The Champion's Creed: Figure Skating

First off, figure skating is a sport because it requires time and effort. Figure skating is called “One of the hardest sports” by many commentators because it requires the skater to be graceful while trying to not make a mistake. Many people say that Figure skating is just jumping and skating on ice but it is much more. Figure skating requires the skater to get enough momentum to be able to control the jump and land while transitioning to the next trick.. To add, figure skating is a sport where you need to go to classes few times a week in order for you to not forget and keep on improving. Many professional skaters spend most of their lives practicing the same routine many times and auditioning to be let into the contests. “Many skaters do a lot of work off the ice at the gym for strength training, practice yoga for flexibility, and work on cardio to build up

Cutting bits of me that cannot handle the pressure and stress; developing pieces of the more disciplined me; testing my concentration; forcing my mentality to be flexible; enlarging the best of me: my determination, integrity, confidence, ingenuity, independence. Ultimately, skating leaves me more focused, more disciplined and more confident. It shapes my character, reminding me that success only feels worthwhile if it has a bit of blood behind it; skating tells me to try again, to keep working. Perseverance has been my grace. And as my skating career comes to a close, I have taken the time to teach those around me. The young skaters I teach think I am inspiring them, but they change who I am, altering me into a more caring, compassionate person.

As you go through life there are many things that shape you as a person, many things that you learn and grow from. I have experienced all of these from one thing, hockey. I started skating when I was about 4 years old, persuaded into the sport by my dad, who came from a big hockey family. I was so young I do not remember my first reaction to it or if I even liked it, but there must have been a reason that I stuck with it. Hockey has caused me much stress and tribulation but every second of pain is worth the reward.

As an athlete, I acknowledge the guidance and energy thrived off a special coaches. To recognize that their main priority is to guide us with positive vibes and to play the role as another effective role model in our lives. They’re are more than the ones who corrects your mistakes, pushes you regardless of your indecisive to do anything,

Second year as an Under-10 Squirt level hockey player for the New Jersey Colonials ice hockey team proved to be a challenging and harrowing experience that shaped the course of my future hockey career. I was a determined, naïve child with fantasies of playing in the NHL when I grew older. The source of my troubles began with Coach Ruben, a relentless, unforgiving hockey coach. Coach Ruben was in charge of determining the AAA hockey team that I desperately wanted to make. Unfortunately, I would not have that opportunity. My mom, compassionate and sympathetic, guided me through the confusing maze of anger and depression. My dad, a coach and former hockey player, gave me valuable, supportive advice that would change my hockey expectations and

Roller derby training was tough, mentally and physically. As I skated around the roller rink on the first day, for seemingly the 100th time, and I thought, “What the

A sport is what drives and pushes people to achieve there best. For me this sport was lacrosse. Hundreds of years ago when Native Americas would get in to a dispute instead of going to war the two tribes would play a game of Lacrosse. For the Native Americans this wasn’t just a game but instead was very import part of their culture. I look at lacrosse as more than just a game but instead a large part of my life just like it was to the Native Americans.

I make a face of pure and utter disgust that is greater with a chorus of laughter and voices claiming they washed their gear, but we all know they didn’t. I could not say I had washed mind recently either. These are the people that I knew only for a few hours on a few nights a week. Late nights, early mornings and lazy Sundays were the only times we got to see each other and there wasn't much room for chitchat, but they all felt like sisters to me. I knew about their childhoods and about how everyone of them became a hockey player. I knew their mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, but they all came from different schools, families, and lives. There was one girl a sharp, smart, skilled player who had an afro bigger than her hockey bag. She was always telling people what they could improve on and everyone listened too her because she was so skilled. She suffered from seizures and after a few scary practices, that she always came back from, she had to stop playing because it was too risky. It was the saddest goodbye ever. She skated off the ice that day with a tear in her eye. I knew it was a hard moment for her, but I never knew what it would really feel like to be in that situation. To walk away from something that we love and to forget something that reliefs all our stress because it could effect our health. I didn’t know at the time that I would have to experience it first

Whenever I wish to learn an advanced skill I turn to my field hockey coach that have taught me everything that I know about the sport. However, they have not only taught me the sport, but also taught me how to be strong, and to trust. As I matured I struggled with believing in myself. It may have taken all four years of my high school career, but they finally got through to me. I know use what they have taught me everyday socially, academically, and athletically. Which in the end, all of they lessons and guidance paid off when I was named Division III player of the year. This was a dream I had since freshmen year and would not have come true without may amazing coaches.

But instead, it’s the memories you make that are important. I’ve learned not to take anything for granted. It’s the people you meet and the lessons you learn that matter the most. Since starting cheer, I’ve known I loved this sport. It takes affection and assurance to constantly go to the gym to practice and to make sure you hit a perfect routine at competitions. You appreciate the wins and hate the losses. This sport has taught me all of these things. But because of Destiny, I have learned these things in a different way. I love my teammates and family stronger now. I’m heart-felt and dedicated to make sure I don’t take anything for granted. I appreciate my coaches and teachers more because of the time they dedicate to me. And I now know that by experiencing loss you sometimes

Where cooperation between figure skating and ice hockey coaches is more established in North America, the phenomenon isn't so familiar in Finland. Instead, the Finns have usually persisted with their sport-specific doctrines. The dogmatic and narrow-minded atmosphere is fortunately breaking down giving room for wider cooperation.

Overcoming the fact that one day you will not be able to play your sport is one of the hardest things all athletes must one day go through. It is a fact of the game that one day your eligibility runs out or if you are one of the lucky few who play professionally, your body’s years of health do not last forever. Coaching just to be around the sport and spread the joy that sport gave you for so many years. My coaching philosophy relies extremely heavily on this information. I have always been a person who is passionate about the things I love because I do not believe in not putting your whole heart into something. The most critical component to success in whatever sport you love lies in honoring the game that so many before you loved and excelled at. Excelling and honoring the game means having respect for everyone involved with the sport. Giving respect to your coaches is something I learned from the beginning. Being respectful and having a positive attitude learned at a young age is something completely taken for granted until you have adults who can neither adapt nor be flexible when something does not go their way. Sport is a form of education in that it teaches you similar life lessons that will be useful for far longer than the amount of time that you spend actually playing it.

From a young age I was enticed by the mystery and magic of the graceful maneuvering of figure skaters. So serene, so calm, while riding on a thin sheet of ice that could crack and swallow them up. The task seemed so dangerous, so beautiful, so tantalizing—so naturally as the human being I am, I was drawn to it.

Almost 11 years ago I had learned an important lesson that didn’t seem so significant at the time. In fact, there are many times in my life that I have learned a lesson several years ago and only recently realized the real significance it holds. At that time, my hockey coach, Ken Lange, held a big role in my life and a big role one Saturday afternoon.

I remember the feeling that I felt when I first stepped onto the track that summer evening. This tournament was something different then any other event I had been apart of in my previous years. There were over 10 junior teams alone and I was so honored to be one of those lucky 10 teams. The crowd was packed with friends, family, and derby fans of all ages. The tournament took place at a hockey stadium and as soon as I skated out onto the polished concrete I expected to feel like a ferocious hockey player. Although I expected to feel like a strong and scary hockey player, I instead felt like a terrified beginner skater who had no idea how to control their feet. Being scared is a complete understatement to how completely terrified I felt. Not only did I practically forget how to roller skate all together, but I was so in shock and nervous that I could barley even remember what sport I was supposed to play. I stood at the edge of the track watching the junior Angel City team from L.A. warm up. Angel City’s junior roller derby team is definitely called “Angels” for a reason. All of these girls are gorgeous, talented, and fantastic athletes, all of which I could tell simply by standing there frozen on