Interview Bettina Keil
November 12, 2007 on 2:54 pm | In Interview, English |Bettina Keil est une patineuse allemande de Berlin.
Bettina Keil is a german skater from Berlin.
Bettina Keil, 40 years old, living in Berlin, working for an European Energy Company.
When, why and how come did you start skating? And adult skating?
I skated as a kid - from age 6 to 15. Then I had a 16-years break from figure skating. Actually I never thought I would take up figure skating again and that I would love it. As a kid I had fun in the beginning but over the years training started to be a torture. Remember, in the seventies skaters spent most time on practising compulsory figures. So did I. But I loved compulsory figures. They were calm and not as exhausting as free skating with all the jumps, spins and 4min. routines.
In 1996 just by chance I heard about the Gay Games 1998 in Amsterdam and that figure skating will be one of the core sports. Also by chance I got the agenda of the University Sports Program in my fingers one year later . Saw a figure skating class and thought “When a class is being offered than a rink is open even in spring and summer time”. The first person I met at the rink was Birgit, my current pairs partner.
Means: I just started again with figure skating to take part in the Gay Games and to get to know other lesbian skaters. I participated in the Gay Games Amsterdam and, again, had a break after it. Amsterdam was a blast since figure skating got a new meaning to me. Before that experience figure skating was undisolvable linked to the old-fashioned world of tiny girls in short skating dresses. And I hate skating dresses. Gay Games meant to me: skating with trousers & black boots. Remember: at that time trousers were still against skating rules.
Directly after Amsterdam I started pair skating with Birgit. She is an ice dancer and I am a single skater. I.e. pair skating was completely new for both of us. She got pregnant after a short while so we had to give up again. I skated every now and then but didn’t participate in any competitions for 4 years. My next target were the Gay Games 2002 in Sydney. To get used to competitions some people from my Berlin Rink asked me to come to the “Mountain Cup” in Villard de Lans. This was my second competition as an adult and it still was a bit strange for me. In Sydney I skated for the first time under a different rule system (ISI) which was even more strange to me at the beginning. In the meantime I love this rules because it gives us the chance to skate in every possible combination (e.g. same-sex couples, a production number out of 3, 4, 5, … skaters). ISI emphasizes on entertainment more than on typical figure skating maneuvres like jumps or spins. It allows freedom to chose partners and music (ISU: no vocals, no same-sex couples).
In Sydney I met two guys from Cologne who founded the Fabulous Skaters and organize the Fabulous Cup. Thanxx boys!! Since 2002 I skate fairly regularly and I take part regularly in two to four competitions a year. To sum it up: my second figure skating live as an adult started more or less as an accident but turned out as a second love in my live.
In which club/ice rink do you skate? What is it like?
I skate in a Berlin located ice rink in a big sports club. One of a dozen divisions is figure skating. A lot of adult skaters in Berlin are member of this club. It has some advantages and lots of disadvantages. The pros are: very reasonable fees for skating and a lot of skating hours for adults. The cons are: these skating hours are scheduled everyday during lunch time. Means: most adult people are working at that time. This is a real problem. We don’t have a single practice session neither in the early morning time nor at night time nor at the weekend. I know people who would like to take up skating and can not do it. I have good luck with quite flexible working hours. The schedule line is just up to the age. There are sessions for kids and there are sessions for adults. Some adult skaters at my rink are afraid if someone skates by to fast or to tight. Means the different skating levels are sometimes a problem, too. Our Club is more or less oriented on competitive kids. A coach of these competitive kids is running the organization of the rink. Means: just a minor interest for the odd adult skaters. My club is member of the Federal Figure Skating Assoziation which again is member of the International Skating Union. So I am eligible for ISU competitions but I also take part in ISI competitions with the above mentioned rules.
Could you please give a summary of your career as an adult skater?
Oh my God, this is tough due to my bad brain. I neither collect certificates nor medals. So I am trying by heart:
+ GG Amsterdam 1998 (no judging at all due to problems with the ISU)
+ GG Sydney 2002 (Free Skating/Artistic): 2. place
+ GG Sydney 2002 (Spotlight): 1. place
+ GG Chigago 2006 (Free Skating): 2. place
+ GG Chicago 2006 (same-sex couples): 1. place
+ Mountain Cup 2002 (Free Skating) 2. place
+ Mountain Cup 2004 (Interpretive): 2. place
+ Mountain Cup 2004 (Free Skating): 1. place
+ Mountain Cup 2005 (Figures): 1. place
+ Mountain Cup 2005 (Free Skating): 1. place
+ DEU-Pokal 2002, Grimma (Free Skating): 1. place
+ DEU-Pokal 2003, Grimma (Interpretive): 1. place
+ DEU-Pokal 2004, Grimma (Interpretive): 3. place
+ ISU Adult Competition 2005, Oberstdorf (Free Skating): 1. place
+ ISU Adult Competition 2006, Oberstdorf (Free Skating): 1. place
+ Dune of Flunders Cup 2004, Dunkerque (Free Skating): 1. place
+ Fabulous Cup 2005, Cologne (Free Skating): 1place
+ Fabulous Cup 2005 Cologne (Spotlight): 1. place
+ Fabulous Cup 2005, Cologne (same-sex couples): 1. place
+ Fabulous Cup 2006, Cologne (Free Skating): 2. place
+ Fabulous Cup 2006, Cologne (same-sex couples): 2. place
What do you like about (adult) skating?
First of all I met some dear friends via skating. The figure skating family is quit small so you meet other skaters regularly at competitions. And skating events are a most welcome reason to travel around the world. In skating itself the big fascination is simply GLIDING. The most challenging thing in skating isn’t jumping or spinning, it’s CLEAN EDGES. What I like is working out new routines. Even though I am usually skating without a coach I do need support for the choreography. I like the whole process of choosing a new piece of music, doing the music editing on my computer and trying to get new movements into my body. I admire skaters who are able to skate very emotional, who skate their souls out. What touches me most is watching beginners at competitions. I feel the energy, the willingness, the dedication. I mean you don’t start skating as an adult if you’re not a little crazy.
In the meantime I prefer pair skating. It is so much more fun to skate as a couple than as a single. Their are thousand more options to create a routine. One can establish relations between skaters in a routine. A thing you can’t do when skating alone.
In skating, what do you need to work on as a priority?
I would really need more physical condition in general but to be honest I am not working seriously on that. And I have to work a lot on steps, edges, speed. But with 40 it is hard to relearn things or to learn new things at all. In pair skating I would love to learn a death spiral and a thrown double jump.
What « material » (boots and blades) are you working with? Why?
Had for a long time WIFA. Was very good. Due to foot problems I chose custom made boots a while ago and had 3 years of horror. Much to stiff, not fitting at all. Sent them back to the factory two times. Uugh. Now I have a very soft RISPORT. One number to big because I need more width. Apart from stumbling across my own feet from time to time they are ok. Blades: MK (Goldstar).
What is adult skating for you?
It is something special. For nothing else I would drive 90min. forth and back for a 30min skating session during my lunch break - whenever my job allows it.
What is missing in adult skating?
More INNOVATION and OPENNESS
People - I would like to see some more freaky, more unconventional people in figure skating, e. g. folks skating with hockey boots. We do have some at our rink and they are about skating their first competition. I would also like a colourful mixture of diverse people in figure skating, i. e. for example more straight men and more lesbians. And I would like less classical music pieces but more extraordinary pieces to skate to. Seems to be a big difference in tastes between Europeans and Americans. Whilst Americans seem to skate to classic music pieces exclusively I see a lot of Europeans skating to modern music.
Rules - We need to revise ISU figure skating rules according to adult demands (scoring of specific elements etc).
ISU officials - PLEASE: Allow same-sex couples! Allow men to skate with tight trousers! Allow girls to skate in trousers (not just for the Short Program)! Allow men to wear sleeveless costumes for compulsory dances, too! Allow music with lyrics for every kind of Program! Allow people under 28 and over 70 to take part in the ISU Adult competition. WE DON’T NEED ALL THAT RESTRICTIONS!
What is your personal commitment to adult skating?
Trying to get other adults interested in figure skating. My biggest challenge is to bring other lesbians into it. In ten years I recruited ONE.
How do you see the future of adult skating?
I assume that the adult figure skating movement will develop a lot in Europe, too. We are still a very young plant. Indeed we are all learing jealously at the assumed skating paradise in the US and Canada. But I think Europeans have to contribute a lot to the adult figure skating world.
My biggest wish for the future is: getting a chance to skate pairs with my female pairs partner in an official ISU competition. I am not quite convinced that will ever happen.
Which question is missing in this mini interview? And answer please.
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