs with like minded folk.

I've done one competition this year, with 2, possibly 3 more planned.

Off for a group edge and footwork lesson tonight with 3 other adults.

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Furryandpurry · 26/05/2019 14:22

Hi. My daughter is a figure skater. She lives it and it has been really good for her, she's keen to get to the rink and work on new elements.

I took lessons too and got to skate UK level 9 but I've drifted away just now. Hopefully one day I'll get back in to it but i was too scared to try harder things.

What level are you competing at? Is it adult competitions. I actually watched the adults competitions at Blackpool this year and have a couple of adult friends who are competing locally next month.

LollipopViolet · 26/05/2019 14:35

I compete through Inclusive Skating as I'm visually impaired. The levels are a bit different - I'm currently level 2, working towards going up to level 3 next year. Rough translation is I've finished Skate UK and am now working on my Bronze elements :)

www.inclusiveskating.org has more info :)

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Furryandpurry · 26/05/2019 15:08

Wow. That's amazing. I saw some of the inclusive skating championships at braehead earlier in this year as someone from my daughters club was competing. We didn't actually see get competitions due to times they were on but we saw some of the warm ups. Do you have someone else on the ice with you to help you know your position in the rink or do you just know how to judge?

My daughter competes at nisa level 1 but is hoping to rest to try to move up levels soon. I love figure skating and watching her and her friends run through their programmes. It's just such an amazing sport combining all the strength and balance and fitness aspects and making it look elegant and effortless.

LollipopViolet · 26/05/2019 16:32

I was at Braehead in April :) I'm lucky, my central vision is okay but I've not got full peripheral vision, so my coach skates with me for warm up then leaves me to it when it'stime to compete, because I'm fine on empty ice, no one to crash into! There were some amazing skaters this year :)

I've got friends getting ready for their nisa level 1 tests, I've had a go at the field moves for that level and they're actually quite tough, but look so simple!

I love it, it's artistry, athleticism and creativity all in one :)

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Furryandpurry · 26/05/2019 20:01

I think that people who don't know much about skating have no idea of the strength and skill that it takes. I remember watching skating when I was younger and wondering why they wasted time on steps when they could be doing difficult things. I had no idea how difficult the steps actually were! I really struggled with mohawks when I was taking lessons and my 3 turns were rubbish unless I was close to a barrier.
It looks like there aren't many figure skaters on mumsnet!

LollipopViolet · 02/06/2019 11:25

Well, yesterday I registered for my 2nd competition of the year, in September. We've also got an artistic competition at our rink at the end of the month, so working on a new routine for that one.

I think skating is so small there may not be many skaters or parents of skaters here.

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Furryandpurry · 02/06/2019 22:35

Fab! Hope you're enjoying your new artistic routine. That should be fun doing the competition at your rink.

My DD started her new programme yesterday. Early stages but now I have to get thinking about making her a new costume Smile

Mumtofourandnomore · 04/06/2019 21:27

My daughter is a figure skater, she is working on Nisa 2 - she passed nisa 1 over a year ago but spends most of her training ice times chatting with her friends Grin

My daughter had group lessons until she had passed Gold, but for Nisa they have to have 1:1 lessons - she does the odd competition and her club run various little competitions which are good. I think the benefit is to get out there and perform in front of an audience, my daughter has progressed from a wobbly five year old to a graceful swan lol (she has just turned 13). She only skates twice a week though even though she could go everyday so she will never be an elite skater, she doesn’t train hard enough, but she still gets a lot of enjoyment out of it.

Furryandpurry · 05/06/2019 15:56

Welcome to another figure skater mum!
I know the feeling about chatting. My DD has a good group of friends at her rink but they really only see each other there and can chat a bit until one of the coaches notices and tells them to get back to work Grin

LollipopViolet · 05/06/2019 17:52

Ha, I'm an adult and occasionally get asked to either chat off the ice or get on with the task at hand Grin

Group rehearsal for an exhibition number tonight. More choreography in my lesson tomorrow. Tiring week at work do far, so my skating may not be at its best.

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meala · 05/06/2019 21:36

Hope your group number rehearsal went well. Is it for a show? There are only two adult skaters who skate at the same time as the kids at my DDs rink. There are quite a few taking part in the club competition that's coming up though.
My DD wore her new skates (previous ones outgrown) for the first time last night and another skaters toepick took a chunk out of the leather Sad!!!

meala · 05/06/2019 21:36

Name change fail!

LollipopViolet · 07/06/2019 19:36

Rehearsals have been good. Routine is for a fairly big inter rink thing next month, solo routine is for the local round at our rink. If I win my category I go to the big event where we're doing the group routine :)

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BBoodles · 08/07/2019 13:29

Hello fello figure skating parents :) my daughter figure skates, nice to meet you all, do any of your children compete? my daughter has a few competitions coming up and I hate watching, I find it rather stressful. am I alone?

BBoodles · 08/07/2019 13:32

well done @LollipopViolet round of applause for getting out there and doing it! so much admiration for that :)

meala · 12/07/2019 10:46

Hi @BBoodles. Nice to have another skate mum! My daughter competes. She's just moved to to level 2 and is working on a new routine so isn't planning on doing any comps till September ( which also gives me more time to get a new costume made!!).

I also find it really stressful watching her skate. My DD gets nervous too which is so hard to see but she rant wants to skate.

@LollipopViolet did you compete at the recent inclusive skating competition?

meala · 12/07/2019 10:47

Really not rant

LollipopViolet · 12/07/2019 14:08

@meala not at the one this month, but I did in April :)

Update: tomorrow I skate with our adult group, and I skate my solo (I was the only adult in my category so got through to the big final).

Slightly scared now!

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meala · 12/07/2019 22:51

All the best for tomorrow Lollipop. Hope that it goes really well for you in both your skates. Fingers crossed!

BBoodles · 12/07/2019 23:30

Good luck for tomorrow :)

BBoodles · 13/07/2019 09:13

@meala good to chat to another skate mum too! I find I can't really discuss it with my friends as they just think I'm crazy to allow my daughter to do such an expensive sport! It's also very time intensive 🙈

meala · 13/07/2019 09:39

My DD loves skating and it has been great for her to have another set of friends / skating family at the rink. It is soooo expensive though. Dd recently needed new skates and blades, I nearly cried Grin

LollipopViolet · 15/07/2019 11:58

Saturday went well - silver medals in both skates, group routine got a standing ovation too. Then back to it yesterday in lesson.

Agree wholeheartedly that you have a "rink family" - we're a small rink so the bonds between skaters are quite strong, all the coaches are on the same page and it's a lovely atmosphere :)

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BBoodles · 15/07/2019 12:27

Is anyone here competing at North East Open this week?.

meala · 15/07/2019 16:28

Well done Lollipop! That's fab. You must be really chuffed.

DD isn't doing North East opens but a couple of her friends have done well this morning. Is your DD competing BBoodles?