The little (and bigger) ice divas really annoy me...grrrr!

I get annoyed when it's the start of a new competitive season and it's time for new music....and you see 2-3 people skating to it (one who owns it and several who like it and are skating for fun to it)....WHO'S MUSIC IS IT????? Please tell me so I know!!!!!! Sheesh!!!!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

It's always worse at the start of the season when you don't know other people's programmes - this time of year, even the elites have more-or-less settled at least the basic shape of their programmes and you know roughly where they're going to go at which point in their music.

We only have one Little Princess on most of the sessions I attend, and she's gone by 08:00 in the week to go to school. She is very good at keeping out of the way now, while still keeping her own space on the ice that she needs - she used not to be, but at six, she has learnt. I do find weekend teaching ice awkward for that very reason, though - there is always a scatter of kids around who don't know that, while the hockey circles are a great place to have lessons (we tend to refer to them as K's circle, P's circle, etc, from the name of the coach who tends to teach in them!), they are not a great place to stand and chat!

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I totally agree with you here. The same thing happens to me at times, and even when I'm in a lesson with my program music on. Very annoying and rude. Once I even had to have a discussion with another coach while I was skating my program, in a lesson. Come on, don't argue with me, just move the heck out of the way!

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August 22, back on the ice!

My coach gets a GREAT laugh out of me because she KNOWS I will do my mom yell, "MOVE!!!" if I'm in my program and I see a group of chatty cathy's in my way ... I always go up to them later and say "I'm sorry, but I was in my program..." they almost always apologize.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Learn to Skate kids are not figure skaters or even close. They have yet mastered the skills to be called a figure skater and it's best they stay off the ice.

I don't want to have to owrry about them getting in my way while I am seriously trying to get some ice time in. I'm not going to worry if I hurt them or not, if they get hurt...that is their fault. They got in the way. If they knew any better they would have stayed out of the way and off the ice.

It's unfair to those who are really skating to risk getting hurt because some stupid spoiled brat thinks freestyle sessions means LTS sessions.

They are more then welcome at public sessions but have no business skating with those who can actually skate.

This is why we have freestyle sessions, so we don't have to worry about the kids getting in our way. We pay a lot of these and should be able to enjoy them.

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Check out the sites I run
http://www.joelisi.net
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Although I understand that it can be frustrating to share ice with kids that are just learning if their awareness of those around them has not been fully developed, at the end of the day they are still people and deserve more consideration than this.

Excuse me are you for real? Really really do you mean this?
What skills do you have ?When are you a figure skater?a watz jump? an axle?Didnt you just start?
I need to step back now before I say something I will reget .
edited to add...
LTS classes cover toe loops and axle prep. While I agree a kid who hasnt mastered marching and getting up and down has no bussiness on Fs ice, My kids pay the same amount as anyone else does.

I think the point lovepairs and others have made, which I agree with, is that it's not the kids that think FS sessions mean LTS sessions, it's their parents.

I, too, get annoyed by the kids that don't watch where they're going (ex: deciding that a 2-feet wide patch of ice with people on either side of the space would be a great place for a camel spin ) or stand around and don't move no matter how many times you yell "excuse me" as you skate toward them with your music playing, as you are in lesson, but as others have pointed out, "big" divas are a problem too - it's up to all of us to work to make skating and the rink environment safer, and some people seem more willing to do that than others.

I think the idea of having "bridge" sessions or low FS sessions is a good one. I don't know how feasible it would be, though, b/c I'm sure there would be plenty of complaints about the scheduling and such-and-such session being more convenient, etc. Rinks do have to cater to the majority of their customers. But I think if your rink/club has a lot of FS ice available, it's worth a try to get these sessions instituted. Of course, it's meaningless if it's not enforced on the upper end...meaning no high-level skaters getting on the ice with the FS 1 crowd and zipping around buzzing people doing Senior MIF.

I thought about this thread last night as I practiced on a crowded (although not as crowded as this session was last week - phew!) session and noticed that one of the coaches brought her daughter (who looked about 4 or 5) on the ice with her. This coach used the center circle area to teach her student and had obviously told her daughter to stay close to her and not go outside the circle area. So the girl puttered around (in a pink, lacy skating dress that had orginally belonged to the student this coach was teaching) and looked to be having fun trying spins and turns and never got in anyone's way b/c people stayed out of the area due to the lesson, and the dancers weren't going through the center circle anyway. Plus, the coach was right there so even if someone didn't see the girl, they couldn't miss her mother. (I realize this is unlike the situations being discussed here...but seeing her out there reminded me of what we've been discussing here)

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Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

I witnessed a simuliar situation this morning.
I saw a little girl in a dress and rental skates get on our freestyle session this morning marching around. Within minutes, my secondary coach, who was going to give this girl a lesson, scooped her up and had her at her side.
During that lesson, when a higher level skater was going in their direction, doing a program, coach pulled Little Skater to the boards

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Adult Nationals, 2009 "The Time of My Life"

DebbieS,

Let's face it, nothing is convenient for any of us: adults, kids, parents, or coaches. But let's all keep focused on the issue, which is about "Toddler Ice Safety." If we have safe "bridge" sessions for LTS graduating toddlers then parents should make it a priority to form their schedule around these sessions if their kids safety is their utmost concern.

Once this problem is solved then we don't have to argue about how we are paying for ice time that we should be able to use, enjoy, ect...

Franklin, your "human rights" comment is totally accurate; everyone at every age should be respected. However, what we are talking about here is a potentially dangerous scenario that plays itself out across the country day after day after day. All I'm saying is, is it going to have to take some 5 year old getting killed before any of the grownups: adult skaters, coaches, parents, or rink/club management does something about this very dangerous situation?

While I agree that the freestyle sessions are intended for figure skaters, not beginners (hence their hefty price), the tone of your post defeats your message. I know everyone likes to vent at times, but it would be more productive to keep the anger in check.

If you honestly don't care about hurting other people who don't (or can't) get out of your way, you're part of the problem. I'd like to think that's not really the case and you're exaggerating a bit because you're upset.

How about some stats? How frequently is this happening? Are they just close calls, or are there real injuries, such as Jazzpants encountered? Enough to justify a separate "bridge" session for the LTS skaters? That's what you need to tally as part of your campaign.

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I agree that this is a common issue in many rinks. However, my point is that a solution is best achieved by sitting down calmly and having a rational discussion. If mercedeslove is frustrated that is one thing. Regardless of her level of frustration, the tone of her post is inappropriate at best and does not aid in the process of discussing the issue rationally as ISk8NYC has so eloquently stated.

Maybe in an IDEAL world.... every level could have their own ice. I wouldnt like that idea, but maybe some would.
But we dont, unless you own a rink.
My 7 y ear old today worked on her pre juv moves on the ice with an adult wearing a helmet, holding on the the board. That adult is no less a skater than my 7 year old. RESPECT is RESPECT.
If you are lucky enough, you might have low ice and high ice. Even then, you would be on the low ice with 5 year old learning waltz jumps and salcows,. just like you are.
If its a safely issue, join your board and make some changes. Talk to the coaches, talk to the management.
As I said before, a toddler marching shouldnt be on Fs ice, even mine werent. But when they start crossovers, they are just like all other skaters.
Even thought we dont have a huge club, in three year the only accidents was two high level kids colliding in a power class.

I agree If a club could have bridge sessions, that would be great !! But in the real world, unless you have a big club, I dont see that happening.

Hi

I'll throw in my opinion on this, its probably not very valid and Im probably going to get hell for it but heres my situation.

Im in my 30s and have been skating for 8 weeks. I have a coach and I am having private lessons. I pay the same rate for my coaching as the elite skaters pay and I also pay the same price for patch ice as the higher level skaters. The way I see it, I am training, I am taking this very very seriously and Im giving everything i have and everything I am to actualise my dream. My dream is to figure skate confidently, competently and to progress to the best that I can be. I dont want to be a world champion, I dont want to be the best skater in the UK I just simply want to be the best that I can be. Im still in a learn to skate program but making rapid progress. Yeah after 8 weeks I am doing 3 turns, spirals, mohawks, drags, crossovers forward and backward. This does not make me a genious, it doesnt make me special, it doesnt make me anything other than a novice yet serious skater.

If i skated or took my lessons on the public sessions away from patch/freestyle sessions I doubt very much that I would have gotten any further than standing and sitting on the ice. Unfortunately the general public have very little regard or respect for anyone who is trying to skate properly. They constantly skate in your way, laugh and make jokes, shout 'show off' from the barriers and take the rip out of what you wear simply becuase you can skate better than them and some element of jealousy creeps in.

Maybe I shouldnt be on the patch sessions, maybe I should hang up my skates and leave way for the elite who have big dreams of becoming world superstars and have their faces in magazines, earning vast amounts of money and skating in shows around the world?

Not all of us have the same goals or dreams, not all of us have the same tallent or ability but who is to decide this? Where as I agree little children may be putting themselves and others at risk during freestyle sessions, where do we draw the line? Do we now decide to alienate all new skaters regardless of age or ability? Ill say one thing though, If I had to restrict myself to public sessions, I may as well forget my dreams and sell my skates on ebay.

I am not meaning to sound harsh or offensive in this post to anyone, however I do agree with many points that rinks are more concerned about putting money over their counter than ensuring a safe environment for all.

Andrea xx

Admittedly, I'm very torn on this issue. On the one hand, this little kid is a FS skater and since she's paying her coaching and the ice time, the kid should be given full consideration. And those of you that know me know that I have a very soft spot for kids!!!

However, I also have to be concern for the safety of a lot of skaters that skate at the morning FS sessions that this little girl is starting to show up at. I mean we got a LOT of adults at the later morning sessions (and during the summer, there are a LOT of kids doing doubles as well too...) A lot of our adults are BIG tall guys who can easily crush this particular girl here!!! The only thing that this little one has that is of her protection is her coach (who if you know her, she's a BIG TALL WOMAN!!!) But she can't be skating alongside her student the entire time, especially if she's doing a program.

And yes, I do remember a time when I have to learn to be aware of other skaters and figure out their pattern. I'm STILL learning that lesson now!!! And no, we only have ONE PATCH of ice at my home rink. We're at least good about keeping the LTS kiddies off by having a small patch of ice coned off so the LTS kids can practice while skating school is still going on and keeping the skating school days different from the afternoons FS session times. But nothing's perfect...where do we do from here to make things better?

A step to start fixing this problem is to make sure the rink enforces the max 25 (or whatever number) skaters on a FS session rule! I don't know about you, but it sure felt like there are more than 25 skaters on that particular session, despite what the FS sign up sheets says. I remembered feeling very claustrophobic that day.

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

I think if any of you have witnessed as I have, seeing a small child being hit at speed by an advanced skater you may just change your minds.

Its like a car hitting a child, they go right up in the air, in this case the advance skater tried to catch the child and ended up with a dislocated thumb, the child however came off a lot worse and ended up with a cracked skull.

Some of you will probably say it was the advanced skater's fault, I only know that I would never, ever, put a small child at that kind of risk whoever's fault.

I have been following this tread with such interest as I had no idea that people with programs might feel this strongly about people who are learning. My rink does have two high freestyle times daily and things like specific sessions such as MIF designated times. During those sessions there are people like me doing more basic MIF all the way to very skilled. There are coaches with students at any freestyle too. Maybe our rink is not as busy as others or something but it just does not seem to be a problem in sharing the times. The high freestyle tends to have the pairs and extremely accomplished skaters. All others seem to have people that seem reasonable with the amount of ice they need. Everyone seems to be very understanding of the tiny tots that may be taking lessons and it has not appeared to be a safety issue any times I have skated. People that choose to do their program during a regular freestyle just appear to know from experience how their program may be impacted. As it gets closer to any competition, there are more using the high freestyle times.

I do know to get out of the way of people who have their music going. However, it seems unpredictable for me to know exactly where that skater is going next on the ice unless I have watch their program a few times. It just seems extreme that if you are practicing on shared ice that there would be an expectation of never being in the way.

It is already difficult to find time in a working life for all the practice this sport requires. I am certain if it were restricted further for me I would not be able to participate. I remember trying to share my sand box with the neighbors as a child. It was disturbing at first...but after just playing I learned it was more fun to have them there! giggle. I hope there will not be segregation that is too large. I practice during public skating times too because sometimes that works best with my schedule. I just adjust what I am working on accordingly. So far it has worked.

I think the debate is a good one. Thanks for enlightening me to it!

I have been hit by a high level skater going at a fast speed before! (About a year or two ago, I think...) Trust me! It feels like the wind got knocked outta me!!! (And I'm not that much shorter than this teenager skater and I'm certainly built bigger than her!!!)

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

With that, I rest my case.

So does that mean jazz shouldnt have been on the ice ? No , it was an accident.

Ice skating is an dangerous sport. Accidents can and will always happen.The best you can do IF you feel its an issue is skate on ice that is your level.
As said before, some people dont have ice like that, so we do the best we can !

She has every right to be on the ice, and that was not what I meant, correct me if I'm wrong Jazz but I guess you were demonstrating just how bad it is to be hit even as an adult, so a small child doesnt stand a chance.

If you read my original post twokidsskatemom you may understand it better.

Im not saying its not. But then the same could be said for the adults that dont skate well on the ice with kids doing doubles. I would hate to see the 60 year old knocked down by anyone, even my 4 5 lb daughter.
But again, its not a perfect world.

Yes, I was just demonstrating just how bad it is to be hit by a high level skater going at fast speeds as an adult. Nothing else. I should also add though that in that particular case, I am VERY lucky that I walked out of the rink with some bruises and swelling on the face, a light bruise on my knee, and some MAJORLY shaken nerves on my part and a few other skaters and employees!!! Nothing else!!!

The way I see it now...it's an accident! It happens! I go off the ice, heal up, get back on the ice a few days later, and move on!!! At the end, it's all I can do!!! Giving up skating altogether b/c of this is NOT an option for me!!!

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

It is a great shame that not every rink has the same facilities as mine, we have a toddler group on Sundays on the ice with toys etc and its barriered off from the general public.

This came about through pressure from parents and if you want something badly enough you can only get together and put it to management, there is money to be made for potential coaches and the rink itself in tickets, ours is always full.

Beginner Adults in general have more road sense on patches than children, I personally dont worry about them, they have choices, besides, I'm not that great myself even after all these years, my list of injuries is endless also Jazz and neither would I give it up, its the madness of skating.