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About Dianne 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

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Figure Skating > Figure Skating > Is my daughter too old to be in the Olympics? Will ballet Help

Figure Skating - Is my daughter too old to be in the Olympics? Will ballet Help

Expert: Dianne DeLeeuw - 9/14/2009

Question
Hello,

My daughter started skating at the age of 12 1/2. She has now been skating for 8 months and is in Freestyle 5. She skated her first ISI competition Level Freestyle 1 and won first place. She will be skating another competition again ISI Freestyle 1. She takes 4 group lessons a week at this point and 1 30 min lesson a week with a coach. For the first 3 months she only took 1 group lesson a week. Now she is 13. Do you think if she continues to take 4 group lessons a week and 1 30 min lesson with a coach a week she has a chance to one day try for the Olympics? I would also like to know if she was to take Ballet, would that help her with her skating? Jumps? ect???
One last question- she will need new skates soon. She has Reidell boots (which she loves) so I will buy another pair, but I am curious what type of blade. Again She is in Freestyle 5 and I am sure once she gets the jumps will move quickly to Freestyle 6. I look forward to your answer :-)

Answer
Hi,
Sounds like she has done well in a short time to get to FS 5. You need to speak with your coach about what she needs, always listen to them! It is a long road to Olympic level skating. The first step is the qualifying competitions coming up. Check it out in your region. You must be a member of US Figure Skating to participate. At some point there are US Figure Skationg tests in order to qualify for these levels. The first is Juvenile (but you need to be 12 or under) so you would be shooting for Intermediate next year. If the event is not close to you in your region check it out on Ice Network. Then you can see where you need to focus.
As for skates again go with what your coach recommends!
Good luck,
Dianne

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