It's called the Icemen Network, and I think it's an awesome idea. Through the program, male skaters receive mentorship from elite male figure skaters, and can skate in a series of competitions. From US Figure Skating:
The Icemen Network is a way for males to learn more about what to expect in their skating career and provide them with an opportunity to build a peer communication network through newsletters, conference calls and other media.
Skating is a predominantly female sport, and as a result, the majority of programs out there to support figure skating in general seem geared primarily toward the ladies. The only support it seemed like men were getting was from folks trying to pimp them out as pairs or dance partners. But not all dudes want to do pairs and dance. Lots want to do singles. And even some go for synchro!
When I skated as a youngling, I knew exactly 4 male skaters (not counting coaches). I once saw a 12-year-old Johnny Weir at a competition, but that doesn't count. And on any given session, while there would be 15-20 female skaters on the ice, there might be one guy. If you wanted to do ice dance as a young female skater, you skated with your coach. And I was lucky enough to land a pairs partner for a season or two, but I was one of only two pairs in the region, like, ever.
Men's figure skating has a stigma I'm sure you all know about, that turns away a lot of prospective skaters. My own brother, who was a great skater, stopped skating largely because he was being taunted by classmates. But like most competitive extracurriculars with stigmas attached, the more we all lend to supporting and mentoring the individuals involved no matter their race, creed, sexuality or taste in music and fashion, the easier it is to see past it all and just enjoy the pursuit. (And get more dudes on the ice!)
I look forward to seeing all the great skaters to come out of this program!
No comments:
Post a Comment