Omg that really sucks. What a bummer. I can only imagine that the foundation stopped being able to raise enough money?
Nope.
Basically the only money they raised was from the one annual event and after 10+ years, they were just exhausted.
Omg that really sucks. What a bummer. I can only imagine that the foundation stopped being able to raise enough money?
Interesting. You attribute this to income inequality? Or some inherent bias?
That’s the model that my local figure skating club up in Canada ran on. There was group instruction at three different levels (you went to the appropriate sessions) and an instructor would teach each group a salchow or a difficult step or what not. Then there was also free skating time when you’d work with your coach or practice on your own or run your program. The session would end with a different pattern dance each week.
This is exactly my point. Not many people would do that. Even if we did do that, there is no way I could afford to support an elite skater. For starters, I have another child, and making us all suffer for one kid doesn't sit well with me. My SO and I have already discussed it. There is no way we're putting ourselves in financial peril over one child in figure skating. Not only is it an expensive sport, but it's not a sport that really invests in your child. Going all in on a team sport, for one is cheaper, and for another could set your child up financially for life. Even if it's a simple college scholarship, which is not an option for figure skating. The US just can't compete with countries who financially assist figure skaters.
Go read about people like Jeremy Abbott, Adam Rippon, and so many other skaters that their parents (just as mine did) have to take out several mortgages on homes and work multiple jobs to keep their skater going.
Omg that really sucks. What a bummer. I can only imagine that the foundation stopped being able to raise enough money?
I'm sure that American disinterest in skating has hurt the ability to raise money for skaters. Bless Figure Skating in Harlem and all those who support it, seriously. Its mission might not be to support elite skating, but what it does accomplish is probably just as important overall.
I guess we can keep our fingers crossed for all of us Golden Skate millionaires and future millionaires to use our millions to support young, promising skaters one day.
Cindy1983 said:The US was behind in implementation of and adaption to the IJS. They used the interim system for longer. I believe they switched over between Vancouver and Sochi. After Sochi was when they began actually ADAPTING to it. It takes time to bear the fruit of the change.
That is unfortunate, especially if the skating results are not really noteworthy.
Agreed. Sure, there are success stories that we hear about, but how many families wind up going broke and their kid never really accomplishes anything with their skating or is able to make that money back?
Ic3Rabbit can feel proud of they've accomplished with their family's assistance, but it doesn't mean it is a desirable, practical, or smart route for the majority of low-income households. Risking your financial everything for your kid's sports career? It's admirable if it ends up working out for you but that's not likely to happen.
Many of us have siblings and our parents still did what they had to for our skating careers, it feels good to have reached that point, and now it makes a living for us and we were able to pay our parents back. Our siblings don't resent us either, so maybe this all should have been thought of before getting so involved with the sport or perhaps not get involved at all, that's all I can tell you. :confused2:
… The pool of available talent is much bigger when more funding is available.
… For starters, I have another child, and making us all suffer for one kid doesn't sit well with me. ...
what if clubs (probably bigger ones, such as DSC, colorado springs or LA based clubs for example) began doing fundraising specifically for this purpose if you show promising talent and do well in competition? i know many clubs such as mine would just not be able to afford this, but maybe these bigger training bases might have some success? being that there are several cities all over the country that have great coaches and many elite skaters, if they have this extra money i think it would be more appealing to potential elite skaters to train there and have that opportunity. then the funding (or some of it) would come directly from the club and not USFSA. ...
that just sparked an idea...what if WE began a fund for these skaters? there are more than enough members here and many who i'm very sure would donate regularly. it could be done yearly (or every 6 months even) and then we could split the funds between a few skaters? if there are any other big skating forums out there we could ask them if they'd want to jump in as well. just brainstorming! ...
I don't want Bradie to be the next Kaetlyn, I want her to be the first Bradie ...
And it was a big gamble. At the age of 12 Alina was not visible on the radars.
Did she have a double axel at 12? Maybe some triples?
That's kind of the entry level to having the possibility of an elite career. But it takes several years of hard work while the kid is younger to find out whether she has the possibility of getting there at all.
We already discussed earlier that there might be a cultural difference between Russia and the U.S.A. A lot of low income Russians support their kids even if it means emotional and financial sacrifices. Take Zagitova, for instance. She is not from a wealthy family. To move from Izhevsk to Moscow at the age of 12 was an emotional challenge for her and her parents and a big financial sacrifice. Renting even a shabby apartment in Moscow in which she lived until recently was a big part of the household income. They could not afford to buy 2 new dresses every season - her mother apparently lacks the talent that Yulia's mother has. Hence she wore Zhenya's old red tutu - like from an elder sister.
And it was a big gamble. At the age of 12 Alina was not visible on the radars. Not like current prodigies Akatieva or Samodelkina. Not like Gubanova and Nugumanova back then. I don't think she or her parents made rational "investment analysis" as someone earlier suggested. It was very emotional, very "Russian" decision. It has worked out. But I am sure there have been many similar sacrifices that have not payed back. Sima's is well known because she was well-known. But there are surely dozens or hundreds of others.
For the Russians it's the combination of the emotional support of a "child on a mission" and the hope to win in the lottery. I understand that US parents are more rational in general. If supporting FS of and elder child might mean the risk of not having enough funds to finance the college of a younger one (may be even in 10 years) they may not go with it.
Your comment proved my point. People ought to not get involved at all if they can't spend 10s of thousands of dollars on one child at the cost of their other children, which is why the US talent pool is lean.
The difference I believe is that the pay out of skating in Russia is sooner and more complete than in the US. Russia pays for the training of girls in the Juniors, which can be in the thousands. In the US your skater might get $3k, you're still out the rest of the training cost and everything else. Also, young Russian skaters are supported by being a skater first and their education is fit around their skating. In the US these young people are waking at 4am, skating, going to a full day of class, skating after school 5 days a week. That is so much more exhausting than fitting education around training. It's a huge cultural but financial difference. The Russian government invests in winning the Olympics. They don't just do this for figure skating, but weightlifting, hockey, etc etc. The US does not. When the country at least picks of the tab of elite skaters and makes is a government goal of winning the Olympics, the talent pool is larger. There is less of a risk to begin. You might have to sacrifice, but not as much and not as long.