pet peeves?

[ibreakhearts66]

wondering if anyone else has pet peeves when they watch other people skate. a few of mine...
-when people take their sit spins too low. ugh, it makes the hips unlevel, and it just doesn't look good! sit spins are defined the way they are for a reason!
-the girls (i suppose boys too, but i really only see girls doing this) whose "doubles" are really a sliiightly over roated single. my coach calls these "one up one down" doubles (one rotation up in the air, one down on the ice).
-super wrapped sit spins. i know its hard to keep the free leg straight, but its not impossible!
-when people do beilmann's in their program when they can barely get their foot above their head. save if for practice!

haha sorry if i'm sounding a bit cynical, but sometimes you just gotta let it out!

[miraclegro]

My pet peeves are:

When coaches start teaching things beyond a student's level, which put them in danger, for example: An axel before they even have a decent backspin, or cannot even do a loop jump....

or, also when a skater thinks they are so accomplished because they can do a certain jump or spin, but they have never been taught any edges, which in turn result in horrible looking jumps and/or spins.

or, when a child has been passed through learn-to-skate levels and cannot do any quality basics. It is a disservice to that child.

[SkatingOnClouds]

Co-incidentally, I had to face one my pet peeves last night. Toe-assisted jumps like flip & lutz. Some people learn to do them by basically digging in their toe-pick, transferring all their weight onto the toe-pick, then spinning around on the toe-pick and doing a hoppy little jump the rest of the way.

While I am struggling to reach back, pull back to the pick using momentum to pull me into the air before rotating. And still struggling to get it right, and falling over. And then they look all smug at me cos they can do a lutz and mine is still a work in progress.:evil:

Thank you. I feel better now.

[Rusty Blades]

I wouldn't call it a "peeve" but one thing that catches my attention when I see it done right is good edges. It is uncommon among the young skaters but it is easy to tell which of the older skaters started in the days of figures by their strong silent edges.

I am certainly too much of a novice to criticize anyone on their technique but I do recognize and appreciate a quality move when I see one.

[jskater49]

Um, my pet peeve is people watching me skate and being critical when they ought to be paying attention to their own skating. And I guess if you keep your mouth shut and I don't know you are posting my mistakes on a skating forum, it's alright but I REALLY REALLY hate unsolicitated advice. Okay I'm not perfect. That's why I'm praticing but I already have 3 instructors that I pay thank you very much.

j

[Kim to the Max]

hmmmmm...a couple....

--bent legs/unpointed toes in spirals...that was beat into me when I was younger (almost literally...think about a coach skating behind you with a guard in their hand rapping you on the thighs if your leg wasn't high enough or pointed). We have a bunch of younger girls on the sessions I skate on who bend their knees and don't point their toes, and I usually feel like just telling them, "POINT YOUR TOE!! It will look sooooooo much better!!" But that may also be the product of my coaches when I was younger always yelling at me about pointing my toes :roll:

--People not watching for people in programs...and in turn, people in programs not announcing themselves (i.e. excuse me or coming through)...I try my best to stay out of peoples ways but sometimes I don't find the same courtesy...but, at the same time, I don't know everyone's programs and I don't have eyes at the back of my head, so a polite or even a quick, "excuse me" can do wonders!!

--Coaches/students who work on elements (think crossovers or 3turns) in the lutz corners...that could be just dangerous, especially if the students are beginners and don't move that quickly...

--And finally...when life/work gets in the way of skating and people just don't get it :) My job is very time consuming and often requires me to work a lot more than my required 37.5 hours a week and many, many, many nights and weekends, so I sometimes get quite annoyed when we have required work events on the days that I skate because I already work a lot :( But, that's the way my field is...things come up and there's nothing you can do about it...students will be students (I work at a University).

[SynchroSk8r114]

My pet peeves are:

When coaches start teaching things beyond a student's level, which put them in danger, for example: An axel before they even have a decent backspin, or cannot even do a loop jump....

or, also when a skater thinks they are so accomplished because they can do a certain jump or spin, but they have never been taught any edges, which in turn result in horrible looking jumps and/or spins.

or, when a child has been passed through learn-to-skate levels and cannot do any quality basics. It is a disservice to that child.

I'm with ya one all of these! Unfortunately, I see this waaay too much at my rink...

One of my big pet peeves are skaters or coaches who are totally oblivious to others on the ice. I'm talking about coaches who will stand in the middle of the ice and talk to their student and then look surprised and mad when a skater almost takes him/her out, and skaters who disregard the fact that someone else is coaching and refuse to give a coach's student the right of way.

[double3s]

People who use the rink as their free babysitter and leave their screeching shrieking kids for hours with no supervision.

Skating on ice just after the hockey team has practices. Even zambonied, it's still horriblely rutted and dangerous.

[Kim to the Max]

Skating on ice just after the hockey team has practices. Even zambonied, it's still horriblely rutted and dangerous.

Last week my rink was like that...the high school team had try outs and the ice was BAD...the day before they had to have the rink cut the ice again twice! And there is something about that smell that just doesn't go away...:roll: :evil:

[looplover]

Learn to skate adults on club ice who plant themselves at the ends of the rink thinking they are out of the way, when in reality you can never run through a program or patterns because they don't leave that spot. This is not their fault - it's debatable whether they should be on a freestyle but a coach should tell them to move around the rink (I'm too chicken to say it). But it's definitely a peeve of mine.

[Morgail]

-bent knees on spirals (mostly because I worked SO hard to get mine straight!)

-diva skaters who yell "Excuse Me!" when you are in a lesson or doing your program and they are merely practicing (I'm picturing a certain little girl who does this all the time at my rink)

-laybacks where the skater simply puts her free leg behind her at a 90 degree (or less) angle

-when I've been working on an element for months and a kid gets it in a week:twisted:

-kids who get too close to me when I'm spinning (that scares me!)

-not being able to skate

[looplover]

--diva skaters who yell "Excuse Me!" when you are in a lesson or doing your program and they are merely practicing (I'm picturing a certain little girl who does this all the time at my rink)


I know a kid who does that in a public session, then has a tantrum. I know you're not supposed to think evil of children...but this one takes the cake.

[sk8tmum]

Coaches who pass kids through the basics, get them into competitions ... and then blame other coaches "who must be holding them back and that's soooo unfair" - when their skaters get whomped at the competition. The kids don't understand WHY they keep losing/not passing tests (because they never learned how to do things properly); the parents don't know what the issue is unless they are skaters themselves, because they trust the coach.The kid ends up miserable, and quitting; or having to go back and relearn all of that stuff that was skidded thru, probably with another coach.

Now, it's a two-sided street. My other pet peeve is the parent who complains because their kid is taking "too long" to get a badge or a level, or who is all focussed on their kid moving along as fast as some other kid, or who lives vicariously thru their kid (Betty got her Stage 1,2 and 3 in only 4 months - oh, and how is your Sally doing? "Sally is doing just fine, she's still on Stage 3 because her coach wants her to really be able to skate backward, use her edges, and spin correctly, etc, before she moves on").

Then... last rant: it's really uncomfortable when parents come up to you and ask things like "Why isn't my kid winning/passing tests?" - because they honestly don't know that their kids' spiral, edges, sit spin etc are not well done. My response is always, "gee, I don't know ... why not check with your coach?" ...

[sk8tmum]

I know a kid who does that in a public session, then has a tantrum. I know you're not supposed to think evil of children...but this one takes the cake.

And if any of my kids pulled that stunt, there would be a race between their coach and us, as parents, as to who got there first, and which one would be more -directive- and institute worse consequences.

Kids display the behaviour (generally, I still believe that some kids are born lacking certain basic social triggers) - that is tolerated and allowed. My kids would have their butts off the ice, and wouldn't be back on, if they EVER did that; and their coach would do exactly the same thing.

[looplover]

And if any of my kids pulled that stunt, there would be a race between their coach and us, as parents, as to who got there first, and which one would be more -directive- and institute worse consequences.

Kids display the behaviour (generally, I still believe that some kids are born lacking certain basic social triggers) - that is tolerated and allowed. My kids would have their butts off the ice, and wouldn't be back on, if they EVER did that; and their coach would do exactly the same thing.

Yup the mom does nothing but beam at her. Most of her aggression is directed toward the adult figure skaters who are inconveniently in her way, and not so much at the general public...

[Sessy]

Uhmm well a pet peeve of mine is skaters who take HUGE chunks out of the ice to do a tiny single flip or lutz.
Stop kicking the ice! You won't go higher! The holes put everybody else at risk of fall and injury.

Also, people who sit around on the ice for minutes at a time just cuz they don't want to practice crossovers or whatever. If you don't want to skate, get off the ice.

Totally the thing somebody else above mentioned about using the rink as free babysitting.

Bent knees on spirals annoy me as well. I'm not so annoyed at other technical errors, I guess it all depends on the level of the skater, but bent knees on spirals! And I'm not talking about club competitions for kids just starting out to skate, I'm talking about girls who did flying spins and were doing all spirals with BOTH knees bent. They really should've known better. They did it in a show too... I realise it's partially the coach's fault too obviously, but still.
Same goes for ice skating clubs that have a show and put their very-very beginners who can't even skate forward without falling yet in a row, holding by the shoulders, and put them on the ice with chookachookachook-train sounds. In a show, there should be *something* TO show. A bunch of 4 year olds crawling around the ice does not meet that marker, and kids that age at our club understand just fine why they're not in a show or competition, so all kids should be able to. It's not unfair if they can barely stand on the ice!

And, people stealing other people's blade guards. Mine were stolen last year and now my friend's were stolen too. That's just SO dishonourable.

[sk8_4fun]

or, when a child has been passed through learn-to-skate levels and cannot do any quality basics. It is a disservice to that child.

Or that adult for that matter- I've seen plenty of those who pass regardless. very irritating..........

[doubletoe]

-when people do beilmann's in their program when they can barely get their foot above their head. save if for practice!

Well, due to genetics, injuries, etc. etc., some of us have no chance of ever doing a *true* Biellmann, but as long as there are technical specialists out there who will give a half-@$$ed position a level, there are skaters who will put it in their programs. And that includes ME! :mrgreen:

Meanwhile, my biggest pet peeves are (1) Coaches who tell their students they are better than they are just to make them feel good. There's this coach at my rink who counts the revolutions out loud when his students spin, but he counts every *half* turn so they think they've just done 5 revs when they've only done 2-1/2. (2) Coaches who don't get out of the way when you're skating your program and don't teach their students to look out for other skaters, either.

[ibreakhearts66]

--Coaches/students who work on elements (think crossovers or 3turns) in the lutz corners...that could be just dangerous, especially if the students are beginners and don't move that quickly...



ahh this one kills me! for me the problem isnt the lutz corners, but the other jumping corners. i have my jumping spot. its just past the blue line on the side of the rink near the tape player, along the long axis for axels, and near the blue line for double loops. i dont jump on the other side, at least not for axels, as i have kicked myself far too many times. well, one coach ALWAYS has her students spin in that spot or just stands there watching her student! even when i'm in a lesson and clearly doing my doubles right there, she remains oblivious! i got her to move one time by almost hitting her, but AHHH! people love to hang in my jumping spots!

oh and along those lines, there is one little boy at my rink who i swear wants to die. her skates past the jumping corners with his head turned in the complete opposite directions and then randomly turns around and changes direction.

[kimberley801]

I skate at public sessions since i'm still a newbie.

I absolutely HATE big groups that come in to skate and they form human chains along the rink trying to whip people around. It is SO dangerous for everyone else on the rink, not to mention those who get flung into the boards.

Teams of peewee hockey players practicing drills on public ice. They skate in and out of the crowd and cut everyone off, not to mention stop right in front of you.

Oh, and rinks that don't put cones out to designate the middle for figure skating. It is a free for all and impossible to even do 3-turns with everyone cutting through the middle. Kudos to the coaches who can actually teach their students safely in public sessions like that.

Did I mention the stench in the air when it's hockey night?

[kateskate]

Free skaters who say ice dance is easy as you don't jump or spin but have never really done dance themselves.

People who complain about all their injuries before competitions.

[FallDownGoBoom]

... Parents -- sometimes both of them -- who watch every moment of their kid's every lesson. People! A life! Get one! It's nice!

[sue123]

Not really sure if htis can be considered a pet peeve, but I feel like there are giant magnets that get attached to people when there are only 2 skaters at the rink, thereby ensuring that even though you try and try to stay out of each other's way, you still end up crashing into each other.

[lov2sk8]

A skater who gets in your way and doesn't say sorry or excuse me. We all get in the way from time to time. Their is a girl at one rink who actually ran in to someone spinning, and never said a word. Their was only 3 people on the ice! Of course the mother never said to her DD did you say sorry?

[samba]

Free skaters who say ice dance is easy as you don't jump or spin but have never really done dance themselves.

I'm mainly a freeskater but have lessons in both, I think that thought is from the fact that you dont see dancers falling as often as free skaters but it is every bit as hard for me personally, one is just more painful than the other.


People who complain about all their injuries before competitions.

I complain before, after and forever, but only with my closest friends.

FallDownGoBoom;344226]... Parents -- sometimes both of them -- who watch every moment of their kid's every lesson. People! A life! Get one! It's nice!

I take it you dont have kids that you pay x amount of money on to skate, these parents want to be sure that they are getting thier money's worth and apart from that they love watching their offspring progress, it's part of being a parent. As long as they are not trying to coach from the spectator seat I see no harm.

[vesperholly]

-when I've been working on an element for months and a kid gets it in a week:twisted:
Oh ho. If I let this bother me, I'd have quit a decade ago. There are kids who have STARTED SKATING years after I did who have passed their Senior FS. C'est la vie.

[Award]

Skating on ice just after the hockey team has practices. Even zambonied, it's still horriblely rutted and dangerous.

Oh yes......I agree with this. That's got to be one of the worst things, and potentially dangerous. And also, improperly serviced or improperly prepared zambonis, that leave chunky walls of ice on the ice rink, which then solidify into hard chunky walls of ice.

[Sessy]

Well our club always has ice after the hockeyers and it's always a little bumpy, but when the zamboni drives over a patch it's already wiped, now that's ugly (tractor tracks in all corners, especially lousy if they put the group to practice brons or interbrons MIF)

[BatikatII]

Free skaters who say ice dance is easy as you don't jump or spin but have never really done dance themselves..

I do both and I would say dance on the whole is easier than free skating at the comparative levels, so I can see where those skaters are coming from. In the UK levels, I reckon the dance levels are equivalent to about half the free levels in difficulty. So that for instance level 4 in dance roughly equates in difficulty to level 2 free. Personally I seem to fall more often doing dance (well free dance anyway) but to me it's still a heck of a lot easier than jumping!

I think the problem is partly that in UK levels at least, dance can mean just compulsory dance, which is all forward skating til level 3 with no difficult steps whatsoever. At one time also, free skaters had 3 tests per level (free, elements and field moves) while dancers only had to take compulsory tests to call themselves a particular level. This is what made my pet peeve the dancers who had done level 4 compulsories who thought they were equal to free skaters at level 4 (free skaters at level 4 need all singles to axel, several spins, including camel and backspin, step sequences etc while level 4 dance was the fiesta tango and (the first dance to even have any backward skating in it) the swing dance).

Even in free dance channels you can take several levels together and sometimes you are only made to skate once to pass several levels of tests. I took level 1-3 free dance on the same session (I did actually skate the same thing 3 times!) You can't do that with free skating. And my level 3 free dance(which I could have used for level 4 as well) had one upright spin in it and a step sequence. Far less difficult than the level 1 free test I took.

It also shows when skaters take up the other discipline. Higher level free skaters seem to whizz through dance tests to equal or exceed their free levels very quickly, while the higher level dancers (level 7 or 8 dance) tend to get to level 3 or 4 in free (i.e about half their dance levels) and then can't get any further.

Other pet peeve - petulant teenage skaters who cry when their jumps are not going well or when they don't get what they want (and worse, then seem to get given whatever they want - test passes, panto roles)

... ... Parents -- sometimes both of them -- who watch every moment of their kid's every lesson. People! A life! Get one! It's nice!

I skate myself but I love to watch my daughter skate too. I pay for the lessons so feel perfectly entitled to watch it (but not to interfere in any way obviously). Plus at our rink I prefer to skate on the less crowded sessions that I can get to, rather than add to the skaters on the already overcrowded free skate patches she has her lessons on and there is little else to do at the rink than watch the skating.

[momsk8er]

Originally Posted by FallDownGoBoom
... ... Parents -- sometimes both of them -- who watch every moment of their kid's every lesson. People! A life! Get one! It's nice!


Mine is the flip side of this - parents who never watch their kids. I switch from skater to watcher and back again all the time. I don't skate certain days, just so I can watch my daughter's lesson, or freestyle session. Not to see if I'm getting my money's worth - I trust her coach. I just love to watch her develop as a skater. I don't see why other parents don't care to watch - although I know many of them are busy with their other kids. Mine were spaced far apart, so I had only a couple of years of having to chauffeur them both around.

[Kim to the Max]

Mine is the flip side of this - parents who never watch their kids. I switch from skater to watcher and back again all the time. I don't skate certain days, just so I can watch my daughter's lesson, or freestyle session. Not to see if I'm getting my money's worth - I trust her coach. I just love to watch her develop as a skater. I don't see why other parents don't care to watch - although I know many of them are busy with their other kids. Mine were spaced far apart, so I had only a couple of years of having to chauffeur them both around.

But, also remember...sometimes skaters may not want their parents to watch...I was that kid who didn't want my mom to watch...she made me nervous! She would sneak peaks and find the perfect spots at the rink to watch without being seen, but most of the time she would interact with the other parents there...

[Rusty Blades]

The ringette team who doesn't leave the ice at the proper time

The maintenance people who don't enforce the booking times and aren't ready to do a flood on time

The management that allows it to happen time and time again

[looplover]

ooh thought of another, but it's a minor one. Parents who hang out right in the rink entrance watching their kids and you can't get on the ice. Of course they get out of the way quickly but eh, it's a tiny pet peeve.

[Isk8NYC]

Rinks that never clean their glass, which encourages the parents to hang out in the doorways just to see.

Parents who talk to their kids during group lessons, or stand *right there* against the glass cheering loudly, clapping and distracting the whole class. Makes four-and-unders cry for Mommy every time.

Parents who interrupt classes to chit-chat about their kids' skating.
(I usually arrive a half-hour early and stay at least a half-hour late. Why can't they talk to me then?)

Skaters in badly fitted/badly tied skates careening out of control during public sessions and (worse) group lessons.

[Virtualsk8r]

Children in designer snowsuits(nd parents with the latest Louis Vuitton purse etc) - wearing cheap broken-down skates from the local second hand sports store! The same apparently well-off parents who never pay their bills..

Skaters and parents who demand a badge when they rarely show up for lessons - or haven't mastered the required skills.

Parents who say they were skaters - taking flash pictures of their darlings
and send their kids on the ice without tying back the hair, proper gloves or in proper skating attire.

[Virtualsk8r]

OOOH - even worse ! The parent who says they know nothing about the sport even after years of paying for private lessons for their child --- who then decides that they should tell both the coach and the skater what do to!!! (guilt the child out with criticism like why did Billy get a higher score on something than you..forgetting the fact that their child did better in every other department than Billy....)

Or - my favourite - the skater has an injury that needs attention, so the parent takes them reluctantly to see a physio or chiro - and then after a visit or two decides THEY don't think its necessary.........poor skater can't function on the ice because of the pain, but mommy knows better!!!!

[sue123]

I have another pet peeve, which I saw today. Daddy decided Junior was going to be the next Wayne Gretzky, so he gets him some skating lessons. Junior can't even stand up on his skates, but his coach is teaching him crossovers and backwards skating, urging him to go as fast as he can, causing him to trip all over himself! If the kid can't stand, why teach them crossovers?? Why?? The kid spent more time lying on the ice, and he wasn't even falling properly, he kept falling backwards, feet going up in the air, and the coach didn't even say anything.

[doubletoe]

Not really sure if htis can be considered a pet peeve, but I feel like there are giant magnets that get attached to people when there are only 2 skaters at the rink, thereby ensuring that even though you try and try to stay out of each other's way, you still end up crashing into each other.

Yes, the Ice Magnet Syndrome! It is well documented. :lol:

[Emberchyld]

Kids whose parents pay all of this money for lessons and ice time and competitions and beautiful dresses (and who say they love skating), but then waste all of that precious time goofing off and not listening to their coaches. (While I look at my skating bills, sigh, and try to eke the most I can out of every expensive minute). I see the same thing in the dance world and it takes a LOT to keep from just smacking them upside the head and telling them how incredibly lucky they are!

No ice time, or only morning ice time.

Sleds of death on public sessions. All they do is let little kids toepick themselves at top speed around the rink, or give little skating goons another weapon. Everyone would be a whole lot safer if those things were banned.

And kids and their coaches on freestyle who don't respect my right to be on the ice as well. Yes, I'm an adult skater and I won't go to the olympics (and neither will most of them), but I paid for that ice, so please give me the same respect you give everyone else. (Granted, I've been lucky at the two rinks I skate at and have very rarely seen that, but when I do... URGH!)

[sk8tmum]

Children in designer snowsuits(nd parents with the latest Louis Vuitton purse etc) - wearing cheap broken-down skates from the local second hand sports store! The same apparently well-off parents who never pay their bills..

Skaters and parents who demand a badge when they rarely show up for lessons - or haven't mastered the required skills.

Parents who say they were skaters - taking flash pictures of their darlings
and send their kids on the ice without tying back the hair, proper gloves or in proper skating attire.

:bow: :bow: :bow: They'll pay $300 for a freakin' fancy dress, but, won't pay for an extra 5 minutes of lessons, and pride themelves on the 'deal' they got on skates - they didn't pay more than $75, everybody KNOWS that the skate stores are just out to make a buck!

[Kim to the Max]

Kids whose parents pay all of this money for lessons and ice time and competitions and beautiful dresses (and who say they love skating), but then waste all of that precious time goofing off and not listening to their coaches. (While I look at my skating bills, sigh, and try to eke the most I can out of every expensive minute). I see the same thing in the dance world and it takes a LOT to keep from just smacking them upside the head and telling them how incredibly lucky they are!


It's funny because I've talked with my mom about this, and there are some skaters at my rink who can't believe that I just started really skating again about 8 weeks ago and am already attempting axels...what they don't know is how hard I work (I skate at least 3 times a week, an hour and a half at a time...and if I can, I skate more times during the week). I think I skate more now, as a returning adult, than I did when I was competing (3x's vs. 1-2x's). Not to say that I loved it any less, but I have realized that I need to have skating in my life to balance the other things (work, friends, etc.)...I told my supervisor the other day that I have been happier now that I'm skating that I have been the last 2 years in my job.

As I'm skating, I see all of these kids goofing around and not really working sometimes (not all of the time...there are some who work, or some who have parents/coaches who will make them work), and I get annoyed both with them, because they are not taking advantage of an opportunity, but also, as I look at myself, I get annoyed with myself because I know that I was that way when I was younger too...hanging out with friends at the rink and not really doing what I needed to be doing.

Oh, the things we learn as we get older.... :giveup:

[kander]

This one drives me nuts. Getting on the ice at a public session and being kicked off 2 minutes later so they can take 15 minutes to clean the ice.

I also hate it when a skate guard asks me to stop jumping out of the middle when he ignores the 20 kids who are doing the exact same thing. BTW, I always thought that was dumb rule. It's much more dangerous to jump in the middle, not less.

Speaking of the middle, it drives me crazy when they cone off the area and within 5 minutes some kid is playing kickball with the cones.

It makes me cringe when I see a kid standing on the ice intentionally chipping a hole as hard as he can with the heel of his blade. That's one of the rare instances where I'll tell the person to knock it off.

[Sessy]

People who insist "well my skates are really a size too small... and uhm, well they hurt here, and here, and here... Too narrow, too... But that's okay, I'm used to it! And it's only when I'm skating anyway!" (thrice a week, that is).
Makes me wanna take their feet and keep them. :evil:

Also, mothers of young figure skaters who insist their child eats a whole bag of crisps or a mega-sized snickers before skating or whatever, when those children are by all standards already on the fat side. I mean figure skaters don't need to be anorexic, but why not give the kid a banana?

[jskater49]

Originally Posted by kateskate
Free skaters who say ice dance is easy as you don't jump or spin but have never really done dance themselves..



I do both and I would say dance on the whole is easier than free skating at the comparative levels, so I can see where those skaters are coming from. .

I disagree heartily. I do both at a beginning level I find dance to be MUCH HARDER than freestyle at the beginning level. I've passed all three beginning tests, moves, freestyle and dance and of the three, dance was the hardest, freestyle was the easiest.

When you do a freestyle program, although you need to stay with your music, if you get off, it's not the end of the world, and you can make your time up somewhere else, can't do that in dance. In your freestyle program, if you take an extra step here or there, not the end of the world. There is no leeway in dance. I say dance is much harder.

j

[Mrs Redboots]

In your freestyle program, if you take an extra step here or there, not the end of the world. There is no leeway in dance. I say dance is much harder.
Plus, in free skating, certainly at the lowest levels, you don't have to point your toes, or touch your feet together at every step, or make sure your carriage is upright the whole time. And it doesn't matter where on the ice you are, whereas you need to be in the right place on the ice in a compulsory dance! And when you start dancing with a partner, that brings in a whole nother level of difficulty!

Having said that, there's a good case to be made for every beginning skater, whether adult or child, for doing both. Free skating can help with speed, turns, and confidence, while dance helps with posture, accuracy, technique.....

[herniated]

My peeve is coaches who constantly get in your way. ON PURPOSE. :twisted: There is one in particular I am thinking of. I've known this person for over 10 years and it's the same thing every time. Other coaches agree with me too. It must be a control issue.

For example. She sees me lineing up for a flip..in my program.. the music is on. I've had the same program for two years..and she's seen it many times. And what does she DO? Glides over to exactly where my flip goes and just in time that I have to abandon the attempt!! And, no her student was not even near me. She does this to many on the ice. She also seems to have a negative attitude regarding adult skaters. I can't remember exactly what she's said about adults. It's just little comments. Very irritating. Fortunately I do not see her often anymore.:D

[Isk8NYC]

I also hate it when a skate guard asks me to stop jumping out of the middle when he ignores the 20 kids who are doing the exact same thing. BTW, I always thought that was dumb rule. It's much more dangerous to jump in the middle, not less.Amen, brother. I usually ask the guard to make the middle bigger. They always say no, so I just boost the cones out to make the middle a little more oval. They give in eventually, especially when I use my famous "My insurance doesn't cover this." line.

People who walk into a rink where all the spectators are watching an in-progress performance from the stands. they then stand right up against the glass, blocking everyone's view. Sheesh.

[BatikatII]

Originally Posted by kateskate
Free skaters who say ice dance is easy as you don't jump or spin but have never really done dance themselves..




Quote:
Originally Posted by BatikatII
I do both and I would say dance on the whole is easier than free skating at the comparative levels, so I can see where those skaters are coming from. .

quote:
originally posted by jskater49

I disagree heartily. I do both at a beginning level I find dance to be MUCH HARDER than freestyle at the beginning level. I've passed all three beginning tests, moves, freestyle and dance and of the three, dance was the hardest, freestyle was the easiest.

When you do a freestyle program, although you need to stay with your music, if you get off, it's not the end of the world, and you can make your time up somewhere else, can't do that in dance. In your freestyle program, if you take an extra step here or there, not the end of the world. There is no leeway in dance. I say dance is much harder.

j

That's interesting - what was in those tests? Did the freestyle one have jumps and spins? It obviously depends on which tests you are talking about since I have UK (national test levels) level 3 in dance and could easily get to level 4 dance whereas I haven't a hope in h*** of ever getting to level 4 in free style since it requires an axel and level 3 is pushing it since it needs a lutz. Plus I could actually have a go at some of the higher level dances - I've tried compulsory dances up to level 9 (I'm not saying I can do them well or anywhere near a test passing standard !) but I couldn't even begin to attempt a level 9 freestyle programme with double double jumps and flying this and that spins - I couldnt even start it.

At the very highest levels I think they are both difficult in entirely different ways and of course if you have trouble hearing the beat then dance will always be difficult but still I can go out and compete dance and not be worried as it doesn't depend on landing jumps whereas I am always terrified of going out to compete free as I have to land those jumps or I get virtually nothing. And as far as pointing toes etc and working with your music - even in free those things get you extra points so you do need to do them if you want to win competitions.

For comparison my level 1 dance required Rhythm Blues and novice foxtrot and only actually required to be 60% in time to pass and just two sequences of each which is once around the rink. Level 1 in free meant an elements test - waltz, salchow or toe-loop , upright spin min 3 revs, step sequence, perimeter stroking , back crossovers to landing position and spirals on an edge and a seperate free programme test to music - this has to include jumps and spins and step sequence and be 1.5 mins long and to compete I also needed level 1 field moves (6 moves) (I actually did level 1 dance moves which was counted as equivalent although there were only two of them !:D )

[Morgail]

Re the dance/freestyle argument:

I think it depends upon where your strengths lie, and what experience you have in each. I could do a sit spin or a loop in my sleep, but I struggle to get the Rhythm Blues perfect. I will probably have an axel before I pass the second level of dances (Swing, etc.). Of course, I have years of background in freestyle, and a measly year in dance. Therefore, I find dance much more challenging than freestyle.
But there are people who are naturally gifted at dance, or who have put more time into learning dance who find it easier than freestyle. Which is easier is entirely subjective. They are both difficult disciplines, but one may come easier than the other to a skater.


As I'm skating, I see all of these kids goofing around and not really working sometimes (not all of the time...there are some who work, or some who have parents/coaches who will make them work), and I get annoyed both with them, because they are not taking advantage of an opportunity, but also, as I look at myself, I get annoyed with myself because I know that I was that way when I was younger too...hanging out with friends at the rink and not really doing what I needed to be doing.

Oh, the things we learn as we get older.... :giveup:

I feel the same way!! I go out and practice SO hard anywhere from 3-5 times a week. And then there are kids playing around and not practicing anything. But, then, I did the exact same thing at their age (which may be why I didn't get far skating when I was younger!). I just hope I don't turn into some sort of scary SkateMom when I have kids.

[doubletoe]

My peeve is coaches who constantly get in your way. ON PURPOSE. :twisted: There is one in particular I am thinking of. I've known this person for over 10 years and it's the same thing every time. Other coaches agree with me too. It must be a control issue.

For example. She sees me lineing up for a flip..in my program.. the music is on. I've had the same program for two years..and she's seen it many times. And what does she DO? Glides over to exactly where my flip goes and just in time that I have to abandon the attempt!!

How annoying! Next time, don't move! :mrgreen: If she's still there, she will act as a nice cushion (just remember to grab her as you lose your balance and start to fall :lol:)

[patatty]

Kids who do 600 crossovers before actually entering a jump or spin. I try to stay out of everyone's way when they are doing an element, but it's hard to judge when and where that element might actually end up with so many preparatory steps.

Worse yet - kids who yell "Excuse Me!" in the middle of the 600 crossovers, when they actually don't plan on jumping for another 300 crossovers, but can't bear to alter their pattern by even a foot to avoid another skater.

Also, people that insist on practicing jumps around the center circle on a freestyle session, which makes trying to practice a spin anywhere near the center a very scary activity.

[liz_on_ice]

Co-incidentally, I had to face one my pet peeves last night. Toe-assisted jumps like flip & lutz. Some people learn to do them by basically digging in their toe-pick, transferring all their weight onto the toe-pick, then spinning around on the toe-pick and doing a hoppy little jump the rest of the way.


I do this, but I'm not smug about it. I can't for the life of me figure out why my ballet takeoff is fine, but my toeloop has become what you describe. :(

[PatSkates]

Stroking forwards, but on your heals (instead of ball of foot) and looking like a duck waddling! I do it all the time! :oops:

[herniated]

How annoying! Next time, don't move! :mrgreen: If she's still there, she will act as a nice cushion (just remember to grab her as you lose your balance and start to fall :lol:)

lol Wish I had the guts to do that! I'd be the one who probably got hurt.

[BatikatII]

Re the dance/freestyle argument:

I could do a sit spin or a loop in my sleep, but I struggle to get the Rhythm Blues perfect. I will probably have an axel before I pass the second level of dances (Swing, etc.). Of course, I have years of background in freestyle, and a measly year in dance. Therefore, I find dance much more challenging than freestyle.


Perhap this is the real difference - that although the elements in dance are simpler (i.e forward steps, chassees, swing rolls for low level dances) there is more emphasis on getting them looking very precise (extensions, timing etc) and it is this part of dance that is hard to master rather than the steps per se, which is what those who don't dance tend to be comparing. However, even for free you have to do that loop or sit spin or axel in a programme which is a different proposition to just doing the elements alone.

Still - daughter who is level 5 (UK) in free (and had maybe two 15 min basic dance lessons some years ago) managed to go out and compete a level 5 dance (backward steps and turns - 14 step I think) after one 15 minute lesson on it (and medal!) because she has strong edges and flow. I do not think a level 5 dancer who hadn't done any free, (or even if they had level 1 or 2 free as well) could learn all the required elements and put together a 2.5 min programme to compete a level 5 free competition in 15 minutes, as it is inherently more complex.

There's a difference too between something being easy to do and easy to do well. The dance steps are far easier for me than free elements but I don't do them terribly well because I'm not willing to put in the practice time to be able to do them well. Some of the free elements though, are simply beyond my bodies capabilities however much I practiced (axel for example). Again this is probably something that those non dancers are thinking of when they say dance is easier.

In the UK, NISA appear to believe dance is easier (for adults to learn at least) since they have taken off the age groups for adult championships but thankfully left them on for the free comps. I wish they'd change their minds and bring back the age groups for dance too!

Sorry to be off topic but as someone who does both, I find it fascinating to compare and hear people's views on this.

[jskater49]

I think the point of the orginal pet peeve re dance vs. free is that sometimes there is a lack of respect for dancers among free stylers, which I have witnessed but I havent' seen that same lack of respect for freesylers among dancers.

j

[kander]

Time to stir things up a bit :) One of my longest lasting pet peeves is skate luggage with wheels. I hate them! Real men carry their skates. Women too! I had to carry my skates miles through 10 feet of snow uphill both ways when I was a kid. If I had to do it then, dang-nabbit, so should kids today!

[jazzpants]

Careful, kander! You're coming off like an old geezer again!!! (Don't forget the dentures too!!!) :twisted: :P :lol:

And you're gonna hate me for this but I have considered replacing my backpack with one that has wheels. It's bad for my shoulders long term and I don't see the point of screwing up my body parts when I don't have to! :twisted: (The only reason I haven't done so is b/c I have to figure out how to get the stuff in those tiny cubbie hole lockers for public sessions! :P )

[ibreakhearts66]

Time to stir things up a bit :) One of my longest lasting pet peeves is skate luggage with wheels. I hate them! Real men carry their skates. Women too! I had to carry my skates miles through 10 feet of snow uphill both ways when I was a kid. If I had to do it then, dang-nabbit, so should kids today!
hahaha too funny.

i don't mind the big rolling bags, but i do get annoyed when people use HUGE suitcases. i think the small zuca bags are fine, really cute actually.

personally, i use an old soccer backpack. fits all my stuff and its easy to carry around school. hey, if i can carry my skates on my back all day at school and on the bus and on the half-mile walk from the bus to the rink, you don't need a suitcase to carry your skates the 10 feet from the car! unless you have a zuca bag, cuz then its cute :P

[jazzpants]

personally, i use an old soccer backpack. fits all my stuff and its easy to carry around school. hey, if i can carry my skates on my back all day at school and on the bus and on the half-mile walk from the bus to the rink, you don't need a suitcase to carry your skates the 10 feet from the car! unless you have a zuca bag, cuz then its cute :PDifferent when you're a kid going to college vs. an old geezer who has carpel tunnel and all sorts of other shoulder and arm ailments from the job!!! Trust me on this.

But I like the way you think... screw the tough girl act when you know that you can be cute and fashionable! LOL!!! :P (BTW: I'm eyeing the quilted lavender one with rhinestone on it! ;) )

[ibreakhearts66]

Different when you're a kid going to college vs. an old geezer who has carpel tunnel and all sorts of other shoulder and arm ailments from the job!!! Trust me on this.

But I like the way you think... screw the tough girl act when you know that you can be cute and fashionable! LOL!!! :P (BTW: I'm eyeing the quilted lavender one with rhinestone on it! ;) )

haha i know, it really doesn't bother me too much. its just the giant suitcases that bug me. i want a zuca really badly, but a)they're expensive and b) there is no way i am rolling a bag around school. nerdy and annoying

buuut i sure like the turquoise ones :)

[Mrs Redboots]

I regret to tell you, Kevin, that I seriously considered a rolling case for my skates. However, I decided against it as at the time I used public transport to get to the rink, and a rolling case is a nuisance on a bus. And now that I drive, and go to the rink in the car, I don't actually need a wheeled case! So use a large laptop-style case, which is easy to carry and everything fits in nicely.

[Sessy]

Nothing screams "figure skater" like a bag on rollers (hockeyers don't have to scream anything, you can smell them a mile ahead).
I have a preference for back packs because I'm usually on the bike or in the bus otherwise. But my skating back pack has a handle and rollers, it's really handy sometimes.

[Emberchyld]

I must say, I love my Zuca. Better on the spine and it pulls double-duty for business trips since it actually fits an amazing amount of things, like Mary Poppins' carpet bag. I'd rather limit the load on my spine than be a "Real woman" any day.

Another pet peeve-- parents who think it's cute when their kids barrel towards the figure skaters during public skate. "Oh, she just wants to be just like you!" I had one kid on a sled of death and his dad glued to me all yesterday... I'd come out of a spin or jump and bam, there'd be the kid. :frus: Or the public skaters who see that I'm on lesson and decide that they want to tag along and "learn", too. Even if they can keep barely upright, it doesn't stop them from being practically glued to me.

And little hockey kids on public ice who don't realize that, although they're in full body padding with helmets, the rest of us aren't.:roll:

[BatikatII]

I think the point of the orginal pet peeve re dance vs. free is that sometimes there is a lack of respect for dancers among free stylers, which I have witnessed but I havent' seen that same lack of respect for freesylers among dancers.

j


That could well be explained by the inequalities of difficulty of the comparative levels. I don't know how the tests work in US but in UK if a level 6 dancer claimed to be as good as a level 6 free skater I can understand the level 6 free skater not agreeing with that - especially if it's just for compulsory dance. It doesn't help that (in our rink at least ) many of the dancers turned to dance after they gave up free on finding that it was too difficult to progress beyond level 2/3 in free.

In UK the arrangement of championships doesn't help either, since in solo dance the lowest level (novice) in championships only required dance tests up to level 4 (CD's only) (and you could compete with none, though I think this has changed) and even junior solo dance championships only asked for level 5 tests. By contrast the lowest level championships (novice) in free, required the skater to have level 6 tests (both parts, elements and free) plus level 8 field moves.

[kateskate]

That's interesting - what was in those tests? Did the freestyle one have jumps and spins? It obviously depends on which tests you are talking about since I have UK (national test levels) level 3 in dance and could easily get to level 4 dance whereas I haven't a hope in h*** of ever getting to level 4 in free style since it requires an axel and level 3 is pushing it since it needs a lutz.

Level 3 needs up to a flip - lutz is at level 4. Along with the dreaded axel

I agree with you btw re comparative test levels in the UK but my original pet peeve was people who think dance is easier but have never tried it. If they have tried it and still think it is easier then fine.

[Bill_S]

I don't have too many pet peeves, and those that I do have are already mentioned... except for one.

We have only four benches in the rink lobby on which to sit and tie/untie our skates. Sometimes when I get off the ice, hockey parents are sitting on the benches talking among themselves while their little Wayne Gretzkys are in the hockey locker rooms padding up.

I let the other figure skaters have first go at the available seats (I'm a man, and that's proper), but sometimes the number of oblivious parents sitting on the benches forces me to untie and remove my skates while standing up.

What are they thinking when I'm hopping around on one skate trying to pull the other one off?

[kateskate]

In UK the arrangement of championships doesn't help either, since in solo dance the lowest level (novice) in championships only required dance tests up to level 4 (CD's only) (and you could compete with none, though I think this has changed) and even junior solo dance championships only asked for level 5 tests. By contrast the lowest level championships (novice) in free, required the skater to have level 6 tests (both parts, elements and free) plus level 8 field moves.

My thoughts on that have always been that solo dance competitions are more like free skating open comps rather than championships (yes I know it is called a championship but it isn't really the same) since to compete at proper dance championships with a partner at novice, junior or senior level you need the relevant competitive tests and higher level field moves.

Novice solo dance competitors now need level 2 CD, OD and field moves. I think. Rather than level 1 as it was last year.

[jskater49]

That could well be explained by the inequalities of difficulty of the comparative levels. I don't know how the tests work in US but in UK if a level 6 dancer claimed to be as good as a level 6 free skater I can understand the level 6 free skater not agreeing with that - especially if it's just for compulsory dance. It doesn't help that (in our rink at least ) many of the dancers turned to dance after they gave up free on finding that it was too difficult to progress beyond level 2/3 in free.

In UK the arrangement of championships doesn't help either, since in solo dance the lowest level (novice) in championships only required dance tests up to level 4 (CD's only) (and you could compete with none, though I think this has changed) and even junior solo dance championships only asked for level 5 tests. By contrast the lowest level championships (novice) in free, required the skater to have level 6 tests (both parts, elements and free) plus level 8 field moves.


Shrug. I guess I don't think there is any excuse for showing a lack of respect for a different discipline. I think anyone out there on the ice deserves respect for getting out there and frankly I find the critical nature of this whole thread to be a pet peeve of mine. It bothers me to think there are people on the ice, who I would assume are there to work on skating and instead they may be eyeing me critically because my crappy skating is some kind of pet peeve of theirs. Yea I cheat my toe loops...and sometimes I take a million crossovers to set up a jump cuz I'm scarred crapless to try it and I do spirals with my legs are bent and its no where near hip level and sometimes God forbid, my stroking degenerates into toe pushing and if that annoys you TOO FRIGGIN BAD! My money is as green as yours and I have as much right to be on the ice as you do.

That's my rant.

j

j

j

[slusher]

but sometimes the number of oblivious parents sitting on the benches forces me to untie and remove my skates while standing up.

What are they thinking when I'm hopping around on one skate trying to pull the other one off?

I think the fact that you are able to go out on the ice and throw yourself up in the air and land without injury entitles you to have a diva moment - "Excuse Me, I NEED to sit down"

I did something similar a few years ago. One of the learn to skate parents persisted in coming into the senior girls dressing room to tie her son's skates who was on a learn to skate session, although there were plenty of benches in the hallway. I am a "senior" hee hee girl, skating on the other ice pad, and said loudly, I need to change into my skating dress. I started taking off clothes. I was in my underwear, still saying "I am changing into my skating dress" when the mom looked up with shock (I'm fat, I'm old, I don't care anymore) and said you can't do that here. I said "you're in the senior ladies dressing room and you should be on the benches, but if you want to stay, I don't mind".

The other girls in the dressing room thanked me to no end, because they had been trying to get that mom and her son out of there for weeks, and they were having to go into the bathroom next door to change. Oh I was rude, but it was funny, slowly taking off a piece of clothing and seeing how long it would take.

Keep your clothes on Bill!

[herniated]

I don't think you were rude slusher. That mom was rude and out of line to go into the girls/senior ladies dressing room with her son. It is a 'dressing' room for females. Out of control.

[Bill_S]

.....I said "you're in the senior ladies dressing room and you should be on the benches, but if you want to stay, I don't mind".



ROFL! :lol:

I've often thought of asserting myself firmly to so that I could be seated to untie my skates, ..but don't worry, I won't threaten to undress in the lobby! :oops:

[SJacklène]

ROFL! :lol:

I've often thought of asserting myself firmly to so that I could be seated to untie my skates, ..but don't worry, I won't threaten to undress in the lobby! :oops:

LOL. That would be a sight! I bet they would sure leave in a hurry if you did threaten to take your clothes off in the lobby.

[R D Lite]

LTS instructors who assume that all adult beginners have no goals beyond staying upright and that those same adult beginners will erupt into tears should the instructor offer any sort of actual instruction beyond, "That's good." :roll:

I should say that I am in a great group right now and couldn't be happier with the coaches I have, but I have also encountered the LTS instructors who have their adult students try everything exactly twice, pronounce it "good," and continue on to something else. I'm a beginner, not an idiot. I do not want to be told that I'm doing a good job when I know I'm not. I want to learn how to do a good job. I need my instructor to help me improve, not stroke my ego.

I do try to remember that many folks in LTS classes really don't want to learn much more than the bare bones basics that will let them negotiate public ice. But I also think that a good instructor should talk to his or her students before assuming that none of them have loftier goals. I'm an athlete who has earned a number of championships in my other sport--and coached that sport--and I can bring that determination and discipline to a new sport. It's true that I'm still so new to skating that I can't yet even consistently and smoothly execute forward crossovers, but I'm eager to improve and willing to put in the work to do so, and I need an coach who is willing to be honest in his or her assessments and instruction.

[Rusty Blades]

I had to carry my skates miles through 10 feet of snow uphill both ways when I was a kid.

We must be of similar age. I remember when the ice was scraped by a group of men with shovels and flooded with a barrel on a farm tractor.

[teresa]

My pet peeve is skating with skaters who "like" themselves a little too much.

teresa

[Isk8NYC]

I was in my underwear, still saying "I am changing into my skating dress" when the mom looked up with shock (I'm fat, I'm old, I don't care anymore) and said you can't do that here. I said "you're in the senior ladies dressing room and you should be on the benches, but if you want to stay, I don't mind".Bravo! Bravo! What a performance! (I laughed so loud, I just woke up the cat.) ROFLOL

Bill - Try changing your skates standing up while LEANING RIGHT OVER THEM! A few teeters should convince them to move over and make room for you on the bench. Of course, stinky skates left to air near them should make a bit more room...

We must be of similar age. I remember when the ice was scraped by a group of men with shovels and flooded with a barrel on a farm tractor.I thought you did that YOURSELF every winter on your land? (Maybe that's someone else?)

Back on topic - I really hate dirty bathrooms in the rink. Bad enough they're cold, I don't need filth and stench to add to the ambience. In some rinks, I'll actually stop at a nearby store to use their restrooms before heading home. (There should be a special reward for those who leave a mess for the staff to clean. :roll:)

[BatikatII]

Level 3 needs up to a flip - lutz is at level 4. Along with the dreaded axel

I agree with you btw re comparative test levels in the UK but my original pet peeve was people who think dance is easier but have never tried it. If they have tried it and still think it is easier then fine.

Ah you're right maybe I do have a chance of level 3 free eventually with out the lutz!:lol:

That's what I was trying to work out - why the people who havent' tried dance think that, (even though I agree they have no right to say it when they haven't!) Neither is easy but I think they see those things and don't realise all the effort that goes into making a dance look good and smooth and have all the timings and extensions etc. They also don't realise that competitions at those dance levels bear no relation to what's on the tests because they can include OD's and FD's which brings me to (yet another:lol: ) pet peeve this year. Why did NISA separate the CD's and FD in the adult championships this year and then charge an extortionate amount (way more than the kids pay) for each - GRRRRR!:x

And another pet peeve - why don't we have any men at our rink so we could do 'proper ice dance' with a partner. There must be some men out there.....

[Sessy]

the ice dance club in a neighbouring city over here had a surplus of men for years - not sure if that's still the case after Dancing On Ice was aired though.

[Mrs Redboots]

They also don't realise that competitions at those dance levels bear no relation to what's on the tests because they can include OD's and FD's which brings me to (yet another:lol: ) pet peeve this year. Why did NISA separate the CD's and FD in the adult championships this year and then charge an extortionate amount (way more than the kids pay) for each - GRRRRR!:x Oh dear, if we get started on our peeves with NISA, we'll be here forever....

And another pet peeve - why don't we have any men at our rink so we could do 'proper ice dance' with a partner. There must be some men out there.....You have to grow your own dance partners, I've found.... look how almost all the competitive adult couples are married couples!

[fsk8r]

I totally agree on the lack of male ice dancers. But why are all the male ice dancers that there are, all worse skaters than I am? I only know about half a dozen dances, but I can skate all of them and with edges (don't promise toe pointing but I'm blaming the boots still) and they don't have edges. Or miss out half the steps. It is really quite infuriating. Worse still are the ones that don't even "move". I thought that you are meant to go around the rink doing the dance and not do the steps standing in the same spot?

And I'd love to grow my own male partner, but I'm struggling to find where they all hide in the UK, or else I'm spending too long down the rink and they're certainly not there.

[slusher]

Actually my peeve wasn't about dressing room problems, and until Bill posted I forgot about that little incident. :halo: :P

My personal pet peeve about skating is the music that is played for warm up. The rink CD has to be at least 10 years old, I'd say longer but it is a CD not a tape, and although we as skaters keep making mix CD's and putting them in the booth, the skate moms keep playing the same old one. We have actually stolen this CD to make it disappear but it CAME BACK! There were copies apparently. It duplicates itself, it replicates, aaarrrghhh, it won't go away!!!!

[vesperholly]

My personal pet peeve about skating is the music that is played for warm up. The rink CD has to be at least 10 years old, I'd say longer but it is a CD not a tape, and although we as skaters keep making mix CD's and putting them in the booth, the skate moms keep playing the same old one. We have actually stolen this CD to make it disappear but it CAME BACK! There were copies apparently. It duplicates itself, it replicates, aaarrrghhh, it won't go away!!!!
I have a similar complaint. I make tons of CDs, play them, and then other skaters take my CDs off and put on the radio. I HATE the radio. Radio commercials and static are like nails on a chalkboard for me. I don't care if they put another CD on, just not the radio. Not to mention that I'm the one who gets out the boom box every day. If you want to play your own stuff, YOU get it out. :P

[flikkitty11]

YAY thanks for the ranting thread!

(1) Skaters with ipods (or equivelent)

(2) Little kids with a death wish

(3) coaches who tell their students that they are fat (trust me, my coach froma few years ago told me that alot. she may have been right but that doesnt mean she should say it...)

(4) speed skaters! the take over the first hour of the morning club session for weeks at a time. (which happens to be the ONLY time i can skate in the morning) AND the ice is CRAP after cos it doesnt get resurfaced after because the management is to lazy.

(5) kids who havnt had respect of higher level, faster skaters scared into them yet. unfortunatly the skater who did that to me quit a few years ago and there is nobody scary enough anymore *tear*

and, finally,
(6) this little chick who thinks shes an awsome skater but isnt. She got in my way in my program EVERY time i did it in my lesson last week (which was alot since im learning it) She manages to get in everyones way. Other than the fact that she doesnt respect her betters she reminds me of me..

wait, sorry, theres one more :??
(7) those coaches who make kids think they are better than they are... not for the kids sake, for everyone elses!!!

[BuggieMom]

I really hate dirty bathrooms in the rink. Bad enough they're cold, I don't need filth and stench to add to the ambience. In some rinks, I'll actually stop at a nearby store to use their restrooms before heading home.
AMEN!!!!
I have been in rinks with restrooms so nasty that I had my dd take off her competition dress before going into the stall. Urine on the seats, God only knows WHAT the wetness on the floor is....PLEASE clean your restrooms before hosting a competition...including the ones in the locker rooms. I can tell the difference between a regularly cleaned restroom and one that has not had a cleaning since Moses. Being an older rink does NOT give you license to be nasty!

[vesperholly]

AMEN!!!!
I have been in rinks with restrooms so nasty that I had my dd take off her competition dress before going into the stall. Urine on the seats, God only knows WHAT the wetness on the floor is....PLEASE clean your restrooms before hosting a competition...including the ones in the locker rooms. I can tell the difference between a regularly cleaned restroom and one that has not had a cleaning since Moses. Being an older rink does NOT give you license to be nasty!
My rink recently held Regionals. The downstairs bathroom had one tap out of four that worked. The week after the competition, they replaced all the taps. :frus: Three of the stall doors still have broken locks.

[mikawendy]

My personal pet peeve about skating is the music that is played for warm up. The rink CD has to be at least 10 years old, I'd say longer but it is a CD not a tape, and although we as skaters keep making mix CD's and putting them in the booth, the skate moms keep playing the same old one. We have actually stolen this CD to make it disappear but it CAME BACK! There were copies apparently. It duplicates itself, it replicates, aaarrrghhh, it won't go away!!!!

Too funny!!!! That reminds me of a CD that a friend of mine in high school "gave me" (then I realized it was really bad and he was just trying to get rid of it). So I "gave" it back to him at Christmastime. Then it showed up as a birthday present to me. I think I last gave it to him a few years back and haven't seen it since....at least not yet. :lol: :lol:

At one rink I skate at, there is a toxic corner where I think the hockey players must spit or empty their mouth guards or something. It smells FOUL, worse than the other parts of that rink, and sometimes I can see where they've spit. I always try to NOT relace my skates there because when I relace, my laces trail on the (gross) ground. :blech:

[LPSkates]

People who use the rink as their free babysitter and leave their screeching shrieking kids for hours with no supervision.



that is my biggest pet peeve.... it drives me nuts!!:twisted:

[kander]

I totally agree on the lack of male ice dancers. But why are all the male ice dancers that there are, all worse skaters than I am?

I think a lot (most) of the men get into it to meet women. I hear some complaints about rink romeos.

Kevin

[Isk8NYC]

Three of the stall doors still have broken locks.I always have a screwdriver, so I'm the good samaritan that tightens loose screws in bathrooms before they fall out and get lost...except in filthy bathrooms - they're on their own.

[Mrs Redboots]

And I'd love to grow my own male partner, but I'm struggling to find where they all hide in the UK, or else I'm spending too long down the rink and they're certainly not there.Oh, I dunno, your rink has a fair few male ice dancers, most of whom aren't too bad - I don't, and won't, go to your Tuesday night dance club, but I believe there are a heck of a lot of men who do go! I can think of five or six who I am pretty sure go regularly, if not more - Guildford certainly fields a good team in RIDL matches.

[doubletoe]

I have a similar complaint. I make tons of CDs, play them, and then other skaters take my CDs off and put on the radio. I HATE the radio. Radio commercials and static are like nails on a chalkboard for me. I don't care if they put another CD on, just not the radio. Not to mention that I'm the one who gets out the boom box every day. If you want to play your own stuff, YOU get it out. :P

Hmm. . . I bet there's a way to arrange for the radio to accidentally "break". . . :twisted:

[doubletoe]

Nothing screams "figure skater" like a bag on rollers

Really? Mine is slim and black and screams, "flight attendant" LOL!

[jazzpants]

Really? Mine is slim and black and screams, "flight attendant" LOL!If you were skating in San Francisco's YB's rink, the slim, black "skating suitcase" oftens screams "tourist", hotel guest or conventioneers. (Not a good thing to look like if you're in a big metropolitan city and someone is looking for someone easy to mug ...) 8O

I think a lot (most) of the men get into it to meet women. I hear some complaints about rink romeos. Yeah, and the ones I can think of are giving the rest of the male ice dancers a bad name too. :evil: (Kevin, you know who I'm talking about...)

[daisies]

I have so many pet peeves, it's a wonder I love skating! LOL! I think some of these may have been mentioned, so bear with me....

1) Not giving right of way to the person skating his/her program. This includes but is not limited to a) not paying any attention whatsoever and b) actually seeing the skater coming but standing like a deer in headlights.

2) Coaches who ask me about test/competition rules, because I'm a judge. What am I, a walking rulebook? BUY ONE. I don't mind talking about the interpretation of a rule or what I look for as a judge, but I don't know off the top of my head what spins Susie Skater has to do in her pre-juvenile FS test. Look it up.

3) Coaches who play music on their boom boxes so loud that it drowns out the music playing over the loud speaker. RUDE.

4) Skaters who say they can do a "clean" whatever jump and then proceed to do a quarter to a full rotation ON THE ICE. C'mon, people ... if you can't feel what "clean" is, maybe we need a lesson on EDGES. (Figures, anyone?)

5) Kicking the ice or dragging the toe after a jump goes awry.

I'm sure I'll think of more!

[fsk8r]

Oh, I dunno, your rink has a fair few male ice dancers, most of whom aren't too bad - I don't, and won't, go to your Tuesday night dance club, but I believe there are a heck of a lot of men who do go! I can think of five or six who I am pretty sure go regularly, if not more - Guildford certainly fields a good team in RIDL matches.

Unfortunately, I've never quite got over the rivalry between the figure skating club and the dance club. The figure skaters keep asking whether any of the dancers are still breathing! but unfortunately, I can't make dance club either, as I've got ballet then, and rush to make the 15min dance interval, and most of the good men have gone home now, although I'm slowly being seen as a dancer (having expanded my repertoire from 4 dances to nearly 10 in a couple of weeks), so the situation isn't quite as dire. I just wish there were more "Young" men.

[Terri C]

1) Not giving right of way to the person skating his/her program. This includes but is not limited to a) not paying any attention whatsoever and b) actually seeing the skater coming but standing like a deer in headlights.

This too is a pet peeve of mine. We have one coach in particular that the skaters of this coach are the WORST at yielding right of way to a program.
It does not help that our rink forbids private lessons to be given during public session, so you have kiddies who can barely do crossovers with teenagers doing doubles, with me the Adult Pre Bronze Peon in the middle.



3) Coaches who play music on their boom boxes so loud that it drowns out the music playing over the loud speaker. RUDE.


Worse yet, the coach who hoards the boom box and bumps everyone else for their skaters programs so much that you are tempted to skate over and grab the CD and break it in half!

[flikkitty11]

i have to add some things after my experiences on tuesday

1) girls wont watch out for eachother but a majority of the guys do

2) there is this one coach whos students (well, most of them) never look out and generally move around in a pack.

3) the only worthwile club session is the 3rd session each night which is restricted to juv and above. thankfully i can skate that one :)

[Mrs Redboots]

Unfortunately, I've never quite got over the rivalry between the figure skating club and the dance club. The figure skaters keep asking whether any of the dancers are still breathing! but unfortunately, I can't make dance club either, as I've got ballet then, and rush to make the 15min dance interval, and most of the good men have gone home now, although I'm slowly being seen as a dancer (having expanded my repertoire from 4 dances to nearly 10 in a couple of weeks), so the situation isn't quite as dire. I just wish there were more "Young" men.

Depending on which side of Guildford you live, could you make Streatham's dance club at 7:00 pm on Thursdays? I don't often go, but husband does, and says there are occasionally more men than women, although sadly one of our best-loved members died recently.

[Bunny Hop]

And another pet peeve - why don't we have any men at our rink so we could do 'proper ice dance' with a partner.
Actually you do, but I've usually got him doing dance on the public sessions! You are very welcome to borrow him on patch sessions, however - he'd probably like to learn some slightly more advanced dances (I still look like this 8O when asked to go backwards in waltz hold).


Pet peeve: school groups who invade (normally quiet) daytime sessions!

[fsk8r]

Depending on which side of Guildford you live, could you make Streatham's dance club at 7:00 pm on Thursdays? I don't often go, but husband does, and says there are occasionally more men than women, although sadly one of our best-loved members died recently.

I'll have to look into that, although I skate the figure skating club on Thursdays with all the kids and I think my 6 year old little friends might miss their big old person who they can make fun of! I'm also still struggling with accepting that I might actually be more of an ice dancer than a free skater! I'm currently in a state of denial. I think I'll have to wait until I know more than the basic dances before venturing on a tour of dance clubs.
Thanks for the info though. I'll have to remember that, for when I'm next testing and decide to freak out the week before.

[BatikatII]

Actually you do, but I've usually got him doing dance on the public sessions! You are very welcome to borrow him on patch sessions, however - he'd probably like to learn some slightly more advanced dances (I still look like this 8O when asked to go backwards in waltz hold).



That's very kind of you Bunny Hop! Next time I see him on patch I'll ask if he wants to try a dance. He's a lot taller than me though so might not be so easy! I've not practised anything higher than Riverside Rhumba with a partner (and that one definitley needs a coachs' help when partnering) but the blues, D waltz, canasta, golden skaters are all very doable, actually even swing dance if he know the steps (which is I think higher than RR but probably easier to partner). Oh and I have done the 3 turn waltzy one - European waltz maybe but cant' remember the steps!

When will we see you coming on to patch?

[Bunny Hop]

That's very kind of you Bunny Hop! Next time I see him on patch I'll ask if he wants to try a dance. He's a lot taller than me though so might not be so easy! I've not practised anything higher than Riverside Rhumba with a partner (and that one definitley needs a coachs' help when partnering) but the blues, D waltz, canasta, golden skaters are all very doable, actually even swing dance if he know the steps (which is I think higher than RR but probably easier to partner). Oh and I have done the 3 turn waltzy one - European waltz maybe but cant' remember the steps!

I find that I manage okay with the height difference (it's 12 inches in our case), but not knowing any different probably helps in that regard!. He's good for all the early dances (Dutch Waltz, Rhythm Blues, Canasta Tango) but picks up the steps really quickly, so could easily learn more.
When will we see you coming on to patch?
Well, now that I have my new (magic) boots, it may be a sooner than I have been predicting, as I'm finally starting to make some progress. Hopefully within the next few months.

[ibreakhearts66]

ugh ok another pet peeve

when you are first meeting a skater and they go "so what jump are you on?"

you KNOW they are judging you and it makes it even more awkward when you get on the ice bc you feel them staring at you trying to see if you were lying or not

happened today

[kayskate]

Music:
I put on a CD and w/in a couple of minutes some teenager asks me if they can "change it up". What am I going to say?

Restrooms:
IMO ice rink restrooms are the filthiest on earth. Often worse than gas stations.

Other skaters:
Ask if I am alright every time I fall. Usually it is adults. Don't they know falling is part of this sport? I know they mean well but it gets ridiculous if I am working on something new and taking lots of harmless "sit down" falls.

Kay

[jennib]

Spirals where the skaters drops her shoulders below her hips (Karen Hughes, Tanya Harding) thinking that just cuz their leg is up high it is a great spiral, stretch your back up!!!!

Feet turned in on spirals, feet turned in on anything....when the skate is in the air it is a much prettier position if you will keep your hip under you and turn your foot out and pointe (like a ballerina!)

Making every spin a catch foot spin.

Skaters who think just because they are going to regionals or sectionals that I should ALWAYS look out for them, but they NEVER have to look out for me....hey I paid for the icetime same as you!

Skate moms who use some kind of sign language to tell their kids what they did wrong in the jumps....and totally interfere with the coaching they are paying thousands for.

My bum knee......

[black]

Sound systems at competitions. I have been along to several competitions spectating and supporting fellow skaters and on a couple of occasions there have been problems with music; cutting out/skipping/starting incorrectly etc. Do they have any idea how much effort goes into those couple of minutes of a program; only to have it ruined or have the stress of wondering if it will play correctly for them.

[sk8tmum]

Little girls who are tricked out to look "sexy"; or are choreographed with booty-shakes and shimmies. There is something wrong with 7 year old girls who are painted up like ladies of the evening (there is a reall difference between sparkly glitter and going over the top - my kids get sparkly, not sexy!) - and with outfits that could pass as nightclub wear shaking their non-existent bosoms and hips to music that has - overtones. Much as I am tired of hearing Disney-esque stuff ... I'll take that over "hot" music for little girls.

[sk8tmum]

I find that I manage okay with the height difference (it's 12 inches in our case), but not knowing any different probably helps in that regard!. He's good for all the early dances (Dutch Waltz, Rhythm Blues, Canasta Tango) but picks up the steps really quickly, so could easily learn more.

Other height perspective: DS's partner is taller, so, he is terrified of hitting her in the -bosom- with his head if he gets, as the judges keep telling him, CLOSER to his partner. DD, who is very tall and taller than her partner: keeping her head up and not worrying about HIS head hitting her in the - bosom -.:roll:

(there's a shortage of partners for testing where we are ... hard to explain unless you live it, which is why we persist with the height difference - !)

[Isk8NYC]

Little girls who are tricked out to look "sexy"; or are choreographed with booty-shakes and shimmies. There is something wrong with 7 year old girls who are painted up like ladies of the evening (there is a reall difference between sparkly glitter and going over the top - my kids get sparkly, not sexy!) - and with outfits that could pass as nightclub wear shaking their non-existent bosoms and hips to music that has - overtones. Much as I am tired of hearing Disney-esque stuff ... I'll take that over "hot" music for little girls.
Bravo, Bravo! Encore! Is it just me, or are the overly made-up kids the weaker skaters?
(That was the case in every one of my show groups last year.)

I'm a prude and proud of it - I preach the "buy a skintone leotard for under the costume" every year to the kids and parents.
Makes them skate better when they're not frozen to the bone. I vote for modesty before misery.

[Mainemom]

I don't think anyone covered my and my DD's #1 top pet peeve - a skater who plays her program music over and over and over and over and completely monopolizes the rink CD player. Often times before competitions we have a parent volunteer sit in the booth and monitor the order of the CD's to be played (coaches get priority) but I wish we had a limit to how many times you can play it during a free style session. Even if no one else needs to play their music, everyone still has to watch out for the skater doing her program to give her right of way, over and over...

Phew! I feel better!

[jskater49]

I don't think anyone covered my and my DD's #1 top pet peeve - a skater who plays her program music over and over and over and over and completely monopolizes the rink CD player. Often times before competitions we have a parent volunteer sit in the booth and monitor the order of the CD's to be played (coaches get priority) but I wish we had a limit to how many times you can play it during a free style session. Even if no one else needs to play their music, everyone still has to watch out for the skater doing her program to give her right of way, over and over...

Phew! I feel better!


When that happens I give the skater two times that I get out of her way--after that - she is on her own.

j

[Sessy]

I'm a prude and proud of it - I preach the "buy a skintone leotard for under the costume" every year to the kids and parents.
Makes them skate better when they're not frozen to the bone. I vote for modesty before misery.

I totally don't get that either, how parents expect their kids to skate when they're seeing blue. Now we have a mom who lets her beginner kid skate in capri pants (is that the right word? kind of tight shorts, bit longer) WITHOUT tights and a spaghetti top! :o
Just cuz the A and B competition group can pull off naked shoulders doesn't mean beginners can! And even the A and B competition group doesn't do naked legs, I've only seen that on TV once or twice in elite skaters, let alone anybody else! Stupid parents. What happened to skiing pants and a longsleeve for beginners?

[fsk8r]

My pet one are the beginner teenager girls in tops they're falling out of! Haven't they discovered boulder holders yet? Wardrobe malfunctions are best left to the celebrities and not on ice.

[TreSk8sAZ]

I don't think anyone covered my and my DD's #1 top pet peeve - a skater who plays her program music over and over and over and over and completely monopolizes the rink CD player. Often times before competitions we have a parent volunteer sit in the booth and monitor the order of the CD's to be played (coaches get priority) but I wish we had a limit to how many times you can play it during a free style session. Even if no one else needs to play their music, everyone still has to watch out for the skater doing her program to give her right of way, over and over...

Phew! I feel better!

My biggest pet peeve are the COACHES that do this! We have one coach that constantly cuts skaters (who have been in line since the beginning of the session) off. I understand once, but when the same coach does it twice or more to the same skater, or after every single skater, it's ridiculous. You can let one or two skaters go in front of you. Choreographing is one thing, but just playing it over and over is not okay.

[cecealias]

Pet peeve#1 - skaters that don't point their toes!

Pointing is both functional to help you get every move in the right place and good form : to make the lines look finished and aesthetically pleasing. Doing basic 3 turns with a loose free leg is just asking for a swinging bat outta hell! Asking for an accident if totally out of control; Ugly too, if you ask me! Have you seen a skater go for a jump and then land flat footed? It is just horrific and painful! Point them suckers!! LOL

Pet Peeve #2 - the adult (parent, skater or bystander) who says or thinks "you can't do X on ice because you are of "Y" age".

[Kim to the Max]

Pet Peeve #2 - the adult (parent, skater or bystander) who says or thinks "you can't do X on ice because you are of "Y" age".

My mother is does that to me occasionally...she likes to think that because I am 27, I can't skate any more :twisted: Boy, is she wrong!

[cecealias]

My mother is does that to me occasionally...she likes to think that because I am 27, I can't skate any more :twisted: Boy, is she wrong!

Imagine that! I'm 31 and I still get that "No jumping for you! That's for kids!" or "Oh yeah isn't figure skating a kids sport? Doubles and triples should be easy if kids do it, right?" You won't believe the numbers of ignorant people out there... LOL

[FallDownGoBoom]

This has been happening for the past several weeks.

During a public session, I'll take center ice if no one is taking a lesson. Moments later, two or three girls -- significantly better skaters than I -- barge in and act as though I'm not even there. Hey, I'm happy to share the space, but how about waiting until I complete my jump or spin, then doing yours? How about I skate among the masses for 10 minutes, come back to the center, then you guys go among them?

I get the feeling that the parents of these little darlings say, "Now, go out there and get our money's worth! You just get that woman to move out of your way!"

[Kim to the Max]

Imagine that! I'm 31 and I still get that "No jumping for you! That's for kids!" or "Oh yeah isn't figure skating a kids sport? Doubles and triples should be easy if kids do it, right?" You won't believe the numbers of ignorant people out there... LOL

Oh yes...my favorite quote from my mom was in September and I was thinking about taking lessons again, and I said to my mom, "it's mind over matter," and she replied, you're not that young anymore so it's more joints over ice!

[Laura H]

Other skaters:
Ask if I am alright every time I fall. Usually it is adults. Don't they know falling is part of this sport? I know they mean well but it gets ridiculous if I am working on something new and taking lots of harmless "sit down" falls.

Kay


This is SOOOO my pet peeve as well . . . for me it's the instructors . . . I know they probably have background to have good reason to worry when an adult goes down (I've heard horror stories from my son's coach) but darn it, when we're working on jumps, I can pull off a sit-down fall without injuring myself . . . really I can!! Call off the EMS already!! :giveup:

[Sessy]

"Oh yeah isn't figure skating a kids sport? Doubles and triples should be easy if kids do it, right?"

Doing the splits, putting the back of your head on your butt or putting your knee in your neck must be so easy too: kids do it all the time!

[sk8tmum]

As long as we're discussing WARDROBE malfunctions -

1. Black bra straps showing on a pretty, dainty dress. If you've got to wear them visibly due to dress design, then get clear or at least skintone!
2. Not wearing a bra under a dress when you need one. It's painful to watch, and I'm sure that it's painful to skate, when you're a C/D cup with no support.
3. Lumpy panties under a dress. I know we've had the debate on what to wear on the bottom, but, you can at least ensure that they fit neatly, or aren't screaming pink or neon green to show thru the tights. Aesthetically, it really ruins the line on a spiral when you've got rolls of material showing sticking out the bottom of the panties, or can see the leopard print on the knickers thru the tights and the dress is pink and frilly.
4. Ill-fitting necklines. When you try on a dress, bend over and make sure that the girls don't pop into view, or that you can't see alll the wayyyy down to the navel.
5. For the gentlemen: at a certain point: make sure that there's some - coverage, protection, something - down there - even if it's just snug fitting jockeys. Otherwise, it's very ... ummm ... well, I remember reading a quote about why there's not a lot of interest in nude ballet: because some parts of the body don't stop moving when the music stops, and some rotate and swing independently and uncontrolled, regardless of talent.

There, that's my morning randomness out of my system.

[Helen88]

As long as we're discussing WARDROBE malfunctions -

1. Black bra straps showing on a pretty, dainty dress. If you've got to wear them visibly due to dress design, then get clear or at least skintone!
2. Not wearing a bra under a dress when you need one. It's painful to watch, and I'm sure that it's painful to skate, when you're a C/D cup with no support.
3. Lumpy panties under a dress. I know we've had the debate on what to wear on the bottom, but, you can at least ensure that they fit neatly, or aren't screaming pink or neon green to show thru the tights. Aesthetically, it really ruins the line on a spiral when you've got rolls of material showing sticking out the bottom of the panties, or can see the leopard print on the knickers thru the tights and the dress is pink and frilly.
4. Ill-fitting necklines. When you try on a dress, bend over and make sure that the girls don't pop into view, or that you can't see alll the wayyyy down to the navel.
5. For the gentlemen: at a certain point: make sure that there's some - coverage, protection, something - down there - even if it's just snug fitting jockeys. Otherwise, it's very ... ummm ... well, I remember reading a quote about why there's not a lot of interest in nude ballet: because some parts of the body don't stop moving when the music stops, and some rotate and swing independently and uncontrolled, regardless of talent.

There, that's my morning randomness out of my system.


Couldn't help laugh at some of them LOL :)

[doubletoe]

Not directly related to actual skating, but. . .

MISSPELLED SKATING TERMS! The poor skaters who invented these moves deserve more respect than to have their names constantly misspelled.

1. A-X-E-L It is NOT spelled "axle". An axel is a jump; an axle is part of your car. This jump was named after Axel Paulsen.

2. S-A-L-C-H-O-W - abbreviated S-A-L. It is NOT "sowcow", sowchow or "SOW"!!:giveup: Those are pigs or imaginary pig-cow breeds. This jump was named after Ulrich Salchow.

3. B-I-E-L-L-M-A-N-N - That's I before E and 2 L's and 2 N's, please. Denise Biellmann is still alive and well and it must pain her to see her name misspelled more often than it is spelled correctly.

Come on, folks, we can do this! :roll:

[mandypants]

Most of my peeves have been covered but I just wanted to say something about rink bathrooms. One coach I know is also a student in biology in college and actually took cultures a couple years ago from the sinks of the rink bathroom to do some sort of experiment with for a class. She said all kinds of scary stuff was growing in there. With the MRSA (that's the bacteria that is resistant to certain kinds of antibiotics and very hard to treat) scare right now everyone should be very afraid of the rink bathrooms!!!!

My main peeve though is dangerously crowded f/s sessions. Rink Mgt. more interested in making $$$$ thru hockey than providing enough f/s sessions and quality programs. At my main rink, there is freestyle of all levels, ice dance, MIF all mixed into one big sloppy "Frogger" style mess and the limit is supposed to be 25 skaters but you have to add at least 10 coaches giving lessons.... and there's always one coach (cough cough Alex McG) who loves to whip out the harness regardless of how crowded a session is...... and Gary I. who has all his gadgets..... jeeeesus someone should pay US for putting up with those conditions. I'm really frustrated at not being able to run thru my programs without at least one near crash and being frazzled by it.. or not EVER ever being able to run thru a whole moves pattern without stopping. It makes a person want to quit :(

[ibreakhearts66]

ok just had to add another one.

public skaters who scream and laugh hillariously (and obnoxiously loudly) anytime they, or anyone else in their group, fall. ok, you can let out a little squeal if a fall catches you by surprise, and, by all means, laugh at your friend when they end up with snow all over their butt, but the WHOLE rink doesn't need to hear it

[WeirFan06]

Most of my peeves have been covered but I just wanted to say something about rink bathrooms. One coach I know is also a student in biology in college and actually took cultures a couple years ago from the sinks of the rink bathroom to do some sort of experiment with for a class. She said all kinds of scary stuff was growing in there. With the MRSA (that's the bacteria that is resistant to certain kinds of antibiotics and very hard to treat) scare right now everyone should be very afraid of the rink bathrooms!!!!

The bathrooms at my main rink aren't that bad, but there's this one area over behind the drinking fountains... for a LONG TIME there was this putrid smell coming from over there. And I don't think it was from the actual fountains, but behind them where I think all the extra water would fall. I always thought that if we lifted up the flooring there would probably be some nasty fungus growing under there. I never tried it though. And then the smell just went away. The MRSA thing is gross, though... I work at a hospital and we want NOTHING to do with MRSA!

[Sessy]

- rink rental skates booths that tell little kids "figure skates are for girls, hockey skates are for boys" when a kid can't decide what he or she wants.
- people who say "what more proof do you need that he's gay?" when it turns out a boy is figure skating. When I was shooting guns nobody thought I was a lesbian!
- people whose practice dresses have a gazillion of iron-on sparkles on it and who then compete in something atrociously resembling a used doormat.
- people who don't use bootcovers in practice, and then cover their boots with bootcovers (not even over-the-boot tights) in competition to hide the badly cut up skates.
- people who can't remember where they put their blade guards and who indiscriminately take the first pair that remotely resembles theirs.

[Sonic]

Yes, the Ice Magnet Syndrome! It is well documented. :lol:

lol! Ice Magnets...ah yes. I've noticed another phenomen along these lines: Camel Moths.

Camel Moth: person who cannot skate who is drawn to a skater mid-camel spin in the same way a moth is drawn to a flame...you know the ones: 'Blade flying round mid air...muuuusst skate towaaaards itttt....muuuusst skate towaaaards itttt....!'

S xxx

[Sessy]

Indeed, it should be mandatory that everybody have seen this video before entering a freeskate session!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXQp59eGo7k

[sk8tmum]

DS skated weirded out for quite a while due to 2 incidents that were a result of what you call the Ice Magnet syndrome, and I refer to as the AirHead Condition:

1. Skating Program - little girl (well, 10 years old ...) skates directly into his line as he's on an axel takeoff, neatly positioned to be exactly where he was intending on landing. Popped the axel, nearly popped himself by landing very awkwardly... and little girl giggled and wandered off. Same little girl has done this to multiple kids on the session, and continues to giggle and shrug every time it happens.

2. Practicing Camel Spin - not-so-little boy, 13 years old, doing highspeed passes around the ice for no apparent purpose, suddenly changes his path and skates directly towards DS - just as free leg is swinging into camel spin rotation. DS nearly clocks the kid in the head with his blade, has the agility and technique to pull out of the spin. Other kid thought it was funny. My kid was totally freaked out at the idea of what could have happened.

These and other instances are typical of overcrowded sessions, undercontrolled skaters, etc. Until you actually have blood spilled, or a serious injury happen, it continues. As a result, my kid skated scared and nervous for months.

[Helen88]

Similar to sk8tmum's -

STEWARDS!! They're a nightmare. I've helped more kids up than all of them put together, and last Sunday my coach had to go and yell at them as they were standing chatting.

Hockey skaters. They're all about my age (I've had some encounters with them more than once, and I don't think a single one hasn't ended in me yelling at them) and insist on standing chatting RIGHT in the middle of the F-I-G-U-R-E S-K-A-T-I-N-G circle.

Rink toilets (I almost typed bathrooms then - this board's americanising me :P), along with everyone else.

And rink managers who are too lazy to resurface the ice after rehearsals for the Chrismas show before a busy public session where SOME people will be trying to avoid people skating in the wrong direction, stewards showing off, kids falling over an not getting up AND ruts in the ice.

Rant over :)

[fsk8r]

On the ice magnets. I thought a good one was when my sister was practicing back spirals in her lesson. She was hoping the coach was being her back pair of eyes like he said he would. She skated straight back into another girl who took a blade in the stomach. Her coach was watching the whole thing as well. Apparently, neither coach thought it was necessary to call out. Sister seriously freaked from doing back spirals ever again.

Oh and why is it whenever I pick a circle to jump around (and I jump clockwise ie the wrong way!) someone always comes over and insists on practicing 3-turns or something the other way. It's bad enough trying to jump against the flow without other people coming and taking over when you'd already claimed the circle for practice. There's a whole rink out there of people going the "right" direction, so can't I be allowed a little corner for going the wrong way? And the worst is when this happens in lesson as it really freaks me out and the coach has to waste time finding free ice.

[doubletoe]

lol! Ice Magnets...ah yes. I've noticed another phenomen along these lines: Camel Moths.

Camel Moth: person who cannot skate who is drawn to a skater mid-camel spin in the same way a moth is drawn to a flame...you know the ones: 'Blade flying round mid air...muuuusst skate towaaaards itttt....muuuusst skate towaaaards itttt....!'

S xxx

ROFLMAO!!:lol:

[flikkitty11]

sorry, its me again...

I am very sorry if any of you are speed skaters but...

If speed skaters take over the first hour of the morning session AGAIN im seriously going to crack!!! That is the ONLY time people in high school can practice in the morning without missing class. ie. that is the ONLY time I can practice in the morning. Unfortunatly they get better funding than figure skaters here *sigh* even though all they do is go round and round the rink cutting up the ice!

Im done (for now) :)

[Sessy]

I totally know how you feel.

[Rusty Blades]

... I jump clockwise ie the wrong way!

EXCUSE ME!!! You jump the CORRECT way - it is the rest of the world that is wrong!

[momsk8er]

I so agree! :P Lefties all the way!

[Jeanne D]

There's one rink I skate at where the kids love to get a running start and then throw their bodies onto the ice and slide on their backs. I mean, I love to do that too but...I don't want to take out anyone! And these kids can slide really well for little people.

More pet peeves that don't apply to other skaters; painful boots after 5 years and freezing cold rinks. Ugh. Or is that Achooo?!!

[fsk8r]

I so agree! :P Lefties all the way!

Yeah, I know, but I keep thinking that maybe if you can't beat 'em you may as well join 'em. But i'd still be freaked out by skaters coming at me and jumping in my path, so i'm obviously just some sort of scaredey cat which doesn't want to kill myself or someone else.

and I actually like being different. The kids i'm friendly with can cope that I do everything different from them, but the adults seem to not understand the whole mirroring thing. Then again, if you've been left handed all your life, you get used to mirroring and if you're not, you've never experienced it.