MONROE - Bob Nickels wants to be a kid again. Badly.
The 56-year-old's desire to be pint-sized has little to do with carefree afternoons or any of the other lighthearted luxuries afforded a 4-year-old. For him, it would just mean he wouldn't have to worry about falling so far.
You'll find Bob at StateLine Ice and Community Expo (S.L.I.C.E.) on Saturday afternoons, working with Skater's Edge instructors and taking skating lessons for the first time in his life.
As he works relentlessly with Skating Director Amy Treuter in his Adult I class, his eyes drift to the far end of the frozen surface, where organizer Jan Benkert's 4-year-old grandson Jacob is one of several three-footers carving out grooves without fear.
"I wish I would've done started at their age," Nickels said. "They're closer to the ground."
He was most envious of the younger students the first day he worked up the nerve to try his first lesson during the provided two-lesson trial period.
"It was terrifying. My first step on the ice, I couldn't find a soft enough place to fall on," Nickels said.
He was hardly hooked after toeing the frozen sheet of water, but stuck with it after two lessons and now carries his pointers through the rest of his week.
"I found myself looking forward to it through the week and running the exercises through my mind," Nickels said.
And those lessons are reputable. Skater's Edge owner Jeff Smecko has put together a staff of exceptional skaters, including wife Jean and 13-year-old daughter Katelyn, that uses a system that's more than an old standby.
"They use the U.S. Figure Skating Association's method and that's been tried and true for years," Nickels said.
While that's important for not-so-young pups like Nickels, it's even more vital for those embarking on their skating career a bit earlier.
"When a kid's been taught wrong, it's hard to change that muscle memory," Smecko said, "and we get them going in the right direction right away."
Smecko's known the value of handling skaters with care ever since Katelyn, at the age of 4, had a curious observation during the Olympics.
"When she saw Michelle Kwan get her gold medal, she said, 'How do I get one of those? I want one,'" Smecko said. "That's when we signed her up for Learn to Skate."
Now Katelyn is a regional finalist and hopes to compete in junior nationals en route to her dream, just like any other phenom skater, to compete in the Olympics herself.
And she enjoys giving back to the skating community, which she's able to do on Saturdays in Monroe due to a lack of available coaches. Although she's not sure if she's ready to give pointers to the class's edler statesman.
"I like teaching the little kids more because it's weird with the older kids," Katelyn Smecko said. "I don't know if I could work with Bob," she adds with a laugh.
Treuter - who has competed for 11 years and taught skating for 15 years - helps out with all three of the Edge's camps - the group also sets up shop in Sun Prairie and McFarland. As an elementary teacher, she enjoys the instant gratification of seeing progress immediately after giving a skater a tip or tweak of technique.
She admits to being a bit startled, however, when Bob told her how many lessons he'd had before hers.
"He surprised me the first day because I didn't know he'd never skated before," Treuter said. "After learning how to fall and get up, we just took baby steps."
And that's how all the brand new students begin, whether young or old. Anyone who has either had lessons or is looking to follow Bob's lead and start from scratch should contact Smecko at (608) 241-7509 for more information. Lessons are every Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. and the Edge Program offers three sets of seven-week lessons from October through March.
The 56-year-old's desire to be pint-sized has little to do with carefree afternoons or any of the other lighthearted luxuries afforded a 4-year-old. For him, it would just mean he wouldn't have to worry about falling so far.
You'll find Bob at StateLine Ice and Community Expo (S.L.I.C.E.) on Saturday afternoons, working with Skater's Edge instructors and taking skating lessons for the first time in his life.
As he works relentlessly with Skating Director Amy Treuter in his Adult I class, his eyes drift to the far end of the frozen surface, where organizer Jan Benkert's 4-year-old grandson Jacob is one of several three-footers carving out grooves without fear.
"I wish I would've done started at their age," Nickels said. "They're closer to the ground."
He was most envious of the younger students the first day he worked up the nerve to try his first lesson during the provided two-lesson trial period.
"It was terrifying. My first step on the ice, I couldn't find a soft enough place to fall on," Nickels said.
He was hardly hooked after toeing the frozen sheet of water, but stuck with it after two lessons and now carries his pointers through the rest of his week.
"I found myself looking forward to it through the week and running the exercises through my mind," Nickels said.
And those lessons are reputable. Skater's Edge owner Jeff Smecko has put together a staff of exceptional skaters, including wife Jean and 13-year-old daughter Katelyn, that uses a system that's more than an old standby.
"They use the U.S. Figure Skating Association's method and that's been tried and true for years," Nickels said.
While that's important for not-so-young pups like Nickels, it's even more vital for those embarking on their skating career a bit earlier.
"When a kid's been taught wrong, it's hard to change that muscle memory," Smecko said, "and we get them going in the right direction right away."
Smecko's known the value of handling skaters with care ever since Katelyn, at the age of 4, had a curious observation during the Olympics.
"When she saw Michelle Kwan get her gold medal, she said, 'How do I get one of those? I want one,'" Smecko said. "That's when we signed her up for Learn to Skate."
Now Katelyn is a regional finalist and hopes to compete in junior nationals en route to her dream, just like any other phenom skater, to compete in the Olympics herself.
And she enjoys giving back to the skating community, which she's able to do on Saturdays in Monroe due to a lack of available coaches. Although she's not sure if she's ready to give pointers to the class's edler statesman.
"I like teaching the little kids more because it's weird with the older kids," Katelyn Smecko said. "I don't know if I could work with Bob," she adds with a laugh.
Treuter - who has competed for 11 years and taught skating for 15 years - helps out with all three of the Edge's camps - the group also sets up shop in Sun Prairie and McFarland. As an elementary teacher, she enjoys the instant gratification of seeing progress immediately after giving a skater a tip or tweak of technique.
She admits to being a bit startled, however, when Bob told her how many lessons he'd had before hers.
"He surprised me the first day because I didn't know he'd never skated before," Treuter said. "After learning how to fall and get up, we just took baby steps."
And that's how all the brand new students begin, whether young or old. Anyone who has either had lessons or is looking to follow Bob's lead and start from scratch should contact Smecko at (608) 241-7509 for more information. Lessons are every Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. and the Edge Program offers three sets of seven-week lessons from October through March.
