Day 1: How You Got Into Figure Skating

 This isn't a very exciting post really. I was something to the effect of six when I started skating. I don't know or how or if it was my ideas or my mom's. I started in CanSkate and progressed up the ranks. I just remember skating. Always. I honestly can't remember NOT skating.

I can remember early mornings with the crisp smell of fresh zambonied ice...the early mornings we'd have to do patch or the before school synchro (then precision) practices.

I can remember the competition where my mom endeavored to learn how to do synchro hair at 4 a.m. (and never again).

I remember my first competition clear as a bell - it was Jingleblades and I so remember skating the program. I remember being mad because I couldn't hear my music when it started and I started late and was all messed up because of it. I though that that was the reason I came 8th...and not because my sit spin imitated an upright ;)

I remember my first season of synchro in fact. I joined half way through the year - not sure why they needed more skaters - and at the time you could skate 24 on the ice (instead of today's 16 norm). There were enough skaters that six of us "rotated" and shared a spot. And not only did I share the spot with ONE other person...I had to share it with two other people. I was given the fabulous title of "program 3 skater." I wasn't very good.

I remember meeting my friend Breanne (pictured). We had the same color guards and accidentally switched them one practice. The next practice we had to switch guards and consequently had to talk to each other because of this. Apparently we never looked back...

My first coach is still my coach, Danalee. She's known me way too long. Way too long. We've gone from coach/student relationship to coach/friend relationship. Bizarre that we could even become friends. And not only that she (sometimes) trusts my thoughts and opinions when it comes the judging stuff. I'm still a little boggled over this :D

Really though - when I do something, I'm all in. It's go big or go home...and apparently that stuck as a child. I went big. I'm still going big. I've always skated and I always will - I think there is something in the zamboni fumes worse than drugs - once you invest in the ice, it becomes a part of you. Always.

kortney elise xoxo