I Have Become an Expert in: Figure Skating
Which tends to happen if you date a figure skater for an extended period of time. For more than ten years, Kate has been in the sport -- a passion that eventually led her to this town two years ago. We're apparently living in one of the top three places to train in the country, and of them this is probably the best place to live.
I was partially unaware of that: Colorado Springs' interest in skating ain't what it used to be. You'd think it'd be pretty easily sustained by the presence of Olympic Training Center, the Broadmoor Skating Club, and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, but the last Springs-based competitor recognizable to the laymen was Todd Eldridge. That's back in the day. Nancy-Kerrigan-got-it-in-the-knee day.
So I've been watching competitions with Kate, and learning quite a bit in the process. When she was at my house a few weeks ago, she'd suddenly remembered something and cried, "Nationals are on! Check ESPN, ESPN 2, whatever might have it." This particular competition was special to Kate because it'd be the first time one of her best friends, Jeremy Abbott, made a TV appearance... that is, if he did well enough in short program and ranked in. She was bouncing with anxiety, which got me bouncing with anxiety, and when I flipped to the designated network to see a college hoops game still dragging with two minutes left, we flailed on the bed and yelled curses. I have never uttered this before, but I wanted a basketball game to hurry up and end so I could watch male figure skating.
But the game wrapped up, and the Nationals were finally streamed to the network. Ironically enough, Jeremy Abbott's face on close up was the first thing we saw. The man skated his program solidly, which was enough to land him 4th place and a spot as alternate for the U.S. Men's Olympic team.
And Kate does her laundry at his place every Wednesday.
...
Should I feel threatened? Well, I'm not. I'm gleaming with athleticism, myself, being as good a bowler as I am.
PART TWO OF MY EDUCATION
Last Saturday, Colorado Springs hosted the Four Continents International Competition -- a big deal -- at the World Arena.
In Kate's expert opinion, we arrived there way too early. See, at the beginning of a long program competition, the fellas who finished last in short program skate first, so she was right: we were way too early. We watched 20 programs in all, each aiming around 4 and a half minutes in length, and as we saw the skaters get better and better, I learned what separated the elite from the hacks.
For a couple of the bottom-ranked guys, for example, it was bewildering that they were considered to have the stuff of international competition. When compared to the upper crust, the programs of the 15-20th ranked guys would have made more sense if they were skating in, say, overalls and yellow bike helmets. I mean, the gap was enormous. A lot of them seemed completely unaware of the crowd and their music as they mechanically ran through their canned choreography: "Skate over here... jump. Skate over there... jump again. Oh, time for spins. Well, I'll spin here. Spin. Spin. Spin."
I also enjoyed making fun of their musical choices. One fellow (and there's always one) skated to Phantom of the Opera, and Kate gagged. It's just like every karaoke night some chick gets up on stage without fail and belts out "I Love Rock and Roll." But the difference to Kate and me is that we like Phantom of the Opera.
But really, we came to see our hometown boy, Jeremy.
It's difficult to explain what makes him so good besides mentioning that his skating is strikingly sincere. Ryan Bradley's got the monopoly on tongue-in-cheek hip shaking, it seems, but let him keep it; Jeremy's just straight-up, gimmick-free skill. Because of this he's unlikely to be the most entertaining skater on any given show or competition, but neither will he be dull to any degree. He took the bronze.
Everybody knows that one of the most prominent byproducts of dating is access to social worlds or knowledge you wouldn't otherwise have. Or bothered with, to tell the truth. But it's fun and interesting, nonetheless, and Kate's been more than patient with my inquisitiveness.
There's one thing left, though: I'm going to have to learn to ice skate. And I don't want anyone there to see that.
Labels: dating, expertise, figure skating
posted by pseudoSwashbuckler @ 4:12 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
My question is this: If Colorado Springs is in the top three for training sites, but among the possible locales is clearly the best place to live, what exactly are the other two options? Don't get me wrong I love the town in certain respects, but among highly commercialized areas I figure the Springs to be no more then a few degrees south of the universe's perfect center of boredom and a sort of homing beacon for various other irritants.
This leads me to imagine the other possiblities include perhaps a beaver lodge, which allows you to wake already on the rink in the winter but leaves something to be desired in terms of space and amenities, not to mention the unpleasent roommates. Or maybe Alaska, where I would assume you have to skate everywhere, providing excellent training. The only downside is it's so cold you might find it difficult to tell the boys from girls, anatomically speaking, forcing everyone to carry ID on them at all times. That or dress exclusively in blue or pink, gender idenity pending.
wow. thats amazing. youre truly an awesome, patient, understanding and really great person overall. :)
Before you claim credit for that last generous comment, P.P., I believe it was in regards to me : )
Anyway, concerning your "perfect center of boredom" theory, I'd say you're not thinking southward enough: there's always Pueblo.
And I still believe Colorado Springs beats the hell out of the other training sites, so let me ask you: How much do you like Michigan (namely Canton)? Would Delaware tickle your fancy?
To be fair, other big skating cities include Chicago and Boston -- exciting places to me, at least -- but they don't crank out as many internationally competitive skaters. Which leads me to believe that the fewer distractions there are in a given town, the more likely a skater can acheive his/her full potential. So if you're training in the Springs and one day you don't feel like practicing, what else are you going to do? Go to the Mill? Put those skates back on, you desperate slacker.
This is what should make us a gushing wellspring of world champions.
Pueblo? That’s what you’re throwing back at me? Come now Mr. Swashbuckler, while Pueblo may be unnaturally boring if one only considers it’s regular amenities, going there ensures an exponential increase in the chances that some sort of crime will be perpetrated on your person, be it a simple mugging, physical assault, or otherwise. While one might not consider that the most fun past time, it’s hard to argue that it will certainly mix up your day. And the simple tension of the possibility makes any visit something of an adventure. Now just imagine residency. Boring? I think not.
And as for Canton, having been there I can tell you it is Colorado Springs, only somewhat smaller and minus the unnaturally large community of churches. Which I consider a rather large plus in Canton’s ledger. The only downside is it’s hideously cold.
I’ll give you Delaware, however. Unless one happens to be a rather large fan of boating or fishing, in which case opportunities abound.
I stand by Pueblo as my riposte. I will submit that some may embrace the criminal playground that it is, but the distinction is that I speak of that town from the perspective of a physical coward (which I may or may not in fact be). Thus I imagine that should I ever live there, I would seldom *leave* the relative sanctuary of my residence, significantly curtailing my chances for "excitement".
I would find Detroit rather dull by the same principle.
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