What is your involvement with figure skating?

[skaterboi]

I was curious as to what involvement does everyone here have with US Figure Skating, or skating in general. Are you a member of a club, do you or did you compete, parent of a skater, coach/official, or simply a fan?

I am a member of our local club and skate at the adult level.

[azskatefan]

I'm a self-appointed critic of the sport and a champion of all athletes.

[Skittl1321]

I am an adult skater. I have been a independant (non-club) member of USFSA, and a club member of USFSA. I was on our club's board for a very short time (just a few months, then I lost my job and had to quit skating- I couldn't afford the club dues that were then due). I have been a Basic Skills member of USFSA, and a Basic Skills instructor. I have volunteered at many (local) competitions, and at a regionals.

I've been a member of an ISI adult synchro team, and ISI judge for a local event, and an ISI adult skater.

[ryanbfan]

I have been a fan of/watching skating since 1998. I have taken lessons off and on and are currently doing some right now.

I am the webmaster of Keegan's fan website and fan page on facebook. Technically, I do all of Keegan's internet/social media stuff. He hates the internet. It's an ongoing joke with all of us who know him .

I also run the facebook fan page for Ashley Cain and Joshua Reagan. That's about it.

I also have many friends who skate at the senior level, and I support all of them best I can.

[ChelleC]

I've been a fan since 1993.

[professordeb]

Just a "fan" of skating since the late 60's when all I got to see on ABC was some skating occassionally in the winter.
Became more of a "rabid fan" in the mid 90's with the advent of the computer and the internet.

[merrywidow]

I've been a fan since the days of Peggy Fleming & Tim Wood (late 60's). Figure skating is the one sport I've never grown tired of watching.

[icewalker08]

I am just fan since 1998 Nagano olympic.

[Aceon6]

Primarily a fan. My first exposure was watching Carol Heiss win the 1960 Olympics.
I've supported local skaters through their club travel funds.
Did pond skating as a kid. I was an adult skater, but retired due to injury.

[geod2]

This question might be even more interesting if it was set up as a poll, like the prediction contests, etc.

[igniculus]

Fan and (former?) fan page webmistress.

[IceJunkie]

I've been a fan since I was about 8 when I saw the Nagano Olympics. I've taken sporadic lessons ever since then, but never competed. When I have more time/money I would totally like to get back into it.

[Frau Muller]

Super topic, skaterboi!


My interest -
Fan since seeing Peggy Fleming on TV, winning the 1968 Olympic gold in Grenoble.

Traveler to major competitions since 1980.

Collector of rare films of both skating & ballet since 1981 (over 2,000 titles, all converted to DVD, covering 3 walls of a guest bedroom!).

Skater since graduate school - 1983.

Wife of skater...if hockey counts! Both members of Wash FSC + he's in 3 hockey clubs, including a 'Russian Expats' club.

[Vash01]

Fan since 1988 Olympics, and taking FS lessons since 1990 (but not competing)

[FigureSpins]

Skater, skating mom, coach and fairweather fan.

[Holley Calmes]

Being born down South, my options for figure skating were limited, especially during the time I was younger. So I was a dancer. Dance and figure skating really go well together, so I started following skating at a very early age. I lived for the Olympics! This continued until the mid/late 90's when I got addicted to the Grand Prix on TV and discovered Yagudin. That's when my interest took a huge step. Wound up going to Salt Lake City to see his win. Shortly after, I found this forum, and I haven't been the same since! Truly. although I don't know a lot about the technical side of skating, I have great love and appreciation for those who even attempt to do it. Wish I had been born in another colder clinmate. The physical limitations I had for ballet (lousy feet for pointe...) made no difference in skating, and I have really strong legs and derriere. I coulda been a contendah!

[CantALoop]

Fan since I saw Midori Ito vs. Kristi Yamaguchi in Albertville in 1992. I was just shocked that Japanese/Japanese-American athletes were at the top of a sport, and at a technical level that could rival and surpass most men at the time.

Late starter - started when I was 12. I was no Johnny Weir, but by the time I was 18 I tested up to novice and was able to do a triple toe loop and was making decent attempts at a triple lutz - never came close to the other triples. This all came to a grinding halt when I was in college.

I picked up skating a few years again as an adult and boy did my technique have to change

[C_T_T_]

Formerly a cometitive skater but a pretty hopeless one! Off ice for 2 years, then was a recreational skater for a few years and started lessons again in June.

Been a fan since I started round about 1995 but was relying on family members recording it of TV for a long time. Only got the internet in 2006 and the obession really took off then!

[pingu]

I started to follow figure skating after the Olympics in Torino and attended my first competition last season. I collaborate with an italian website and (as I'm a physio student) my dream is to work with figure skaters.

[JasperBoy]

Strictly a fan. I was no good as a skater as a teenager. Now I enjoy going to competitions whenever possible and cheering my lungs out. It is the most fun I have.