tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post3547440772533353718..comments2023-04-07T10:27:50.934-05:00Comments on Xanboni: Skating and pubertyAlexandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-61159851966584767212013-01-26T17:30:52.433-06:002013-01-26T17:30:52.433-06:00Skating is so bizarre in the encouragement of youn...Skating is so bizarre in the encouragement of young athletes learning such intense skills. The pressure it puts on your body is insane - think of the pressure their little hips and knees and ankles and backs feel from jumping. I skated in the REC STREAM as a kid and my hip hurts. I can't imagine how some of the competitive kids end up feeling. There's a pre-pubescent girl at my rink that has had major injuries in both of her feet and both of her knees. I'm not talking sprains - I'm talking injuries that will cause her issues as she grows and into adulthood. And I'm betting that every single rink has a similar kid. Yes, it may be easier to learn these skills as tiny little things, but it's certainly easier on your body long term to learn them as not such tiny little things. Let me tell you, if this was MY daughter, and I saw her developing bone issues that would make one leg grow longer than the other (or any other sort of major issue) you can bet I'd have her switched to girl scouts ASAP.<br /><br />Here in Canada, Skate Canada has tried to create a Collegiate Skate program, but it's still not recognised at most institutions as a 'sport' (ie: funding). And synchro teams are usually also not 'sports' at the University level (what college student has 4 grand for synchro???). I know at my U, I simply couldn't afford to join the team while the U funded track and football and soccer and, of course, hockey (and a host of other sports).<br /><br />I can deal with rink gossip and 'mean girls' and whatever. But this issue with little girls being trained like this is soviet russia is a really touchy subject for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-81923565314402088272013-01-25T11:23:43.243-06:002013-01-25T11:23:43.243-06:00Jeff, really excellent insights as alwaysJeff, really excellent insights as alwaysAlexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-80463163489092653592013-01-25T10:12:09.997-06:002013-01-25T10:12:09.997-06:00Great post Xan.
I think other physical and sociol...Great post Xan.<br /><br />I think other physical and sociological factors constrain figure skating to pre-pubescent, beyond just a lack of NCAA sanctioning. <br /><br />There just aren't a whole lot of opportunities for professional individual athletes... a few surfers, a few runners, a few tennis stars, a few golfers. You don't see a lot of professional gymnasts, for example. <br /><br />Basically it only works when TV media can sell advertising to the masses who are watching the individual pros (weekend surfers, runners, tennis players, and golfers).<br /><br />Gymnastics and figure skating don't attract a lot of casual weekend athletes who will spend big money on equipment (when was the last time you saw a Riedell add on TV)?<br /><br />All of the gals who were cohorts with my daughter gave up skating and chose College (smile).<br />Jeff Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09414277588527738949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-43969055136114791502013-01-24T17:55:24.834-06:002013-01-24T17:55:24.834-06:00We have a skater at my rink going to nationals. He...We have a skater at my rink going to nationals. He's 10. He looks 8. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-30315607312686921132013-01-24T11:11:23.423-06:002013-01-24T11:11:23.423-06:00I've seen Tomoki working on the 3A, too, but I...I've seen Tomoki working on the 3A, too, but I think it's still a challenge for boys that young to pull it off in competition. I think there also might be rules restrictions against it in the lower levels. Again, the restrictions are only in regards to competition. There are no restrictions about training.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-466093691926458332.post-90684572102464135902013-01-24T09:26:20.409-06:002013-01-24T09:26:20.409-06:00Nathan Chen has a triple axel. His coach made him...Nathan Chen has a triple axel. His coach made him wait for awhile to do it (I think until he was 12?), but he's done it in competition this year (not at Nationals, since he was sick.)<br /><br />It is really bizarre to see so many young boys dominating. Men's skating used to really be that- a men's sport. I always thought there was something about the boys body that prevented them from mastering skating (or gymnastics) so young, but maybe it is more that boys don't start traditionally female sports until later in life that has kept the little kids out of it?<br /><br />It is nice to see that ladies are ladies, and not little girls. I worry about the strain on the bodies, and it seems skaters are getting injured a lot more than in the past.Jessimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05442665425448000014noreply@blogger.com