Debbie Weinstein Minter Shares About Doing an Original Figure

Years ago, beautiful designs were skated on clean ice in the shape of a figure eight. These complex designs were called figures and that is why Figure Skating is called FIGURE Skating. In 2008, US Figure Skating Gold Medalist, Debbie Weinstein Minter, performed an original figure that included many figure skating turns, loops, and edges. She named it "Compost Heap" becuase it had a "little of everything all mixed together." In this article, she shares what her experience was like.

• Video of Debbie Weinstein Minter Doing an Original Artistic Figure at the 2008 Colorado Figure Skating Championships

A Little Bit of Everything From Compulsory Figures - "What Was I Thinking?"
By Debbie Weinstein Minter

What was I thinking!!!???

Somehow I let myself get talked into doing this crazy thing. As a grandmother, full-time coach, (read: busy), over thirty years and numerous injuries removed from the previous time, I stand on a perfectly clean piece of ice and indicate my long axis by extending my arms. With a deep breath and a prayer for calm, I bend my knees and push onto a left, forward inside edge...

That’s right, here I am at my age and station in life, competing in figures! And competing in front of real, live judges!

I loved the part of skating that used to be called “school figures” back in the day.

After a rough start in the lower levels, I became fairly good at them and that ability helped me as I transitioned into coaching in the late 1970’s. I was privileged to coach the last National Champions in Intermediate, Novice and Junior Figures.

It broke my heart when the “powers-that-be” decided to remove figures from figure skating following the 1999 Nationals in Salt Lake City.

I felt this would be a great disservice to young skaters and coaches as they come up through the sport without the discipline, edge control, attention to detail and perseverance taught by studying and mastering the art of figures. I think many coaches and judges would agree with me about this.

So, this being the thirtieth anniversary of a local summer competition known as Colorado Championships, the organizers decided to hold a figure event, sort of a nostalgic walk down memory lane. There are twelve competitors in six events, ranging in age from 15-50, (that would be me).

There are four former National Figure Champions, two judges, two Technical Specialists and three skaters brand new to figures among the entrants. There is even an “Artistic Figure” event in which the skaters invent their own figure, (I have named my figure, “Compost Heap,” because it has a little bit of everything all mixed up and it may stink).

The two practice “patch” sessions this week were really fun. I had forgotten how quiet and relaxing it is to a have true figure session. All my preparation for this event has been on freestyle sessions in between lessons and on freestyle skates — I don’t have patch blades anymore. The camaraderie among most of the competitors, (including two former and one current student), has been amazing.

As I skate around the first circle of the first figure, I pray I’ll be able to find my center on this bright, white ice.

There it is! I finish and actual applause breaks out from the surprisingly large crowd that has gathered to watch. Phew! One down, two more to go. As I head back to the practice patch I am absolutely elated that I am doing this, loving every minute and ready to enter another event like this again.