Debrah
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 2,194
I did not mean to imply athlete's who have decided to move on from skating were whining. Teams move on for a lot of different reasons, and most have to do with money, or partnership or health issues, for some its about not having fun anymore, it's not just because OMG Scott and Tessa have returned, OR that the French are likely also considered podium locks, it seems that more and more teams are locked in battle for whatever spoils are left, either internationally or domestically. The feeling that the podium positions won't be changing much might apply to the USA as much as Canada. Does that mean that teams currently ranked below top 3 have no shot or that changes in present ranking hierarchy are pretty much locked? I say no way should any team rely on status quo. Things do change in ice dance now. My point was more for those still competing, who are frustrated by the perceived apparent lack of movement, or available podium space in dance and perhaps being faced with a longer, or more difficult up hill climb than certain teams may have expected, but instead of giving in to doubt fears please try learning from Scott and Tessa's journey; perhaps how to take lemons you are handed in life and yet still be able to make lemonade... I mean 20 years ago Davis & White over taking Belbin & Agosto or the Shibs overtaking Chock and Bates so suddenly, or French moving from 13th to 1st in World, would have been nearly impossible to imagine, now though, I think anything might happen, sure a lot is still taken for granted hearts and minds are difficult to change, but if a team has the right stuff and wants it badly enough and trains hard then anything is possible.
I think it's important for young athlete's to learn how to manage obstacles properly, to seek to dwell in possibility and not give in to negativity, when dreams don't go to plan. But taking stock and staying strong in face of so much judgment is very hard to do, and sadly most skater's will never wear World let alone Olympic gold, that is the harsh reality of sport. I don't believe in magic fixes, I believe if you want a different outcome you have to 1st look at your weaknesses and address them and put in the work to fix the things you can, but one has to be realistic too, know exactly what it is you want to accomplish and why you are in the sport (not to please somebody else, but for yourself, because you can't imagine NOT skating and training). if you can be satisfied just with applause, or the joy you get from loving what you do, esp., if the medals don't happen, then carry on. If you have the passion to do what needs to be done to achieve a realistic outcome based on talents and own aspirations and available resources, try to follow V/M playbook if you can train smart and work hard to improve. But putting the onus for success on new coaches, costumes, programs without doing the necessary work, or cheating, bribing, or arranging for knee whacks to your competitor's etc., should not be considered as magic bullets that will take you to the top, or keep you there, just sayin wink wink.
barbarafan -- I also wish Skate Canada was doing more to directly help and better fund the athletes...I think better efforts should be made to fundraise too, as confers are looking pretty bare these days, and it wouldn't surprise me to know that money there is available, doesn't always go where it should.
Sometimes they do get it right for example I loved the time Skate Canada rented out stuffed animals to throw on the ice, they kept recycling them, all during the event, you made a donation - whatever you could afford, then picked up a bunch of the stuffed things from a box, to throw at your fav skater after a performance. It was an inspired idea really, and an easy one to implement. It worked great - luggage weight restrictions, or time crunches, not everyone can bring these type of things with them anymore, (ok Japanese fans always manage to do this), but perhaps we Canadians are not as ready to shop or pay airlines big bucks for extra weight, plus we likely need space for all the extra clothes we have to bring to survive Winter in Canada LOL!!! But to get back on point that was a fun and fairly easy way to raise some money and it also gave flower kids something to do. Sometimes it can be just as effective to hit 5000 people up for a couple of bucks, than it is to go to huge effort to find just a few folks that are in position to make large donations. In any case I like you, would like to see more focus on funding and identifying young athletes, helping them to reach their potentials and keep them in the sport.
I think it's important for young athlete's to learn how to manage obstacles properly, to seek to dwell in possibility and not give in to negativity, when dreams don't go to plan. But taking stock and staying strong in face of so much judgment is very hard to do, and sadly most skater's will never wear World let alone Olympic gold, that is the harsh reality of sport. I don't believe in magic fixes, I believe if you want a different outcome you have to 1st look at your weaknesses and address them and put in the work to fix the things you can, but one has to be realistic too, know exactly what it is you want to accomplish and why you are in the sport (not to please somebody else, but for yourself, because you can't imagine NOT skating and training). if you can be satisfied just with applause, or the joy you get from loving what you do, esp., if the medals don't happen, then carry on. If you have the passion to do what needs to be done to achieve a realistic outcome based on talents and own aspirations and available resources, try to follow V/M playbook if you can train smart and work hard to improve. But putting the onus for success on new coaches, costumes, programs without doing the necessary work, or cheating, bribing, or arranging for knee whacks to your competitor's etc., should not be considered as magic bullets that will take you to the top, or keep you there, just sayin wink wink.
barbarafan -- I also wish Skate Canada was doing more to directly help and better fund the athletes...I think better efforts should be made to fundraise too, as confers are looking pretty bare these days, and it wouldn't surprise me to know that money there is available, doesn't always go where it should.
Sometimes they do get it right for example I loved the time Skate Canada rented out stuffed animals to throw on the ice, they kept recycling them, all during the event, you made a donation - whatever you could afford, then picked up a bunch of the stuffed things from a box, to throw at your fav skater after a performance. It was an inspired idea really, and an easy one to implement. It worked great - luggage weight restrictions, or time crunches, not everyone can bring these type of things with them anymore, (ok Japanese fans always manage to do this), but perhaps we Canadians are not as ready to shop or pay airlines big bucks for extra weight, plus we likely need space for all the extra clothes we have to bring to survive Winter in Canada LOL!!! But to get back on point that was a fun and fairly easy way to raise some money and it also gave flower kids something to do. Sometimes it can be just as effective to hit 5000 people up for a couple of bucks, than it is to go to huge effort to find just a few folks that are in position to make large donations. In any case I like you, would like to see more focus on funding and identifying young athletes, helping them to reach their potentials and keep them in the sport.
