Tiny little girls in skating dress as the smallest skates you've ever seen. Cute right?
Well, they make me cringe a little. I've seen the littlest kids doing "jumps" when they can't do three turns and spins when they can't do crossovers. Skating in competitions and shows to routines they can't remember without coach shouting the steps to them.
They get the biggest cheers, and I'm all for that, because those little babies need all the help they can get! It's like five year olds doing a-levels, it's too much too soon. They're gonna burn out before they hit double digits. And boy, will those parents and coaches be disappointed then!
I don't think anyone (whether they're 3, 13 or 30) should be taught to jump if they can't do the steps leading into the jump. I don't mean well and at speed and with a good jump after them, I mean at all. One of my friends did her first competition aged 7 and cried when she got lost halfway through and fell at the end. And I'm no child pychologist, but there's a big difference between pre-schoolers and 7 year olds.
My advice to those parents of the babies on ice is to let the kids play on the ice. There's plenty of time for lessons and competitions when they're out of nappies.
Tuesday 2 August 2011
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Fresh Eyes
A few weeks ago I had a lesson with a coach I'd never had before. It was a one off lesson, just to focus on basic skating. I was thrilled that he was happy with my basics, said I skated as if I'd skated as a child and restarted as an adult (instead of starting at the old age of 23!) because I had fixed most of the hard mistakes to fix but still made the easy-to-fix ones, and that he could tell I'd had good coaches.
Having a coach who doesn't know you look at your skating is a great chance to break it down, and see what is good about it and what is bad. They will have a slightly different focus to your regular coach (all coaches do), and don't know what you're capable of until you show them, so they have no pre-conceived expectations about you or your skating.
Your regular coach knows you. They know that you struggled for months to get forward crossovers at all, or that you have an irrational fear of hitting the barrier on backwards edges, or that you do funny arm positions in spins. And because they know you, maybe they concentrate on improving the speed of your crossovers rather than worry about the toe pushing right now, or getting you to do backwards edges at all, or getting rid of the stop before your spin. They notice the other things but they're not their priority to fix right now.
A fresh pair of eyes notices all these things and has an impulse to fix them! Doesn't even have to be someone who doesn't know you! I had my first coach for nine months. When I visited her about six months after she stopped coaching me, she said that she couldn't look at my mohawks every day because they were so scrappy! My regular coach by then was concentrating on getting me to do them at any kind of speed, but a while later I got told they need to be neater (and months later, I'm still getting told this...).
Normally, the only time skaters get to see what someone new thinks of their skating is in a test or a competition, so having a one off lesson with another coach is a great opportunity to get another perspective without the drama of pass or fail, win or lose.
P.S. don't have a lesson with anyone without your coach's approval
Having a coach who doesn't know you look at your skating is a great chance to break it down, and see what is good about it and what is bad. They will have a slightly different focus to your regular coach (all coaches do), and don't know what you're capable of until you show them, so they have no pre-conceived expectations about you or your skating.
Your regular coach knows you. They know that you struggled for months to get forward crossovers at all, or that you have an irrational fear of hitting the barrier on backwards edges, or that you do funny arm positions in spins. And because they know you, maybe they concentrate on improving the speed of your crossovers rather than worry about the toe pushing right now, or getting you to do backwards edges at all, or getting rid of the stop before your spin. They notice the other things but they're not their priority to fix right now.
A fresh pair of eyes notices all these things and has an impulse to fix them! Doesn't even have to be someone who doesn't know you! I had my first coach for nine months. When I visited her about six months after she stopped coaching me, she said that she couldn't look at my mohawks every day because they were so scrappy! My regular coach by then was concentrating on getting me to do them at any kind of speed, but a while later I got told they need to be neater (and months later, I'm still getting told this...).
Normally, the only time skaters get to see what someone new thinks of their skating is in a test or a competition, so having a one off lesson with another coach is a great opportunity to get another perspective without the drama of pass or fail, win or lose.
P.S. don't have a lesson with anyone without your coach's approval
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to my coach.
I promise to show up on time for all my lessons, ready to skate and willing to learn.
I promise to remember that coaching is your income, and to pay all my bills promptly.
I promise to practice in between my lessons to develop the skills you've taught me.
If I don't practice, I promise not to whine if I don't make progress.
I promise to trust your decision on whether I'm ready for a test or competition.
If I disagree with your decision, I will discuss it with you, not the gossip brigade.
Equally, if I have any issue with you at all, I will speak to you first.
I promise never to badmouth you to anyone, I will only say good things.
I promise to represent you well by being courteous to all other ice users
Even if they're not always courteous in return.
I promise to always try my best, even (especially) when it's hard.
I promise that if my best isn't good enough right now, I won't blame you and I will try not to kick the ice.
I promise that you are my coach and I am your skater.
I pledge allegiance to my coach.
I promise to show up on time for all my lessons, ready to skate and willing to learn.
I promise to remember that coaching is your income, and to pay all my bills promptly.
I promise to practice in between my lessons to develop the skills you've taught me.
If I don't practice, I promise not to whine if I don't make progress.
I promise to trust your decision on whether I'm ready for a test or competition.
If I disagree with your decision, I will discuss it with you, not the gossip brigade.
Equally, if I have any issue with you at all, I will speak to you first.
I promise never to badmouth you to anyone, I will only say good things.
I promise to represent you well by being courteous to all other ice users
Even if they're not always courteous in return.
I promise to always try my best, even (especially) when it's hard.
I promise that if my best isn't good enough right now, I won't blame you and I will try not to kick the ice.
I promise that you are my coach and I am your skater.
I pledge allegiance to my coach.
Tuesday 24 May 2011
Smart goal setting
Goals are good. They give you something to aim for and work towards, and then a sense of achievement when you suceed. If I don't succeed in my goals, I don't feel like I failed, I just know I have to keep working on them.
Office speak has a thing about "SMART" objectives. This stands for Specific Measurable Agreed Relevant Time-bound. For more info, see wikipedia. For skating examples, see below.
Specific - don't say "improve crossovers", say "stop toe pushing on crossovers" or "use correct edges on crossovers"
Measurable - to hold a spiral with foot above hip for 10 seconds or to get five rotations on sit spin
Agreed - the skater needs to be on board with the goals, they can't be dictated. I don't mean that coaches need to agree every single short term goal, but there should be medium-long term goals agreed with coach, such as work towards a test.
Relevant - if you're having issues with field moves, working on jumps isn't going to help that
Time-bound - how long will depend on the skater and the goal, but you need a time limit. Its only skating, if you don't meet it, then you can always extend it. You could set a goal for one practice session, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc.
I set monthly goals without discussing it with my coach. But if coach takes me in another direction that month, it doesn't matter. If I've set goals around jumps and spins, but coach wants me to work on field moves and footwork, I'm gonna with with what coach says and ammend my goals. For younger skaters, goal setting involving the coach may be useful, but I generally know from my lessons what needs improving.
I also set medium-long term goals with my coach. We've been inching me towards my level 1 field moves since last summer. When I entered my second competition, we discussed what we wanted to improve on from the first comp (there was two months between them) and decided to work on making the transitions smoother, cleaner and faster. Then after this comp, coach decided we need to work on my footwork and basic skating skills, which I am 100% in agreement with.
I don't always set myself SMART goals in skating. I do task myself with "improve three turns", but I'm trying to force myself to be more specific - one of my goals this month was "to hold edges longer in LFI3 turns" (my worst three turn!!!). I guess not measurable as I haven't said "to hold edges for three seconds" but it's at least targeting a specific bit of the three turn. Maybe next month it'll be "to check the backwards edge on three turns" or "make sure there's a distinct bend and rise". But the SMART principles are worth bearing in mind, even if you do pick and choose which ones to use.
Office speak has a thing about "SMART" objectives. This stands for Specific Measurable Agreed Relevant Time-bound. For more info, see wikipedia. For skating examples, see below.
Specific - don't say "improve crossovers", say "stop toe pushing on crossovers" or "use correct edges on crossovers"
Measurable - to hold a spiral with foot above hip for 10 seconds or to get five rotations on sit spin
Agreed - the skater needs to be on board with the goals, they can't be dictated. I don't mean that coaches need to agree every single short term goal, but there should be medium-long term goals agreed with coach, such as work towards a test.
Relevant - if you're having issues with field moves, working on jumps isn't going to help that
Time-bound - how long will depend on the skater and the goal, but you need a time limit. Its only skating, if you don't meet it, then you can always extend it. You could set a goal for one practice session, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, etc.
I set monthly goals without discussing it with my coach. But if coach takes me in another direction that month, it doesn't matter. If I've set goals around jumps and spins, but coach wants me to work on field moves and footwork, I'm gonna with with what coach says and ammend my goals. For younger skaters, goal setting involving the coach may be useful, but I generally know from my lessons what needs improving.
I also set medium-long term goals with my coach. We've been inching me towards my level 1 field moves since last summer. When I entered my second competition, we discussed what we wanted to improve on from the first comp (there was two months between them) and decided to work on making the transitions smoother, cleaner and faster. Then after this comp, coach decided we need to work on my footwork and basic skating skills, which I am 100% in agreement with.
I don't always set myself SMART goals in skating. I do task myself with "improve three turns", but I'm trying to force myself to be more specific - one of my goals this month was "to hold edges longer in LFI3 turns" (my worst three turn!!!). I guess not measurable as I haven't said "to hold edges for three seconds" but it's at least targeting a specific bit of the three turn. Maybe next month it'll be "to check the backwards edge on three turns" or "make sure there's a distinct bend and rise". But the SMART principles are worth bearing in mind, even if you do pick and choose which ones to use.
Monday 16 May 2011
Falls
Falling is an inevitable part of skating.
If you don't fall you're not pushing yourself.
I believe in this. I see the kids falling on jumps all the time, and actually wish I could throw myself into my jumps enough to do that. I've been learning loop on and off since August, and fell on it for the first time last week. BUT I know that adult skaters in particular are very wary of falling. The fear of injury is very real, and the consequences of an injury are worse for adults than for kids.
The worst falls are the ones you don't expect.
If you've ever seen a kid fall twenty times on a double jump and pick themselves up and go again, then that same kid falls on field moves and gets off the ice crying, you know what I mean. If you are (or have been) that kid, then way to go! I think on hard jumps, you half expect to fall, and even if you don't, your body is preparing to land. You have momentum as well, so you tend to slide across the ice, rather than falling straight down. It's the straight down falls that hurt the most.
Get right back on the horse.
After a fall take a second. Are you hurt? Are you shocked? If yes, then get off the ice for a minute and have a drink and a breather and reassess. If not, then do whatever you fell on straight away. And keep doing it until you do it as well as you normally can. The longer you wait, the more fear has a chance to build up.
Getting over fear.
I've posted before about how scared I used to be. A bad fall can really shake you, no matter how old or young you are. The more you fall, the less likely it is that it will really throw you, but your first bad fall can be awful. Get used to falling. Do it from drags or teapots so it doesn't hurt. Play musical bumps (which did hurt after twenty bumps...)! The more scared you are, the more tense you'll be and the more likely you are to actually hurt yourself if you do fall. When you can't remember every fall anymore, it's a good sign.
If you don't fall you're not pushing yourself.
I believe in this. I see the kids falling on jumps all the time, and actually wish I could throw myself into my jumps enough to do that. I've been learning loop on and off since August, and fell on it for the first time last week. BUT I know that adult skaters in particular are very wary of falling. The fear of injury is very real, and the consequences of an injury are worse for adults than for kids.
The worst falls are the ones you don't expect.
If you've ever seen a kid fall twenty times on a double jump and pick themselves up and go again, then that same kid falls on field moves and gets off the ice crying, you know what I mean. If you are (or have been) that kid, then way to go! I think on hard jumps, you half expect to fall, and even if you don't, your body is preparing to land. You have momentum as well, so you tend to slide across the ice, rather than falling straight down. It's the straight down falls that hurt the most.
Get right back on the horse.
After a fall take a second. Are you hurt? Are you shocked? If yes, then get off the ice for a minute and have a drink and a breather and reassess. If not, then do whatever you fell on straight away. And keep doing it until you do it as well as you normally can. The longer you wait, the more fear has a chance to build up.
Getting over fear.
I've posted before about how scared I used to be. A bad fall can really shake you, no matter how old or young you are. The more you fall, the less likely it is that it will really throw you, but your first bad fall can be awful. Get used to falling. Do it from drags or teapots so it doesn't hurt. Play musical bumps (which did hurt after twenty bumps...)! The more scared you are, the more tense you'll be and the more likely you are to actually hurt yourself if you do fall. When you can't remember every fall anymore, it's a good sign.
Sunday 15 May 2011
Skating Basics
I've witnessed some online arguments lately about the "basics" of skating. Firstly, I do not mean to sound derogatory by calling them basics, or imply that they're easy or beneath me because I can already do them.
The basics are the stepping stones to everything you'll ever do on the ice. And for as long as you skate, you'll keep working on them. They include:
You can always improve your basics. To take forward crossovers as an example again: At skate uk level 5, you pretty much just need to be crossing your feet and moving forward on a circle. At level 10 you need to be using your edges, be able to get up some speed. Level 1 field moves you can't toe push, you have to have good posture and not stomp. Level 3 elements requires more speed and control again.
What if you can't get past that first step? The crossing your feet and moving forward on a circle bit? To be honest, all you can really do it practice practice practice. Have private lessons and get your coach to drill you on it. Spend twice as long on your bad side as your good side. Work out what you're doing differently on the bad side. But the skills I listed above aren't things you can skip. Not if you wanna move onto the next thing and the one after that.
Then, once you have them, you can learn whole new steps and twists on them. Like once you can do mohawks, you can learn barrell rolls. If you can do forward three turns, why not try backward three turns?
But you can always always improve on them. You know how your coach or that high level skater can do a three turn like its effortless? And how they don't look like they're concentrating on every inch of the curve, terrified of the turn, and putting their foot down as soon as they're backwards? They didn't just settle for being able to do something, they pushed it and worked it until it was effortless.
The basics are the stepping stones to everything you'll ever do on the ice. And for as long as you skate, you'll keep working on them. They include:
- forward and backward stroking
- stopping
- forward and backward crossovers
- three turns
- mohawks
You can always improve your basics. To take forward crossovers as an example again: At skate uk level 5, you pretty much just need to be crossing your feet and moving forward on a circle. At level 10 you need to be using your edges, be able to get up some speed. Level 1 field moves you can't toe push, you have to have good posture and not stomp. Level 3 elements requires more speed and control again.
What if you can't get past that first step? The crossing your feet and moving forward on a circle bit? To be honest, all you can really do it practice practice practice. Have private lessons and get your coach to drill you on it. Spend twice as long on your bad side as your good side. Work out what you're doing differently on the bad side. But the skills I listed above aren't things you can skip. Not if you wanna move onto the next thing and the one after that.
Then, once you have them, you can learn whole new steps and twists on them. Like once you can do mohawks, you can learn barrell rolls. If you can do forward three turns, why not try backward three turns?
But you can always always improve on them. You know how your coach or that high level skater can do a three turn like its effortless? And how they don't look like they're concentrating on every inch of the curve, terrified of the turn, and putting their foot down as soon as they're backwards? They didn't just settle for being able to do something, they pushed it and worked it until it was effortless.
Tuesday 10 May 2011
Bitching, backstabbing and bullshit
Ice skating is
I've said before that I love skatemums, and I do! But sometimes you see them in a little cluster talking in hushed voices, glancing around for potential eavesdroppers, and wonder what (or who) they're bitching about. Of course, it could be nothing. Maybe it is nothing and they just want you to think it's something.
I don't know everything that goes on in the coach's room. But I know enough to know that a LOT does! Probably worse than anything that goes on on the ice or in the stands.
My advice is as follows
But hey, I don't follow my own advice all the time, we're only human. But keep your eyes and ears open and don't open your mouth unless you know who's listening and who's ass they're kissing. I've had an argument with another adult skater over comments I've made to her and about her. I've had rumours spread about me because I don't kiss the right ass. I've opened my mouth and inserted my foot. But I'm basically a nice person, I don't thrive on the drama and the bitching, I would much rather we were all happy and having group hugs all the time! If you would prefer the drama, please stay away from me, thank you very much.
- predominantly female
- competitive
- full of short dresses and skin tight training clothes
- expensive
- done unsociable hours
- full of opportunities to show off
- an individual sport
- a lot of unwritten rules
I've said before that I love skatemums, and I do! But sometimes you see them in a little cluster talking in hushed voices, glancing around for potential eavesdroppers, and wonder what (or who) they're bitching about. Of course, it could be nothing. Maybe it is nothing and they just want you to think it's something.
I don't know everything that goes on in the coach's room. But I know enough to know that a LOT does! Probably worse than anything that goes on on the ice or in the stands.
My advice is as follows
- Smile til your face hurts. Then smile through the pain. They'll probably call you fake, but at least they can't say anything worse
- Keep your thoughts to yourself
- Kiss the ass of the people who matter
- Wait for your skater in the car
- Take up another sport. Like tiddlywinks.
But hey, I don't follow my own advice all the time, we're only human. But keep your eyes and ears open and don't open your mouth unless you know who's listening and who's ass they're kissing. I've had an argument with another adult skater over comments I've made to her and about her. I've had rumours spread about me because I don't kiss the right ass. I've opened my mouth and inserted my foot. But I'm basically a nice person, I don't thrive on the drama and the bitching, I would much rather we were all happy and having group hugs all the time! If you would prefer the drama, please stay away from me, thank you very much.
Friday 29 April 2011
Every skater is special, but some are more special than others
We all want to feel special. For our ability/effort/talent to be recognised and rewarded. But if everyone is special, then being special doesn't feel so special anymore. You have to have an in-group and an out-group.
You make skaters feel special by including them in special lessons, inviting them to take part in competitions, inviting them to parties, taking them on trips, giving them special rules like no hoodies. The important point to remember is that you have to make sure you exclude enough people that being in the in-group makes skaters feel special, but big enough to withstand natural wastage (skaters quitting the sport), sabotage (skaters going to other coaches outside of the in-group coaches), or group members not having the time and/or money to participate in all group events.
The in-group is only a bad thing if it hurts people. So, if kids who aren't in the group are made to feel bad deliberately, or if the power trip stops the skaters looking where they're going on ice (filled with a confidence that they're invincible and/or they have more right to be there than anyone else, so everyone had better move or else) and someone gets injured,blatant bullying (of skaters, parents or coaches), turning previously pleasant children into brats, or creating a bad atmosphere between skaters and or parents.
You make skaters feel special by including them in special lessons, inviting them to take part in competitions, inviting them to parties, taking them on trips, giving them special rules like no hoodies. The important point to remember is that you have to make sure you exclude enough people that being in the in-group makes skaters feel special, but big enough to withstand natural wastage (skaters quitting the sport), sabotage (skaters going to other coaches outside of the in-group coaches), or group members not having the time and/or money to participate in all group events.
The in-group is only a bad thing if it hurts people. So, if kids who aren't in the group are made to feel bad deliberately, or if the power trip stops the skaters looking where they're going on ice (filled with a confidence that they're invincible and/or they have more right to be there than anyone else, so everyone had better move or else) and someone gets injured,blatant bullying (of skaters, parents or coaches), turning previously pleasant children into brats, or creating a bad atmosphere between skaters and or parents.
Tuesday 19 April 2011
There will be beginners on public sessions, deal with it!
Reccently I've heard some comments from figure skaters to the effect that if someone gets in their way on a public session, they'll intimidate that person by doing a camel spin or jump or something practically on top of the offender to "scare them off". The same skaters will then complain about so-called hockey skaters (not actual hockey players) dashing about. All this is on a public session.
Public session. Means open to everyone. If you want to practice with a stick and puck, there are plenty of hockey training times. Equally, if you want to seriously practice free skating or ice dance, there is plenty of patch ice. By all means skate on public sessions, but don't expect to be able to train seriously!
I have been on quiet public sessions with some of my friends doing double jumps, flying spins, fast field moves etc. As more people came on, they stopped jumping and were more careful with spins and stuff. When it got busier, we left to go have food. On a busy Saturday morning you're lucky if you can even practice crossovers or one foot glides, and trying anything backwards is suicide.
These people "getting in your way" probably don't mean to. On patch, people can tell when you're setting up a jump or spin, or if you're doing a compulsory dance or field moves. On public, they're too busy trying not to fall down to pay attention to you. And those teenagers zooming around and chasing each other have just as much right to be there as you. So do the little kids who can't skate three steps without falling on their bottoms.
Nobody has a right to do anything to threaten or endanger anyone else. Whether it's crashing into people deliberately, or doing a camel spin right next to someone, it's stupid and childish and worst of all, dangerous and I lose all respect for anyone doing it. In fact, I lose more respect for serious skaters than kids just messing around. If you skate enough to be able to do a camel spin or jumps or whatever, you skate enough to know better.
The people who I've heard making these comments are adult skaters. The child skaters I know are sensible to use public sessions to play with their friends and patch ice to actually train. Grow up, before someone gets seriously hurt!
Public session. Means open to everyone. If you want to practice with a stick and puck, there are plenty of hockey training times. Equally, if you want to seriously practice free skating or ice dance, there is plenty of patch ice. By all means skate on public sessions, but don't expect to be able to train seriously!
I have been on quiet public sessions with some of my friends doing double jumps, flying spins, fast field moves etc. As more people came on, they stopped jumping and were more careful with spins and stuff. When it got busier, we left to go have food. On a busy Saturday morning you're lucky if you can even practice crossovers or one foot glides, and trying anything backwards is suicide.
These people "getting in your way" probably don't mean to. On patch, people can tell when you're setting up a jump or spin, or if you're doing a compulsory dance or field moves. On public, they're too busy trying not to fall down to pay attention to you. And those teenagers zooming around and chasing each other have just as much right to be there as you. So do the little kids who can't skate three steps without falling on their bottoms.
Nobody has a right to do anything to threaten or endanger anyone else. Whether it's crashing into people deliberately, or doing a camel spin right next to someone, it's stupid and childish and worst of all, dangerous and I lose all respect for anyone doing it. In fact, I lose more respect for serious skaters than kids just messing around. If you skate enough to be able to do a camel spin or jumps or whatever, you skate enough to know better.
The people who I've heard making these comments are adult skaters. The child skaters I know are sensible to use public sessions to play with their friends and patch ice to actually train. Grow up, before someone gets seriously hurt!
Saturday 16 April 2011
Switching coaches
I am NOT switching coaches. Promise.
But at my rink a whole lot of people are having to at the moment because one of the full time coaches is leaving. Another coach also just left, although she had fewer skaters than the first one.
Personally, I've only changed coaches once. And it wasn't by choice, it was after my first coach left the rink suddenly. But I've seen it happen, and have thoughts.
Be open.
Ok, sometimes it's not possible. Sometimes you want to have a new coach lined up before you let the old one go. But don't start lessons or take trips with new coach before telling old coach, especially if you want to continue taking lessons with them or at least stay on good terms. New coach shouldn't let you do this, if they do you may want to question their ethics.
Don't gossip.
People are gonna know you've changed coaches (or dropped a coach or started lessons with a new coach) and will probably ask about it. Only ever say nice things. If you have nothing nice to say about Old Coach, focus on the positives of New Coach, not the negatives of Old Coach.
Make it easy for the skater.
You might hate old coach with a fiery passion. But your skater might love them and have respect for them, so don't bitch about old coach in the hearing of the child (or just don't bitch at all). Make sure they like and respect new coach and that they're comfortable with the change. In a situation like mine, where one coach is leaving, the skater is probably sad about leaving their old coach, but they should still be excited and open to lessons with new coach.
Don't sink to their level.
Some coaches are bitches. Just like some teachers/nurses/office workers/firemen/police people etc are bitches. If old coach takes things out you or you kid, all you can do is ignore it and focus on the skating. Keep your head up, grit your teeth and wear earplugs. Like any bully, if they see it upsets you it'll get worse, if you ignore it they'll eventually get bored.
Final note.
My favourite comment from a coach switching parent was that she didn't care if new coach was really a better coach (although she thought that new coach was better), she would rather her child grew up to be like new coach than grew up to be like old coach. Your kid probably isn't going to the Olympics. But any coach is gonna be a huge influence on a child's life. Pick one you wouldn't mind your kid turning into.
But at my rink a whole lot of people are having to at the moment because one of the full time coaches is leaving. Another coach also just left, although she had fewer skaters than the first one.
Personally, I've only changed coaches once. And it wasn't by choice, it was after my first coach left the rink suddenly. But I've seen it happen, and have thoughts.
Be open.
Ok, sometimes it's not possible. Sometimes you want to have a new coach lined up before you let the old one go. But don't start lessons or take trips with new coach before telling old coach, especially if you want to continue taking lessons with them or at least stay on good terms. New coach shouldn't let you do this, if they do you may want to question their ethics.
Don't gossip.
People are gonna know you've changed coaches (or dropped a coach or started lessons with a new coach) and will probably ask about it. Only ever say nice things. If you have nothing nice to say about Old Coach, focus on the positives of New Coach, not the negatives of Old Coach.
Make it easy for the skater.
You might hate old coach with a fiery passion. But your skater might love them and have respect for them, so don't bitch about old coach in the hearing of the child (or just don't bitch at all). Make sure they like and respect new coach and that they're comfortable with the change. In a situation like mine, where one coach is leaving, the skater is probably sad about leaving their old coach, but they should still be excited and open to lessons with new coach.
Don't sink to their level.
Some coaches are bitches. Just like some teachers/nurses/office workers/firemen/police people etc are bitches. If old coach takes things out you or you kid, all you can do is ignore it and focus on the skating. Keep your head up, grit your teeth and wear earplugs. Like any bully, if they see it upsets you it'll get worse, if you ignore it they'll eventually get bored.
Final note.
My favourite comment from a coach switching parent was that she didn't care if new coach was really a better coach (although she thought that new coach was better), she would rather her child grew up to be like new coach than grew up to be like old coach. Your kid probably isn't going to the Olympics. But any coach is gonna be a huge influence on a child's life. Pick one you wouldn't mind your kid turning into.
Thursday 7 April 2011
Off Ice
My coach runs an off ice class for some of her skaters, in a dance studio away from the rink. There's a core group of five of us, and I'm by far the oldest, fattest and worst skater! But the kids are lovely, and hilarious! We generally work on fitness, flexibility, core strength, jumps and presentation. Some weeks we focus on one element more than the others, like this week it was jumps, last week a ballerina came in and we did mainly presentation. But we usually do at least a bit of everything.
Fitness
We start every week by some running round, and since the first week I no longer feel like I'm going to die at the end of it! Skating and off ice are my only real exercise, so another hour a week of exercise is always going to be a good thing!
Flexibility
We do some general stretches and spiral stretches. Coach helps us to do progressive stretches to make them more effective. Some of the kids are ridiculously flexible, but not even them are as bendy as the ballerina, who could calmly sit in side splits and lean her stomach on the floor!
Core Strength
Sit ups and push ups have become a feature at the beginning. One of the kids finds these absolutely hysterical, and when Coach made her do them on the ice, she was giggling away! Another one where we lay on our backs or our stomachs and raise our legs and shoulders off the ground slightly. It's really hard on your back, easier on your stomach. And this week I beat the kids, we had to hold it for thirty seconds and I was the only one who did it! Coach made the kids do it again, mwahahaha! The kids also do cartwheels, handstands and headstands sometimes, but I give these a miss. As an extremely overweight adult, I don't think throwing my whole weight onto my hands is a good thing, and may well end in a broken wrist or two!
Jumps
One of the kids is working on her axel. She can land it off ice when she puts the effort in, but hasn't done it on the ice yet. I think knowing she can do it off ice is a confidence booster, or it would be for me anyway! Some of the others have attempted double axels off the ice, while still only working on low doubles on the ice. It's a good chance to work on height, landing positions, rotation, not wrapping your legs in the air, and committing to the jump, without actually doing it. You can still fall off ice, but it doesn't seem as scary some how. Maybe cause you don't have that pesky, slippery ice! Sometimes off ice jumps are harder because you don't have the momentum or speed of the ice to help you. Also, make sure you wear deccent shoes! I hurt my ankle one week doing too many jumps in rubbish shoes (nothing major, and it was fine after a week, but why risk it?)
Presentation
I mentioned the ballerina who came in, she helped us with some graceful arm movements (well they were graceful when she did them anyway, not sure I quite pulled it off!). Coach also had us work on our programs off ice so we could focus on presenting them nicely, without having to worry too much about the actual elements.
Fitness
We start every week by some running round, and since the first week I no longer feel like I'm going to die at the end of it! Skating and off ice are my only real exercise, so another hour a week of exercise is always going to be a good thing!
Flexibility
We do some general stretches and spiral stretches. Coach helps us to do progressive stretches to make them more effective. Some of the kids are ridiculously flexible, but not even them are as bendy as the ballerina, who could calmly sit in side splits and lean her stomach on the floor!
Core Strength
Sit ups and push ups have become a feature at the beginning. One of the kids finds these absolutely hysterical, and when Coach made her do them on the ice, she was giggling away! Another one where we lay on our backs or our stomachs and raise our legs and shoulders off the ground slightly. It's really hard on your back, easier on your stomach. And this week I beat the kids, we had to hold it for thirty seconds and I was the only one who did it! Coach made the kids do it again, mwahahaha! The kids also do cartwheels, handstands and headstands sometimes, but I give these a miss. As an extremely overweight adult, I don't think throwing my whole weight onto my hands is a good thing, and may well end in a broken wrist or two!
Jumps
One of the kids is working on her axel. She can land it off ice when she puts the effort in, but hasn't done it on the ice yet. I think knowing she can do it off ice is a confidence booster, or it would be for me anyway! Some of the others have attempted double axels off the ice, while still only working on low doubles on the ice. It's a good chance to work on height, landing positions, rotation, not wrapping your legs in the air, and committing to the jump, without actually doing it. You can still fall off ice, but it doesn't seem as scary some how. Maybe cause you don't have that pesky, slippery ice! Sometimes off ice jumps are harder because you don't have the momentum or speed of the ice to help you. Also, make sure you wear deccent shoes! I hurt my ankle one week doing too many jumps in rubbish shoes (nothing major, and it was fine after a week, but why risk it?)
Presentation
I mentioned the ballerina who came in, she helped us with some graceful arm movements (well they were graceful when she did them anyway, not sure I quite pulled it off!). Coach also had us work on our programs off ice so we could focus on presenting them nicely, without having to worry too much about the actual elements.
Thursday 24 March 2011
The hidden costs of skating
I carefully considered the cost of my new skates and blades. What I didn't consider was the amount I'd then spend on trying to stop them mutilating my feet!
A competition isn't just the dress and the entry fees, it's the extra lessons, tights, food and drink on the day, a ridiculously overpriced but essential competition hoody, makeup, hairspray, flowers and toys to throw on for your friends, photos, laces with diamonte on them (I resisted these without too much difficulty, mainly cause I couldn't bear the thought of unlacing and relacing my skates, also i think they're pretty tacky), new soakers, new leggings etc.
I think this is why I find it so hard to budget. I budget for the direct costs, but forget the rest!
- Felt padding - stuck it to the skates on the top and the edges of the tongue, not terribly effective
- Blister plasters - stuck to my skin where the boots rub at the tops, during a 30 minute lesson they got rubbed right off, useless
- Foam circle things like corn pads but for your ankles - not that easy to keep in position as they don't stick to anything.
- Bandage - not actually for the rubbing but for support after I hurt my foot doing too many off ice jumps, well it was an extra layer between boot and skin!
- Voltarol painease gel - I use this regularly on my feet (not suitable for broken skin or blisters), to help with aching feet, it does help to numb the pain.
A competition isn't just the dress and the entry fees, it's the extra lessons, tights, food and drink on the day, a ridiculously overpriced but essential competition hoody, makeup, hairspray, flowers and toys to throw on for your friends, photos, laces with diamonte on them (I resisted these without too much difficulty, mainly cause I couldn't bear the thought of unlacing and relacing my skates, also i think they're pretty tacky), new soakers, new leggings etc.
I think this is why I find it so hard to budget. I budget for the direct costs, but forget the rest!
Saturday 19 March 2011
The minefield of new skates
My feet hurt, my ankles hurt, my bank balance really hurts. I just got new skates and new blades. Jackson Premier and Coronation Ace Parabolic.
I did my research, I chose skates and blades that were appropriate for my level. I didn't really need the parabolic version, but the store didn't have the regular ones in stock, so offered me the parabolic version at no extra charge. They assured me the difference was minimal and wouldn't affect sharpening or skating.
I got my boots and blades from different stores, because the rink shop at my home rink only stocks Jackson boots and Jackson Ultima blades. I didn't want the Ultima blades, so I got them from a different rink shop on the t'interweb. Both shops were very helpful, although the local one seemed personally offended by my choice of blades, but he still mounted them for me.
I anticipated the pain of breaking in new skates. I haven't fallen in them yet (which is surprising!) but fully expect to trip a lot when I start really pushing myself in them, cause I'm still taking it easy at the moment. I laughed at the questions non-skaters asked "what colour are you getting" and "so you use the toepicks to stop, right?".
What I didn't expect was having to justify my choice of boots and blades to other skaters. At my rink everyone has Jackson boots and Ultima blades. Well, like 95% of people anyway. There are a million kids with Jackson Freestyle, then a big group of Jackson Competitor and a smaller group with Jackson Premier. Nobody that I know of has Jackson Elite or anything higher, although in my opinion some of the ones with Premiers probably should've gone for Elite.
For an overweight adult skater struggling with loop to get the same skates as the kids landing doubles seems to strike some as weird. Never mind that I weigh at least twice as much as these kids, who may well need to be in higher level skates ideally anyway, or that increasing numbers of teenagers who haven't got their axel also have Premiers. Or that according to most online sources, they're aimed at my level. I must think I'm an amazing skater for getting these skates. And I'm not, clearly, so I must be full of myself.
As for blades.. the fashionable blades at my rink are Ultima Lite. All the cool kids have them. And apparently I should want them. I don't, and never have, partly because they're the "in" thing. Coronation Aces are the most popular freestyle blade in the world, but I should want the Lites because they have cool holes in them.
It isn't a fluke that opinions are so biased towards Jackson and Ultima at my rink. I'm not disputing them as an excellent make, and as I said, I bought Jackson skates! But the trend is very much led by one or two of the influential coaches. One of my friends has skated for twenty years and has had boots of half a dozen different makes. I've had Risport Antea, Edea Overture and now Jacksons. I would be shocked if some of the kids at the rink had even tried on anything except Jackson. And however good Jackson are, they're not right for eveyrone, and this prejudice towards them is bad for skaters who might find Reidells or Risport or Edea or Graf or Wifa or SP Terri or some other make I can't think of, to be a better fit.
I did my research, I chose skates and blades that were appropriate for my level. I didn't really need the parabolic version, but the store didn't have the regular ones in stock, so offered me the parabolic version at no extra charge. They assured me the difference was minimal and wouldn't affect sharpening or skating.
I got my boots and blades from different stores, because the rink shop at my home rink only stocks Jackson boots and Jackson Ultima blades. I didn't want the Ultima blades, so I got them from a different rink shop on the t'interweb. Both shops were very helpful, although the local one seemed personally offended by my choice of blades, but he still mounted them for me.
I anticipated the pain of breaking in new skates. I haven't fallen in them yet (which is surprising!) but fully expect to trip a lot when I start really pushing myself in them, cause I'm still taking it easy at the moment. I laughed at the questions non-skaters asked "what colour are you getting" and "so you use the toepicks to stop, right?".
What I didn't expect was having to justify my choice of boots and blades to other skaters. At my rink everyone has Jackson boots and Ultima blades. Well, like 95% of people anyway. There are a million kids with Jackson Freestyle, then a big group of Jackson Competitor and a smaller group with Jackson Premier. Nobody that I know of has Jackson Elite or anything higher, although in my opinion some of the ones with Premiers probably should've gone for Elite.
For an overweight adult skater struggling with loop to get the same skates as the kids landing doubles seems to strike some as weird. Never mind that I weigh at least twice as much as these kids, who may well need to be in higher level skates ideally anyway, or that increasing numbers of teenagers who haven't got their axel also have Premiers. Or that according to most online sources, they're aimed at my level. I must think I'm an amazing skater for getting these skates. And I'm not, clearly, so I must be full of myself.
As for blades.. the fashionable blades at my rink are Ultima Lite. All the cool kids have them. And apparently I should want them. I don't, and never have, partly because they're the "in" thing. Coronation Aces are the most popular freestyle blade in the world, but I should want the Lites because they have cool holes in them.
It isn't a fluke that opinions are so biased towards Jackson and Ultima at my rink. I'm not disputing them as an excellent make, and as I said, I bought Jackson skates! But the trend is very much led by one or two of the influential coaches. One of my friends has skated for twenty years and has had boots of half a dozen different makes. I've had Risport Antea, Edea Overture and now Jacksons. I would be shocked if some of the kids at the rink had even tried on anything except Jackson. And however good Jackson are, they're not right for eveyrone, and this prejudice towards them is bad for skaters who might find Reidells or Risport or Edea or Graf or Wifa or SP Terri or some other make I can't think of, to be a better fit.
Thursday 3 March 2011
Ballet
I decided that ice skating doesn't have enough strangely named, impossible moves that require more co-ordination than I have by demanding that I move my arms and feet at the same time, I decided to have a go at ballet.
Like most little girls, I did ballet (and tap) briefly. I was not good. My co-ordination hasn't deteriorated with age, I simply never had any to begin with. Even my father admits now that watching me dance was a chore. It's probably for the best that I quit when they wanted me to start working towards ballet exams.
I had the same arm/leg co-ordination issues as I do on the ice, but jumping around was fun. I could feel my posture improve, just need to try and translate that onto the ice. The teacher threw us in at the deep end with lots of words that made me wish I'd studied french at school, and I have forgotten the steps we did already.
Obviously, after just one lesson, I don't know how much it'll help my skating, but it's good for me and it's fun!
Like most little girls, I did ballet (and tap) briefly. I was not good. My co-ordination hasn't deteriorated with age, I simply never had any to begin with. Even my father admits now that watching me dance was a chore. It's probably for the best that I quit when they wanted me to start working towards ballet exams.
I had the same arm/leg co-ordination issues as I do on the ice, but jumping around was fun. I could feel my posture improve, just need to try and translate that onto the ice. The teacher threw us in at the deep end with lots of words that made me wish I'd studied french at school, and I have forgotten the steps we did already.
Obviously, after just one lesson, I don't know how much it'll help my skating, but it's good for me and it's fun!
Tuesday 1 March 2011
My competition experience
Yesterday I bullet pointed the things I learned from my first competition. Today is gonna be the "what I did on my summer holiday" version. Sorry about that.
While waiting at the rink for my coach (I was very early!) I watched patch (amazing skaters, an extrordinary number of sit spins and program run throughs from one coach's skaters dodging skaters from other rinks who didn't know whose music it was) and began to think that entering a competition was one of those things that sounds like a great idea at the time...
Coach arrived. Me and another beginner skater stared into each other's panic-stricken eyes instead of running round while coach rounded up her other skaters. She was extremely impressed with our warm up technique... Coach then led an actual off ice warm up. As well as being good physically, this is also good mentally as it gives a panicky mind something else to focus on. Took a break from my off ice program run through to watch the cutest little girl from my rink being the first skater of the day. Final off ice program run through and then off to get changed.
For some reason, I found out about the changing room situation from a message left on my mother's answering machine. My mother lives a couple of hundred miles away and I haven't lived with her for at least six years. But at least she called to pass on the message "some lady phoned for you, something about changing rooms". After suggesting she might take a note of the lady's name, number, and what it was about the changing rooms, she phoned back to tell me I was getting changed in the disabled toilet. Being over 18 I'm not allowed in the changing rooms.
Dress on, skates on, battled with my over the boot tights that decided they didn't actually want to go over my left boot. Coach told me I had plenty of time. She untangled my make up bag from my zuca bag and I untangled the hooks on my tights from my sock. Tights fastened over my boots and jacket on. Start to feel seriously sick, not helped when a little girl comes off the ice at the end of her program with her hand over her mouth bolting for the exit.
Waiting for the warm up to start took for.ev.er. But I knew four out of the five girls in my warm up group, so we were talking and they reassured me I was unlikely to actually die in the competition. Warm up seemed pretty long actually, I had time to skate round, do backwards crossovers, several salchows, toe loops and spins, and my step sequence and a couple of spirals.
While I waited for my turn to skate (I was sixth in my warm up group of six), my legs turned to jelly, my coach reminded me that jumps actually need to jump up, and I felt more sick. Wondered briefly if my coach would let me make a run for it, decided she probably wouln't.
My turn. Stood on the ice by the door for an eternity while the previous skaters marks were called. Coach instilled a brand new fear that my blades would get stuck to the ice if I didn't shuffle them. Coach remined me to breath but I got distracted while she made me breath in and breath out and became the only skater ever to mess up breahing! They called my name and I was very grateful Coach had made my starting point just a couple of pushes from the entrance. We'd practiced entering from a different door, so I got the angle slightly wrong, but I covered it.
I struck my starting pose and waited. Wow, it seemed like everyone elses music started straight away, why didn't mine? Why is man in the music box waving manically? Oh dear God my music isn't working! Oh there goes Coach racing up the side of the rink, presumably with my spare CD. Crap, remember to breath. Deep breath. Relax. Oh crap. Coach is running into the coach's room. Judges say something to me. I don't really hear them but it seems like they're calling me over so I sort of move in their general direction. Okay, they're definately calling me over. Referee explains my music isn't working, observes that someone has been racing up the side of the rink, I confirm this is my coach. I'm instructed strictly not to get off the ice, an offered a blanket to keep warm. The judges are nice, they remind me they're people. Some of the kids who're skating later run up an offer to sing my music, which makes me laugh nervously an hope it won't come to that. More silence. Silence means no music. Oh crap. I shuffle my feet some more. Then a blast of music but it isn't mine. Then oh thank the lord, my music! The judges ask me if its mine and I confirm it is with much relief. I skate back to my starting position and am already in my pose when they announce my name again.
Finally, my music starts and I skate my program. Nothing goes wrong, I do a nice upright spin, making sure I hold it for 4 or 5 revolutions (I need 3), I land all my jumps which at least take off even if they're not as high and springy as Coach would like. I give the judges a big smile as I strike my finishing pose, relieved that I finished on time, then skate to the centre to curtsey. I'm getting cheered and something gets thrown on the ice for me.
Off the ice and Coach comes out of the music box looking at least as stressed as me by the music fiasco and hugs me. The kids from the rink come up to say well done and are bursting to tell me how much Coach was shaking as they used her iPod for my music. I get given two flowers and a teddy that got thrown on for me, plus a certificate, a towel for my blades, and a bottle of water. The kids also tell me there was a pair of headphones on the ice right near where I started, and that they were scared I would skate over them. I'm amazed that I didn't notice but relieved I didn't skate over them and fall.
Still shaking, I head back to my zuca to recover. Don't stop shaking for well over ten minutes. Have no idea of my marks until a kind SkateMum shows me where she's written down everyone's marks.
I came last, but I had a good skate, didn't fall, didn't embarrass myself or my coach, everyone said well done, especially for holding it together with the music failure, and for going out at all being an adult.
While waiting at the rink for my coach (I was very early!) I watched patch (amazing skaters, an extrordinary number of sit spins and program run throughs from one coach's skaters dodging skaters from other rinks who didn't know whose music it was) and began to think that entering a competition was one of those things that sounds like a great idea at the time...
Coach arrived. Me and another beginner skater stared into each other's panic-stricken eyes instead of running round while coach rounded up her other skaters. She was extremely impressed with our warm up technique... Coach then led an actual off ice warm up. As well as being good physically, this is also good mentally as it gives a panicky mind something else to focus on. Took a break from my off ice program run through to watch the cutest little girl from my rink being the first skater of the day. Final off ice program run through and then off to get changed.
For some reason, I found out about the changing room situation from a message left on my mother's answering machine. My mother lives a couple of hundred miles away and I haven't lived with her for at least six years. But at least she called to pass on the message "some lady phoned for you, something about changing rooms". After suggesting she might take a note of the lady's name, number, and what it was about the changing rooms, she phoned back to tell me I was getting changed in the disabled toilet. Being over 18 I'm not allowed in the changing rooms.
Dress on, skates on, battled with my over the boot tights that decided they didn't actually want to go over my left boot. Coach told me I had plenty of time. She untangled my make up bag from my zuca bag and I untangled the hooks on my tights from my sock. Tights fastened over my boots and jacket on. Start to feel seriously sick, not helped when a little girl comes off the ice at the end of her program with her hand over her mouth bolting for the exit.
Waiting for the warm up to start took for.ev.er. But I knew four out of the five girls in my warm up group, so we were talking and they reassured me I was unlikely to actually die in the competition. Warm up seemed pretty long actually, I had time to skate round, do backwards crossovers, several salchows, toe loops and spins, and my step sequence and a couple of spirals.
While I waited for my turn to skate (I was sixth in my warm up group of six), my legs turned to jelly, my coach reminded me that jumps actually need to jump up, and I felt more sick. Wondered briefly if my coach would let me make a run for it, decided she probably wouln't.
My turn. Stood on the ice by the door for an eternity while the previous skaters marks were called. Coach instilled a brand new fear that my blades would get stuck to the ice if I didn't shuffle them. Coach remined me to breath but I got distracted while she made me breath in and breath out and became the only skater ever to mess up breahing! They called my name and I was very grateful Coach had made my starting point just a couple of pushes from the entrance. We'd practiced entering from a different door, so I got the angle slightly wrong, but I covered it.
I struck my starting pose and waited. Wow, it seemed like everyone elses music started straight away, why didn't mine? Why is man in the music box waving manically? Oh dear God my music isn't working! Oh there goes Coach racing up the side of the rink, presumably with my spare CD. Crap, remember to breath. Deep breath. Relax. Oh crap. Coach is running into the coach's room. Judges say something to me. I don't really hear them but it seems like they're calling me over so I sort of move in their general direction. Okay, they're definately calling me over. Referee explains my music isn't working, observes that someone has been racing up the side of the rink, I confirm this is my coach. I'm instructed strictly not to get off the ice, an offered a blanket to keep warm. The judges are nice, they remind me they're people. Some of the kids who're skating later run up an offer to sing my music, which makes me laugh nervously an hope it won't come to that. More silence. Silence means no music. Oh crap. I shuffle my feet some more. Then a blast of music but it isn't mine. Then oh thank the lord, my music! The judges ask me if its mine and I confirm it is with much relief. I skate back to my starting position and am already in my pose when they announce my name again.
Finally, my music starts and I skate my program. Nothing goes wrong, I do a nice upright spin, making sure I hold it for 4 or 5 revolutions (I need 3), I land all my jumps which at least take off even if they're not as high and springy as Coach would like. I give the judges a big smile as I strike my finishing pose, relieved that I finished on time, then skate to the centre to curtsey. I'm getting cheered and something gets thrown on the ice for me.
Off the ice and Coach comes out of the music box looking at least as stressed as me by the music fiasco and hugs me. The kids from the rink come up to say well done and are bursting to tell me how much Coach was shaking as they used her iPod for my music. I get given two flowers and a teddy that got thrown on for me, plus a certificate, a towel for my blades, and a bottle of water. The kids also tell me there was a pair of headphones on the ice right near where I started, and that they were scared I would skate over them. I'm amazed that I didn't notice but relieved I didn't skate over them and fall.
Still shaking, I head back to my zuca to recover. Don't stop shaking for well over ten minutes. Have no idea of my marks until a kind SkateMum shows me where she's written down everyone's marks.
I came last, but I had a good skate, didn't fall, didn't embarrass myself or my coach, everyone said well done, especially for holding it together with the music failure, and for going out at all being an adult.
Monday 28 February 2011
Competition!
I survived my first competition!!! I'm happy with how I did, even though I came last. Skaters who were far better than me were far more disappointed in how they did!
Some things I learned:
Some things I learned:
- 99% of skaters are very polite. They virtually all said "thank you" when I told them well done and handed them a certificate of participation, even the ones who would probably bin it before they got home
- Nobody ever gets boo-ed. Everyone gets cheered. I like this.
- That it is very difficult to find unique music (*smug* no one else skated to Baker Street)
- Judges are people too. People who give up their time to watch and judge figure skating. Respect to them!
- If your music doesn't work, there's only 3 minutes allowed to fix it or you get disqualified. If you leave the ice, you also get disqualified. God bless my coach for racing around the rink with my spare CD and her iPod when the spare didn't work either!
- Little girls are very competitive about being flower girls. Possibly more so than the competition itself!
- Even the best skaters fall in competitions. This doesn't neccessarily mean they don't win, so keep going and keep smiling!
- There will always be people who don't take tests so they can win competitions. This is just something you have to deal with.
- I think it's fun. I'm not entirely sure, but i think so
Thursday 24 February 2011
Rink of discontent
An ice rink is a predominantly female, competitve, time pressured, expensive environment. I suppose it's not all that surprising that there's more drama in an ice rink than Albert Square at times! But at the same time, for the coaches it's also a workplace, and there needs to be a professional attitude. I think it's when the professionalism starts to slide that the worst problems occur.
So what do you do when you can cut the tension in the air with a toepick?
Option 1
Find out everything you possibly can from everyone you know (including your hairdressers dogsitter who once went out with a hockey player). Then repeat everything you found out to everyone else, making sure to add in extra juicy bits to keep them coming back for more. Don't worry about whether it's true or not, it's entertaining right?
Option 2
Keep out of it altogether. Refuse to listen to a negative word from anyone about anyone or anything. Stick your fingers in your ears and sing "lalalala" as loudly as possibly whenever anyone speaks to you in case they're going to bitch about someone else.
Option 3
Hear everything. Take it all in. Make your own judgements and act on them without compromising yours or your skaters integrity. Don't repeat anything anyone else tells you.
Option 4
Struggle to balance everything. Is it worth compromising your skater's chance for that solo in the show in the interests of their future in the sport? Can you really believe everything your coach/that SkateMum/your skater/other skaters are telling you? Keep your head down but can't help hearing things you'd rather not know. Defend your friends but find yourself making enemies you never intended to.
I believe that most people will fall into Option 4. Its HARD, especially for parents, to know who to believe when they have conflicting information. It's hard to make a decision you know may have negative consequences. It's hard to speak up. Adult skaters have less to lose. Well, maybe not less, but whatever we lose, it's us that loses it, not our child.
Me? I am loyal to my coach and my friends. I can't say I never gossip, but I don't make up lies, and I don't gossip with anyone and everyone, I share my views with people who have similar views. I never say a bad word about my coach who I adore. I have complained about issues that have affected me and those I love. I have also smiled and been polite to people I would rather punch in the face. I try to balance it. It's a work in progress.
So what do you do when you can cut the tension in the air with a toepick?
Option 1
Find out everything you possibly can from everyone you know (including your hairdressers dogsitter who once went out with a hockey player). Then repeat everything you found out to everyone else, making sure to add in extra juicy bits to keep them coming back for more. Don't worry about whether it's true or not, it's entertaining right?
Option 2
Keep out of it altogether. Refuse to listen to a negative word from anyone about anyone or anything. Stick your fingers in your ears and sing "lalalala" as loudly as possibly whenever anyone speaks to you in case they're going to bitch about someone else.
Option 3
Hear everything. Take it all in. Make your own judgements and act on them without compromising yours or your skaters integrity. Don't repeat anything anyone else tells you.
Option 4
Struggle to balance everything. Is it worth compromising your skater's chance for that solo in the show in the interests of their future in the sport? Can you really believe everything your coach/that SkateMum/your skater/other skaters are telling you? Keep your head down but can't help hearing things you'd rather not know. Defend your friends but find yourself making enemies you never intended to.
I believe that most people will fall into Option 4. Its HARD, especially for parents, to know who to believe when they have conflicting information. It's hard to make a decision you know may have negative consequences. It's hard to speak up. Adult skaters have less to lose. Well, maybe not less, but whatever we lose, it's us that loses it, not our child.
Me? I am loyal to my coach and my friends. I can't say I never gossip, but I don't make up lies, and I don't gossip with anyone and everyone, I share my views with people who have similar views. I never say a bad word about my coach who I adore. I have complained about issues that have affected me and those I love. I have also smiled and been polite to people I would rather punch in the face. I try to balance it. It's a work in progress.
Thursday 17 February 2011
Group hug!
Today I had a lovely conversation with one of the best skaters at the rink (11 years old, landing doubles). She told me she thought it was brilliant that some adults do tests (I'm not in for any yet, but definately will take them when I'm ready, and I pointed out another adult who has a field moves test next week), as a lot don't. When I jokingly asked what she thought of adults who do competitions, she thought it was really amazing, and told me the special rink cheer for our skaters, and promised to cheer for me.
When I told my coach I wanted to compete in the Open against the kids, I think she anticipated opposition. But I've had overwhelming support from the skaters and their parents. Coaches have been slightly mixed (one asked my coach "does Turnip know she's gonna be skating against kids?!" my coach said I did, and a different coach added "good on Turnip!"). The ones who's opinions matter at all to me have all been positive though. The committee organising the competition have been supportive, and apparently the referee was excited that adults had entered.
My rink has it's ups and downs and not always the nicest atmosphere (as I'm sure do most places), but such a positive attitude towards me and my skating really makes me feel good! We'll see how parents and skaters from other rinks who don't know me react, but it's not like I'm a former champion skating down, I'm more of a beginner than a lot of the kids I'm skating against. I hope once they see I'm not a threat to their little darlings, they'll embrace the idea of adults competing. But if not, I don't really care!
It's eleven days til the competition and I realised today I'm probably never gonna feel like I'm ready for it. Me and my coach just want me to skate my program nicely, with two salchows, a toe loop and an upright spin all counted. Some days this is by no means a sure thing! But no matter how bad I skate, I'm sure I'll get cheers during and hugs afterwards. And I'm betting I'll still be proud of myself for going out there and doing it!
When I told my coach I wanted to compete in the Open against the kids, I think she anticipated opposition. But I've had overwhelming support from the skaters and their parents. Coaches have been slightly mixed (one asked my coach "does Turnip know she's gonna be skating against kids?!" my coach said I did, and a different coach added "good on Turnip!"). The ones who's opinions matter at all to me have all been positive though. The committee organising the competition have been supportive, and apparently the referee was excited that adults had entered.
My rink has it's ups and downs and not always the nicest atmosphere (as I'm sure do most places), but such a positive attitude towards me and my skating really makes me feel good! We'll see how parents and skaters from other rinks who don't know me react, but it's not like I'm a former champion skating down, I'm more of a beginner than a lot of the kids I'm skating against. I hope once they see I'm not a threat to their little darlings, they'll embrace the idea of adults competing. But if not, I don't really care!
It's eleven days til the competition and I realised today I'm probably never gonna feel like I'm ready for it. Me and my coach just want me to skate my program nicely, with two salchows, a toe loop and an upright spin all counted. Some days this is by no means a sure thing! But no matter how bad I skate, I'm sure I'll get cheers during and hugs afterwards. And I'm betting I'll still be proud of myself for going out there and doing it!
Tuesday 8 February 2011
Feel the fear and do it anyway
We've all seen them, the barrier huggers who totter stiff kneed and anxious around the rink over and over again. And the next time you see them, they're still as nervous as ever. But you keep seeing them. As they grit their teeth and edge their way round. And one day they're taking tiny baby steps backwards.
Ever wondered what keeps them going?
Why would you keep going when every step is mental torture and your whole body is rigid with fear? What makes someone put themselves through that?
I have no idea. And I should, because I've been there.
A few months after I started skating I had a couple of bad, tailbone breaking falls. It absolutely wrecked my confidence. The next time I got on the ice, the slightest glide made me freeze up in terror. I was in tears with fear and frustration. For months I was terrified, I couldn't skate the width of the rink (when I had been doing quite happily previously). Oddly, backwards was slightly easier as it was less likely that I would catch the dreaded toepicks. And lemons worked too.
Endless patience from an amazing coach in group lessons helped. So did more endless patience from my first private lesson coach, together with a focus on my forward skating technique. Mostly it was sheer, teeth gritting determination. I would NOT let this beat me.
Now I'm doing jumps, spins, field moves and a program. I adore skating, and will try anything when asked. I'm no longer paralysed by fear. I love the feel of gliding around on the ice, of landing a jump, of spinning so fast it leaves me dizzy. My first coach uses me as a shining example for nervous skaters.
Is the fear still there? Well, something stops me throwing myself into my loop, or doing steps fast, or not dragging my toe rake on the entrance to a spin, and I guess it is fear. It's not overpowering and all consuming like it was once upon a time. I'm not entirely sure it'll ever completely go away. But it won't stop me achieving what I want to. Like I wouldn't quit when I was scared to lift my feet up off the ice, I won't quit now.
Ever wondered what keeps them going?
Why would you keep going when every step is mental torture and your whole body is rigid with fear? What makes someone put themselves through that?
I have no idea. And I should, because I've been there.
A few months after I started skating I had a couple of bad, tailbone breaking falls. It absolutely wrecked my confidence. The next time I got on the ice, the slightest glide made me freeze up in terror. I was in tears with fear and frustration. For months I was terrified, I couldn't skate the width of the rink (when I had been doing quite happily previously). Oddly, backwards was slightly easier as it was less likely that I would catch the dreaded toepicks. And lemons worked too.
Endless patience from an amazing coach in group lessons helped. So did more endless patience from my first private lesson coach, together with a focus on my forward skating technique. Mostly it was sheer, teeth gritting determination. I would NOT let this beat me.
Now I'm doing jumps, spins, field moves and a program. I adore skating, and will try anything when asked. I'm no longer paralysed by fear. I love the feel of gliding around on the ice, of landing a jump, of spinning so fast it leaves me dizzy. My first coach uses me as a shining example for nervous skaters.
Is the fear still there? Well, something stops me throwing myself into my loop, or doing steps fast, or not dragging my toe rake on the entrance to a spin, and I guess it is fear. It's not overpowering and all consuming like it was once upon a time. I'm not entirely sure it'll ever completely go away. But it won't stop me achieving what I want to. Like I wouldn't quit when I was scared to lift my feet up off the ice, I won't quit now.
Thursday 3 February 2011
Imagining a life without skating
I've been skating for two years, and in that time it's become probably the most important thing in my life. What if I'd never taken to the ice..?
Sleep!
All in all, I think skating's worth it!
Sleep!
- I wouldn't have to get up at 5am several times a week
- But I wouldn't appreciate that 7am is actually a lie in
- I wouldn't have developed a napping habit
- Most of the people I care most about I know through skating. Without skating, I'd pretty much just have family, work colleagues and my flatmate.
- Outside the rink I mainly talk to people roughly my own age. Inside the rink I talk to people of all ages.
- I'm unfit now!
- If I didn't skate I would have zero exercise
- I wouldn't have any incentive to improve my flexibility
- On the plus side, I wouldn't have hurt my hip on a stupid three turn! Or hurt my knee attempting the splits...
- Glitter!!! Imagine a world without glitter spray... terrible!
- I wouldn't have had the brilliant experience of taking part in an ice show and the chaos, frustration, achievement, fun, and more chaos that this involves.
- The best times I've had in the last year and a half have been with people I met through skating.
- I would actually have some!
- Although I never seemed to have that much before skating anyway, I guess I just found crap to spend it on that now I realise I don't reeeeeally need (or else I need but skating is more important!)
- My annual bonus would be to buy myself something pretty, not already earmarked for new skates and blades (which are actually quite pretty)
- I would have no idea about the politics that go on in an ice rink. This would be a wonderful thing!
- I would never have the confidence to try something new no matter what people think of me for doing it.
- I wouldn't fall down so much.
All in all, I think skating's worth it!
Monday 31 January 2011
I know!
I'm a slow learner, okay? That means my coach will have to tell me the same thing a million times before I manage to do it. It's not that I don't understand what she wants from me, it's that I have a hard time communicating this to the rest of my body and persuading it to actually co-operate. So when she tells me my crossovers are still scratchy I respond: "I know". It's not that I'm brushing off what she's saying, it's that I know what I should be doing and I'm frustrated that it's not happening. I think (hope!) that my coach understands this.
It's harder with a coach who doesn't teach you all the time. They might think they're telling you something new, whereas in fact you've heard nothing else for the last three months. You have to remember they're trying to help, and watch them try to hide their disappointment when you fail to miraculously correct what you're doing wrong. It's easy to forget that they don't see you struggle with the same thing over and over and over and OVER again. They don't know that you know exactly what you're supposed to be doing but just can't do it. So be nice and say thank you, even if you say "I know" as well.
"Don't drag your toe rake on the wind up to the spin" says well meaning coach coach. "I know" says I. And I still do it in the next spin. And the next. And the next. "A bit better," says well meaning coach, but I can hear the doubt in his voice. Don't worry dude, my coach will be telling me the same thing for the rest of eternity!
It's harder with a coach who doesn't teach you all the time. They might think they're telling you something new, whereas in fact you've heard nothing else for the last three months. You have to remember they're trying to help, and watch them try to hide their disappointment when you fail to miraculously correct what you're doing wrong. It's easy to forget that they don't see you struggle with the same thing over and over and over and OVER again. They don't know that you know exactly what you're supposed to be doing but just can't do it. So be nice and say thank you, even if you say "I know" as well.
"Don't drag your toe rake on the wind up to the spin" says well meaning coach coach. "I know" says I. And I still do it in the next spin. And the next. And the next. "A bit better," says well meaning coach, but I can hear the doubt in his voice. Don't worry dude, my coach will be telling me the same thing for the rest of eternity!
Saturday 29 January 2011
Repeat indefinately
There are some phrases that every figure skating coach says at least fifty times a day. It's because you can always have MORE or BETTER in skating. You can skate forwards? Great. Now you just need more extension, more knee bend, more flow, better edges, no toe pushing, arm position, hand position, head up, smile, don't lean forward. You get it? I can skate round the rink chatting without thinking about it. But it's not proper stroking, that takes concentration as I think about all that other stuff.
- Knee bend - skating is all about the knee bend. You need it for everything (except spirals). "Sit into it" is a phrase I hear all the time. It's to try and make you bend your knees but not lean forward. And if you do it, you'll be more stable and secure on your edges. Straight legs mean it's too easy to tip forwards on backwards, you won't get a good push and your edges won't be deep or controlled.
- Push! - pushing equals speed equals terror, for me at least. Not that I don't love going fast, I do, I just can't do anything when I'm going fast. When I'm going forwards, I do a skiddy thing with one or both feet to slow down. When I'm going backwards, I drag my toepick. Much to the frustration of my coach! So I hear "get off your toepick" on a daily basis!
- Arms - If you thought skating was just about your feet, think again! If your arms are in the wrong position, you'll make everything harder for yourself. Even if it's just "arms out to the side" for basic skating. When it comes to turns, your arms lead you into the turn and check the rotation as you exit. I have issues with the checking part. For jumps, your arms help you get height, and then balance on the landing. And then it comes to programs when you have to do pretty things with your arms as well as worry about your feet.
Wednesday 26 January 2011
Bow down to the SkateMums!
My mum lives a couple hundred miles away. She's seen me skate once in a show. I think she's still impressed I can move on the ice at all. She asked me how skating was going, I said I was struggling with my loop, her response was to tell me not to worry about jumps. I love my mum, but she doesn't get skating.
And that's fine. I'm 25, an adult. I pay for my own skates, lessons, ice time, costumes, shows, zuca bag, competiton fees and everything else that goes with this sport. My mum is still tucked up in bed when I'm at the rink at 6am. My mum is lucky I took up skating at the grand old age of 23. I might be too late to be an Olympic champion (cause obviously age is the only reason I won't make it! ;-)) but she doesn't have to do the SkateMum bit.
I love SkateMums. And all figure skaters need them. Whether you talk to them or not. SkateMums are the comittee for club, for shows, for competitions. They fight for ice time for their kids which means ice time for the rest of us as well. At my rink on a Saturday morning, they run a cost-price breakfast cafe. They make costumes, decorate Zuca bags, fuel coachs' coffee addictions, work the props for the Christmas show and spend their lives at the rink. Not to mention the skate tying, cheerleading, bill paying, music playing, driving, waking up, providing drinks and snacks and fancy skate clothes.
I may be an adult, but I have a tendency to get myself adopted by people (usually) older than me and generally more sensible. The SkateMum's will tell me to go work on my camel spin (then give me a thumbs down for it because it's dire), chase me back onto the ice when I get off for the eighty third time in a session for a drink and a breather, remind me of the need for practice practice practice with those damn field moves, notice my progress, watch my program, and basically believe in me.
I've read on other blogs about different types of SkateMum's, but my experience is all positive. Maybe cause it's easy to avoid the ones I don't wanna talk to ("er, i need to go practice my salchow") since I have skates on. Maybe cause I don't do Skate UK anymore, and I only skate at early morning patch (only the dedicated skaters and therefore dedicated SkateMums). So I will leave the badSkateMums posts to the other bloggers.
So be nice to the SkateMums. And SkateDads (they exist!). They have ALL the gossip!
And that's fine. I'm 25, an adult. I pay for my own skates, lessons, ice time, costumes, shows, zuca bag, competiton fees and everything else that goes with this sport. My mum is still tucked up in bed when I'm at the rink at 6am. My mum is lucky I took up skating at the grand old age of 23. I might be too late to be an Olympic champion (cause obviously age is the only reason I won't make it! ;-)) but she doesn't have to do the SkateMum bit.
I love SkateMums. And all figure skaters need them. Whether you talk to them or not. SkateMums are the comittee for club, for shows, for competitions. They fight for ice time for their kids which means ice time for the rest of us as well. At my rink on a Saturday morning, they run a cost-price breakfast cafe. They make costumes, decorate Zuca bags, fuel coachs' coffee addictions, work the props for the Christmas show and spend their lives at the rink. Not to mention the skate tying, cheerleading, bill paying, music playing, driving, waking up, providing drinks and snacks and fancy skate clothes.
I may be an adult, but I have a tendency to get myself adopted by people (usually) older than me and generally more sensible. The SkateMum's will tell me to go work on my camel spin (then give me a thumbs down for it because it's dire), chase me back onto the ice when I get off for the eighty third time in a session for a drink and a breather, remind me of the need for practice practice practice with those damn field moves, notice my progress, watch my program, and basically believe in me.
I've read on other blogs about different types of SkateMum's, but my experience is all positive. Maybe cause it's easy to avoid the ones I don't wanna talk to ("er, i need to go practice my salchow") since I have skates on. Maybe cause I don't do Skate UK anymore, and I only skate at early morning patch (only the dedicated skaters and therefore dedicated SkateMums). So I will leave the badSkateMums posts to the other bloggers.
So be nice to the SkateMums. And SkateDads (they exist!). They have ALL the gossip!
Tuesday 18 January 2011
I did that!
Since I got into figure skating I've discovered that I get overenthusiastic to the point where people tend to either go along with me or humour me to get me to shut up. Plus, I've always been a bit of an obsessive geek.
My rink is having their Open competition next month. There's no adult category, but I decided before the announcement even came out that I wanted to enter. I want my first proper competition to be at my home rink, where I know tons of people, and save the cost of travelling to another rink.
Before even mentioning it to my coach, I contacted the National Ice Skating Association (NISA) to see whether it was even possible for me to compete against kids. I couldn't find a rule that said that it wasn't allowed, but I wanted to have confirmation in case anyone kicked up a fuss. NISA said it was fine, no problem. So when the entry forms came out, I asked my coach and she said I could enter, so I did.
And then the overenthusiastic side took over... and because of me, there are four adults entering the beginner class. It might not sound like much, but two are even travelling from another rink to take part. My rink is gaining a reputation for being open and supportive of adult skating (even though there's nothing stopping adults entering any Open Competition they want to). I get to compete and not be the only person over fifteen years old. And other adults get to compete as well!
I won't win the competition. I only have salchow, toe loop, upright spin and a very basic step sequence. I lack grace, co-ordination, rhythm and natural talent. But I feel like I achieved something already. I saw something I wanted to do and I took the initiative, and got other people involved as well.
My rink is having their Open competition next month. There's no adult category, but I decided before the announcement even came out that I wanted to enter. I want my first proper competition to be at my home rink, where I know tons of people, and save the cost of travelling to another rink.
Before even mentioning it to my coach, I contacted the National Ice Skating Association (NISA) to see whether it was even possible for me to compete against kids. I couldn't find a rule that said that it wasn't allowed, but I wanted to have confirmation in case anyone kicked up a fuss. NISA said it was fine, no problem. So when the entry forms came out, I asked my coach and she said I could enter, so I did.
And then the overenthusiastic side took over... and because of me, there are four adults entering the beginner class. It might not sound like much, but two are even travelling from another rink to take part. My rink is gaining a reputation for being open and supportive of adult skating (even though there's nothing stopping adults entering any Open Competition they want to). I get to compete and not be the only person over fifteen years old. And other adults get to compete as well!
I won't win the competition. I only have salchow, toe loop, upright spin and a very basic step sequence. I lack grace, co-ordination, rhythm and natural talent. But I feel like I achieved something already. I saw something I wanted to do and I took the initiative, and got other people involved as well.
Saturday 8 January 2011
Zuca
Today was my Zuca's first trip to the rink! It was a Christmas present from me to me. At my rink on a Saturday morning club session, you can't move for Zucas! All the kids have them, and even a couple of the coaches. And now, so do I!
I walk about 30 minutes to the rink, and the zuca was suprisingly light and easy to pull along. Much better for my back and shoulders than a backpack or shoulder skate bag. It also has tons of room and about twenty pockets, so I can put all my stuff in there and not need a handbag.
When I first saw the kids sitting on their Zucas, I was convinced they would only support the weight of skinny pre-teens. However, I'm a very overweight adult, and can comfortably sit on them. The sticker on the bag says that the seat can hold up to 300lbs!
The Zuca is definately my favourite skating purchase (after skates and lessons of course). I had so much fun putting stuff in all the compartments, and its great that I can just leave things like painkillers, skate guards, skate journal, deoderant, gloves etc in there and forget about them til I need them. In my old skate bag, I had the rumage through everything to get to my skates, so they generally ended up scattered everywhere.
For adults considering buying a Zuca, you probably don't wanna have skates bigger than a size 5 or maybe a 6 (uk sizes). But for smaller footed skaters, I would definately reccomend it!
I walk about 30 minutes to the rink, and the zuca was suprisingly light and easy to pull along. Much better for my back and shoulders than a backpack or shoulder skate bag. It also has tons of room and about twenty pockets, so I can put all my stuff in there and not need a handbag.
When I first saw the kids sitting on their Zucas, I was convinced they would only support the weight of skinny pre-teens. However, I'm a very overweight adult, and can comfortably sit on them. The sticker on the bag says that the seat can hold up to 300lbs!
The Zuca is definately my favourite skating purchase (after skates and lessons of course). I had so much fun putting stuff in all the compartments, and its great that I can just leave things like painkillers, skate guards, skate journal, deoderant, gloves etc in there and forget about them til I need them. In my old skate bag, I had the rumage through everything to get to my skates, so they generally ended up scattered everywhere.
For adults considering buying a Zuca, you probably don't wanna have skates bigger than a size 5 or maybe a 6 (uk sizes). But for smaller footed skaters, I would definately reccomend it!
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