I was very lucky as a young adult to skate with a great group of lunatics who went to the same rink. Not just figure skaters, either; we had a couple of hockey pucks and a speedskater or two. We just had fun and a great cheering section at skating competitions and hockey games.

The figure skaters in the clique really supported each other, critiquing maneuvers and offering suggestions. We were always willing to help newbies and have them come to the Clubs afterward with our gang.

As an instructor, when I see someone getting frustrated, I really want to help them out. I can "fix" crossovers and outside edges, but I try to be very careful about not making someone feel incompetent. I had an ancient skate guard once try to "correct" my spin entry against my wishes. He bragged about being at the old Sky Rink for years and working with Lussi. I felt like saying "I've met Mr. Lussi, and you sir, are nothing like him!" LOL (I let him babble on, out of respect for his age.)

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The most important things are:

1. BE ALERT. If it's not a crowded session, a skater may put their music on but not wear the belt or vest or whatever visual the rink uses to identify skaters doing run-throughs. (No one puts the infamous orange belt on, on any of the early morning sessions on which I skate; but we all do program or compulsory dance run-thoughs.)

2. Besides the infamous Lutz corners, watch out for spin placement.

3. Don't just camp out in one little area (near the boards or near one of the hockey circles) for the whole session. Working on LTS basics for 45 minutes around the center hockey circle can be as challenging for other skaters to work around (during MIF or program practice) as working on LTS basics around one of the hockey circles.

4. Realize that if someone yells "watch out" or "move" and it comes out aggressive-sounding, it may be because they are working hard and their heart rate/breath rate is higher. BUT, do what they say.

5. If there's a competition or test session coming up, skaters doing run-throughs will often be less tolerant of other skaters on the session, and especially of LTS skaters. Stress levels can rise at this time.

I still don't approve of mixing everyone from LTS skaters to Novice/Junior/Senior skaters on the same freestyle session. Too much chance of injury. (I've seen it happen or almost happen too many times...)

A strong high level skater moves across the ice at great speed, and while they may have the skills to respond more quickly to avoid running into someone, when that high level skater is at a certain point in the jump set-up and entry process, it can almost impossible for them to safely abort the jump.


Hope this helps.

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American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

Deleted .

The rink finally got back to me on levels, the Freestyle session is actually FS1 and up, which makes more sense, it was just hard to figure that out! (especailly after going to the rink and being given the wrong information). Looking at the ISI levels, I am working in Beta at the moment, so it would be better to not go to that session.

Thank you everyone for your input and information!

Aleeta- Despite all the "Don't do this" type comments I've left on this thread, I wanna say that it's awesome your regard for other skaters regarding your choice of sessions. Most people aren't considerate, so I think it's great that you are, especially at such an early stage in the game.

What a b*tch. There's just no other word for it. I'm glad you didn't sit through whatever diabtribe she was gonna throw at you. People like that are usually not that good of skaters anyways, and are looking for validation more than anything else, by "picking on" skaters less advanced than themselves. You can't really fix crossovers anyways- they can always be better. Always deeper, longer, more powerful. If I'd been you I would've been like "OK, let's see yours" and then picked them apart in 20 different ways until she realized she better not comment on my skating until she's World Champion.

I can't believe anyone on a freestyle session would make that type of coment. I'd tell her that she need to fix her manners and keep skating.

Something similar to what happened to Debbie happened to me once, too, only it was another adult skater who wanted to fix my forward crossovers. That was the first time I met her, and really, I was more interested in my coach's comments than in hers! Of course I know my forward crossovers need improvement! Politely told her to leave me alone. She hasn't done that to me again, I suppose because she knows I'm not interested, but she follows other people around the rink sometimes, "teaching" them one thing or the other.

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August 22, back on the ice!

I think most rinks have at least one of these, unfortunately they are lonely but have no idea how the approach people, consequences being they stay lonely.

We have an older retired skater who acts as an "advisor" at our rink (he is 80 and had won several competitions as either pair skater or dancer in the 40-50's). He calls skaters over to the boards (he won't get on the ice) and "corrects" what they are doing wrong.

He doesn't believe in 3-turns, thinks all spins should be done with the arms wide open, and teaches the toe-waltz among other things. He tries to call me over-I (repeatedly) tell him I have a private coach and can only take advice from one person. Sounds mean but he has sent several little kids off the ice in tears from his harsh comments and criticism to them. I refuse to take bad advice.

The skating director has warned him but he keeps coming back....he can be barred from club time, but he also does this on public sessions.

I tell the little girls taking private lessons to ignore him and skate on by...but it's hard for them.

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

We have a "teacher" skater in one of our adult sessions. When he offers advice to people he always asks first if they have a private coach. (He offered a suggestion to me, and then said "oh! were you on lesson the other day, I don't want to interfer with any coaching). If they don't I think he likes to offer suggestions. he's a retiree who is a long time skater and likes to help the non-serious adults out.

I guess there is one at every rink, and you just have to be careful who you take advice from. Because I wasn't going to continue private lessons I offered to hear his advice, and decided to only take it if it had been something the instructor had told me. Most of it was- I had just not remembered it all. The main bit of advice was to hold my head up!!! That's just common sense, but I wasn't doing it without being reminded.

He offered to teach me some basic dance holds this week if the session was not busy- but unfortunately I won't be able to make it.

So I don't mind common sense advice from the "helpful" skaters, but I don't think I'd appreciate anyone trying to "fix" me or to interfer with a coach.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

I don't have a problem helping other people with something, but I always tell them to follow the advice of their coach foremost. I also get advice from other skaters, which has sometimes proven beneficial, sometimes not.

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

Well that's you, so if that works for you, great! Not everybody is the same, that is what makes the world go around.

PS: You telling her to fix her manners and me asking her to show me crossovers so I can tell her ways to fix them is really not that far apart that I'd see how "disbelief" was instigated. I'd rather have my skating pulled apart than my manners, personally, and would find someone commenting on manners much ruder than someone commenting on my crossovers. But again, I guess people are all different!

jeez, i wasnt trying to get at you, i was just saying that what that girl said was very rude. I was almost agreeing with you but apparently you misunderstood. In actuality I probably wouldnt even have talked to her in the first place. Freestyle sessions are for practing, not discussing your crossovers with some girl who you don't even know who may be doing them wrong herself.