Skating Fridays

Moving On Up

For those of you who aren’t familiar with how skating competitions are broken up, let me explain. I tell people it’s like karate. You test into a “belt,” or a level, and you typically compete against people around your age. So unless you are in a championship event, a 21 year old skater usually would not skate against a 65 year old. Typically.

This year’s adult sectionals event is a bit strange. I logged into my competitor portal and noticed that I was placed in a higher age group. Naturally, I sent a note to the competitor chair, and her response back was that the chief referee wanted no more than 5-6 skaters in a group. And that I was placed with others close to my age. As a result, I’ll be skating with ladies in the 45-65+ age range.

Don’t make any assumptions! These ladies are VERY competitive and very talented. Some of them even place in the top 10 across the entire eastern seaboard! So although I got bumped up to a higher age bracket, my competition is still fierce.

The same thing happened with another skating friend of mine so I guess it’s a “thing” this year. Time to get practicing!

Edit: After I contacted USFSA and the local organizing committee, they moved me back into my correct age group.

4 Comments

  1. February 22, 2019 / 8:27 pm

    From my experience, the 45-65+ range is fierce (I know, I’m in there)! Glad they revisited their decision to put you there so you’re spared the question (are you really…?). Either way, I know you won’t be kicking back and relaxing during your training. Go get ’em, Eva!

    • evabakes
      Author
      February 22, 2019 / 8:48 pm

      I was intimidated by the upper age range because many of those ladies have decades of experience on me!

  2. February 23, 2019 / 9:44 pm

    I’m sure both you and they are happy that you got moved into your correct age group. I’m glad that you asked about it.

    • evabakes
      Author
      February 24, 2019 / 7:03 am

      Yes! It almost makes me wonder if the EMS system had the wrong age group categories loaded in. In the old age group categories, I would have been in the older group. Oh well!

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