My 9 year old has been making HUGE strides lately, she can land all her doubles (except axel of course) with consistency up to double loop- double flip comes and goes, and double lutz is there too (at least this week). She has had double sal for a while very consistent and the others are suddenly clicking where they too are becoming more and more consistent every day. Of course now (next week) we leave for our 2 week family vacation to the beach.

Unfortunately, there is no freestyle ice closer than 2 hours away from where we are staying (near OC MD). Last year, I rented the ice at the Carousel Hotel, but it was expensive and the ice was awful (and the rink very small)- I am not sure it really helped anything at all- she went once for about one hour.

Should I just forget it and let her rest for 2 weeks or should I make the effort to take her once or twice even having to drive so far? After we return, she doesn't have a competition until early August- and will be moving up to Pre-Juv from Preliminary at that time.

I go back and forth thinking a rest is good, with she may lose her momentum with so long a break....what do you all think? PS- she will skate every day when she returns, as well as do off ice training every day- her coaches run it almost like mini-camp for half days all summer.

A break can actually be beneficial for her. It'll allow her to rest (a 9 yr old skating every day for the whole summer isn't the best idea) and when she comes back, she'll still have her doubles, but she'll be rested too. Maybe just skate once, and even then, don't focus on jumping since her coach isn't there. Have her focus on moves, her mostly consistent spins, and on polishing her double sal, toe, and loop.

Skating is pretty much like riding a bike. It's all muscle memory. Going on a vacation now with a competition in August is cutting it close, though. You might want to consult with her coach. Driving 2 hours every other day will just interrupt your vacation and peace.

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OOps, I didn't mean literally every day, more like 5 days a week (sorry, thinking every WORK day in my mind!). But for competition weekends, she gets Saturday and Sunday off in the summer. I was thinking maybe just once- and she is keeping the same program (mostly)- making changes to make the preliminary program more of a pre-juv (ie changing lutz, loop, double loop to double lutz, loop, double loop and things like that) so I am not too worried about the time (she has a month of skating 5 days a week to get used to the adjustments). You are right about the muscle memory- last year we vacationed the same, and she was just getting axel and she was at least as good, maybe even better after the rest.

She's 9 years old - have a wonderful vacation!

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Part of the Skate Canada LTAD model dictates/strongly recommends that skaters of this age have a break between training cycles: I believe it is at least 1 week, and I think 2. We always take 2 weeks off between to heal up nagging injuries and for mental refurbishment.

(plus, you can get all of those things like dentist, doctor, hair and shopping done that would otherwise TAKE YOU AWAY FROM THE ICE )

My daughter is not as advanced as your daughter, but she is taking a 3 week break since her grandpa is taking her and both of her brothers to Disneyland! I don't think a break will be bad. If I were going with, I would likely bring her skates just in case we had time for a trip to the rink. BUT since I won't be there, I don't want to risk her skates getting lost, so she will be off the ice for 3 weeks. It'll be ok and probably good for her!

I say, enjoy your vacation. 2 weeks off ice won't hurt her.

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She is 9 .. go on vacation already and don't even take her skates or talk about skating. IMHO she should have 3 - 2 week breaks per year at that age or she will burn out.

Taking some time off is crucial for reasons others have mentioned (nagging injuries, rest, avoiding burnout). Just about every other sport you can think of has an off-season where athletes are not beating the crap out of themselves day in and day out (they may do some conditioning or whatnot to stay in shape) and they have time to heal and rest. Skating isn't really like that, most of us are on the ice year-round, so it's important to take time off when you can.

If she's like any other 9 year old, she'll spend all of vacation running around on the beach and swimming, so she'll still be getting plenty of exercise. If she must think skating, let her practice her jumps off-ice. I'm sure her coach(es) have off-ice drills they've shown her that she could do on her own.

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Seems like you were worried about this same issue last year and if I remember correctly, it all turned out well then, so why worry now? If she's anything like my kid (almost 9), she will probably come back better for the break and the worst that can happen is that she'll spend a week getting back to where she was. She'll be working on her doubles for a long time no matter what--so what's the rush?

Even elite skaters take a break at the end of the season.
Enjoy your vacation!

Kay

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You are right! Last year it was the stupid axel, but she came back and was fine with it- and honestly, it was alot weaker than her doubles are right now. Thanks, I just needed reminding from other skating people! To the beach we go!!!!

That is true, and yes, he said he'd give her some exercises to do (which last year she didn't but it was ok anyway)

And she probably shouldn't do them this year. Kids also need a mental break - even if they are skating crazy. If you want your child to continue to thrive in this sport it is important that they have time off from even thinking about it. If your dd brings skating up, by all means let her, but don't encourage the discussion. Balance is important in life and learning that lesson as a child will serve her well.

Slightly OT, but we have three session per year at our club. My dd takes 2 weeks off between sessions. At the end of the two weeks off I always give her the choice to continue or try something new. She has always stuck with skating. She is the same age and I think about the same level as your dd. Last year we took an extended family vacation and she was off the ice for almost 6 weeks. No harm done. She was so excited about getting back the rink when got home!

This was brought up at our rink recently from a mom concerned about her daughter losing skills if they took a vacation. The coach told them "if you take a vacation, she might come back rusty, but given a little time, she'll be right back to where she was before. If you don't take the vacation, you, your daughter, and your entire family WILL burn out on the sport before you know it!" She followed that up with "could you imagine working for an employer that never allowed vacation time? That is what your daughter experiences when you skate all year without breaks."

this, as harsh as it sounded, makes complete sense to me! We take vacations a few times a year and my daughter always comes back refreshed and highly motivated. The only time she struggled when she came back from vacation was when we took a 12 night cruise. I think she hadn't gotten her land legs back all the way. It took a few days before she felt comfortable on the ice again. However that was when she was a pre-pre and looking back - everything was a little wobbly anyway! LOL

Take the vacation...make the memories....you'll be happier that you did, in the long run!

Good advice, thanks, and I expect my girl will be happy to get back after two weeks as well.

LOL on the land legs!! So true about vacation...honestly this is why she isn't going to do the synchro team this year, there was NEVER a break from competition, no sooner was summer freestyle competition winding down, then synchro competition started up! She needed more of a life.

Hi momof3chicks

Your dd is only 9, so let her go and have the 2 weeks vacation.

She will definitely come back refreshed and even better in her skills, than burning her out.

So there is seriously nothing for you to worry about.

londonicechamp