Tis_Bearself
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That means you click the link that says “Watch on Youtube” and watch it on Youtube. Some videos don’t permit embedding.
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Sarcelle
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Competitive figure skating can be expensive. Families with talented children may not be able to afford the costs involved.
Not only should you have access to an ice rink, coach fees, equipment and costumes add up.
It’s been a hard couple of decades with several economic recessions. People just don’t have the discretionary income.
I was involved in artistic gymnastics as a kid but then went to rhythmic gymnastics because the coaches said I had the right body type and flexibility. It was expensive but I think figure skating may be even more expensive.
Not only should you have access to an ice rink, coach fees, equipment and costumes add up.
It’s been a hard couple of decades with several economic recessions. People just don’t have the discretionary income.
I was involved in artistic gymnastics as a kid but then went to rhythmic gymnastics because the coaches said I had the right body type and flexibility. It was expensive but I think figure skating may be even more expensive.
J
JanR
Guest
I was able to see the synchronized skating video right here. It was awesome!
Ballet on ice!
I can’t begin to imagine how much training, practice and experience is required to pull off something like that so gracefully.
If I recall correctly, Nancy Kerrigan won silver while a European skater (don’t recall the country) won gold. Nancy thought she should have gotten the gold, as she considered her performance just as good or better than that of the gold winner. I think she thought there was some kind of favoritism or prejudice involved in that decision.
Tonya Harding was abused by her mother. No excuse for her behavior, but I can see where she had some inner demons to contend with. These folks are all human.
It’s still pretty awesome to see these skaters gliding so skillfully across a medium so slippery as to keep many people’s feet up in the air most of the time when taking it on.
I think a lot of it has to do with the proper skates and shoes. The quality and suitability to the individual of one’s major equipment can make a real difference, in addition to their level of skill and creative imagination (where the artistry comes in).
Ballet on ice!
I can’t begin to imagine how much training, practice and experience is required to pull off something like that so gracefully.
If I recall correctly, Nancy Kerrigan won silver while a European skater (don’t recall the country) won gold. Nancy thought she should have gotten the gold, as she considered her performance just as good or better than that of the gold winner. I think she thought there was some kind of favoritism or prejudice involved in that decision.
Tonya Harding was abused by her mother. No excuse for her behavior, but I can see where she had some inner demons to contend with. These folks are all human.
It’s still pretty awesome to see these skaters gliding so skillfully across a medium so slippery as to keep many people’s feet up in the air most of the time when taking it on.
I think a lot of it has to do with the proper skates and shoes. The quality and suitability to the individual of one’s major equipment can make a real difference, in addition to their level of skill and creative imagination (where the artistry comes in).
P
Peeps
Guest
Yep. Mega bucks.Competitive figure skating can be expensive. Families with talented children may not be able to afford the costs involved.
Not only should you have access to an ice rink, coach fees, equipment and costumes add up.
It’s been a hard couple of decades with several economic recessions. People just don’t have the discretionary income.
I was involved in artistic gymnastics as a kid but then went to rhythmic gymnastics because the coaches said I had the right body type and flexibility. It was expensive but I think figure skating may be even more expensive.
We once read that the most expensive sport for children is equestrian sports (competitive horseback riding). Makes sense–a horse needs a lot of care!
But figure skating is the 2nd most expensive sport for children!
We had two daughters in the sport from ages 3 through age 18. I would estimate that we spent around $1500 - $2000 a month for both of them to skate. Probably more, if you count all times we had to go out for dinner because neither I nor their father was home to shop/fix/clean up a meal.
Back then (in the 1990s-early 2000s), a pair of skates cost several hundred dollars a pair, depending on which boot and which blade–they are sold separately, and you have to hire a professional to mount the blades onto the boot–and that professional had BETTER know what they are doing! Terrible injuries happen when the blade shifts and/or falls off the boot!
Ice time for us was fairly cheap, around $8/hour, and the girls would spend around 2 hours five days a week on their ice–so that’s around $100/week for ice.
Our pro charged $60/hour for lessons, and each girl had one lesson a week.
We didn’t buy fancy practice dresses–our girls bought theirs at the frequent rink re-sales.
Competition fees were around $150 for each girl, about five competitions a year.
Competition dresses usually cost us under $100 a dress, and our girls would sometimes share a dress.
Mondors cost a fortune–around $25/pair, and they lasted for about a month or two.
The synchro bills were around $2000/year for each girl, and that didn’t include the costs of the overseas competitions. Plane tickets, hotels–there were discounts, but it usually cost around $600-$1000, depending on where the competition was.
There’s probably more, but that was the bulk of it.
So not cheap.
But we think it was worth it. We loved every minute, and we think that doing this sport molded our daughters into the fine women they are today. And both girls are still involved with the sport, but they pay their own way now!
7
7_Sorrows
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