Adult (40) Figure Skating Journey - 1 Month Progress

I turned 40 this year and decided I wanted to learn how to figure skate! I attended my first group lesson at the end of March 2022 with no previous skating experience. I’m also NOT naturally athletic, so we’ll see how far I can progress at my advanced age!
I currently attend an adult group class (Adult 1) once a week and also practice about 3-4 hours/week at Public Skate.

[@KayceeEnerva]

Im 37 and you inspire me. New subscriber here!

[@jenonice]

I love hearing about other adults learning to skate too! Thanks for watching!

[@nataliedubovitskaya504]

Thank you so much for posting this. I started skating this year at age 39, no prior skating experience. I struggle with absolutely everything and all the other videos I found on KZbin of beginner skater progress showed people who were zipping across the ice on their very first lesson. You look a lot more real and a lot more like me, so it makes me feel so much better.

[@jenonice]

Thanks for the lovely comment! I was also looking at adult progress videos on KZbin right before I signed up for classes just to see what I was getting myself into! Unfortunately, I didn't see many beginner skaters 30+, so that's why I decided to vlog about my experience! I know we're out there - most of my classmates are older than me, and we move at a different pace than the 20-somethings! You are definitely not the only one!

[@ssr10260]

I turned 40 in 2022 and I took my first figure skating lesson!! Thank you for posting this❤️ I’m getting for my first competition

[@jenonice]

That's awesome that you're skating too as an adult! Thanks for watching! 😊

[@rickr530]

Come on 40+ crowd, we can do this!

[@wasuts.444]

Hi Jen, I’m 40 too started ice skate last month (1-2 times a week). Thanks for your videos. It’s motivated me a lot. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jenonice]

Thanks for watching! It makes me happy to know there are more of us older adult skaters out there!

[@barbaras3206]

Taking two adult 2 classes. Mon and fri. Im 67. The two foot turn? that is not happening for me. Backward anything I try is underwhelming. Pointing toe for stroking is not happening either. Maybe a couple private lessons. Please dont test me on a stop...I try tho. I Just keep going. Two weeks left to these classes. Dont feel confident at all. Edges? Where? Who? Where can I buy?😂 not giving up. I see your progress!! Its wonderful and thank u.❤ its such a challenge. But im hooked

[@jenonice]

Getting out there on the ice is already an accomplishment! 👏 Progress is very slow for me too, so you just have to keep going to class, practicing and trust the process. It really does feel impossible at times. 😬 It took me so long to get the Two Foot Turn on my "good side" and then it took even longer on my "bad side." Even today, I can't do them with a lot of speed, so I feel ya!

[@ginatriana1523]

Welcome to the world of adult skating! I'm 53 and still loving it and learning each week, I've been skating seriously each week for about 9 years now, you're progressing beautifully! If you'd like to protect your noggin cuz we all fall, check out the Ice Halo head wear, worth every penny⛸️⛸️

[@bethaniie_]

Wow, I bet you're amazing after nine years!! I'm 15 and desperate to start. How did you begin???

[@-E42-]

Beginning can seem hard - but basically it's just putting on (fitting) skates, going on the ice and off you go - careful at first, but just keep at it :) It takes a while for the body to adapt to keeping the balance and the specific movements, but after 2 or 3 times it definitely gets much easier. For me having my own skates was the next quantum leap - after skating on them several times, the shoe slowly adapts to the foot, one gradually finds out how tight it needs to be tied in order to provide enough support but not prevent blood flow to the foot - everything gets so much easier and more natural after maybe 8-10 times on the ice. I am so curious what progressions Jen is going to post next. I just started going round in circles and for me the lemons and one-foot-glides etc. happened almost automatically in a playful way.

[@bethaniie_]

@@-E42- Thank you so much!!! I'll definitely gonna keep this in mind and keep up with Jen's updates :)

[@jenonice]

That's awesome! I hope I'm still skating in my 50s too!

[@itsmechelsealeigh]

YESSSS!!!!! I cannot wait to watch. Already so much progress, and also love the editing. Yay!!!

[@jenonice]

Thanks!!!

[@cymatcha]

this is awesome! I’ve started lessons two weeks ago and I have the same issue with gliding on my right foot. can’t wait to see how you’ve progressed!

[@jenonice]

Thanks! Haha, yes, apparently, my right foot is my "bad side," so I have to practice a lot more! 😅

[@-E42-]

This is so cool, good luck!!! I started ice skating at age 45 - but I have to admit I used to be a rollerblader in my 20ies. I any case I learned so much in the past years and it has been really rewarding, specifically I was able to eliminate the back problems that were haunting me all my life by going ice skating once a week or more - somehow that fixed it. I am going the "freestyle" route though, not figure skating proper - just like to dance around on the ice to music for 2 hours, but I also work on learning new tricks every time, staying away from the more extreme and dangerous moves/jumps/falls etc, too :)

[@jenonice]

That's so inspiring! I love hearing stories about fellow adults starting later in life! Sometimes it feels like it's all kids, teens and young adults out there. It's a bonus that it also helped with relieving your back issues! I'm hoping I can get comfortable enough eventually to attempt some Freestyle or even casually dance around on the ice too!

[@vanesamynarova7769]

Amazing! I just started learning bacisc on my own t2 yo, but my mum just started learning skiing at 44yo, its so lovely to see. Thank you for posting this.

[@jenonice]

Thanks for watching! I love seeing other adults learn to skate too! 😊

[@IngebhorgdPizarroKrause]

Hey! This gives me a lot of encouragement to start my own journey :) I've been loving to ice-skate even when I can only barely move a little! I want to take group classes, and having 30 and watching you so motivated, it's awesome. Keep going Jen!!! :D

[@jenonice]

You definitely should sign up for group classes! Not only do you learn something new and fun, you get to make some friends along the way as well!

[@LolaBalletAndFigureSkate]

I LOVE your channel!!! I've watched all your videos and I wanted to say thank you so much for sharing your figure skating journey! I'm 36 years old, currently living in Tokyo, Japan, and I'm also a beginner figure skater. with no previous experience on the ice at all. I can identify with so many of your videos since we're practicing the same things. Can't wait for your next video :)

[@jenonice]

Thanks for watching! I'm always happy to hear about other adults learning to skate!

[@Generationstrengthbarbellclub]

Great video I start learn to skate mid July. love seeing the progress

[@jenonice]

I love that you're learning to skate too! How do you like your classes so far?

[@Generationstrengthbarbellclub]

@@jenonice so far so fun... only been on the ice 4 times. It takes me a a few minutes to trust the blades and myself.

[@maikolosav]

Very well done! I started a few months ago at 36 🥳 I'm in a group where the rest of the girls are between 15-24 and they can do everything pretty easily, while I'm struggling with the simplest things! But I keep trying and it's very rewarding to make progress (even the smallest things count 😅)

[@jenonice]

Haha, that's how it's been for me as well. Progress is slow compared to the younger women! Glad to hear you're still trying anyways! When I was in group classes, I saw I saw so many adult skaters drop out after a few classes of slow progress 😅

[@maikolosav]

@@jenonice No, I didn't drop out because I realised it was up to me to make progress by practicing more. The weakly lesson is there just to give you a couple new things to practice but you have to make an effort to practice them by yourself. Otherwise there's no progress. Also for me there was the extra pressure and frustration to not keep the rest of the group behind.

[@jenonice]

@@maikolosav Yes, that's true for me as well...the progress happens when I'm practicing by myself and not in class. I felt some pressure to improve faster too when I was in group classes, but I realized I was a slow learner, so... 🤷‍♀ Even if I practice, I can still skate horribly when my coach or classmates are watching tho, haha

[@ImoneOnIce]

Really enjoyed watching your progress across the video, you've improved a lot! :) x

[@jenonice]

Thanks!

[@vettechmom6056]

You are still young, you will do great. Keep it up !! I skated for a few years in my childhood/preteen years, and only got back on the ice a few times in adulthood when I had kids (on rental skates which are HORRIBLE). I just turned 58 last month and have been wanting to get back on the ice since before COVID hit. I've been once (again on rentals which made me slide around, I know I can do better than that!) , and Santa came early and bought me new skates. So I'm back on the ice as an oldie, but hoping it's like riding a bike and it will get more comfortable. I got fitted for my skates a week ago and still waiting for them to come in, I know they're going to make a world of difference actually having an edge on them LOL. Hooray for us older people on ice !!!

[@jenonice]

Yay for getting your own skates! Not having to use the rental skates made such a huge difference for me too! I love that you're getting back on the ice after a long break! So inspiring! 🤩 Hopefully, muscle memory will make relearning much easier!

[@sighems]

i am no where near being an adult but oh my god this video has been a huge inspiration

[@jenonice]

Thanks for watching!

[@basma6669]

this is amazing! KEEP IT UP :)

[@jenonice]

Thanks for watching!

[@LL-yo1ko]

I’m in my 40’s and I want to learn to ice skate too.. !!

[@jenonice]

Do it! It's challenging, but fun!

[@lyamorian767]

Hi Jen, 39 yo beginner here (2 months). I also find the one foot glide difficult. And going backwards :) Great that you have the rink to practice for yourself, what a luxury. Here the ice rink is CROWDED during public skating, no place to move, so no training outside course hours :(

[@jenonice]

It was really busy at my rink too for the past few months (during the holiday season)! It's so scary to try to practice at Public Skate when it's crowded! 😅

[@LolaBalletAndFigureSkate]

@@jenonice I have private coach sessions twice a week and a group coach session on Sunday. I like arriving early to warm up and practice before the sessions (besides going to practice on my own the other days), but practicing on Sunday is terrifying!! I'm not good enough to go to the middle, so I try to grab a little ice are around the corners, but so many little kids grabbing the boards, and I'm afraid I'll crash into them, should I fall if one bumps into me.

[@jenonice]

@@LolaBalletAndFigureSkate Oh yeah, skating around the kids at Public Skate is definitely terrifying! I've been knocked down twice at Public Skate by kids half my size! If it's crowded, I also usually hang out by a corner, and work on my thing... but I also have to look out for the absolute beginner skaters coming around that need to hang onto the boards. I'll move out of the way for them and then return to my spot once they pass by. LOL It's not quality practice time when it's like this at Public Skate 😅

[@LolaBalletAndFigureSkate]

@@jenonice You just described exactly my own ice time during public skate days when it’s super crowded 😂 I’m a beginner so I won’t go near skaters practicing jumps and spins in the middle… but also not an absolute beginner who can’t move from the board, however I do remember that first day stepping in the rink and hanging for dear life in the board, so I’ll move and come back to my corner spot when they have passed 😂

[@mhaid7830]

Keep going!

[@jenonice]

I plan to!😅

[@sonesay]

Awesome video! I gave you a sub!

[@KayceeEnerva]

after one month, my one foot glides suck on the left side.

[@jenonice]

It took me a few months(!) to get them on my "sad" side too!😭

[@KayceeEnerva]

@@jenonice thank you. two weeks after posting that, both feet are okay now wow

[@enen2970]

40 advanced age?🙄Do not be offended, but you have the wrong technique for performing exercises; in figure skating, almost all elements are performed on bent legs. If you train yourself to ride like this, it will be difficult to unlearn. Yes, and at first it would be nice to learn elementary sliding.