Adult beginner - feeling nervous and too old

[Alilove]

Ok, have my skates and have my first lesson booked for 15th Sept, but at 37yrs old i am starting to have second thoughts, its a mix of fear, nerves and feeling too old.  Has anyone else starting skating in their late 30's?

[batikat]

Yes I was about your age when I started and I learnt alongside all the kids.  I didn't find out about the adults only classes until I'd finished the learn to skate courses and was on to private lessons.  I think If I'd known I would have gone on the adults course rather than learn with the kids if only because there tended to be fewer in a group.  The groups I was in could have up to to 20 or more skaters so not a lot of individual attention. 

On the other hand learning with the kids probably spurred me on a bit and there was another adult on the course which gave me a buddy to practice with.

Go for it and don't let anyone tell you you are too old 

[Yvonne]

I was 45 

[transmissionoftheflame]

I was over 40, been skating a few years now, passed Level 1 FM last year, can do a passable (but small) loop and flip.  Not to blow my own trumpet, but I am a slow learner.  Just to say that you can achieve a lot with hard work.
Still can't spin for toffee though...
Good luck and have fun.  Whenever you are thinking you're stuck and getting nowhere, think back to when you started and how much you have achieved.

[Summershaz]

I've just turned 36 and started again in Jan this year after skating for 6 months when i was 17.

Started on the adult skate UK course for one month and then had private lessons, which i'm still having, went from level 4 to now doing my silver and gold passport in 5 months, with hard work and practise.

It's hard being older but i love skating and i let someone talk me out of it when i was 17, older and supposedly wiser now to let anyone do it again.

Be brave, there will always be things that you find hard to do, likewise there will be things that you find easy so it keeps your confidence levels up, i currently hate salchows but found a toe loop easy, but practise, practise, practise and enjoy! 

[Isolisk8]

I was 49 when I started 1.5 years ago and I am up to  gold in my jumps and silver in my elements with some elments in gold,  NISA  Level 1 and 2 . I felt just like you when I started but now I know that age is totally irrelevent. Commitment and attitude is what's important so go for it and get obsessed by the sport as I've done 


Isolisk8

[Paul 2]

Only 37!!!  

I started in my mid 50's, having never skated before. OK, I'm not making fantastic progress like the posters above, but I'm sure you will enjoy it. Try & go to an adult class if you can, but beware negative comments from other adults who might be struggling, like ' I can't do it!' Think ' I can't do it - yet!' Private lessons are a good idea.

Good luck, keep us posted on your progress.

Paul

[Alilove]

Thanks everyone, will keep you posted on how it goes 

[ice queen]

You're never too old alilove I started skating at 35 also, with skating anything is possible its just that it often takes a little longer than the kids to pick up! Look forward to hearing how you get on IQ

[Anna]

Starting now at 38!

And while I'm a little nervous and self-conscious, I now fully appreciate that I'll need to work hard and practice, practice and practice some more to get better!  (I probably would have been too impatient when I was younger and might have ended up giving up altogether.) 

[vcsk8]

Ha ha a youngster.  Don't have any fears, I started at 55 in 2009 and thought exactly the same,so please have no worries at all, it willbe the best and most exciting thing you ever do. x