Moving on Up
By DianneN
@DianneN (247219)
United States
September 3, 2017 10:55am CST
It's unbelievable! Our little ice princess was chosen to move up to Regionals in figure skating. After that comes Sectionals, then Nationals, and finally, Olympics!
Of course we don't know how far she'll go, but for the time being, we are all over the moon for her.
I don't know much about skating except from what her mommy and daddy tell me. What I do know is that she needs more coaches and new ice skates. She outgrew her other skates. Now, her new skates require a blade that Olympians use and a fairly good boot.
The ice princess is now sporting the same skates and boots that Gracie Gold wears. At $1000, they have gotten away inexpensively. Can you imagine? I had no idea!
43 people like this
45 responses
@Happy2BeMe (99390)
• Canada
3 Sep 17
Congratulations!!! Love the picture. She is so sweet. I am so happy and excited for her. She is well on her way to becoming an Olympian. 
6 people like this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
3 Sep 17
@Happy2BeMe Time will tell. She at least loves it right now, thank goodness.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99390)
• Canada
3 Sep 17
@DianneN oh she will do it. She is very talented. I have no doubt she will have a lot of success in the coming years.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
3 Sep 17
She works very hard and gives it her all. For that alone, we are so proud of her. It's a very costly sport, and I feel bad for the disadvantaged kids who want to skate and can't. My husband and I were discussing setting up a fund for that in the near future. He has to speak to our account and lawyers, including our son and DIL.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
4 Sep 17
Ice Skates the good ones are really expensive ones to buy.
Some commentator or other said so once that as the girls grow the costumes and the boots are what take the most money apart from the Trainer as well.
She looks so lovely there.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
4 Sep 17
@DianneN
Its a really crazy sport but so wonderful at the same time.
They need all the support that they can get for sure.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
4 Sep 17
@lovinangelsinstead21 Yes, I love to watch it, too. Thanks, Loving!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79996)
• United States
3 Sep 17
I dont' know much about professional ice skating either but I'm learning a lot from what you post about your granddaughter. She's always smiling and looks like a champion!! I wish her all the best as she moves up in the competitions
2 people like this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Sep 17
That is amazing. I would be over the moon and back several times if one of my grandchildren did this. I can see why her parents support her so much and invest in her skating. I would do the same if it was my daughter. Keep smiling grandma you have an Olympic star on your hands. You will be famous. Oh sorry she will be famous.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
3 Sep 17
@DianneN That is because he is standing on cloud 9 and is afraid to step off. 
I think the higher up the child go the more they encourage her and have different coaches to work on different techniques. Some are only for jumping, some dance, some style and some for who knows what. I would be floating on air too if this was my granddaughter. My granddaughter is a cheerleader and a soccer player. My grandson is into football. They don't have the means to ice skate and don't live in a cold state with snow and ice.
I think the higher up the child go the more they encourage her and have different coaches to work on different techniques. Some are only for jumping, some dance, some style and some for who knows what. I would be floating on air too if this was my granddaughter. My granddaughter is a cheerleader and a soccer player. My grandson is into football. They don't have the means to ice skate and don't live in a cold state with snow and ice.1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
3 Sep 17
@poehere Lol! I think you're right! Yes, she has coaches for smiling, for real, arm and had movements, and all that. Surprisingly, many compete from Florida where there are many ice rinks. She only skates outside at Wollman Rink in Central Park once a year. It's freezing in the winter! Glad to hear your grandchildren also are into sports. So healthy and good for college!
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
3 Sep 17
Thanks so much. I know you'd do exactly the same. My heart is exploding for her. We are very pleased with her progress with this year's team of coaches. They've worked miracles. I just can't imagine more coaches and for what. I will speak with my DIL once the dust settles. My son can't answer one question. lol
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
4 Sep 17
Wow, that is pretty penny. I had forgotten how much sports equipment can cost. My children are musicians and I do recall the cost of instruments.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
4 Sep 17
@DianneN My daughter had a beautiful professional clarinet that she sold after her RA got really bad and she could no longer play it. That made me cringe a bit.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
4 Sep 17
@ElusiveButterfly Yikes! I'm so sorry she has RA!
1 person likes this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Sep 17
Yep . . . when they get to a certain level, it's about climbing up the ladder! Well how awesome for her . . .now she's with the big girls and there's some super serious training ahead of her. Her talents and passion will take her a long way!! The one thing as an adult, our boot and blades lasted a long time because our feet never grew - I cringe thinking how often a kid would have to move up sizes in skates (well, that's size and quality of the boot and then the blades!). These days, yep, 1000 would be inexpensive . . . as she eventually moves into the higher doubles and maybe triples, she will need a stiffer boot and blades with mighty toe pics. 20 some years ago, I paid less than a $150 for my first pair of wrong fitting beginner skates. My next pair was pro fitted, and was about $700.1 person likes this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Sep 17
@DianneN Yep, that sounds about right! She doesn't need the stiffest boot right now - seriously, those triple jump rated boots feel like cement walls. Her price factor depended on the boots and the blades separately . . . the blades would be attached by a pro who would adjust the position for her if she needed (the boots and blades that come attached already by rivots are the cheap beginner ones). If her old boots and blades are still in good shape and not broken down too much, she could probably sell them . . . or at least give it to a good skate shop for consignment if that's available. Might as well get something to help with skating funds .
.1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
3 Sep 17
@much2say Lol! Her boots have been professionally done several times. Her mom gives her boots and costumes away to other ice skating friends. However, if they can afford the ice skating, they certainly can afford their own new boots and blades. The boots only cost 1/30th of the rest. She already has five coaches. I truly don't know how my son can do this. Now even more travel and you know that's not cheap. Don't forget, my grandson is in to hockey, too.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
3 Sep 17
I was going to PM you, but you did a great job of explaining it here, and as usual, giving me some important info. Her last pair of skates were $800, but lasted a couple of years. I don't know about all the others she outgrew. Her boot isn't the stiffest, but good enough for now. My poor son! lol
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
3 Sep 17
It is rather costly. Regionals to Olympics is a long way and hard work.But I am sure your grand daughter will make it.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
4 Sep 17
@DianneN Naturally.You must be so happy and proud to see her reaching each milestone.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
3 Sep 17
wow doesn't' sound inexpensive to me but what the heck do I know. Much good luck to your little ice princess.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
3 Sep 17
Thank you. I'm learning as we go. We offer time and time again to help out with the costs of everything, but our son adamantly refuses to take one cent from us. My favorite thing to do is take the kids shopping for new clothes. My treat.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
6 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 Girls are much more fun to shop for than boys! Shhhhh
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
4 Sep 17
@DianneN Yea what fun. My sister does that at school time with her granddaughters I occasionally go and we all have so much fun and we get to go out to eat. Always my sister's treat. She is so happy to have me help she could cry lol. Her granddaughters are 7, 6, and 4. Quite the handful. But I love them all so much and always have a great time when I'm with them. I am their favorite Auntie Di after all lol.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74830)
• East Tawas, Michigan
4 Sep 17
@DianneN She's beautiful, inside and out!:)
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
4 Sep 17
Congratulations to your little princess, Ms. Dianne! Wishing for her success all the way up beyond the regionals.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
4 Sep 17
@sunrisefan I'd say it's true. We have less responsibility and can spoil them any way we choose.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
4 Sep 17
@DianneN I'm sure it is :) They say that grandchildren give more joy to grandparents than their children before :)
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
3 Sep 17
Oh yes I can imagine most definitely..the expense of it all.
But I am confident that the little Ice Princess will one day be in the Olympics.
Congrats to her Dianne!
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
3 Sep 17
@DianneN I have total faith she will make it Dianne
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
6 Sep 17
Congrats to your "little ice princess." Yes, as she grows she will constantly need new skates and new outfits. I can only imagine the expense involved in that. I wish her well.
1 person likes this
@just4him (307405)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Sep 17
What have I been telling you? I am so proud of her! I would choke on a price tag like that for ice skates, but if that's what she needs then that's what she gets. I can't wait to hear more about the next steps to come. I love that shirt she's sporting.
1 person likes this
@just4him (307405)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Sep 17
@DianneN Drat on the video. I could see it was from Michigan. She's wearing it proudly. Sounds like a lot of pride there if they won't accept your help. Oh well. I know lots of kids who don't want to take any help from their parents.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
3 Sep 17
Wow! that is getting crazy expensive- you're right but will be worth it in the long-run or should I say long-skate--ha!
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
13 Sep 17
@DianneN She is off to a great start and has a great career ahead!
