It’s Unwise for Figure Skaters to Find Excuses and Assign Blame

This, in my opinion, is a list of things that CAN affect skating ability:

- New boots/blades, it takes time to get used to them and it’s hard to skate well when it feels like your feet are going to fall off.

- New coach, being asked to do things in a new way or not knowing just what your coach wants can disrupt your skating for a while.

- Fear, as much as we shouldn’t let it get the better of us, it can and does (even if only for a little bit) a bad fall can definately affect your skating.

- If your mind is elsewhere, focus is necessary, if you’re not completely ‘there’ you will mess up.

In my opinion (and I don’t have that much experience behind these views) you shouldn’t blame the ice, or the weather, or other people. The list of ‘excuses’ are only excuses, as opposed to reasons, when you accept them. For example, you skate badly and go “I got new skates so I can’t possibly skate my best” rather you should acknowledge the reason and override it “Yes I have new skates, but they will only be a problem if they hurt so much I cannot skate anymore” or “I will stop skating if I cannot stop thinking about ‘X’ problem and am therefore completely unable to focus, so am a danger to myself or others” It all comes back to ownership, yes there are problems sometimes, but we own them not the other way round

I agree, you must take responsiblity for your actions. Nothing drives me more nuts at work anyway then when people blame the computer for everything that goes wrong. The problem is between the chair and the keyboard it’s not the computer. Same thing in skating!

I would agree 100%. I know a lot of skaters who always blame their inconsistency on the ice or their skates or because they drank the wrong water or something (Yes, I have heard that before.) I do sometimes too. Except for one thing….I told myself that I was the problem for six months when I was first learning to skate and put myself back about four months because of it. I skated for a month and a half under this extremely young coach who got my skates sharpened for me right at the very beginning. Unbeknowest to me, the rockers were sharpened right off.
Five months later, under a new coach, I’m struggling with sit, camel, and back spins. The whole time, I’m blaming myself and beating myself up mentally because I just can’t get the dang spins right– i end up spinning with my ankle pronated the whole time. My coach finally looks at my skates and tells me that they’re rocker-less.
SO, I guess, it’s definitely smart to take responsibility for skating issues yourself….but at the same time, let’s not take it too far.

I do think that if there is a problem that continues, it’s worth taking a look at the boot, the blade, ask professionals if perhaps the ice is kind of wonky (one rink we’ve skated at gets very humid and the ice can get a little softer; another rink “rains” inside at time and there are bumps on the ice). But once the professional says, “It’s all in your head” (in a very professional way, of course) or “yeah the ice is different here, but still perfectly fine to skate on”, then it’s time for my skater to get on with it.

But you’re right…as a parent, I’d wonder why my toddler suddenly wasn’t sleeping at night and I’d think, “Behavior problem”…two weeks later, a new tooth shows up. Sometimes, there is a there, there.

Oh, yes, if there is one other skater on the ice, my skater will sometimes insist that she can’t get through her program because you never know when the other skater might skate in front of her. Mind you, we’ve never been wealthy enough to rent out the entire rink to ourselves, so I’m not sure where this excuse came from. And then I point out all the other champion level skaters who grew up skating freestyle sessions, my skater gives me a massive eye roll, and all is well. Eh-hem.

Other excuses have ranged from “people are LOOKING at me” to “no one is WATCHING me”, as well as “there is a bird flying around in the rink and it’s freaking me out.” (It was kind of freaky, but just think how the bird felt.)

My daughter competed at a rink near Philly one year and came in last out of 10. The next year, she had another competition at the same rink. She said, “Hey, isn’t this the rink where I came in last that time?” I said, “No. Different rink.” Yes, I lied. After the competition (did well this time), I came clean on the lie. I’m not proud, but she didn’t seem to mind. Of course, now she’s older and smarter, so that trick only worked once.

In the US and in this “era” we are so blessed. Indoor rinks, freestyle sessions, availability of coaches.

Sometimes whining is just that, and it needs to come out and then be done. Have a Whine and Cheese party (stolen from a wise and funny motivational speaker friend of mine).

Then when it’s over, be done. I find that most of the whining comes when my IceBoy is tired. Just like when he was a toddler or a young child, the worst whining was when he didn’t get enough sleep. Teenagers are perpetually tired (as are their IceParents). So be a little sympathetic and point out that they must be tired, get it out and then move on.

Excuse busters: In the recent past and probably still in most rinks in Japan the high level skaters had to skate on public ice. Crowded public ice. Finding room for a double axel or triple sal in the patches, free of people.

Skaters your coaches age and maybe even your own coach might have had to “zamboini” the ice before getting on by using a shovel and a hose.

Your coach (or people that grew up in that time) might have had to practice pairs at 2 or 3 am to get free ice.

In the book “The Second Mark” Shen and Zhao spoke of practicing pairs (no gloves) outdoors in the freezing weather on outdoor ice. Little children in “learn to skate” outdoors for their lessons.

IceCoach tells stories about “raining” in the rink. You’d get soaked, when the condensation just got too much and released from the roof hourly.

How about skating a competition in 2 inches of water on the ice? Gives a whole new meaning to “Hydroblade” doesn’t it.

IceBoy skates at two different rinks, the ice is very different. One is too hot…(deal with it). He also skates on public ice (yup, I have talked about moms with strollers on the ice).

The two rink thing wasn’t to build character, it was a way to stretch the pocketbook, but the benefits are that he has to adjust to the different ice, different sized rinks and temperature. On the public ice he shares the ice with a variety of skaters, hockey players, toddlers, buckets, cones and various props. He has really learned to skate with more precision, finding holes when he needs to jump, and is more observant when he skates.

I hope that he remains closer to the reason he started skating, the pure love of it. Public skating is awesome because of the people that skate on it, they love the feel of their skates on the ice, the thrill of the movement etc. I hope that it helps him to keep perspective and not become a snotty elite entitled whiny brat on the ice.

LOL- My kid has gotten SO much better about not being intimidated by other skaters near her. We keep talking about conquering the rink at the Boston Open- 2 years in a row it was abysmal.

Icecoach is just talking crazy here. I agree skaters must take responsibility for their actions, but how can you defend computers? They are evil and cause much misery.

They do, however you don’t know the kind of people I work with….

“Employee” *whine* the printer doesn’t work *whine again*
“Ice Coach” “UM, THERE IS NO PAPER IN IT”

Example #2

“Employee” *whine* the printer its not working I don’t understand. I hate this stupid machine it must be broken!

“Ice Coach” “YOUR NOT PRINTING TO THIS PRINTER YOUR PRINTING TO THE COPY ROOM”

These are actual examples. If people would try to solve their own issues before whining and getting all upset and always blaming everything but themself I would have no complaints I dont mind helping at all, its when people won’t take 2 seconds to help themselves that bothers me.

Ha! Ice Coach is talking crazy! Ha! I’m still snorting.

Actually, I don’t mind computers so much it’s the IT guy and his excuses and double talk that make me want to hack him to pieces with my safety scissors.