I wish I was old enough to go

Don't worry about the 4 sessions on the ice. It's not like practice at home where you are constantly skating for 45 minutes or more. You will warm up, then the coach talks, then you try what they ask, then he talks some more, then you might go one at a time to try it for the coach. And if you get tired, you can excuse yourself from the class or just watch from off the ice. To me, it was not the skating that wore me out last year, but the go, go, go to each thing all day long. But it was a wonderful kind of tired and I loved it. Plus, there was one scheduled break time each day and that helped.

Regarding the social side, we all ate lunch together (do the buffet -- it's the easiest way) in the cafeteria/snack bar and I really enjoyed that social time. At the end of the day, you might get together with a few of the other skaters and go out to dinner. But believe me, you will want to quickly get back to the hotel to rest up for the next day!

Kevin you are so kind. Thanks for the support

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Keep Evolving. "From this moment forward, every voice that told you - You Can't - , has been silenced." - Freedom Writers

It does seem that most people from outside the area - and there are a lot of them - stay in the host hotel. They'd told me the hotel is fine.

I've never had a problem with my car at that rink, and I go there at least once per month. No one told me they had problems with their cars at the hotel, so I think you're all right.

I remember some people arranged to go out to NYC the night before the camp - the Friday night. But that was arranged via message boards and etc., or once people met up at the hotel. The Saturday night, there were various dinners happening, but those were all in or near Hackensack - I think most people were pretty tired. Some people did stay the extra day - some stayed even longer, and played in the city. I bet you could hook up with people if you wanted to do a group shopping trip.

And actually, my friends from Canada LOVE shopping in, of all places, New Jersey. The tax rate here is very low compared to Canada, and they always go back home with bags and bags and bags of stuff. NJ is a shopping mecca, especially for mall-type and big-store type items. NYC is great for more off the beaten track items.

There is no train from the rink to NYC, but I believe there is a bus from the hotel to the train station, if memory serves. And the city is not at all far from Hackensack. Maybe 15 minutes? Others can talk more to that point, and I'm sure the hotel can tell you how best to get in town.

In my opinion, if you can do it, a trip into NYC is a must-do. I mean, you come all the way to New Jersey - what's fifteen more minutes drive?

I agree. You can also pace yourself, even in the classes, but pushing harder or less hard, as you need to. There were even some people who'd simply step off the ice for a while during a class, or else skip one particular class so they could rest. Entirely up to you.

I wish I was young enough to say that!!

Thanks so much. I've only been to New York once and flew in and out but this time I'm going to drive.

Do people drive into Manhattan? Isn't the cost of parking astronomical?

The camp happens on the weekend before our Canada Day, so we have Tuesday as a holiday and time to do some fun things. If I can still walk afterwards!

I'm looking forward to meeting other adult skaters most of all.

I have a phone interview tomorrow for a job in NJ - I may actually be living there again at that time (not sure how I feel about that, actually) - anyway, the odds are good that I'm going! I might as well spend my money on skating since housing costs are astronomical in NJ and I'll rent forever

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

I've never done this camp, but have driven into Manhattan. The cost of parking is VERY high- but we drive in and park everytime. It's only prohibitive if you have to do it all the time. For a day visit, I think it's worth the convience to just drive in. (And sometimes you get lucky and get a street spot just off 5th and can avoid expensive garages)

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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)

You know, there's actually a NJ transit bus that I believe is within walking distance of Ice House that'll take you to the GW Bridge bus station, and from there you can take the subway anywhere. It's the 182 bus and I haven't tried it, but it appears to be walkable from the rink and maybe from local hotels:

http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0182.pdf

I drove in last November and found a free street spot near Wollman Rink, but I had to circle around for a long time.

__________________
Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

I'm going for sure, they've cashed my application. Now I'm saving up my US $$$ for shopping! It's only one month away.

Can anyone who has attended help me? I decided to go & have registered. I am uh.....30 uh...ish. I have skated for almost 3 years (anniv. is Mid-June)
I took Silver Moves 2 weeks ago, but failed by 3/10 of a point from one judge, 4/10 of a point from another. Certain parts passed. I thought the camp would help me improve those last little things?
My coach is preparing a Silver "testing" FS program to bring to the camp, which I hope to make harder later. I am not working on any jumps except perfecting singles (axle prep to begin in July or so). I signed up for competitive.
Does anyone have any advice on how the levels work? What can I expect? Thank you

PS - figured NJ/NY a waste without shopping...spending 2 nights at Waldorf Astoria NYC after camp. They give USFSA discount!! Can't wait for the shopping, even if camp is less than successful.

I signed up to go this year. I'm so excited. I have wanted to go for a few years now, and never could work out the scheduling with my family. I'm doing the competitive singles track. It will be interesting working with other coaches, since I have only had lessons with my one coach since I started skating.

Is the rink really cold? I'm trying to figure out what to bring. I just booked my hotel room, and the block of rooms is reserved under USFS adult camp, not Ice House. The reservationist couldn't find the reservation for a while, and the hotel is sold out otherwise. I'm not sure whether I'm more excited about skating or having a giant King room all to myself for a night!

One nice thing about the huge hotel beds: I spread out all over them when I sleep. Half the time, I wake up having slept diagonally across the mattress.

The rink is kind of cold, but I've been in colder indoor ice rinks. You also, as is typical for lessons, spend some time standing, then doing; standing, then doing, so sometimes, you do get cold. Bring an extra hoodie or something like that, which you can take off if you get warm.

I've not signed up yet, only because I'm still back and forth if I should do dance or singles. I'll probably do dance. But I will be signing up, that's for sure. It's fun.

I'm not going again this year, but I had a fairly good time at the camp last year. It was definitely exhausting, and the drive up on a Friday afternoon-evening was terrible (first I drove from NC to DC, and then carpooled up to NJ with a friend). I wrote about it at www.voiceless.com/skating & it's under the July 2007 category. Highlights of the camp were getting to see some skating stars, like Daisuke Takahashi, Miki Ando, & Ryan Bradley, in practice. Also, the official hotel was terrific. They had the absolute best beds.

I'll be heading out to Hackensack from Texas for the second straight year. I remember hearing a lot of complaints last year but I honestly had a terrific time. I was on the beginner/recreational side and people were so encouraging. I nearly bailed after the first class but I am glad that I stuck it out and had a great weekend and met some really fantastic/talented people.

As long as people don't laugh at me but with me we should all have a great time!

I will be there as well for the competitive singles track. I had a good time at recreational track last year, but am looking forward to being pushed a bit harder this year.

Please post reports of how it went. I WISH I could do something like this- so I'm living vicariously through you all.

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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 did sign up for the dance track, in the end, although I almost did recreational singles. I was wary about signing up for dance again, because last year I was absolutely the least skilled in that class, so Igor would be having everyone go off to do some mohawk pattern with a strange mohawk, or a rocker pattern, and I'd be, like, "Crap!" because I don't know more than the basic mohawk (and that only in one direction) have never done a rocker, wouldn't know a counter from a bracket, etc. And when he'd ask what dance we should be working on, and everyone was, like, Silver Samba! I'm cringing and wishing for the Dutch Waltz. :LOL:

If there's one flaw to this camp, it is that, although they say they welcome low level skaters, the classes aren't divided up in such a way that the lower level skaters get as much from them as the upper level skaters do. I know some people had that issue with the singles track as well. It'd help if they divided the sessions up more, focusing more on the various levels of skaters, rather than lumping us all in together, as they do with the dance, or in too broad a group, as some said they do in singles.

But with all that said, in reality, the camp is a blast. I do get a lot out of it - just not as much as the higher level skaters do. But certainly enough that I signed up to do it again. I certainly consider it worth the time and money.

For some sessions, you'll be kept moving the whole time so you'll get warm (Morozov's music interpretation class comes to mind). For others, you'll be standing around more, so you'll want to bundle up. I was literally shivering in the Moves-in-the-field class because there was so much standing around and talking, and much less actual skating! I think it's a function of each coach's teaching style more than the discipline or subject matter of the class.

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"You don't have to put an age limit on your dreams." - Dara Torres, 41, after her 2nd medal at the 2008 Olympics

I'm deciding at the last moment to go. Who do I write this check out to?

BTW they have extended the deadline to sign-up till June 14th (got an e-mail today).

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--renatele

Oh good! I trotted my application to the Post Office last night (June 7th), but of course missed that precious postmark!

I've found that a number of clinics, seminars, and conferences extend their deadlines. I moved and missed a conference "early bird" deadline. When I explained what happened two weeks after the deadline, the organization person authorized the early bird pricing.

If you're ever late getting something in the mail, just call and ask if it's okay. They often get cancellations and such at the last minute, so they don't mind filling a seat with a latecomer.

Note: This doesn't work for tests, competitions or shows.
Although some Clubs will allow it for a late fee ($$$).

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Last year I passed my application in late, but I called first. They had no problem with me being late, so if you're late, and still thinking of going, send it in. As others said, they've moved the postmark date, anyway, so you're good.