Have you ever watched someone skate and thought, “I wish I could do that”?
Maybe you always wanted to learn but never had the opportunity. Maybe you skated when you were younger and have wondered what it would feel like to get back on the ice. Or maybe you’re simply looking for something new that challenges you, gets you moving and is actually fun.
Then comes the part that can stop a lot of adults before they ever begin.
Am I too old to learn to skate? Will I be the only adult? What if I fall? What if everyone else is better than me?
Those questions are more common than you might think. And Janelle Yoder had some of them too.
When Janelle signed up for Adult Learn to Skate at PSM Icehouse in Fort Wayne, she was excited. She was also nervous. What she discovered was a supportive group of adults learning at their own pace, instructors who understood that learning as an adult can feel different, and an opportunity to finally pursue something she had wanted to do since she was six years old.
Her story started long before that first class.
A Childhood Love of Figure Skating
Janelle was six when she watched the 1994 Winter Olympics and became captivated by figure skating. By the 1998 Games, that fascination had only grown.
She wanted to skate.
Growing up as one of eight children, however, formal skating lessons simply weren’t something her family could make happen. So skating remained something she loved from a distance.
Finding Her Way Back to the Ice
Years passed, but Janelle’s interest in figure skating never completely disappeared.
Attending the 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Columbus with a friend and two of her sisters brought all of those feelings back. Watching the competition reminded her how much she loved the sport and made her begin thinking about doing more than simply watching.
Maybe she could finally learn to skate herself.
Eventually, she decided it was time to stop wondering and start skating.
She registered for Adult Learn to Skate at PSM Icehouse.
And then came the nerves.
Janelle shares her progress on Instagram through her ongoing “Jane Learns to Skate” series on @thingsofjane.
Starting Adult Learn to Skate at PSM Icehouse
Learning something completely new can feel different as an adult.
There are the practical concerns. Will I fall? Will I be able to do this? Will everyone else already know what they’re doing?
And then there’s another question many adult beginners quietly wonder: Am I going to be the only adult there?
Janelle had some of those same concerns when she arrived for her first lessons. Then another adult skater arrived. Suddenly, she wasn’t doing it alone. That feeling of connection would become an important part of her experience learning to skate at PSM Icehouse.
As participation grew, the program was able to separate the teens and adults into their own groups, giving Janelle the opportunity to learn alongside other adults who understood what it felt like to be a beginner.
The supportive, non-judgmental atmosphere helped ease some of those early nerves and allowed her confidence to grow.
Building Skills and Confidence as an Adult Skater
It didn’t take long for Janelle to realize just how much she enjoyed being on the ice.
She progressed through Adult 1 and Adult 2 during her first session and began supplementing her weekly Wednesday evening class with additional practice time. She also discovered something every skater eventually learns: consistency makes a difference. The more time she spent practicing, the more she began noticing her progress.
Skills that once seemed intimidating started becoming possible. Balance improved. Confidence grew. New movements began to click. And every small success gave her another reason to keep going.
One Skill at a Time
Janelle isn’t measuring her skating journey by medals or competitions. She’s measuring it in moments.
A little more confidence. A skill that suddenly clicks. A crossover that finally starts to feel natural. A spin that gets a little closer each time.
Recently, learning beginner crossovers became one of those milestones. After spending time practicing the skill, Janelle began accomplishing something she had been looking forward to since starting lessons.
Those moments are also why she decided to document the experience.
Through her Instagram series, Things of Jane – Jane Learns to Skate, Janelle has been sharing her progress week by week — not just the successes, but the very real process of learning something new as an adult.
Looking back at where she started makes it easier to see just how far she has come.
Learning to Skate as an Adult
One of the most important parts of Janelle’s story is that she doesn’t need skating to become anything more than something she genuinely enjoys.
There’s no pressure to compete.
There’s no deadline for mastering a particular skill.
She wants to keep learning, continue challenging herself and enjoy the process along the way.
That mindset has allowed skating to become something bigger than simply learning what to do on the ice.
It’s an opportunity to try something new, build confidence and rediscover the excitement of being a beginner.
As adults, it can be easy to convince ourselves that we’ve missed the opportunity to start something.
Janelle’s experience is a reminder that you don’t have to be a child to learn to skate. You don’t have to know where the journey will eventually take you.
Sometimes, you just have to be willing to begin.
Following Janelle’s Skating Journey
And Janelle’s story isn’t finished.
Since we first sat down with her, she’s continued learning new skills, spending more time on the ice and documenting her experiences through Things of Jane – Jane Learns to Skate.
And she’s already reached another pretty exciting milestone: Janelle recently passed Adult Basic 4!
PSM Icehouse will be following along as she continues her skating journey, and we’ll be sharing some of those moments along the way, from the skills that come quickly to the ones that take a little more practice.
Because every skater starts somewhere.
For Janelle, starting meant finally saying yes to something she had wanted to do for years.
Now she gets to see where it takes her.
It’s Never Too Late to Learn to Skate
Have you always wanted to learn to skate?
Adult Learn to Skate at PSM Icehouse in Fort Wayne gives teen and adult skaters the opportunity to build foundational skating skills and confidence in a supportive environment.
Whether you’ve never stepped onto the ice, haven’t skated in years or simply want to try something new, there’s a place for you on the ice.
Your first step is simply getting started.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TEEN & ADULT LEARN TO SKATE
