Phyllis Braun is living proof it’s never too late to try something new.
The 74-year-old Clarkston resident, who took up figure skating six years ago, will be competing in freestyle skating at the Michigan Senior Olympics Jan. 28-30 in Gaylord.
Although she skated when she was younger – Braun stated she “was like all kids” in that respect – it wasn’t until she was 68 years old that she decided to give figure skating another try.
Braun, who described herself as a “late learner,” started taking up the sport again as part of a group called the “Rusty Blades,” a group of people upwards of age 50 that enjoy ice skating and do so three times a week at the Lakeland Ice Arena in Waterford.
“We skate Monday, Wednesday and Friday for two hours all year around, and we welcome anyone with a pair of skates to join us in warm company and great exercise,” she said.
According to Frank Kerr Jr. of Waterford, a former Clarkston resident and 11-year member of the Rusty Blades, the group got started a number of years ago when a group of men got together to play some pickup hockey.
The group’s wives voiced their desire to get involved, and soon the group was divided into two camps: those who wanted to play hockey and those who wanted to skate with their families. Eventually, hockey got dropped from the routine and the group concentrated on skating, according to Kerr.
Currently, the Rusty Blades number about 30 participants who make the trek to Lakeland as often as they can, Kerr said.
The Rusty Blades’ support would prove instrumental for Braun’s figure skating career. With that support, she started taking lessons four years ago and hired Irina Kortchach, a defector from the Moscow on Ice tour 10 years ago, as her personal coach.
Braun currently practices about 10 hours per week, with the longest stretch of practice coming for four hours Monday mornings. Although the sport requires a great deal of practice, Braun wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s a challenge, mentally and physically,” she said. “It’s all fun. It’s learning how to stretch yourself.”
Braun is one of four people that practice at Lakeland who will be making the trip to the Winter Senior Olympics. The other three are William Horning of Waterford and Russell Matero and Lenore Hiscoe, both of White Lake.
According to Braun, a number of the Rusty Blades will be heading to Gaylord at the end of the month to cheer on their friends in the Senior Olympics. Braun is thrilled they are making the trip.
“The support of the members of this group is an inspiration for the trip to the Senior Olympics,” she said. “I know the sight of familiar faces in their blue sweatshirts with the club logo cheering us on from the stands will make it feel like home ice. I am astounded by the support of a group who have watched us perform these moves hundreds of times, that they would make the trip all the way to Gaylord in mid-winter to see it one more time. They are the greatest.”