A Figure Skaters Journal

Skating is one of the best sports in the world. It allows you to be as artistic and creative as you want. But it has it's downsides. Like getting up at three a.m. to go freeze your butt off before school, having your parents tell you that no, you most cirtainly man NOT take lessons every day. And how DO you get started big time anyway? (if YOU know, tell ME at jdpeter1@ students.wisc.edu)
Lauren

Skating to me is a way to release my emotions. People who are skating with me say that they can tell my moods by watching me. If I am angry then I am fast and choppy. If I am in a peaceful mood I flow over the ice. When I am happy I bounce around. Skating is hard work which a lot of people don't understand. Figure skating takes the strength of a night but the grace of a princess.
~Hiliary Goddard~

When I skate, I feel like it's just me out there. I'm always concentrating so hard.People may think I'm crazy, but I love skating, and I'm never going to give it up.

Here in the Philippines there is not much ice to skate on.That is why I'm more determined to do my best on the rink.I've skated practically my whole life,now I'm 13 more determined and sure of myself that this is what I want to do in the future.When my time comes,I know I can do it, whatever it takes,people bring me down but that won't stop me from pursuing my dream......winning the gold medal at the olyimpics!
Kara

Reading this journal had allowed me to know that I'm not alone in the skating world. If only I can tell and show you my passion for the ice.It's the most beautiful thing that happen to me and it made me feel "myself" again.
--Jaime (rememberme99@hotmail.com),Malaysia

hi!! I live to skate and I couldn't be more happy then when I'm on the ice all day long!!! and I'm glad to know that there our more of us skaters out there that are skating for their our dreams no matter what everyone else says!! (esp. hockey players) Happy Skating!!! Lacey, Iowa

Skating is the one true way I can express myself. On the ice, all my troubles melt away with the calming sensation of gliding and being free. On the ice, nothing matters, time seems to stop and slow down and I am in my own little world. Skating is the one thing that makes me 100% happy all the time. Kaitlyn

I love to figure skate. I practically breathe it! It's the best sport in the world!!
Jennifer (Toronto, Ontario)

Skating is a way to express yourself without saying a word. On the ice, all my problems go away, and there is nothing but the ice beneath my feet and the cold air rushing by my face. I love to skate and there is nothing that will ever take that feeling away from me.

Even though one day I would like to skate in the amateur competitions, I'm not skating just for gold medals or for publicity. I skate because I love it. And I thank God for letting me do something I love.
Christian M. age 16 '98

Skating makes you feel like a real individual,someone special..............I love skating and Tara Lipinski and her rinkmate Todd Eldredge show exactly WHY I, and they ,skate.
Michelle Jester

Hi. I love skating. I just started landing my triples. When I jump, it feels like my heart stops because I get so scared and spin around so fast. I also love precision!! -Chloe

As one of my shirts says "Figure Skating Is Life, The rest is just details". This describes me perfectly. The first thing I think about in the morning is skating and it's the last thing I think about when I go to bed. I'll probably never be really good but I have personal goals and I'll stop at nothing to reach them.

Erica Armstrong, Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Timmins Porcupine Figure Skating Club

If you have the same passion for skating E-mail me. My address is "eureka345@hotmail.com" "Always believe in yourself. Love skating for what it is, not for what the rewards are if you work hard." This is the only thing at the back of my mind when I skate. Skating is a sport where if you give up, you will never achieve anything. ~Heyling

Skate is good. Important to be the best you are. -Ekaterina

I've never skated in my life but I do love to watch it, especially Ilia Kulik and Michelle Kwan. It's such a beautiful and graceful sport to see.

S-skating , my life
K-kourage (sorry!)
A-admirance
T-try,try,till you suceed
E-elegancy

from Vanita.R.L(Dubai,U.A.E)

I love skating beacause you can express your self with grace and power and elagance.Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan showed that expressevness and I truly admire them because of it.

Kara

THE KING LIVES ON ELVIS RULES!!!!

I really like watching figure skating on television and live . I've never been to a figure skating show before in my life. I'm from the United States

From Tiffany

I never had a passion in life like all my friends did. I never had 1 thing that I loved to do more than anything else.. THEN I learned to skate!!

Jamie Nolan

Skating is a very lonely sport. I get pretty mad when my friends don't want to come skating with me, because they think I just want to show off. But the loneliness is worth it, and I know I am experiencing feelings that some of my friends will never feel in their life. -Erica Shaw

To any one who thinks skating is easy but never tried it yet "let's see YOUR triple axel i bet you don't even know what it is" ~Jessa 13~

tschaatsen is het mooiste gevoel wat er is. Als je schaatst is het of je vliegt. Dat je alles kan springen wat je maar wilt, ook al is dat niet zo. Zonder schaatsen kan ik niet leven.

-Een kunstschaatster uit Nederland.

Kunstschaatsen is het mooiste gevoel wat er is! Als je schaatst is het net of je vliegt. Kunstschaatsen geeft je een gevoel van vrijheid, alsof je alles kunt springen wat je maar wilt,ook al is dat niet zo. Zonder schaatsen kan ik niet leven. -Een kunstschaatster uit Nederland.

When I skate it takes me away from all my thoughts that may be haunting my mind. I feel that I am the best and that no one is better than me. Skating simply gives me a chance to express myself doing something I love.

Natia Cribbiage

There are no second chances in life.Push yourself to be the best you can be.-Molly

Some people say we're crazy, missing school events, to go skating. Missing school sports that everyone does, to go skating. We love skating and always will, no matter where we are or how old we are. We don't care who teases, who points, who stares we'll just keep pushing and always BELIEVING!!

Lizzy and Paige, Female Skaters, Aged 13

Hi there! I love skating. That's basically the only way I can put it. I skate 6 days a week, and wake up at 5:30 every weekday. No matter how tired I am, I'm always happy to go skate. So when people (esp. hockey players) make fun of me and my skating, telling me that" it isn't a sport" I get peeved off! Oh well, I guess you can't do too much about it!

Elizabeth

Skate for who you care about. Not for winning. Like for your little brother or sister.

-Erin Kelley

So this is who Iam,
And this is all I know,
And I must choose to live ,
For all that I can give,
The spark that makes the power grow.

And I will stand for my dream if I can,
Symbol of my faith in who I am,
And I must follow on the road that lies ahead.

'Cos I have found a dream that must come true,
Every ounce of me must see it through,
And there is a vision and a fire in me.

Michelle H. 15,  Mississauga, Ontario CANADA

Hi, people, well....most people don't have any idea what figure skaters put into the sport, so this is to anyone who thinks it is easy, try it, then say you think its easy!!!

-Kyle

Patiner, c'est l'expression de soit. C'est le plaisir de toujours aller plus loin là où son tes propres limites. Patiner, c'est de sentir l'air sur son visage, de se sentir léger. C'est un mode de vie, un trip.

                                       N. Tardif, patineur adulte

People always tell me that I am crazy, getting up at 4:30 in the morning to go to the rink and skate. But I don't think that that is that crazy. I get up so early, and put myself through that early morning workout because I love the sport. I love the thrill of landing the perfect jump, and the excitment of competition. That is why I do, what I do.

  -Kristen Beatty, 13

The smallest thing well done becomes artistic.

"Your biggest challenge isn't someone else. It's the ache in your lungs, the burning in your legs, and the voice inside you that yells can't. But you don't listen. You just push harder."

"Throw your heart into the jump, and your body will follow."

"Enjoy the moment....It'll be over before you know it!"

"if you want a dream to come true, go out and get that dream"

Take one day at a time.

"Listen to your dreams, and NEVER stop believing in yourself"

Never forget to give thanks to God, for all good things come from God.

Canada Through You

Entering the village dressed in red,
Disturbing pressure swarming around,
A lost childhood through years of training,
Put toward one perfect performance.

Results made aware,
Mistakes replayed,
Analyzed by experts,
No second chance.

Images a large part of the game,
Perfection portrayed by frills,
Graceful movements across the ice,
Capturing fans and agents eyes.

Weeks before competition,
Food must be gone,
Anorexia and bulimia,
Are very well known.

As hair ribbons and rouged cheeks,
Balletic bodies flow past,
Last words with coaches,
Waiting for the moment.

Glide onto the ice,
Fake a smile and go,
Be sure to be perfect,
One flaw and you’re gone.

The music begins,
And you feel the weight,
Your whole country’s pride,
Rested upon your shoulders.

Do it for Canada,
This is your time,
Be sure to pull through,
For the country is you.

Kathleen Rabethge