What really goes on behind the scenes?

[ruffledgrouse]

In the Bromance thread, Mafke posted an article written by Jenny Kirk in which she said that it is impossible for direct competitors to be friends in figure skating. My first thought was "Of course she thinks like that- she was early rivals with Sasha during her diva period." On the other hand, she knows more about what goes on in the locker room than any of us would.

Then I found this AMA from a former figure skater and, well...

There's just as much fighting as hockey, but it's all off ice. The rink is full of politics.
Moms and other skaters sabotage each other to get to the top of the podium.
I've had skaters approach me telling me that I wasn't good enough to compete. I've had my competition dress stolen, right before I go to compete. The mothers play mind games. The coaches play favorites and compare skaters abilities to each other.

:shocked:

So, what do you think? Do any of the (former) skaters here have any horror stories? Or (fingers crossed) good sportsmanship stories? There was some discussion in the Bromance thread, but I figured I'd start another to prevent

 

[samm22]

That hasn't really happened with me personally (only people glaring and trying to psych me out) but I know people who have had water or coffee poured all over their dress the week of a competition.

 

[Mathman]

About stolen costumes, one time Evan Lysacek lost his pants somehow and rival Johnny Weir kindly lent him a pair of his. A little short at the ankle, but better than the alternative. :yes:

 

[karne]

I have heard that such things go on at US Regionals/Sectionals. I have not heard of such things happening here, but I suppose they might.

Usually, the parents who engage in such tactics are actually fully aware their child is not good enough to win on their own merit. That's why they do it, so their little Princess (or Prince) can get an advantage. Such behaviour is rife in many sports (I have heard of cricket kits disappearing, studs being taken out of boots when the weather is iffy, etc).

I have more of an issue with this AMA. Who is this "former figure skater"? What level were they? Why are they hiding their identity?

 

[Barb]

I can´t understand how an adult can do such things toward a kid :scratch:.

 

[karne]

I can´t understand how an adult can do such things toward a kid :scratch:.

Perceived "threat" to their own kid.

I know, I know.

 

[Meoima]

Another quote from the link:

I would only get nervous competing if I felt unprepared.
My coaches were very strict and disciplinary. There were a couple times I cracked under the pressure.
Also, the girls I were competing against were brutal. They would do or say anything to break my confidence.
Before competitions I would mentally prepare myself for the pressure and the comments, which helped.
"Mind over matter" is what my coach would always say.

they talked in the locker room? but I think if you talk too much just to break your rival' confidence, you might have no time to prepare and focus more on yourself?

 

[ruffledgrouse]

About stolen costumes, one time Evan Lysacek lost his pants somehow and rival Johnny Weir kindly lent him a pair of his. A little short at the ankle, but better than the alternative. :yes:

That's nice to hear I think there was a pair skater whose skate broke in the middle of their program, but a competitor they train with ran out and lent him his own skate (they were the same size) within the time limit. I'll see if I can find the article.

 

[ice coverage]

That's nice to hear I think there was a pair skater whose skate broke in the middle of their program, but a competitor they train with ran out and lent him his own skate (they were the same size) within the time limit. I'll see if I can find the article.

I believe you're thinking of Rudi Swiegers helping out Mark Ladwig?? Although they were not full-time training mates.
Rudi's sportsmanship was a great story that got a lot of attention.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110217&content_id=16661420&vkey=ice_news
http://www.teamusa.org/US-Figure-Skating/Features/2011/February/22/Swiegers-gives-Ladwig-the-boot
http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=46094​

 

[NanaPat]

I vaguely remember a story of Paul Poirier's shirt being loaned to a skater for use in a competition. It was quite a while ago, because the story (as I recall it, which may be incorrect) is that "the shirt" was at Vanessa Crone's mother's house. I think it was loaned to a singles skater from Eastern Europe.

Does anyone else remember the story or have any details? I tried googling, but couldn't find anything.

 

[anyanka]

Welcome to the gossip thread!

 

[Seren]

I don't think things are usually quite as dramatic as the AMA implies (but then again I've never skated around super competitive skaters. At my rink (as well as the Midwest rink I skated at as a child and teenager) there are some really talented young skaters who will likely end up competitive but they generally stay above the drama. Most of the drama comes from the semi-good but not really competitive above the local circuit kids and mostly their parents. Lots of stupid rink gossip and helicopter parenting but nothing overly sinister. Just the kind of stuff that makes me glad I can say, I'm 27, I don't care.

 

[Jaana]

I can imagine girls not being exactly friends with each other, but believe that guys could be different and helpful.

 

[Krunchii]

There will always be extremes, it just so happened I guess this one experienced them, we always hear about helicopter parents are in the form a soccer moms and stuff. I've heard gossips from people here in the Toronto skating community about famous Canadian skaters and their parents being quite helicopter-ish. My friend who is a coach says parents argue often but at local competitions she's never seen sabotage, some coaches are petty and will talk bad about others coaches to make themselves sound better but in the end it's how your student skates. She only coaches younger beginner skaters though, they're usually too innocent to say mean things to each other and that kind of stuff at that age

 

[silverfoxes]

I can imagine girls not being exactly friends with each other, but believe that guys could be different and helpful.

I have read a lot about younger guys getting into fights & getting bullied at rinks. Plushenko and Voronov for example have talked about their experiences in interviews.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I can imagine girls not being exactly friends with each other, but believe that guys could be different and helpful.

At competitions, guys have been either very pleasant, or unnecessarily rude and bitchy. Even on a competition warmup I was once told "Get the f out of my way". It wasn't particularly prevalent at interclub/fun competitions, but when it was sectionals/regionals, people got nasty. There was definitely a shortage of sportsmanship in the locker room. I'd get dirty looks when I would try to make small talk, asking where skaters were from, how long they've skated, etc. Although, another time, small talk/flirting led to a makeout sesh post-competition, so it could go either way.

 

[Abraxis12345]

I think you see it even at the national level. One parent at the most recent Russian Nationals was said to have been escorted out of the stands.

 

[Meoima]

At competitions, guys have been either very pleasant, or unnecessarily rude and bitchy. Even on a competition warmup I was once told "Get the f out of my way". It wasn't particularly prevalent at interclub/fun competitions, but when it was sectionals/regionals, people got nasty. There was definitely a shortage of sportsmanship in the locker room. I'd get dirty looks when I would try to make small talk, asking where skaters were from, how long they've skated, etc. Although, another time, small talk/flirting led to a makeout sesh post-competition, so it could go either way.

oh... do you mind telling us more?

 

[anyanka]

At competitions, guys have been either very pleasant, or unnecessarily rude and bitchy. Even on a competition warmup I was once told "Get the f out of my way". It wasn't particularly prevalent at interclub/fun competitions, but when it was sectionals/regionals, people got nasty. There was definitely a shortage of sportsmanship in the locker room. I'd get dirty looks when I would try to make small talk, asking where skaters were from, how long they've skated, etc. Although, another time, small talk/flirting led to a makeout sesh post-competition, so it could go either way.

Who'd you kiss, CSG?

 

[ruffledgrouse]

I can imagine girls not being exactly friends with each other, but believe that guys could be different and helpful.

I know it's a popular stereotype that girls are more catty/competitive than guys (Thanks Mean Girls), but it's definitely not true in my (non FS) experience.

I believe you're thinking of Rudi Swiegers helping out Mark Ladwig?? Although they were not full-time training mates.
Rudi's sportsmanship was a great story that got a lot of attention.

http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110217&content_id=16661420&vkey=ice_news
http://www.teamusa.org/US-Figure-Skating/Features/2011/February/22/Swiegers-gives-Ladwig-the-boot
http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=46094​

Yes! That was it, thank you! I wonder, does figure skating have some sort of sportsmanship award?

At competitions, guys have been either very pleasant, or unnecessarily rude and bitchy. Even on a competition warmup I was once told "Get the f out of my way". It wasn't particularly prevalent at interclub/fun competitions, but when it was sectionals/regionals, people got nasty. There was definitely a shortage of sportsmanship in the locker room. I'd get dirty looks when I would try to make small talk, asking where skaters were from, how long they've skated, etc. Although, another time, small talk/flirting led to a makeout sesh post-competition, so it could go either way.

I'm sorry you had to deal with jerks, but it sounds like the last guy made up for it :dance: