Perspectives on skating
By Marta Herzog
Presque Isle Middle School
Some people in Presque Isle think of the Forum as a place to drink Slush Puppies and to socialize. For others it is the place where they skate and fall down often. For me, it is neither of these perspectives.
From my perspective, the Forum is the place where I go every Thursday and Saturday to practice, to learn, to fall, to persevere, and to be happy. Every time I go on the ice, I feel as if I can fly. Practicing makes me a better skater, and when I lift my foot up for a spiral, I feel a rush of energy that makes me want to get up when I fall.
I moved to Presque Isle three years ago, and that is when I started skating with the Skating Club of Maine. The Northern Region is part of the United States Figure Skating Club, the USFSC. I have had many coaches here, and they’ve all taught me something that is very useful. Each Thursday, I have a lesson with a group of girls who are on the same level as me.
I learn a lot on Thursdays, because it is a very organized and great class. On Saturday I attend a class called stroking. This class is a lesson to improve speed and technique. Girls on levels six through eight attend this class. I enjoy my classes very much, but I get frustrated a lot. I get frustrated when a figure or move does not come out the way it is supposed to. Then, I practice the figure for a long time, and it makes me feel as if I’m persevering. When my move is perfected, I feel happy. Next, I practice another move.
I enjoy skating, and it always amazes me how the Forum can leave so many impressions on people. I encourage everyone to try skating, because I feel happy when I accomplish a simple thing. That is an insight to skating at the Forum.
