Article January 31, 2011 Issue

Rink time

By Kayse Crandall

“SMILE!” That’s what skaters are used to hearing at competitions. Hearing my friends shout this to me has been a gentle reminder that I’m out on the ice to express God. When I’m skating, I know that I’m expressing grace, poise, strength, and joy. These spiritual qualities are ones I keep close to heart because they are, to me, ones that can be shared with others. Knowing that we are all expressing those qualities helps me eliminate the fear of competition and reminds me that my reason for being there isn’t to try to impress people. 

When I first started skating at the age of nine, my parents put me into some group classes, just so I could get the basics down. After the first few lessons, a coach came off the ice to talk to my parents, and said, “I think we’re going to put her on the fast track.” From that moment on, my family and I considered skating one of my God-given talents. 

For a number of years, skating was my life. Before school I would be on the ice, and then after school I was back out there practicing again. And every Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. I was at the rink, building up my skills. And with all of these practices came some challenges I had to face. 

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