Charlie Turner, 2

Skates seem to be like a second pair of feet for Charlie.

“Charlie started skating last November when he was just 23 months old,” Charlie’s mom, Carolyn Turner, wrote to The Gazette. “His brother started teaching him in-line skating in the basement. Now he attends Friday morning pixie roller skating at Skate City and Saturday morning ice skating classes at Sertich Ice Center every week.”

Turner said that Charlie, who will turn 3 in December, also plays hockey “with the big boys” such as his brother Ben, 14, at Cottonwood Creek Park.

Skating is a family affair for the Turners. Charlie’s sister, Madison, 12, “also loves to roller skate and ice skate with him. She has helped very much with his skating progress!” Turner wrote.

I spoke with Turner on the phone recently to find out more about her whiz kid.

Was it hard to find skates that fit a 23-month-old?

"Yeah. Well, we first started him with Fisher-Price My First Skates. And then we went online after he had taken to it, and in January we ordered (the in-line skates) online, and we just guessed his size. I think we ordered Size 9, toddler."

How old was Charlie when he started walking?

"He was 10 months old."

Were you nervous when Charlie started skating?

"Yeah. He always wears a helmet, and when he first started out he always had knee pads and elbow pads on him. And he went quite slow. Now? He’s pretty sturdy. He still wears a helmet, but he goes faster. I’m more calm now because I know he’s better."

What made you want to get Charlie into ice skating?

"I got him involved in ice skating because I saw an article in The Gazette about the Baby Blades program."

Baby Blades is a program for children ages 1 1/2 to 3 at Sertich Ice Center. Turner said she went with Charlie at first. But he ice skates without his mom now.

Where does he play hockey? Is he on a team?

"He’s not allowed to play on the Skate City league, because of insurance, yet, until probably he’s 4 or 5. But he just plays hockey for fun with his older brother at Cottonwood — it’s like an outdoor skating rink."

Has he ever had a bad injury?

"No, thank goodness. He has never been injured yet."

Where does Charlie's brother play hockey?

"His brother does the in-line hockey at the Tour Arena (at 3325 Meadow Ridge Drive in northern Colorado Springs), and just on the (recreational hockey league) at Skate City."

What are some other things Charlie enjoys doing?

"Charlie loves to go camping. He likes to ride his tricycle, and he loves to watch 'Caillou.'"

What else should people know about Charlie?

"I’m Canadian, and my husband is American — I’ve got my citizenship now — but we think that may come into play with his skills.

"He can skate backward as well as forward now. He’s really doing well for his age."

Turner pointed out that many kids who are about Charlie's age are trying their hand at skating.

There's the Baby Blades program at Sertich for aspiring ice skaters, and the Pixie Class at Skate City for roller skaters ages 2-6.