My Skating Peers’ Blog

I’ve asked my skating peers to share their experiences at various events and competitions and to spotlight their achievements and accomplishments. I want to provide a platform of expression for their diverse views and opinions on any skating topic that is important to them.
I hope their stories will teach and provide further motivation and inspiration to my students, parents, and readers.
ENJOY!

My Greatest skating accomplishment

My greatest skating accomplishment occurred in July of 2017. The previous August I had injured my right hip and the doctor had excluded me from any athletic activities, including Ice Skating. I was devastated. As time went on I learned to do other things and had started to forget how to ice skate. In July, my mom mentioned starting skating again, but I said I didn’t want to go back. I was afraid of what would happen if I did return to skating. I thought I would fall as soon as I stepped on the ice or that I would be judged negatively by other people. My mom was surprised by my answer and she was also very disappointed. I hated to see her disappointed. After talking with me for a few weeks, she finally eased my fears and convinced me to give it a shot. We picked a day and it came quicker than I thought. I got ready by putting my skates on. I stepped on the Ice and I felt so happy. Nobody made fun of me and I had been able to almost do everything that I had done before. So, even though I was scared, I was brave and faced my fears. This is why I feel this is my greatest skating accomplishment.

my first memory of skating

My first memory of skating is when my parents took me, my brother Noah and my sister Sarabeth to family skate at the Howell Ice Rink. I watched the other people out on the ice and I thought it was going to be super easy, a piece of cake. But that was before I got out on the ice. When I first stepped on the ice, I was standing and thought, ok this is fine. The next thing I remember is me sitting on the ice floor wondering why it looked easy for everyone else. This is when my mom picked me up and tried to make me feel better. My mom said, “Come on, you can’t give up! You just started!” I had pride in myself so I tried to get back up. But I fell right back down again. I had no clue how to skate. 
But then something unexpected happened. Once my mom picked me up a second time, I started skating on my own. I started out with two toe pushes and then fell again. But I got up again and it felt different this time. I started to learn what I was doing and I started to feel like this could be my happy place. I was able to escape on the ice and become more confident. I started to feel free and happy. 
That memory is very important to me now because if it weren’t for me trying again that day I wouldn’t be the skater I am now.  I am pretty sure I learned a lot about myself from that one day and I think of how much I have improved since then. 
This past December my family and I went to family skate again at Pier Village. And this time instead of me being the one falling and my parents telling me what to do, it was the other way around. This time I was the teacher, just like my two coaches, Caroline and Alicia. I had that thought in my head all day, those two first toe pushes and I was amazed to see how far I’ve come. 

Coping with Defeat

After a disappointing skate at our home competition, Shore Skate, Noelle picked herself up and worked extremely hard for the next month preparing for Spring Invitational where she had a clean skate. She was able to prove to herself what she is capable of and build her confidence which in return reflected in her skating. Her performance was so well deserved for such a hard working skater who always comes to the rink with a positive attitude and did numerous run throughs of her program in order to feel prepared and conquer her nerves. Noelle has always been a constant role model and perfect example to our younger skaters to never give up and continue to work towards your goals.