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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsIf you were in the Winter Olympics, what sport would you be in? I always liked the ice skating. How about you?
Last edited Fri Feb 6, 2026, 11:10 AM - Edit history (1)
TommieMommy
(2,731 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)TommieMommy
(2,731 posts)SheltieLover
(78,280 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)Polly Hennessey
(8,673 posts)what it would be like to fly through the air, land on a pillow of snow, and glide to a graceful curving stop. 🤔
debm55
(57,930 posts)justaprogressive
(6,611 posts)and Giant Slalom back in HS.
debm55
(57,930 posts)wonderful.
justaprogressive
(6,611 posts)...only thing better I've experienced is body-surfing. Mostly you need the Pacific Ocean
for that because of the waves...wanted to try a boogie board, couldn't find one
on the "right" coast.
3catwoman3
(28,901 posts)We lived in Rochester NY, and there are a fair number of ski places in the area. My parents decided it would be a good idea to take my brother and me to one of the resorts one day. Neither of them skied, so were not able to give us any pointers.
No lessons were arranged. I took the lift to the top of what must have been a bunny hill. Knew nothing. Not even the basics of what I later learned was called the snow plow technique to control speed. Straight down I went, terrified all the way, and ass-over-tea kettles at the bottom. Hat came off, glasses came off - I did manage to retrieve them.
Never again. Why my parents thought this was a good idea, especially without any instruction, I will never know.
debm55
(57,930 posts)by little kids. I was 20 something.
ok_cpu
(2,238 posts)and walked away with a huge appreciation of their athleticism and also convinced that they have to be at least partially insane. Sliding 80+ mph on packed snow and ice down the side of a mountain...
debm55
(57,930 posts)Blows me away how they scream down a course with nearly no protection.
Realistically, cross country skiing. Did it in my younger days and loved it
debm55
(57,930 posts)ret5hd
(22,344 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)Deep State Witch
(12,654 posts)When I was growing up, I spent most of my Friday nights and weekends at the North Park ice rink. While I was in love with figure skating - especially Dorothy Hamill - I just wasn't built for it. Plus, for some reason, I could never go backwards or spin properly. But, boy could I go forward fast! I wish that I'd heard about women's speed skating back in the 70's. I'd have tried out for it.
debm55
(57,930 posts)Last edited Fri Feb 6, 2026, 04:59 PM - Edit history (1)
3catwoman3
(28,901 posts)Still one of my favorite looks. Very few hairstylists can do this cut properly.
Deep State Witch
(12,654 posts)I loved it.
debm55
(57,930 posts)3catwoman3
(28,901 posts)...and during that time, I went thru 10 different hair stylists before I found one who could consistently deliver the goods.
The hard part was shaping the back so the layers blended seamlessly for that stacked look that was so iconic.
debm55
(57,930 posts)3catwoman3
(28,901 posts)It must be exhilarating.
The beauty and strength of figure skating is always compelling. It would be interesting to see what it feels like to be held up high in a lift by your male partner.
I've done some cross country skiing years ago when my husband was stationed at K I Sawyer AFB in the upper peninsula of MI - it's exhausting. And, we had no idea that there was uphill involved. Before I mastered the necessary technique, I remember having to remove my skis so I could walk up one of the uphill portions of a trail, sobbing "Who in the hell decided that trying to go uphill on waxed pieces of wood was a good idea?"
My late parents belonged to a curling club for many years, and my dad traveled to bonspiels. I tried it a few times in the early 1970s. There's lots of finesse involved, none of which I had.
pandr32
(13,950 posts)It was a last ski run at the mountain. I wouldn't quit as long as there was one more allowed. I rode the t-bar up and the fog and dark was getting heavy so I followed a skier as I got off. Everything looked strange. I didn't realize I had followed an expert over the split in the trail at the top which had a jump. I was about 13. That floating in the air was pure terror. When I landed (crashed actually) my skis came off and my straps let go. All I had was a pole and my boots and the obvious downward slope to navigate while sinking deep into each step.
It took a long time to get down to the lights and people. Everyone had been waiting while ski patrol had been searching for me. No-one thought I took the back slope with the jump.
3catwoman3
(28,901 posts)I often reflected on how scary it must be to be a parent watching your child go down that thing for the first time.
pandr32
(13,950 posts)Especially the landing part.
No way would I ever have done that voluntarily, and when my mom was questioned she made it clear that I was terrified of the jump and advanced run which is why no-one looked for me on that run after everything had shut down for the night and I had gone missing.
debm55
(57,930 posts)pandr32
(13,950 posts)I followed the skier that got off the t-bar in front of me because visibility was very poor. This is what people do when driving in poor conditions, too!
Weirdly, while airborne and seemingly in slow motion, I listened to the voices of reason in my head about what to do (lean slightly forward over my skis). It is amazing what info we store. I didn't break any bones or kill myself! After learning which run I had taken down the mountain the ski patrol went back and found my skis.
debm55
(57,930 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)what it is like.
3catwoman3
(28,901 posts)
that was set up vertically. A very powerful fan, several feet in diameter, blowing air upwards. You had to put on a sort of flying squirrel suit to assure plenty of surface area. The powerful air stream then lofted you up in the air.
It was pretty cool. I was in Las Vegas, at Nellis Air Force Base, doing my 2 weeks of reserve active duty. The pediatric clinic was closed on weekends, so I was free to go to Vegas and explore.
debm55
(57,930 posts)Harker
(17,558 posts)Last edited Sat Feb 7, 2026, 06:33 PM - Edit history (1)
?si=Ov7Gj2rJOCXCtUUh3catwoman3
(28,901 posts)...forever.
Harker
(17,558 posts)3catwoman3
(28,901 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)EYESORE 9001
(29,525 posts)Of all the skills required to complete in sports at the Olympic level, I think I can lean one way or the other when required.
debm55
(57,930 posts)gladium et scutum
(828 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)LoisB
(12,580 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)KT2000
(22,037 posts)My cats like to watch them too.
debm55
(57,930 posts)Borogove
(578 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)surfered
(12,349 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)CanonRay
(16,030 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)
debm55
(57,930 posts)Mad_Dem_X
(10,153 posts)I just love the combination of athleticism and artistry! IRL I have never been ice skating, and I am sure I would fall on my butt two seconds after I walked onto the ice!
debm55
(57,930 posts)never skated again. But I love to watch it..
debm55
(57,930 posts)pandr32
(13,950 posts)Growing up we waited for snow and then hit our steep streets with skills! I'm surprised none of us killed ourselves by not stopping in time at the lower roads with traffic. It would be all day long--all the kids and faces burgundy from the exercise and cold.
Those were some winter sports!
debm55
(57,930 posts)enough speed on the high part you would go down and up the lower dip onto the street. Luckily, no one was hurt. Sometimes, we would have car lookouts, so we could turn the sleds so not to go on the street if a car was coming.
pandr32
(13,950 posts)gay texan
(3,182 posts)Watch me haulin ass on ice!!!
debm55
(57,930 posts)GreenWave
(12,464 posts)if only I could ski or swim (hydrophobia)
New event
debm55
(57,930 posts)Ritabert
(2,155 posts)Those days are long gone. I can't risk breaking a bone.
debm55
(57,930 posts)LogDog75
(1,166 posts)For loudest and most artistic screaming in an Olympic event.
Downhill skiing - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Ski umping - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Luge - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Bobsled - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah
debm55
(57,930 posts)Sneederbunk
(17,353 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)Ocelot II
(129,736 posts)I tried to do it when I was a kid, wasn't very good at it and fell on my butt a lot, though I did learn how to skate backwards. Would have loved to be able to do a triple-axle.
debm55
(57,930 posts)Talitha
(7,785 posts)If I had the talent, it would be figure skating.
If I had the guts, it would be ski jumping.
debm55
(57,930 posts)WestMichRad
(3,069 posts)If they need someone to finish dead last in cross-country skiing, Im your guy. Not just last
WAAAAAAY behind the 2nd to last place finisher.
debm55
(57,930 posts)MuseRider
(35,166 posts)much luck with winter sports but you can still play tennis inside during the winter but I sucked at that too so...since I hate being cold and have no winter sports I guess watching winter sports would have to be it for me.
debm55
(57,930 posts)ms liberty
(11,074 posts)Even though I've lived in NC for 40 years now. AND, I hate winter.
But it looks like it would be so much fun to strap on a pair of skis and race down a mountain.
debm55
(57,930 posts)whathehell
(30,395 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)whathehell
(30,395 posts)as always.
TBF
(35,992 posts)we skated every night after school. There was a rink behind the city hall in our small town - which I could walk to out my back door (very small town - not even 400 people). But I always had a lot more energy than coordination, so I'd just skate around and watch others do the spins. I still love watching it!
debm55
(57,930 posts)Skate.
Emile
(41,402 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)AllaN01Bear
(28,906 posts)debm55
(57,930 posts)electric_blue68
(26,421 posts)No extra scary above head lifts, death spirals, high jumps, or throw jumps (though they are impress to watch!).
