AboutDianne DeLeeuw Expertise I can answer questions about figure skating, choreography, ISI or USFSA. Also questions about competing (my Olympic experience or your own competition). I`m a National referre for ISI. Recently I also have been appointed a National Technical Specialist for US Figure Skating. But remember I am not your substitute for a coach! They can see what you are doing! To correct or instruct you on manuevers is really not what I want to do.
Experience Experience: World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist, coaching all levels of skaters at in California. I coach all levels and ages of skating from tiny tots to adults, first timers to International competitors. I also do choreography, music editing, teach specialty classes and give seminars.
Organizations: USFSA, ISI, PSA, Los Angeles Figure Skating Club
Publications: Recreational Ice Skater, The Edge
Awards: 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist, 1975 World Champion, 1976 European Champion, 6 time National Champion, US and Canadian Double Gold Medalist, 1999 ISI Great Skate Award, 2002 Woman of the Year
Question Hello Dianne!
My name is Alana and i live 'down under' in New Zealand. They do not offer much skating opportunities here, but I am lucky enough to have a skating arena in my local area. I amd 12, i do ballet and i am pretty flexible and fit. So is it too late for me to start learning ice skating? all the books I have read about ice skating says that you have to be really young to start to get up to competition level.
Also, if I learn, would I be able to compete in competitions? I've heard that some competitions have age limits. The group lessons for skating in NZ is devoted to fun and games, and i don't really think you can learn all the techniques to be at competition level fast enough since they mix the ages and teach really slow. i can skate in straight lines, curves and sometimes backwards on both edges, but i'm afraid if i go learn in that group, when i learn how to jump and spin, i will get my technique wrong and make a bad habit. but coaches cost a lot of money, and i don't think my parents are willing to pay, for them and for my skates. plus, they are hard to find in NZ, and the skates and coach will be extra expensive, because that is the way in NZ. what do you think i should do??
Thanks for your time!
ALANA
Answer Hi,
You are so lucky to have a rink near! Go check out what is there. There should be a Skating Director that can help you get started. If there is a pro shop consult them, they are the experts here. Start with good skates and the group class for basics. Then you can assess the teachers and pick one to be your coach. Work hard and try to be the best you can. Who knows!
Go for it and have fun,
Dianne
