This blog is a collection of my thoughts and experiences from ten years as a skate dad. For those of you sitting with your jackets in the bleachers, first I salute you, but second I want to give you an honest sense of what you are in for and what to expect. Ice skating is both a trying and a glorious sport, but it doesn't happen without the special group of folks who cheer, support, and console the participants. This is dedicated to you.


Sunday, October 23, 2011

- the snap point


My daughter skates one of the best programs of her career and finishes fifth (out of seven). The judging was rather inconsistent: one judge rated her 3rd, one 7th, but the rest were generally middle ranges. I take the positive tack though: that makes her an average pre-preliminary, which I consider quite an accomplishment by and of itself.

I worry that she maybe felt a bit embarrassed by her placement, although I'm much prouder of her than she realizes. She will likely suffer a bit of soul searching, but I suspect her love of the sport will see her through. It's a long road to hoe, and the only thing that really matters after all these years is that she keeps making incremental improvements. So far that seems to be her direction, so that is all I ask, really.

And that is also what creates an artist: the ability to self-critique and review your own progress in the long run.

This is a peculiar odd sticky-point for me... by all rights, even though /I/ am aware of her progress, she needs to actualize the timeline and see her path for herself. I can support her, but it is not my place to make these realizations for her.

Posted by Jeff Chapman at 10:13 AM
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1 comment:

  1. UnknownNovember 20, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    Oh yes, so true. The weekend after you posted this, my daughter skated her first pre prelim competition. She has been skating for 7 years, and this is her fifth season of competition. She had a beautiful skate, and "outperformed" the rest of the group (11 little girls, between 8-10) but zero-ed on three key elements. I knew what she had done from the stands, but she was oblivious. Until the results were posted. "But why, Mummy?" she kept asking. Later, the realisation that there is more to it than just show and cute. Her report card indicated that the judges had recognized her performance and skating skills (she received Prelim level marks), but those elements are the important part. In the weeks since, we have noticed more off ice practice in the playroom and less chatting on the ice. But it had to come from her, not from Mum or Dad, or even the coaches. In my heart, I hope that she will see some results in her next competition in January, but that of course is out of my hands.
    So nice to find your blog!
    Kim

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