Tuesday 11 December 2012

Adult Sectionals - to go or not to go

Adult sectionals this season is pretty much as close as it's ever going to be to me. There's only one other rink that is closer (besides my home rink which I don't think is quite fit for such a big event unless they redo the ice properly). So it seemed a great opportunity to give it a try - except that I have absolutely no experience at a performance at all, and sectionals is at the beginning of March.

After my test, I finally summoned up the courage to ask my coach's opinion on this. She thinks that it would be better if I get some experience first before going to something that big. Especially since I tend to get really nervous, it might be just a bad experience for me, which is probably right. So no adult sectionals for me this time around. I don't think I'll be testing bronze that soon, so my first program should be for the rink recital. Not sure if it will be the March one or the one after that though. We'll see.

8 comments:

  1. I was asking around to see if other adult skaters were going to be competing at a local competition in March, but the ones I talked to are going to Sectionals instead because it's the same weekend. They tried to talk it up to me, but I've never competed or performed a program either, and Sectionals is not really close by. I haven't had the nerve to mention it to my coach yet :) I think I'll end up sticking with the local comp.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think our rink recital might be on the same weekend too! I talked to my adult group class fellow skaters and some are going to Sectionals and encouraged me to go too. But my coach is right, I'd be so nervous I'd probably do so badly and I won't enjoy it.
      2014 Sectionals is not too far either, about 1.5 hours drive, so maybe I'll go then. But for now, I'll just go watch the 2013 one and throw little stuffed animals for my friends.
      Definitely talk to your coach, she/he'll know best. I understand about not having the nerve though. At first I was going to talk to my coach after my lesson, but I skated so badly that day that I felt tremendously stupid to be mentioning going to a competition, so I didn't. I ended up asking her when I passed my FS test.
      Anyway, good luck whether you're going for the local comp or Sectionals!

      Delete
  2. Ooh, Sectionals. I admit I've got my eye on that, even though I don't live in the area and I haven't tested yet (hoping to in January). It's because Adult Nationals are too far to consider, but with Sectionals in SoCal (parents live there) I might swing it.

    I'm sure your coach knows you best, but to throw out another perspective, I don't think Sectionals is too ambitious a goal for you! It might be challenging but not out of the question.

    I started working on my program in late Oct, and the show is the week before Christmas. About 7-8 weeks total working on it. It won't be perfectly ready but I'm finally getting to a point where I think it's baseline presentable. From now till Sectionals there are about 12 weeks (and that's starting the count next week). You seem like a fast learner.

    What if you ask your coach to help put together a program, and then you can decide whether to enroll when the deadline rolls around? (Last year's form had February 1 as the cutoff.) Worst case, you'll have a head start on a program for the next competition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sectionals in SoCal! That's where I am! Do go, Sarah, then I can see you skate!
      The decision to not compete at Sectionals isn't so much that I might not be able to learn a program in 2 months (and yes it'll actually only be 2 months since I had my last lesson this year today). It's more that it'll be my first event and it's a very large event that will be scary.
      I think we're still putting together a program, but for the rink recital which is around the same time.

      Delete
    2. I'll let you know if I go! I wished I lived close enough to spectate regardless, but I wouldn't fly there just to watch.

      Your logic makes sense, and you know best what you're comfortable with! For me, I think I'm the opposite, which is why I advocate doing Sectionals anyway (hehe): I feel like I'd be nervous because it's my first performance, and that it would be equally nerve-wracking anywhere. My coach says the holiday show is a relaxed affair but I don't think I'm any less nervous because of it. So might as well do it! ;)

      (In fact the show may be worse, because in my mind a competition would have fewer skaters and fewer spectators. The show is gonna have tons of skaters and all their families watching. Plus like Jessim says, I think adults are more welcoming than a bunch of whiz kids.)

      Delete
    3. Ha ha even though I sound so relaxed about a recital now, I'm sure I'd be extremely nervous when the time comes.
      To be honest, I think the reason why I think I will be more nervous at a comp is that I am a pretty competitive person. I'm not going to be so unrealistically feel-good about myself thinking that I'll get first place, but I would like to do pretty well. Basically, I'll just put more pressure on myself if it was a competition. I think I'll just let myself get a bit more used to performing before I try out a competition.
      And wow! I just looked at 2012 Mid-Western entry fees - it's $120!!!

      Delete
  3. I hope you can still make it to sectionals to watch. It will give you a good idea of what other adult skaters are doing.


    (Though I kind of disagree with your coach, unless she coaches a lot of other adults- I think they equate the word sectionals with kids competitions. Adult competitions are very supportive, and since you are at a very low level, it is very low key; not worrying about qualifying. I personally rarely compete because it is so expensive, but I've never felt like competitions among other adults are any more pressure than shows are.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right now, I'm definitely planning on going to watch, I hope nothing comes up to stop me!
      I'm sure everyone at the competition are nice, but it's not that I'm worried about being competitive or qualifying for anything, it's just that I'd get extremely nervous, and more so because I've never done a performance before. Rink recitals are just much more relaxing in my mind :p You should have seen me at my test lol, I could barely breathe. It's not like I'm dead set on going anyway, I don't mind if I don't this year :) I'd rather go when I know I can be fully prepared.

      Delete