Unpleasant rink experience (rant)

[Andie]

Recently I went to a rink I don't visit very often, but it's closer than my primary facility, so I figure the secondary rink is okay to practice at. This place (the secondary one) caters to hockey moreso than most rinks, or so it seems. It doesn't have Freestyle sessions anymore, although most public sessions are uncrowded so it's not really a problem.

So anyway I went there and encountered a large group of teens on the ice, maybe a few preteens as well (it was hard to tell). I began to skate, keeping to myself in a certain area and trying to concentrate. These kids weren't really even skating - they were more like walking, or TRYING to stay upright on skates, or sitting on/standing against the boards. A few of them were throwing one or two small bouncy balls, along with what appeared to be candy. Once a ball or piece of candy came within five inches of my skates; another time, a BALL BOUNCED AND HIT ME IN THE LEG. It didn't hurt or anything, it's just that they shouldn't be doing that sort of thing.
My mom, who was watching, had told an employee what was going on, and then he asked me who was throwing things. I told him I didn't remember exactly. To me the kids all looked so alike and I'd been more concerned with avoiding the objects than with what the kid looked like. Well, after the ball HIT ME IN THE LEG, my mom went to tell a manager (who apparently was the father of the employee we'd talked to). He came to the ice and told them to get off, but none of the kids would own up to throwing balls/candy.

Around the same time, the manager told my mom "your daughter doesn't own the ice." That ticked off her and I, so she kinda told him off. We were almost appalled he'd said that. Hello, is he dumb? I was at least there to SKATE and wasn't breaking rules, while those teenyboppers were NOT "skating" and were BREAKING rules! It turns out the manager isn't too familiar with ice rules or whatever and seemed surprised my mom knew so much about it. While I continued skating, she told him about the rink we normally visit which actually enforces rules and has monitors. Imagine that! (this guy seemed clueless)

The manager softened and apologized for being harsh to us, but by then I was out of the mood to practice and dread going back there anytime soon. I was very agitated. I felt as if I were the bad person trying to bend rules and manipulate, as if they wanted to label me as the one who was "hogging the ice".
What do you think?

[TashaKat]

They are completely out of order and almost asking for a lawsuit against them.

You/your mom are entirely reasonable to bring potentially dangerous behaviour to the manager's attention. They should have somebody there watching what's going on and stopping people throwing things on the ice.

IMO you have absolutely nothing to feel bad about.

[Casey]

Every now and again, people will come to the rink that's close to my house and during public sessions will produce a hockey puck or water bottle or some other random thing and kick it across the ice at each other.

I'm not one to bug management. On rare occasions I'm one to take the foreign object, and throw it out of the rink as far into some dark corner or trash can as I can. Then if they want to complain, they'll be the whiners AND reveal themselves as the rule breakers, whereas I've done neither. Usually they notice or somebody else complains though, and they're told to correct their behaviour via loudspeaker. :P Other times I just ignore the problem unless it's a serious danger.

I would just not be concerned. People like this show up so rarely anyways that it's almost never a problem. I like not having annoying ice monitors anyways. :P Remember that rules are not universal, what one rink might not allow might be acceptable at another, but *generally* people have the same ettiquitte everywhere. I wouldn't avoid the rink over it. A regular paying customer has a lot more influence over the management anyways, so it's to your advantage to keep going. ;)

[TimDavidSkate]

Totally understandable. Those little morons who walk and chat on the ice are spoiled brats. I always make sure I tell off those kids as soon as they get in my way and other skaters. I just do not have the patience for it.
It is extremely dangerous when a skater do not pay attention to their surroundings.

I remember when I was confronted by a mother during a public session for telling off their daughter while skating. I said it is a standard USA rink rule to have no foreign objects or standing around(exeption -when they are at the boards) during any public/freestyle session. It is harmful other to other skaters especially to themselves.

[blue111moon]

It's public skating. Different rinks enforce different rules. The manager was proably looking at his profit margin first - he makes more money from the group of hellions than from one figure skater.

Throwing things, though, is a safety issue. I used to skate a a rink where it was common practice to allow hockey sticks but not pucks on public sessions. The kids figured out that coins worked as substitute pucks and it wasn't unusual to have quarters freezing to the ice or bouncing off my blades. I complained to the manager, who pretty much shrugged it of with a "kids will be kids" attitude. So I stopped going there.

But then I've pretty much stopped skating on public sessions entirely. Public means just that - they let anyone on and it doesn't matter what goes on. People who really want to skate are wasting their time.

[dooobedooo]

I think your mother needs to find out the name of the person at the top in this rink, and write a polite letter to them. This letter should directly address the safety issues for ALL rink users (not just her daughter!), and particularly cover the use of trained stewards where there are large groups using the public session. The management need to attract a good income, with maximum repeat business, but they are also required to consider health and safety issues.

You also need to consider why this particular public session was unusually busy. Perhaps this was a pre-booked school group. Round where I live, at around this time of the school year, there are often large groups of beginner skaters. The rink gains a good income from them, and if they enjoy themselves, at least a few may end up skating regularly and taking lessons. Rinks need "bums on the ice" to keep afloat financially. It probably takes a ratio of about 100 to 1 of casual visitors to support a serious young skater - without them there IS NO skating! On occasion, when I have been disappointed with an unusually busy public session, I tell myself that the sport needs as many participants as it can get, and I then try to spend a little time helping and encouraging the beginners.

Perhaps you could ring the rink in advance of your next visit, to ask the times of the quietest sessions, and also to enquire if any big groups are booked in for the session you wish to use. Then your journey will be worthwhile, and you will be able to focus on, and enjoy, your skating.

My experience is that the weekday morning public sessions are the least crowded and most enjoyable.

[Skate@Delaware]

We had an incident last year with a group of 10-12 year old hockey players on public session having their end-of-year party. They were cutting up with hockey moves (against the rules). When we complained to the ice guard (a teenager himself and just as bad), he laughed and said, basically that kids will be kids and there was nothing he could do. We elevated it to their coach who said the same thing. Of course, the adults who were on the ice with the kids were just as bad, sliding on the ice, seeing if they could "take down some people" on the ice!!!! :evil:

Of course, this happened while the rink manager was on vacation, over a holiday weekend with no one else in charge. They knocked one little girl down, and almost knocked 4 other people down (myself included). We left after 45 minutes.

So, we complained to the manager when he returned from his vacation. I don't think he really did anything about disciplining the ice guard (which is what we really wanted-that kid is the worst ice guard in the world). He gave us free passes-big deal. He did mention it to the coaches. We suggested that next year, the parties be held on private ice and that the manager should offer private ice at a discount as incentive-then the boys could take each other out and do whatever the hell they wanted.

I also mentioned that this was a lawsuit waiting to happen and he was damned lucky that the mother of the little girl (who was not hurt beyond a sore bottom) did not press charges against anyone! If I was her I would have seriously thought about it! I told the manager that I had never felt in danger of bodily harm at the rink before and was leery about skating at public sessions again! He was apologetic, but the damage was done. I'm a decent skater, I can't imaging how some of the not-so-good skaters felt! We typically avoid the friday night teen-fest because it's filled with teens and hockey boys zinging about.

Last I heard, about 20 people left that day. So, how many would never go back based on that experience? I don't know.

When I'm on public session and I see someone with something that doesn't belong on the ice, I politely let them know that it's not allowed (some sessions have no ice guard). Sometimes they don't know, or don't think. If it's kids, they are just trying to get away with something. If it's kids, and they ask if I'm an ice guard, I just smile and ask if they would like to talk to the rink manager. That usually shuts them up. I try to be really sickly sweet and act really polite (which I'm getting better at). DOH! 8O

I have found that daytime sessions are the best times for adults, as long as there are no school groups. On occasion I have landed at the rink the same time as them but have found most hug the walls and leave the center. Sometimes I've acted prima donna and told them I'm working on moves in the center and if they'd leave that for me I'd appreciate it. Most are very accomodating (aren't I a diva?!).

[TimDavidSkate]

It's public skating. Different rinks enforce different rules.


This is true, some rinks do not even allow a figure skater to do a three-turn. They discovered if they permit figure skaters to do anything they want, it would put non-figure /public session - skaters in harm. From flying spins, camels, and jumps have injured patrons throughout the years.

-I was doing a sit spin once and another skater passed through the middle and my blade slashed his calves. He had to have several stitches on his leg.

- My friend did a flying camel at a public session and slashed a kid's neck. This was publicized almost every rink back in the early 90's. Since then slowly but surely management tried to keep a close eye on figure skaters.

- I personally witnessed an wild adult skater was practicing his routine with reckless abandon, when he elbowed an elderly skater on the face. The poor old woman was knocked off unconcious. He claimed that she was not paying attention to her surroundings. I quickly jumped in deffense to the elderly.
After the resurface, the wild skater continued with his routine like nothing ever happened. :roll: :roll: :roll: :??

[Skate@Delaware]

We experienced the "different rink/different rules" this past year. One rink we went to (no names) would not allow any jumping or spinning on public session; however, kids could play crack the whip, chase each other, skate in any direction, etc... 8O

My host rink is kinder and lets us do just about anything (or less of anything if it's crowded-no lutz's or axels if it's packed). That's cool with me. Of course, we can't camel spin so that has not been a problem. We go during the week and on Sunday.

[icedancer2]

I'm with Skate@Delaware on this one. I usually pick up the offending object and let the kid know that things like that on the ice can really be dangerous and they shouldn't be thrown.

Also it's true that a public session is a public session and figure skaters have to be really careful. One of the best skaters in our area, though, LOVES to skate at public sessions. She can skate and do all of her stuff, always watching, always careful, always anticipating where the public session skater is going to be. I've skated with her -- you don't even know she is there, and yet when you look, there she doing, doing the most beautiful spins, camels, hydroblades, whatever... all with the watchful mature eye on the public session skater, who is generally clueless.

My personal rant is about "Hockey lessons" that skate on our (usually quiet) morning public sessions. Big kids and their coaches flying down the ice with the stick hacking this way and that -- yesterday there were two lessons at one time -- arrrgghhh! Made me dizzy and crazy. I'd rather be in the middle of a wild public recreational-skater skate any day!

Management doesn't care. They love hockey.

Who ever heard of private hockey lessons anyway? It's not like these kids are going to the NFL...

I feel your pain. Don't give up. Go back and have a good time. You have a right to be there as much as anyone else.

icedancer, who tries to do figures in public sessions.

[jenlyon60]

There's a few kids at my rink who have what appears to be private hockey lessons. It appears that the coach is generally focusing on puck skills as well as skating skills.

Last winter (and probably again this season) we had to split the rink with one or 2 of these guys a couple days a week for the first 2 FS sessions each morning. They would get half the ice and the FS/dancers would get half the ice.

[Lmarletto]

One of my son's hockey teammates takes private lessons, but with a figureskating coach on freestyle ice. From his mom's description they sound like low level moves with emphasis on speed and power. Definitely no stick or puck! I can't even imagine that being allowed. That's just crazy. But we have open hockey sessions in our area for that sort of lesson.

Who ever heard of private hockey lessons anyway? It's not like these kids are going to the NFL...

Well, most figure skaters aren't going to National's either...

[twokidsskatemom]

One of my son's hockey teammates takes private lessons, but with a figureskating coach on freestyle ice. From his mom's description they sound like low level moves with emphasis on speed and power. Definitely no stick or puck! I can't even imagine that being allowed. That's just crazy. But we have open hockey sessions in our area for that sort of lesson.



Well, most figure skaters aren't going to National's either...

We have a coach that used to live here that moved. When she comes back to visit,, she does give hockey players private lessons, in speed, power ect. She does use the fs ice, but they pay for it and its not with a puck or stick.Just moves like anyone else.

[Casey]

One of the best skaters in our area, though, LOVES to skate at public sessions. She can skate and do all of her stuff, always watching, always careful, always anticipating where the public session skater is going to be. I've skated with her -- you don't even know she is there, and yet when you look, there she doing, doing the most beautiful spins, camels, hydroblades, whatever... all with the watchful mature eye on the public session skater, who is generally clueless.
This is totally me! Well except for the "best" part, that doesn't fit. But I do spins, hydroblades, shoot-the-ducks, backward spirals, jump combinations, whatever. I found that trying to be super-careful doesn't help - you can be spinning in the same spot in the center of the rink with nobody around, and suddenly a group of 4 little kids will suddenly be 2 inches from you screaming from time to time (don't ask me how they are so oblivious). Better to just be aware of how to avoid hitting them, and skate with what appears to most to be reckless abandon, except for the fact that you never hit anyone. :P

I skate fast and without restraint during crowded public sessions, but keep an eye on the flow of people. There's always a 3-turn or spread eagle that will prevent a collision or help squeeze through a surprise tight spot without incident. Rink management couldn't care in the slightest. They make plenty of money off me and know me by name even though I never told them (they must have learned it off my debit card!). The only time I ever hit anybody during the last 4-5 months was during a very uncrowded daytime session, with only about 5 people on the ice. Because of this, I wasn't paying as much attention to my surroundings as I should have been, and apparently neither was the lady who skated right into my backward shoot-the-duck. Ahh well, no harm done, live and learn.

[stardust skies]

Totally understandable. Those little morons who walk and chat on the ice are spoiled brats. I always make sure I tell off those kids as soon as they get in my way and other skaters. I just do not have the patience for it.
It is extremely dangerous when a skater do not pay attention to their surroundings.

I remember when I was confronted by a mother during a public session for telling off their daughter while skating. I said it is a standard USA rink rule to have no foreign objects or standing around(exeption -when they are at the boards) during any public/freestyle session. It is harmful other to other skaters especially to themselves.

They might be annoying, but there's a reason you're paying 5 bucks and not 12- it's PUBLIC. Anyone who has ice skates on is allowed to be there. Most of the people who go to public skating don't KNOW how to skate. It's frustrating for them. It's a social hour. They're allowed to stand around all they want. If you want to practice figure skating, then buy a damn freestyle session. Reading your post below...you slashed someone's LEG while doing a sit spin?! It was your responsibility to abort the spin for an out of control skater coming through. It's public skating, the public has right of way, not the freestylers. Freestyle rules only apply on freestyles. Which is why I'd never go on a public. But if I did, and couldn't do anything on it, I sure wouldn't complain, wouldn't injure anyone because I think I have a right to be spinning and if they can't stop in time before I slash their leg- too bad, and I also wouldn't tell someone off just because they're in "my way". If they're in your way, then you're in theirs too, you know. Perhaps you should just go around them since you're the better skater.

Gosh, this type of attitude really pisses me off. :frus:

[jenlyon60]

I understand where you're coming from but I sure wish the rink guards had said something to their hockey skate clad buddies who were racing up the rink and knocked me down onto my knees without warning years ago when I was just learning to skate (somewhere around ISI Beta).

I had enough bruising on the inside of my left knee that the bruise went from about 3 inches below the knee up to a couple inches above. Knee was swollen so much I could hardly bend it, which made driving a stick-shift car very difficult for about a week.

What I've often seen at public sessions in my neck of the woods is that there's 2 sets of standards applied at the same time. The "no figure skating" or "limited figure skating" standard (which I can understand within reason) and the "kids on hockey skates can do whatever they want, where they want, when they want, since they're my buddies" standard. And the rinks don't seem to care about equal enforcement and apparently no one has pushed the issue of where's the line on "skate at your own risk".

[TimDavidSkate]

Reading your post below...you slashed someone's LEG while doing a sit spin?! It was your responsibility to abort the spin for an out of control skater coming through. Perhaps you should just go around them since you're the better skater.
Gosh, this type of attitude really pisses me off. :frus:


It was back when I was just learning how to skate - 1997.
My sense of direction was off at that time. I do feel sorry for the kid. I have not had a collision since then.

[TimDavidSkate]

and I also wouldn't tell someone off just because they're in "my way". If they're in your way, then you're in theirs too, you know. Perhaps you should just go around them since you're the better skater.
Gosh, this type of attitude really pisses me off. :frus:

The middle section of the rink had cones. It was 45 minutes into the session. 4 skate guards had witnessed it, and the fault was not mine. I was in my area, he wasn't. The coned off area was for beginner freestylers.

[NoVa Sk8r]

Today, on the 6:20AM sesesion, a parent reprimanded my pairs partner and me for skating on the freestyle session. We were "getting in everyone's way." And by "everyone," I believe she meant her less-than-talented son; he just wasn't landing his jumps, so naturally it was *our* fault. Um, he *never* lands his jumps. :twisted:
We pay the same amount for the ice, and we have to practice just as much as everyone else. Then she suggested that we skate our program during the moves session.

I had a calm and rational discussion with her in which, among other things, she told me I was too big to be skating on a freestyle session with kids. Huh? (I guess 6 feet and 180 lb is just *too much* to be around any of the kids lest we collide--but that's never happened).

I was so angry I was ready to stand on my head and spit nickels!
Loops avoided the mother altogether, and I'm glad she did.

[skaternum]

Today, on the 6:20AM sesesion, I parent reprimanded my pairs partner and me for skating on the freestyle session. <snip> I had a calm and rational discussion with her in which, among other things, she told me I was too big to be skating on a freestyle session with kids.How on earth did you restrain yourself??? I'd be in jail for assault & battery right now if it was me! You have remarkable self-control. The nerve of that woman! You tell Skaternum who it is, and I'll put out a contract on her!

Seriously, it's amazing to me that someone thinks that way, much less says it to your face. :?:

[LoopLoop]

Let me quote some of what the parent said:
"Can't you just pick a spot and work there?"
My response: we're working on parts of our program choreography, so no, not really.

"The kids are all falling during their programs because they're scared you're going to hit them."
The response in my head which I did not say out loud: No, they're falling because they're trying to do jumps they can't land.

[MQSeries]

I had a calm and rational discussion with her in which, among other things, she told me I was too big to be skating on a freestyle session with kids. Huh? (I guess 6 feet and 180 lb is just *too much* to be around any of the kids lest we collide--but that's never happened).


I'm not sure what my reaction would've been if a skating mom told me that I'm too big to be on the same freestyle session with the kids. How many people were on the ice at the 6:30am session?

When I was skating freestyle sessions, I had to worry more about the kids colliding into me then me into them.

[TimDavidSkate]

I would have been very blunt with the mother and the son :twisted:

What was the son's level? Pre-Preliminary? In that case, they are not use to different levels of freestylers.

I use to skate with 3 ice dance couples, 4 pairs couples and 3 other freestyle skaters who are in the senior/national level, and we still get things done.

[stardust skies]

It was back when I was just learning how to skate - 1997.
My sense of direction was off at that time. I do feel sorry for the kid. I have not had a collision since then.

I'm sorry- I was really cranky when I wrote my reply.

I understand what you are saying about the cones, too. In an ideal world, people would respect them- but I've had to skate public on a couple occasions where my rink was closed down...and it's just common knowledge that cones or no cones, little kids who can't stop will go through the middle anyways. Rink guards are about as useful as cones themselves, I've found. Heh.

[TimDavidSkate]

little kids who can't stop will go through the middle anyways. Rink guards are about as useful as cones themselves, I've found. Heh.


The amazing thing was, the hockey skater was 15 years old and have been skating longer than me.

The kid was playing tag with his friends, so that's why he had to cut off the center.

[NoVa Sk8r]

Skaternum, I thought restraint was in order because Loops works at the rink as a part-time instructor. (Usually, I would have said something akin to "B---h, puh-lease!")
The woman actually interrupted us: She flagged Loops down and then started to lecture her. I said something like: "That's nice; we need to get back to practicing."
When Loops said that the kid can't land his jumps irrespective of us, well, I was thinking the same thing. The kid was trying (oh, it was SO sad) to land a double flip.

Don't get me wrong: I know that pairs teams take up a lot of room. However, that's partially why we are skating at 6:20AM! (And if we are a problem, why is her kid skating at this time? He's out of school; let him skate the later sessions. Grrr.) But we pay the same amount for the ice and we are respectful of the other skaters. We move our choreography in deference to the coaches and to not be obnoxious (like doing death spirals in the middle of the rink). there's only so much we can do. In fact, Loops is usually TOO kind in that she inserts her humanity too much during our practice and is aware about where everyone is.

So after we got off that session, I went to the lobby and, er, just happened to sit down next to this woman. :halo: We had a little exchange.

Evil woman: "You know, if you don't watch out, you are going to injure one of those kids. You almost crashed into . And then she reiterated what Loops mentioned above.

Me: "Um, are you even a skater, or have you ever skated? We were at least 6 feet [[I]I chose '6 feet' because this is where I'm thinking she should be buried under!] away from that girl--that is light years in freestyle session terms. And for you to suggest that we skate our program in a moves session is so ridiculous that I'm not even going to respond to that. You know, I understand your concerns, but we paid the same just as everyone did, and we have every right to be out there. We have been skating pairs for more than a year and a half, and we have never collided with anyone. My partner and I even moved our choreography to avoid skating into a student during her lesson. There's only so much we can do. You almost must understand that it is incumbent upon anyone in a freestyle session to generally learn the flow of traffic. During a lift, I have a woman above my head and in front of me. My vision will be obstructed, so the kids must watch where they are going." {Insert dumbfounded look on Evil Woman.}

Evil woman: "Well, when you have kids [Um, NOT!], you'll maybe understand my concern. You're a big, strong guy skating fast [huh? me, skate fast? Bwahahaha.] out there, and if you hit a kid, he is going to take the brunt of it. You just need to be aware of how it must be when there are 2 adults skating piars among all these kids. That's all I'm saying. These kids are not the same level and size as you ...."

At this point, she felt awkward and then asked what competitions we'll be skating in. And then she said we looked good out there.

The funny thing is that her son (who is all of 12 years?) must have been mortified. I skated on the next session (sans Loops) and her kid had this terrified look on his face. He probably thought I was going to ram into him. At one point, he was skating toward me (as I was attempting to do a rocker--hmmm, maybe that's why he was scared!) and stopped on a dime and went skating back to the boards! :twisted:
It's not you who is the problem, kiddo.

[Debbie S]

Hmmm, NoVa, it sounds like the kid is a higher-level skater than you and Loops (if he's working on double flip). As you pointed out, every skater should watch out for others, particularly lower-level skaters than they. If this kid is a good enough skater to try double flips, he has just as much (if not more) responsibilty to go around you and Loops as the other way around.

At a crowded Sat morning FS session last fall/winter, I was in a lesson working on my loop jump, and skated in the direction of a young boy in a lesson (who looked all of 10 or 11 that I didn't know very well b/c he and his sister (who also skate pairs together) are usually at another rink -they are coached by their mother, I believe) who was setting up for a jump in the direction that I was coming from. As we passed, we got about 4 feet from each other, which seemed close to me. I apologized to the mother/coach after I did the jump, and she replied "Oh, no, it's fine. He knew exactly how much room he had." I think the kid skates at either Pre-Juv or Juv in FS b/c he seemed to be doing mostly doubles. At least the mother/coach recognized that even though he's smaller than me, he's a stronger skater and had just much of an obligation to prevent a collision as I did.

My point is that skaters (and coaches) need to be watching out for each other regardless of age or level.

Good for you for standing up to Crazy Skating Mom, NoVa!

[miraclegro]

What amazes me is that we can get in trouble as figure skaters, but there are absolutely no rules in place for the public skaters - i.e, skating in one direction only, kids pushing buckets in all directions, sliding across the ice, cutting across the ice. I do agree there is a fine line sometimes on things, but OBJECTS on the ice are a HUGE liability on theirs and the rinks part.

If it is something the skaters leave there, i get rid of it immediately. Sometimes i just tell them they are not supposed to have objects on the ice because someone could get seriously hurt.

Sounds like your mom kept a cool head about it, and that always helps to diffuse the "defense" mechanism that can kick in. I just can't believe the manger's response to it initially.

[LoopLoop]

Debbie, the kid in question is a typical preliminary boy. He can do an axel, but ALL of his double attempts are cheated by a good half-turn, his spins are slow, and his overall skating is fairly weak. The kids start working on doubles as soon as they can do all of their singles; it doesn't mean that they're good skaters.

[twokidsskatemom]

I would have been very blunt with the mother and the son :twisted:

What was the son's level? Pre-Preliminary? In that case, they are not use to different levels of freestylers.

I use to skate with 3 ice dance couples, 4 pairs couples and 3 other freestyle skaters who are in the senior/national level, and we still get things done.
I guess it all depends on where you skate . Here, my small pre pre kids skate with novice and senior ladies,and ice dance couples who are novice.Its just something they all do.The lower level ones are TAUGHT to watch out, and the higher level ones KNOW to watch.
Im sure some of the higher ones and even the lower ones who would love to not have to share ice. But its just life, to share.
Unless you buy your lbuy your own ice time !!

[Debbie S]

Debbie, the kid in question is a typical preliminary boy. He can do an axel, but ALL of his double attempts are cheated by a good half-turn, his spins are slow, and his overall skating is fairly weak. The kids start working on doubles as soon as they can do all of their singles; it doesn't mean that they're good skaters.

Thanks for the clarification, Loops. The kid in my story was pretty fast - I think he was working on Intermediate MIF, and his doubles seemed pretty consistent. You're right that we shouldn't make assumptions about a skater's ability level just by the jumps he/she is working on. My point was that everyone should be expected/taught to watch out for others on an FS session.

My frustration as an adult skater is having kids jump right in my way during run-throughs or moves practice (during lesson) b/c they just weren't looking. If I run into them, even when I have the right of way, it's basically my fault b/c I'm the adult and am supposed to know better, even if the kid is at a higher level than me. But if a kid is doing a program and collides with another kid who got in their way, then it is the fault of the oblivious skater.

[MQSeries]

Debbie, the kid in question is a typical preliminary boy. He can do an axel, but ALL of his double attempts are cheated by a good half-turn, his spins are slow, and his overall skating is fairly weak. The kids start working on doubles as soon as they can do all of their singles; it doesn't mean that they're good skaters.

It's still pretty good that the kid can do cheated double jumps though. I mean most people at preliminary don't do more than waltz and single toe and sal and half jumps, right?

[twokidsskatemom]

It's still pretty good that the kid can do cheated double jumps though. I mean most people at preliminary don't do more than waltz and single toe and sal and half jumps, right?



Umm kids at that level usually have at least an axle, and double jumps.At least the competive ones do.

[jenlyon60]

That's the test requirements. Competitive Preliminary skaters generally have a solid axel.

It's still pretty good that the kid can do cheated double jumps though. I mean most people at preliminary don't do more than waltz and single toe and sal and half jumps, right?

[Terri C]

.The lower level ones are TAUGHT to watch out, and the higher level ones KNOW to watch


Sadly at my rink, I wonder if the lower level kids are taught to watch out at all. I've had a few issues with some of the beginner skaters not watching and I've had to either abort a element or alter a moves pattern because of it.

NoVa, I'm just waiting for a parent to make a similiar comment to me- they will be told where to go!

[Skate@Delaware]

We have a coach that used to live here that moved. When she comes back to visit, she does give hockey players private lessons, in speed, power ect. She does use the fs ice, but they pay for it and its not with a puck or stick.Just moves like anyone else.
I've seen a hockey coach give lessons on public ice---it was quite a sight! Of course, no mention was made to us that this was a hockey lesson.....and several kids almost got knocked into by the guy in lessons skating backwards in the center hockey circle. Of course, he didn't say "excuse me" 8O these little kids dont know to look where they are going.

But, at my rink it wasn't really discussed for us in Learn-to-Skate lessons who has right-of-way during freestyle sessions until someone asked. Even stepping onto the ice during one freestyle session, no mention was made :evil: so who is at fault if someone doesn't know and doesn't think to ask?

I had a collision last winter because someone wasn't paying attention during a rehearsal (they were standing on the ice chatting) and didn't move out of the way (coach saw her and yelled "Keep Going!)-BAM! Luckily, no one was hurt-she just got a little wind knocked out of her (neither of us went down) but the next time we went around she was gone (said collision was unavoidable because it was a synchro line and she had no where to go 8O and luckily we weren't at full speed!).

We had a "screaming parent" issue over something else because a girl was doing a camel (very nicely) and some lutzes at one end of the rink and the children of screaming mimi were at the other end trying to skate---mom was upset that "such dangerous moves" were allowed on the same sessions as her precious girls as they might get hurt (duh!) even though they were on opposite ends of the rink! That took lots of de-fusing (that mom freaks out over everything at the rink-cost, costumes, why her little girls don't get solo spots in the shows (maybe because they aren't any good and barely skate?), why is the rink dirty, etc...... :frus: These girls are young teens....

[sunshinepointe]

Okay, it's my turn to vent.

I wasn't going to write about this because I was going to save my anger for the rink manager on Monday but here it goes...

My rink has been closed for the last week or so to redo the ice. Fortunately for me there are about 5 other rinks within a 30 mile radius. I went to one rink on Wednesday night public session and skated as I usually do - jumps, spins - a few sad camel attempts in the coned off section of the rink, footwork etc. No one said a word, which I was surprised about because I had skated at that rink before and they were pretty strict about figure skaters staying in the "coned off section" with no camel spins or spirals. Makes sense - even though I'm well trained in looking out for others, public session skaters are pretty oblivious to whats going on around them.

So I go on Saturday afternoon public session from 12-3. I arrive at 12:15 or so and much to my dismay there is a group of about 10-12 4-5 year old "future hockey players" receiving a group lesson in the figure skaters practice area in the middle of the rink. Fine. I'll wait until they're done.

Half an hour goes by, and meanwhile I'm more than warmed up. So, since the public session was pretty empty (by public session standards that I'm used to) I staked out a corner and did a one foot spin.

A ONE FOOT SPIN PEOPLE

Immediately two skate guards rushed over like I murdered someone on the ice and chastised me like I was some 15 year old kid about how there can't be ANY figure skating outside of the center circle. The conversation proceeded like so -

Them: YOU CAN'T DO THAT OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER OF THE ICE.
Me: I'm standing 2 feet away from you, you don't have to yell. And considering that you have a private lesson in the middle of the ice, where do you expect me to practice?
Them: That's not our problem, you have to follow the rules or we'll kick you out.
Me: Where are your rules posted? I haven't skated here in about 2 years, but I dumped a lot of money into this rink when I did skate here and I've NEVER been talked to like this.
Them: It's not our problem, this is a public session.
Me: Funny, but I was here on your public session on Wednesday night and there was about the same amount of people here and I was doing camel spins and skating backwards and everything else that you're wetting yourselves over.
Them: Well you need to keep to the middle of the ice, those are the rules.
Me: Fine, I'll go to the middle of the ice in the middle of that lesson
Them: You can't do that
Me: Oh? But you just said...
Them: You need to wait until the lesson is done
Me: (steaming at this point, the ice under my feet was melting quite rapidly) so let me get this straight - I pay 7 dollars to skate here, which by the way is ridiculous in of itself, and there is no place for me to practice, so I just have to stand here with my thumb up my butt until the hockey tot lesson is over?
Them: Pretty much.
Me: Nice attitude - you listen to me, I am an ADULT, not one of your punk friends so you treat me with a little respect
Them: If you have a problem go talk to the manager, but otherwise if we see you doing any figure skating outside of the center we're kicking you off.

But no wait...it gets better. A mother of a younger girl and a friend of mine also got ripped for practicing 3 turns. THREE TURNS. The little lesson lasted another 20 minutes or so and then it seemed like everyone in the rink was suddenly a figure skater. So now in a circle about 8 feet in diameter contained 10 kids, most of whom couldn't even skate forwards but were trying to spin. Meanwhile, me and my friend would wind up for a spin, or start a tiny footwork sequence and the kids would run right into us, then give US dirty looks. One kid cut through the middle with those red pusher things to help non-skaters and rammed me while I was doing a scratch spin and I toppled over. Where are the skate guards then? Talking to some girl at the side of the boards, go figure.

So, now I'm REALLY mad, and this girl who was amazingly talented came on the ice and started doing backwards perimeter stroking. She was told to go to the middle. Then she went and did a few spins, almost taking out 5 kids in the process because they skated right up to her. Then she got annoyed and did a gorgeous but small double flip at the end of the rink and they guards told her to do it in the middle. She then came back and did it in the middle when they made the announcement that NO jumps are to be done on a public session.

What??? Since WHEN??

At this point I'm just frustrated, so I go get my stuff and prepare to leave. Meanwhile I was watching this girl and she did a nice sit spin into a fast back scratch in the center of the ice where she was told she could when another announcement was made saying NO spinning was allowed on the ice at all.

I went over a chewed the guards out again saying that they were being discriminatory against figure skaters - the kids could plow into people and now get in trouble, but people who know what they're doing can't practice. The one guard responded

"Well, they HAVE special ice time for figure skaters, it's called FREESTYLE".

I replied "look, kid, I KNOW what freestyle is for but I also know the rules for public ice and you're making up your own rules as you see fit. I don' t like you're attitude and your behavior is way out of line. I'll be speaking to your manager on Monday."

Then I left.

ARRRRRRRRRRRRGHHH.

I understand they have rules for safety, but when they start making up rules for a particular group of people while letting the rest of the rink do whatever they feel like thats grounds for a complaint. I was planning on going to a public session there on Tuesday from 12-2 while all the kids are in school but now I'm not so sure that I want to go, I mean, whats the point if I can't do anything but laps in a counterclockwise direction. I forgot to mention that you're not allowed to skate "fast" because they'll get you for "racing". Racing who? I'm there by myself!

I can't believe I paid 7 bucks to spend my Saturday afternoon aggravated.

:frus:

[Big Mama]

It's surprising that more people don't get injured during public sessions. We went to a session last year and there were small boys who were sliding around on their behinds and also rolling on the ice for fun. No parents or ice monitors in sight. I didn't complain though, because that same rink also allows figure skaters to work on their jumps during these sessions. Luckily, those boys were not there the next time that we went. Unfortunately, you never know what is going to happen on public ice sessions. It is sometimes a good way to get cheap ice for a figure skater, but you have to keep in mind that anybody can show up - and there will usually be some rowdy kids in the mix. It is really rediculous when management isn't concerned about the safety of their patrons, and even more rediculous when they are nasty to customers who are voicing their concerns.

When my kid first started skating, she was geting lessons in the center of the ice. Although the ice was marked off with cones, numerous skaters would come straight through the center and almost collide with her. :roll: Occassionally the culprits were unskilled skaters who just couldn't steer, but usually it was the more skilled skaters and hockey players... We quickly learned that public ice was not a good place to be coached, so we joined the club.

It is very important that figure skaters be very careful during these public sessions. The average skater at a public session has no clue as to who has the right-of-way. (Even figure skater have a difficult time with this during their freestyle sessions.) It probably isn't a good idea to ever do spirals, sit spins, or camel spins during public sessions.

Normally I would suggest trying out this rink again in the future, but because of the management's response I would suggest you go elsewhere. I've been to several rinks, and not all of them allow this kind of horseplay.

[Terri C]

Big Mama and sunshinepointe's posts only remind me of why I refuse to practice during public sessions- a lot of time and money is wasted and skating is expensive enough!

[Mrs Redboots]

At our rink, lessons happen wherever the coaches find a space, and you tend to know roughly which coach works where.... this also happens for those who teach on public session. The only time the ice is coned off (and it's one end, not the centre) is when group lessons are being held during public ice time, either school classes or learn-to-skate.

Mind you, you have to be sensible. When a group of 200 French schoolkids is booked in, you don't expect to be able to do anything..... but there are also almost empty sessions.

I haven't skated on a public session for a couple of years, though, as we get such a very good rate on teaching ice, it's much cheaper not to!

[mikawendy]

[QUOTE=Mrs Redboots]Mind you, you have to be sensible. When a group of 200 French schoolkids is booked in, you don't expect to be able to do anything..... but there are also almost empty sessions.[QUOTE]

That reminds me of a rink I skate at--each year, they get a busload of people from Panama who rent private ice. Apparently they stay very late at night, and most of them can barely skate, but they all love it and have a blast. I've never been there when they've been there, but I'm dying to know whether they come all the way from Panama to skate at this rink, or whether they combine it with a trip to NYC or DC or other tourism, or if they are Panamanians living in America.

[Schmeck]

OK, whoever posted about tossing the objects into the darkest corner of the rink :twisted: I love it!

Usually, when the kids play 'keep-away' with the hockey gloves, I just pick them up and put them in the hockey box. When the kid skates up to me, 'hey, that's mine' - I just explain that they can't toss gloves around because someone might accidently skate over it and get hurt. Most of the time they stop, but if they don't, I think I'll find that dark corner...

[Kit kat]

oo this happened to me yesterday. i went ot the rink and these kids had like 10 bouncy balls. i just wanted to grab them and chuck them in the head! hehe. but their parents were watching. so i just went on. but i got very annoyed. and then these guys who looked mabey 30 or 40 started doing jumps with the walkers. lol.

[samba]

Our rink seems to go one better, when they have snowbabies sessions and adult starter lessons, they have mobile barriers the hight of a normal barrier that they can move to section the ice off, so unlike the cones, you would have a job skating through them!!

It's excellent and the people concerned can do the business without having to look behind their backs all the time.

[Mrs Redboots]

Our rink seems to go one better, when they have snowbabies sessions and adult starter lessons, they have mobile barriers the hight of a normal barrier that they can move to section the ice off, so unlike the cones, you would have a job skating through them!!

It's excellent and the people concerned can do the business without having to look behind their backs all the time.I've seen that somewhere else, but I can't at the moment think where - and I've only been to your rink once, and that was for a competition, so it certainly didn't happen there!

[batikat]

We have them at Bracknell - usually used when there is a Broomball game on a third of the rink or occasionally when there is kids hockey practice. They also come out at Christmas time when the panto backdrop is up and they want to stop skaters going too close.

They aren't used for figure skate lessons but for those an end of the rink gets coned off - which is harsh for those who like to cling to the barriers! :lol:

[blue111moon]

A long time ago, I was told by a top national coach that the more advanced a skater you are, the greater your obligation to look out for and avoid anyone who is less skilled than you are. It has nothing to do with age or size. So that's my answer when anyone says anything about adults "having" to watch out for kids.

I also avoid public sessions like the plague. I don't care how cheap the ice is; it's just not worth the frustration.

In the distant past, though, I was known for asking for a copy of the rules in writing, signed and dated by the manager, which I carried in my skate bag. Then, when somebody questioned what I was doing where, I could pull out the copy and point out the line that applied.

On freestyle sessions at a rink I don't skate at often, I make it a point to ask where the designated spin area is that day. There's one particular coach there who makes a major issue about adults getting in the way of her students so I make certain I'm following the current rules and am "in the right" just to avoid the hassle.

[pennybeagle]

OK, I have a rant to add...

Synchro season has started and lately, there have been occasional groups of 4-6 girls on freestyle sessions doing line and block patterns.

Um...HELLO?!?!

Several coaches have complained, but no one has kicked them off yet. I suspect it's because these girls are also freestyle and dance skaters who pay for 20+ hours of skating a week in the summer. Whatever. I don't know who is ultimately in charge, and I don't have a problem if they're freestyling or dancing.

However....
I was trying to run through my program (IN a lesson, WITH music on, WHILE wearing a program jersey) and the following things happened:
1) Trying to move diagonally down ice to set up my spread eagle: girls in a line pattern, couldn't move out of the way fast enough, and so I had to abort the spread eagle because I was at the wrong angle
2) Setting up my lutz: girls decided to move across my lutz pattern in a line, doing back crossovers. Had to abort lutz attempt.
3) I couldn't even set up my flying camel because there they were, just standing in a block formation, not moving... I stopped, looked at them, waited for them to get out of the way, but they just stood there and looked at me until I said (probably not too kindly at this point) "I'm supposed to be doing a spin right there!"
4) Straightline footwork: Now they migrated to stand around in the MIDDLE of the rink. Had to stop footwork in the middle, and that was it for my program. Didn't even attempt to finish it--it wasn't worth it. Girls got chewed out by my coach, but by this time I was tired and frustrated and in no mood to try another program.

I don't think they're trying to be in the way--they seem to understand the right-of-way rules, but they can't get out of the way quickly enough because there's too many of them. 6 people scattering in 6 directions is still going to leave you with a few in the way.

I ended up getting nothing done. Eventually, they stopped (I think they were only doing it for 30 minutes), but it left me in such a foul mood. I pay the same amount per hour for the freestyle as they do, plus my lesson fees, and it's frustrating having to skate while constantly wondering whether the herd is going to form and come stampeding in my direction again.

If this keeps up, I'll be in fine form for Peach, let me tell you. :roll:

GRR. NO SYNCHRO.

[Terri C]

OK, I have a rant to add...

Synchro season has started and lately, there have been occasional groups of 4-6 girls on freestyle sessions doing line and block patterns.

Um...HELLO?!?!

Several coaches have complained, but no one has kicked them off yet. I suspect it's because these girls are also freestyle and dance skaters who pay for 20+ hours of skating a week in the summer. Whatever. I don't know who is ultimately in charge, and I don't have a problem if they're freestyling or dancing.

However....
I was trying to run through my program (IN a lesson, WITH music on, WHILE wearing a program jersey) and the following things happened:

Uh isn't that what synchro practice is for??

[Skate@Delaware]

Uh isn't that what synchro practice is for??
Maybe they were on freestyle ice working on synchro moves. If that's the case, shouldn't they yield like everyone else to the person doing their program? Our rink freestyle session doesn't allow synchro unless the coach is present.

We occasionally have show rehearsals for our shows. This is separate ice time from everything else. When it's your music playing, everyone else is supposed to clear out of the way for you (and your group). The problem we have encountered is the 3-4 groups practicing with music all at the same time (each has a boombox); and the skaters not in one of these groups are still on the ice chit-chatting (after they were told to get off the ice). This is where I ran into someone last year. One or two of the groups on the ice is typically a synchro group, on group might be little kids. We don't expect the little ones to get out of our way (because they don't know any better and they are 3-5 years old) but the older ones should know better, especially after they are told.

[pennybeagle]

Maybe they were on freestyle ice working on synchro moves. If that's the case, shouldn't they yield like everyone else to the person doing their program? Our rink freestyle session doesn't allow synchro unless the coach is present.


Yes, that was the situation. The problem is--if you're a group of 6 people joined shoulder-to-shoulder, it's more difficult for you to clear out of the way in time than if you're ONE person. So even if they were trying to yield, they couldn't.

There was no synchro coach present that I could identify--at least, no one was telling them to practice those particular moves. I would venture to argue that it's because they're there 4 hours a day in the summer and they got bored doing freestyle, and so they decided to work on synchro instead since they had a few members of the team together.

Synchro practice should be done during synchro ice. Freestyle skating should be done on freestyles. Dancing should be on dance (oh, that's another thing that ticks me off--when people freestyle or do moves on dance ice, but I won't go there right now). Hockey should be done on hockey ice (oh gosh, can you imagine if I went out on a hockey session and did a camel spin?). The only free-for-all, in my book, is a public session, and those are only run as well as the management/skate guards choose to run them.

[Skate@Delaware]

Yes, that was the situation. The problem is--if you're a group of 6 people joined shoulder-to-shoulder, it's more difficult for you to clear out of the way in time than if you're ONE person. So even if they were trying to yield, they couldn't.

There was no synchro coach present that I could identify--at least, no one was telling them to practice those particular moves. I would venture to argue that it's because they're there 4 hours a day in the summer and they got bored doing freestyle, and so they decided to work on synchro instead since they had a few members of the team together.

Synchro practice should be done during synchro ice. Freestyle skating should be done on freestyles. Dancing should be on dance (oh, that's another thing that ticks me off--when people freestyle or do moves on dance ice, but I won't go there right now). Hockey should be done on hockey ice (oh gosh, can you imagine if I went out on a hockey session and did a camel spin?). The only free-for-all, in my book, is a public session, and those are only run as well as the management/skate guards choose to run them.
That would be a big problem. We occasionally do synchro moves on freestyle ice, but it is usually only 2-3 of us working on one small element at a time, not a whole routine. Maybe next time they could be told they cannot work on their routine during freestyle session at the risk of getting kicked off the ice. It sounds like they just didn't think....

We sometimes had ice dancers trying to do their stuff on freestyle ice but that ended (we have no dance ice). They were only permitted to work on "isolated elements" such as pair spins or such-no connecting moves or dance steps. Too bad for them as they paid for ice (club ice) just like everyone else and couldn't use the whole thing. They would drop in on daytime public, as did some of us freestylers, daytime is cheaper and typically less crowded (unless the rink has a school group booked).

[sk8er1964]

We occasionally do synchro moves on freestyle ice, but it is usually only 2-3 of us working on one small element at a time, not a whole routine. Maybe next time they could be told they cannot work on their routine during freestyle session at the risk of getting kicked off the ice. It sounds like they just didn't think....


Even two or three is a big problem, in my book. Synchro moves do not follow the normal freestyle/moves/dance patterns, so there is no way of knowing where they're intending to go. If I see Nova and Loops going into a lift, for example, I can plan my skating around them. I can't do that for synchro skaters, unless I know their program myself.

[stardust skies]

"Well, they HAVE special ice time for figure skaters, it's called FREESTYLE".


I am sorry, because I imagine how frustrating your day must have been, but I agree with them completely. I mean, not about the coned off part...they should've left that for your guys, but really, there's no rule that says public skating HAS to offer a center for figure skaters- so if they decide too many kids are going through the middle anyway and it's dangerous, then...it's their discretion to stop making the middle available. As far as the lesson taking place in the middle- I also do think that's frustrating, but...you know the rules are to skate freestyle only in the middle, so if for some reason the middle is taken...then...it's taken. It doesn't make the corners a free-for-all. It's not fair to people who come here to just skate around in circles and have a social hour, which is what public skating is all about. I agree with the guard that if you want to figure skate, you should just be on a freestyle session, period. There are some available for not that much more money than what you paid. In my opinion, a figure skater isn't entitled to expect anything more out of a public session than skating forward in circles- that's what they're made for.

[Mrs Redboots]

Even two or three is a big problem, in my book. Synchro moves do not follow the normal freestyle/moves/dance patterns, so there is no way of knowing where they're intending to go. If I see Nova and Loops going into a lift, for example, I can plan my skating around them. I can't do that for synchro skaters, unless I know their program myself.We-ell yes, but only if you know their this year's programme well enough that you know where they're likely to go next. Next year, they might be about to shoot off in quite a different direction after a very similar lift!

Our elite dancers are still busy tweaking their free dances, and it's very difficult to know which direction they are going to go in next - once they're fixed, we'll all gradually learn their programmes and it won't be a problem, just as they know where our free dance will go after the step sequence. But sometimes, last night, on a busy session, we found we were either slowing down to avoid weaker skaters, or speeding up to avoid the elites! We all managed, though, and we did get a couple of run-throughs of our compulsory dances in.

One thing that irritates me are "coach corners" - I don't know if it happens at your rink, but at ours, you know that Coach A most likely has his students in the far left-hand corner, coach B in the near right-hand one, coach C will probably be found leaning on the barrier by the music box, coach D half-way up the far side, also propping up the barrier (and knocking me down when I happened to skate backwards into her the other day!)..... and so it goes. Of course, they don't stay there all the time, but if what their student is doing is elements, then that's where you'll probably find them!

[Skate@Delaware]

It's dangerous to assume that other skaters know your dance/freestyle/synchro patterns; just because we skate on the same ice at the same time doesn't mean that we know where you will be at a particular time in your music so it does work both ways.... I don't mean to be smart or anything, I'm just being real. I haven't been skating long enough to learn about patterns and stuff, and don't really know any dances beyond the Dutch Waltz...our rink's only requirement for freestyle is able to skate back crossovers....nothing was said about brains!

I skate with ice dancers and I told them once that I don't know where they are in their dance-I was told not to worry about it because: a) they are better and faster skaters that I am, b) they are working on original dance, c) they didn't expect me to learn their pattern. What they did expect from me is to pay attention and if I see them coming to clear out, if that wasn't possible, to freeze and they would skate around me (they would rather skate around someone not moving than try to second-guess where I was going to move to).

That being said, I don't want to be in anyone's way! Our rink does not use the vest thing (I wish we would because I don't know everyone) and I hate trying to guess who is skating to the music. I usually scope out an area near but not close to a lesson and if I see the coach and student move out of the way, then I do to, but I'm always on the look-out.

Public sessions are another story!!! Our rink does not use cones in the center at all! We are permitted to do stuff in the center, provided it's not too crowded, and we must always be on the lookout for the little comets (kids) flying around not paying attention, as well as the hockey kids. We also have to try to be good sports about the whole thing, (as much as it pains me!!!) We sometimes get a bad name as diva's or prima donna's because of our attitudes.....

All-in-all, there will be times when we end up in everyone else's way, or someone is right where you wanted to do a jump/element next. Even on uncrowded sessions. It's frustrating. I just deal and be glad I get to skate....

[stardust skies]

One thing that irritates me are "coach corners" - I don't know if it happens at your rink, but at ours, you know that Coach A most likely has his students in the far left-hand corner, coach B in the near right-hand one, coach C will probably be found leaning on the barrier by the music box, coach D half-way up the far side, also propping up the barrier (and knocking me down when I happened to skate backwards into her the other day!)..... and so it goes. Of course, they don't stay there all the time, but if what their student is doing is elements, then that's where you'll probably find them!

There is this one coach who teaches her kids that no matter what, THEY have right of way, and if they see someone coming at them, to just go for it anyway- no matter whose right of way it is. This coach also decides she will coach in the middle, for everything: jumps, spins, footwork, doesn't matter. I cannot practice ANY spin combinations while she's there (which is the entire session, every single day) because not only does she teach only in the middle, but she doesn't move (and often when she sees I'm about to try a spin, aborts it by throwing her body at me for no apparent reason) but also encourages her kids to do the same. I've watched said kids on freestyles by themselves after their lessons, and it's a zoo- everyone hates them and hates that coach, too. She's not a high level coach, and always talks management into letting her coach her kids on high level sessions, even though most of them can barely do forward spins. Everytime I see her getting ready for the session I'm about to skate, I want to kick something. This hogging of the middle also drives me to practice way more jumps than I'm really supposed to be doing, because at least the corners are free...unless she decides I really shouldn't be trying that triple lutz anymore (I can't say she's wrong...hah) and moves on to the corner for the duration of my lutz attempts, after which she gladly goes back to the middle. One of these days I'm going to skate right into her, and I won't stop. I just can't afford another injury right now, and she's way bigger than me.

end of rant.

[sunshinepointe]

I am sorry, because I imagine how frustrating your day must have been, but I agree with them completely. I mean, not about the coned off part...they should've left that for your guys, but really, there's no rule that says public skating HAS to offer a center for figure skaters- so if they decide too many kids are going through the middle anyway and it's dangerous, then...it's their discretion to stop making the middle available. As far as the lesson taking place in the middle- I also do think that's frustrating, but...you know the rules are to skate freestyle only in the middle, so if for some reason the middle is taken...then...it's taken. It doesn't make the corners a free-for-all. It's not fair to people who come here to just skate around in circles and have a social hour, which is what public skating is all about. I agree with the guard that if you want to figure skate, you should just be on a freestyle session, period. There are some available for not that much more money than what you paid. In my opinion, a figure skater isn't entitled to expect anything more out of a public session than skating forward in circles- that's what they're made for.

Yes, if those were the rules then fine. But those weren't the rules two days prior, and those weren't the rules when I skated there a year or so before on an every other day basis. If you're going to have rules, make them official, don't trick people into thinking that its okay so they pay their money then get told that they aren't allowed to follow the existing rules. And it wasn't so much the private lesson taking place in the middle that teed me off - it was the attitude, THEN the bs of not being able to jump or spin at ALL?

As a point of interest when I called on Monday I was apologized to profusely AND was given credit for another session - so obviously the manager must have felt as if the guards were out of line and even stated that this wasn't the first time he's had complaints from figure skaters about this type of treatment. I went over the rules with him - every last one - for public skating so there won't be any confusion, and I have his "permission" to skate freestyle on a public session, provided it isn't too crowded. But I won't be going back there again unless I have a TRUE "ice emergency".

[pennybeagle]

I am sorry, because I imagine how frustrating your day must have been, but I agree with them completely. I mean, not about the coned off part...they should've left that for your guys, but really, there's no rule that says public skating HAS to offer a center for figure skaters- so if they decide too many kids are going through the middle anyway and it's dangerous, then...it's their discretion to stop making the middle available. As far as the lesson taking place in the middle- I also do think that's frustrating, but...you know the rules are to skate freestyle only in the middle, so if for some reason the middle is taken...then...it's taken. It doesn't make the corners a free-for-all. It's not fair to people who come here to just skate around in circles and have a social hour, which is what public skating is all about. I agree with the guard that if you want to figure skate, you should just be on a freestyle session, period. There are some available for not that much more money than what you paid. In my opinion, a figure skater isn't entitled to expect anything more out of a public session than skating forward in circles- that's what they're made for.

I do agree with most of this, although I would add that the same rules should apply to other kinds of non-recreational skaters as well.

I frequently see hockey players on public ice doing drills--starts, stops, glide turns, etc, weaving in and out of recreational skaters. Some of the hockey players are good skaters. Some only THINK they're good skaters. Some of them think it's hilarious to skate real close to other skaters and then scare them by doing a sudden stop. Others think it's fun to skate as fast as they can and then slide across the ice. I don't see how what they are doing is any less dangerous than if I were doing a footwork pattern or a flip jump. So, i think it would only be fair that if figure skaters are not allowed to figure skate, then hockey players should not be allowed to do hockey drills on a public session.

I've also seen two short-track speed skaters on a public session--this was a few years ago. Technically, they're just going around in circles, right? But OMG, they were terrifying, and if they fell, they would slide across the ice until they hit the boards, taking out anything/anyone in their way. Luckily, only two cones were knocked down, although a little girl and a man who was actually a pretty good skater came close to being knocked over as well. So...skating forwards in circles is not entirely risk-free, either.

On the other end of the spectrum, I've seen public sessions that are truly a free-for-all, with no skate guard that I can see, with figure skaters doing spins and jumps, with hockey players doing drills, several coaches giving lessons, and recreational skaters from the ages of 2 through 80. Usually, though, these kinds of public sessions have fewer than 25 skaters on them.

I'm all for rinks having their own public session rules, and they can be as strict or relaxed as they want to make them. The point I'm trying to make is that if a rink wants to enforce a "recreational skating only" rule for a public skate, they must enforce it consistently and fairly across the board to all kinds of non-recreational/competitive skaters, be they figure, hockey, or speed skaters. What I find is that in many rinks that I've skated at, the teenagers who serve as skate guards are on one of the hockey teams, and so they will bend the rules backwards for their fellow skaters in hockey skates, but will suddenly become rule-Nazis to you if you're wearing figure skates.

[Andie]

Might I remind you that this rink has NO FREESTYLE SESSIONS? That's what I stated in my original post. This place has a history of being the stupidest, lamest rink I've gone to. And they have hardly any business, sometimes they've closed down because no one is there. This rink, unlike my primary rink, NEVER has cones down on the ice during public sessions, even if there is a bigger crowd.

I realize public sessions are mainly for skating around the rink in circles. So, why weren't the kids doing that? They WEREN'T skating around the perimeter. All they were doing was standing at the sides and going across the center and then back, and throwing things. I skated around the perimeter more than they did.
If they want to just throw things, purposely fall down and stand around, why don't they go to a rink that has Broomball sessions?

I forgot to mention that it wouldn't have been as annoying if the kids had done this at THE OTHER END of the rink. It would have mattered less, or not at all. But the fact that they were doing it right near me, and in the center of the ice, made it worse. If they want to throw things, at least go to their own section of ice. I have a feeling that they were trying to annoy me and would have followed me wherever I went.

I don't like the idea of rink guard "Nazi's" either, don't get me wrong. But the rink in question is the opposite extreme. I don't think that a few loud-mouthed, crazy acting people should overshadow/bully more civilized people. It's just that most of these teens and kids are used to getting their way and when someone complains about them, they act so shocked because they're used to getting away with everything.

I by nature am reserved, shy and tend to be intimidated, so I am the last person who would try to bully someone. If I were disrespectful or troublemaking, I could've thrown the ball at them or took the ball from them. I did neither.

[stardust skies]

Might I remind you that this rink has NO FREESTYLE SESSIONS? That's what I stated in my original post. This place has a history of being the stupidest, lamest rink I've gone to.

Well, then don't go there. :frus: From the sound of it, getting no ice and going rollerblading or working out in a gym would've been more beneficial than the ice you got, anyways. So, since you know how bad they are...just don't go! You can't complain about a place being bad if you know it's bad and you still choose to go. I mean, it sucks that they run the rink this way, but they do, so all you can do is not give them your time or money. Problem solved. Many people don't have the choice of rink one or rink two to go to, so if for some reason you cannot get to your primary rink, act like this bad one just doesn't exist, and like it's not an option. That's all you've got to do. There's a rink I despise and I never go there, even if for some reason it's the only rink open. It's just not worth it.

[tidesong]

My rink has no freestyle sessions at all except by private booking. Everything else is public. We do get coned up area for lessons and thats about it. I cant change rinks. Because there is the one rink in the whole country.....

So yeah, we get our fair share of collisions with oblivious skaters during more crowded sessions. And even during my lesson we had to keep chasing people out of the coned up area because I was going to plow into them if I just did my jumps

The rink doesnt open before 8 or 9 am I think... or something like that. (And the ice at late night is so horrible, scratched up and stuff) If they would only open at 5 or 6am (so its possible to get in some skating before work)