Shaping my future Skating sparked interests for a lifetime
by MOLLY OBERSTAR F
igure skating is serious business — take it from me, an athlete who was in the thick of the sport for 15 years. I experienced
some of my greatest thrills and my biggest defeats on an ice-cold surface — and I loved it. So when it came time to depart from the
sport, I struggled with my worth outside of the rink. I wondered, “Am I not just the sum of my skating successes thus far? I am Molly Oberstar: sectional champion, national com- petitor, Team USA member,” oh, “and support- ing actress,” if we must divulge all. I had a real mental block trying to envision a future that didn’t involve skating. It had been the primary focus of my life, as it is for most elite athletes, for a decade and a half. Who was I without skating? As it turns out, I soon realized that the aesthetic aspects of skating had opened my eyes to art, entertainment and design in ways that I hadn’t even counted on and that these interests were signifi cant in identifying me as a person. Skating helped me cultivate an under-
standing of textiles and silhouettes. From a relatively young age, I worked with Julie Mc- Donough (famed Colorado-based designer) to design character-enhancing costumes, each season’s more fabulous than the last. Of course, I also admired couture skating
dresses fashioned by luxury designers such as Roberto Cavalli and Vera Wang (for Caroli- na Kostner and Michelle Kwan, respectively).
As my interest in skating fashion and fashion in general grew, I forged relationships with adults who believed in and supported me — enough so that one graciously agreed to reach out to a friend of Vera Wang’s on my be- half. Then, suddenly, I was a 21-year-old living in Manhattan and interning at Wang’s head- quarters, surrounded by the fi nest artisans in their crafts. Have you ever watched a 75-year- old woman drape a $20,000 wedding gown? I have, and it’s spectacular. Through my skating years, my appetite
for movement and performance also thrived. I worked with Olympic-level choreographers and professional ballerinas, each day honing my skills and my appreciation for true artist- ry. This intense focus on quality of movement, expression and lyricism deepened my aff ec- tion for theater and dance. Appreciation for performance arts serves me well as I move through life — rebooting my soul and provid- ing a glimmer of hope when daily life feels too heavy. The arts get me through some of the tough stuff . Today, design and storytelling rule my consciousness. While it is true that many pro-
36 NOVEMBER 2014
fessionals can say the same without having been connected with fi gure skating, I know with certainty that my own spark was ignited because of my involvement with the sport. I spent a lot of years learning to articulate every movement and tell stories with my blades as my instrument. I came to understand the im- portance of the “entire package” in establish- ing a unique persona as a skater. All of this has translated into a newfound knack for writing and a fi xation on styling and branding, inter- ests that provide both professional and per- sonal fulfi llment outside of the rink. Skating is more than a competitive are-
na; it is a lifelong network and a platform for passion and knowledge. It has given me the skills, the desire and the confi dence to explore the vast world beyond the bubble of the rink. And though I do relish the exploration, there is something really nice about staying involved in the sport (and the art form) that has shaped my character and my perceptions. After a few years of post-career distance, I’ve dipped my toes back in with involvement in the Athletes Advisory Committee and part-time coaching. I have to say, the water’s warm.
PHOTO BY ELIESA JOHNSON
PHOTO BY PAUL HARVATH
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