The Learn-to-Skate moms seem desperate to have their skater pass before heading off to not skate for the next 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 weeks. This has always puzzled me; it's not like not passing 3rd grade. Just re-take the level in the fall; your kid will be really good at it, and will pass at Thanksgiving really strong for the next level.
Here's what to think about for end-of-summer skating, and getting ready for fall.
Test or wait, freestyle
Test. If you're that senior, forget your pipe dream of skating in college and continuing the tests while you're at school. Not even Michelle Kwan could handle this, no way you are going to be able to continue devoting as much time to this while at school, where you have no support group who is remotely going to understand this obsession, and where you don't know the coaches. Step it up and get test ready for that last session at the end of August.
And by the way, pay now, because those sessions fill up.
Test or wait, learn-to-skate
Wait. At all learn-to-skate levels (sorta, see below), you can only benefit from taking it again. I know it feels like failure, and I know you've been working really hard, but if you're not going to skate between the end of the summer session and the fall session, you are going to lose some polish. Sign up for the same level.
Test or wait, Delta
Test. Delta is so boring, I'd say try to avoid taking it again. This does not apply to USFS Basic Skills 7 and 8 (the comparable levels) which have a more interesting set of skills.
Gear up for fall
If you can afford it, double up on privates (i.e. take several over a couple of weeks), in the couple of weeks before the session starts up. This might be enough for a learn-to-skate student to hone those skills and get passed up a level, and will also just get you back into the swing.
Gear up applies not only to your skating, but also to the actual gear. Take out everything and see what needs upgrading. Do the skates still fit? Think about new skates now, rather than suddenly realizing a week before the winter exhibition, or g*d-forbid Regionals, that your skates don't fit, or your blades are a mess. Get new skating tights, make sure your skating togs fit, throw out the Zuca liner if it's moldy and smelly, and get a new one.
Check the calendar
Know when skating classes and potential lesson ice are. Don't wait until you've double- or triple-booked the fall play, skating and the orthodontist. Remember that skating is not just from class/lesson start to class/lesson end. You have to get there, you have to change, you have to put on skates, and then do it all in reverse at the other end. A free style skater needs an additional 10 to 15 minutes at each end of the skate for warm-up/cool down. A 30 minute class or lesson is as much as two hours travel plus prep.
Talk to the coach
Know what your goals are for this year. A new jump? Regionals? Testing? Auditioning for Synchro? If you are cutting back on skating, know that as well, and talk to the coach and the skater about how to manage that in a healthy way.
Figure out when you can volunteer
Rinks need rink moms who work a whole lot more than they need rink moms who sit in the stands and gossip. Ask the Skating Director how you can help while you're in the building. If your child is at least 10, think about where you can go while your child is skating. There are probably places nearby where you could volunteer, too.
Music
If you're a USFS competitive skater, you've probably already got your music for Regionals. If you don't, get on it, you are way behind. If you're Test-Track or ISI, doing only non-qualifying events, you still have time to change music and choreography, since you're not tied to the calendar quite the same way. Use this time to choose new music and choreography.
What are you doing to get ready for fall?
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During learn to skate levels I always loved summer because the classes got so small. Now that he is freestyle the numbers stay the same and everyone is aiming for the same end of summer competition in San Diego. Of course, since we are one of the rinks hosting ISI worlds this week, most of our skaters, at all levels, stuck around for the summer.
ReplyDeleteI swear I left a comment but it seems to have vanished.
ReplyDeleteI always loved summers at the rink because the class size was extremely small. That was during the alpha-FS1 stage. At our rink they leave the levels and work on skills once they pass FS1 so there are jump, spin, stroking, classes which might be a tad smaller then usual but they have the kids who are more hard core so they really don't change much in size. The stroking class, which is a requirement for current synchro skaters has been large all summer and I noticed quite a few new faces this past month.
Of course this summer we are hosting ISI worlds so most of our skaters stuck around for the fun.
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ReplyDeleteFall? Not ready for fall yet! Competitions are hard and heavy thought September. We are in a year round skating area and it feels like there is never a down time anymore.
ReplyDeleteI did clean the Zuca, repaired parts of it, polished skates, checked blades and threw in clean towels. Skater needs new guards and soakers - eventually the guards get holes and the blades don't come off easily. I think I'll make soakers but $12 dollars vs 4 hours of swearing over a machine...well I'll hand over the $12. Only now it's not $12 it's $24 because there is a "new" soaker she now loves. But then I'll get mad and tell her the old ones are fine with their missing elastic. ~Meg PS I was going to ask what moms did with old tights - either too small or too many holes. Then I found this: http://www.instructables.com/id/25-Unique-Uses-for-Pantyhose/?ALLSTEPS I'm off to strain some peas now! LOL,- just kidding.
I use old tights to tie up tomatoes and other plants in the garden. Just cut them into strips--they're stretchy and they don't cut into the plant stems. Just an idea for other skate moms who are gardeners.
DeleteWell, I am having my first competition on Labor Day weekend (yay!) I promised myself that I would work hard to get ready for it. I do have my music, and I memorized the whole program, but I still have to get a costume.
ReplyDeleteI'm always wondered why some moms would sit at our rink for 4 hours every day while their children skate. Bored, gossipy mothers, that live viciously through their children's life. Few of them particularly mean and gossipy, they gossip about other children and parents. I can't stand my son's rink, I just drop him off, say nicely hi to everyone and disappear the hell outa there.
ReplyDeleteIt is the only time I have to sit, relax, and read my Kindle. I work full time. The rink is my downtime.
DeleteSame as Blue-eyed-cat. I am never bored, I can pick up a project, write letters, surf the web, make lists, read, and just be left alone. I work hard - it's nice to be where I can't hear my phone. -Meg
DeleteMy kids are too young to be left alone at the rink. Plus, I love my mellow time. I surf the web, read novels. Glance up now and then to see child, return to book.
DeleteOur Learn-to-Skate goes through August so no rest for the weary chauffeur that is mom. I'm trying to nail kidlets down on what their goals are for the fall, check if coaches feel those goals are realistic (no, child, you are not going to land your axel this fall. You are working on bunny hops. Let's be real here.) and set up schedules with their coaches that will help them meet those goals (coordinating 2 kids with different coaches may break my limited organizational skills). Also, Boy Child need new soakers and a decent skate bag, though I may try to push that off until Christmas. The bag, not the soakers.
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