Catching Up

Heading into Collegiates, Weber is looking for fun not medals

Former junior ladies bronze medalist is doing one last competition for herself

By Jamie M. Blanchard

Lindsey Weber finished third at the 2001 U.S. Championships and competed twice at the Finlandia Trophy as a senior

(August 1, 2007) — Lindsey Weber used to train for hours before events. But going into this weekend's U.S. Collegiate Championships, where she will skate for Oakland University, Weber is taking a much different approach.

"I'm very used to training three hours a day heading into competitions," said Weber, 23. "But I teach eight to 10 hours a day so I'm lucky if I can sneak in a half hour a day to skate."

She describes her training for the event as "non-existent".

"I really haven't skated until a few weeks ago," she said. "I have kept very busy teaching skating and going to school full time. I teach all day and then take night classes, so my schedule is tight."

Almost three years removed from her last senior competition, the Midwestern Sectional Championships in 2004, Weber is a different skater than the pony tailed teen who won the junior ladies bronze medal at the 2001 U.S. Championships in Boston.

She once aimed for a spot on the Olympic team but her goals are different now.

"I'm not going in hoping to medal or anything like that," said Weber, who has struggled for about 10 years with back injuries including a disc tare. "My back doesn't allow me to do the jumps I used to do, so I just want to go have fun and skate well for myself."

She added, "I haven't really thought about it as competing, more just having fun skating again."

Weber made the decision to skate at the Collegiates in late June. The event takes place Aug. 4-7 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

"Some of my friends were going and it's close to home, so I decided I wanted to do one more competition for myself," she said. "I think it will be a lot different going in representing your school and the atmosphere will be more relaxed."

"I'm a junior at Oakland University (in Rochester, Mich.), majoring in human resource development," Weber said. "When I graduate, I plan to continue teaching skating."

Weber is currently a coach at the Onyx-Suburban Skating Academy in Rochester Hills, Mich., where her mother Vickey is also a skating instructor. Both mother and daughter also teach Learn to Skate classes in nearby Macomb.

"I'm teaching about 33 students who range from basic level all the way through senior," Weber said. "My favorite part of teaching is watching the kids improve and accomplish their goals."

One of her students will be competing against her at the championships in senior ladies while another will skate in the junior ladies event.

"I'm also very involved in (U.S. Figure Skating) on the Athlete Advisory committee among about 13 other committees," Weber said. "I like that I can give back to the athletes because when I was skating, I know the older generation was doing the same thing for us."

Weber does have advice for upcoming skaters who hope to compete at the level she once did.

"To work hard and love what you are doing—that's the most important thing," she said. "I loved skating everyday that I was on the ice and I still do."

Weber added, "I have had so many wonderful coaches and role models in my life. My best friends are still the same people I competed with since I was a juvenile lady. I don't think I would be as strong of a person today without skating."

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For more information on Lindsey Weber, visit her official Web site at www.figureskatersonline.com/lindseyweber/.

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