comp outfit for beginner doing baby levels

[sleepyhead]

Sorry I have another silly question.
5 y/o DD only started skating recently. All the little kids do comps in baby levels (we're in Oz) where their main achievement is standing on their skates, and I have no quibbles about that. Sounds cute to me.
What I'm not sure about is how they dress. Coach suggested we check out the club's 2nd hand stuff so I did - but hated it all. Wouldn't have mattered anyway because it was all way too big. When I asked about it, the shop lady said she could just wear her regular street clothes and wouldn't be disqualified or anything.
But another mum with a 3 y/o entering her 1st comp was quite excited about making her DD's outfit - and wanted it to be super-special as her 1st comp dress for all the pics and video etc.
So now I'm wondering ... what are the dress norms for beginners comps??? (...especially if you have any experience with 'skate school' comps down under).
I did find some things online that were gorgeous, but not especially affordable, and maybe over the top for someone like my DD (who I assume is a long way from the league of some of the toddlers described on this forum!!).

[Isk8NYC]

If you can sew, make a simple skating dress.

However, most tots wear regular dresses or skirts with (cheerleader) shorts underneath.

You could also have her wear a dance leotard with a circle skirt.

Skating dresses are expensive because of the fabrics, which are often hard to find locally. (Two-way stretch velvet, for example) I watch for sales at the fabric stores and use the coupons that they offer in the Sunday paper and online. I didn't make dresses for my DDs when they were young because they would outgrow them by the next one.

Save your money where you can. A tot competition is one place to do that - don't go overboard with costuming.

You could also approach the parent of a now-seven year old and ask if they have any too-small dresses that you could borrow or buy. I know several families who made friends and now do hand-me-downs/regular resales of skates and clothing.

My kids skated competitions as tots - it is adorable to watch. Since their mom's a coach, they really had no choice, lol. For all of them, their first competitions were always the Montclair Inside Edge (NJ) ISI Invitational. I used to belong to that Club when I skated and the organizers really do a great job of making people feel welcome and organizing a well-run competition. My kids still talk about those competitions, mostly about how one of them completely blanked when the music started, so she just did what she felt like doing that day. In time with the music, though! ISI competition events have required elements, I think she did maybe one or two by accident! I'll bet the judges were scratching their heads on that one! ROFLOL

More importantly, having an audience and the full ice with music gave them the courage to perform, which has really become an asset to them. They were too young (3 or 4) to have stage fright and the attention they received (because the tots are so adorable) reinforced the idea that This Is Fun and I Can Do It! My kids, even my shy oldest one, have no problems with public speaking or performing. They love performing, whether it's skating, dancing, singing or playing an instrument. I suspect my youngest, who chose Drama and Chorus as her electives this year, will be doing plays and such when she's old enough to audition.

If the cost is reasonable, I encourage all my lower-level students to do a competition at least once. Learning a routine is challenging, and it makes the required elements "different." Doing a spiral/jump/spin over and over in a lesson (start-element-stop) is different than skating it in a program. In a program, they have to do one element, say a jump, then hold the landing and shift into back crossovers instead of stopping the jump. I thought of this last week because I have a student who is doing a competition and she keeps shorting her jump landing to turn forward, only to do a mohawk because the next element requires backward skating. It's just a habit to short the landing, and now she's got to break that habit because it interrupts the program flow.

Make sure to take her out afterwards while she's still dolled up and let her show off her medal/ribbon/whatever. The reaction of the people in the ice cream parlor or whereever will make her feel like royalty.

This thread is sure to drift towards "how to manage Mom's emotions" - just keep it positive, practice in advance, and make sure to emphasize sportsmanship regardless of the outcome. This is going to be more than just a showing off event, it's an opportunity to learn graciousness and good behavior.

[Lenny2]

For our daughter's first competitions when she was six, I used regular practice dresses that were a little more "special." One was a black GK-Elite dress with a little sparkly swirl on the front; another was a plain red dress that I sewed a sparkly applique on the front. Neither was expensive. Put her hair in a bun so that she looks neat and, voila, she's ready.

Also, we regularly bought dresses from ebay--that was a great source for affordable things.

[Skittl1321]

Most young children wear the simple long sleeve velvet dresses around here. Little or no rhinestones. Maybe an applique.

I've never seen a regular dress with cheerleading shorts, or regular clothes. Some have fancier skating dresses with cap sleeves, no spaghetti straps for little kids. I have seen a practice skirt with a shirt tucked in.

Judges don't look at the little kids costumes- they'd rather see them in simple dresses- most will sigh and shake their heads if they are decked out like a senior skater.

[sk8tmum]

Mondor has always made basic velvet (long sleeve, collar neck) skating dresses for the tiny skaters. They also make Polartec dresses that are often quite pretty. These are appropriate, IMHO, for first comps, and what we generally see used. Fortunately, Mondor skating tights also come tiny - you'll need those as well :)

When the little ones first skate, one "disaster waiting to happen" is when the child who is used to skating in a warm jacket, leggings, etc, is suddenly out on the ice in a dress - and is freezing cold! Shivering small children are not uncommon. Thus, making sure that your DD is warm, and is comfortable on the ice, will go a long way towards making that first comp a good experience. We have layered cosy long sleeve "long underwear" under dresses to keep little bodies warm; and you can even consider putting two layers of tights on to keep little legs warm: we use a thin footless pair under the footed ones. Be sure to practice on the ice - lots - with whatever you plan to wear to the comp.

IIRC, you were looking at skates on line: dresses on line maybe? Just beware of sizing. You need to look at the size charts and compare to your child; my extremely tiny 4 year old was wearing Mondor 6/8, and they were snug at that!

[sk8tmum]

Judges don't look at the little kids costumes- they'd rather see them in simple dresses- most will sigh and shake their heads if they are decked out like a senior skater.

As will the other parents in the arena :) especially if it's like the 5 year old I saw the other month, in a full-on custom made skating dress with illusion panels, cutouts, spaghetti straps, backless, with 1400 or so rhinestones ... it really clashed with the helmet on her head! :lol:

[RachelSk8er]

I'll echo what others have said. Long sleeve, velvet (both for warmth). You can find a sparkle velvet to make her feel pretty/special, something like this in her favorite color:

http://www.delarbourstore.com/catalog_pages/FirstGlide/FG2.html

Keep the hair simple and neat (ponytail, bun, french braid), and very light make-up if you wish--a touch of eyeshadow, bluch and lip gloss.

I know how hard it is to find skating stuff in OZ, especially if you don't have a ton of time to have something shipped (I have a friend who was a synchro skater there, I heard all the nightmares about getting skates, costumes, etc and dealing with shipping), so maybe try a dance/ballet store and pick up a simple leotard and a wrap skirt that isn't too long. She can wear a fitted wrap or zip-up sweater and gloves over whatever she is competing in for her warm-up, and sometimes if the rink is particularly cold, they'll let the little ones even compete with them on.

There is absolutely no need to go overboard for a basic skills competition. These skaters are cute just as they are, even if they go out on the ice, get super nervous, forget their program, fall all over, etc. I was juding a basic skills comp at my rink once and I cringed every time one of these moms went overboard like their kid was in a beauty pageant (no joke, there were kids with big hair, tons of make-up, spray tans, glitter on their skin and in their hair, and insanely decked out costumes).

Just remind her to go out there, have fun, smile at the judges--they're really just people who like to watch skating and want to see her show off her skills! And no matter what happens, it's OK!

[drskater]

I agree! I find little tots dressed up like Las Vegas show girls highly inappropriate. Yet I see this kind of thing all the time; maybe some parents watch ice dancing on TV and think these costumes are the "norm."

A simple skirt or dress with colored tights will suffice. I've seen some kids wearing store bought princess costumes and these looked okay.

[sk8tmum]

Ahem ... as long as my little one still has to wear a helmet to compete, I reserve the right to put (discreet) glitter in her hair, and sparkly eyeliner!

Right along with the thermal underwear under her costume.

[Virtualsk8r]

:lol: Long ago when I was a judge - I remember doing the 'bunny hop' set at competitions......(before the WBP judging system and CoP).....and after the first half dozen or so of little 'Jon Benet' wanna-be's dressed in 1,000 lb of sequins, feathers and make-up - either cried, peed their pants or stood in the middle of the ice picking their noses.....the judges got a little punchy and started debating whether we should judge based on cost of costume, amount of glitter or make-up of each contestant......cause there wasn't much to judge as far as the skating went.

Strangely, however, it was the skater in the simple outfit that didn't make a fuss or was fussed over -- that seemed to be able to do the skills best..

BTW It is always a pig-fest in the lobby after the 'no-skill' events when the skaters and their huge entourage gather to read the results........

And people accuse Johnny Weir of giving the sport a bad name...:lol:

Just remembered the sight of World, Olympic and National level judges on my panel at that competition - being brought almost hysterically to tears laughing on the panel, while trying to look professional as the antics at the boards by coaches, parents and skaters went on and on and on....it was a very long event and after a couple of flights of this, we'd have rather been judging a senior ladies splatfest.

[phoenix]

As will the other parents in the arena :) especially if it's like the 5 year old I saw the other month, in a full-on custom made skating dress with illusion panels, cutouts, spaghetti straps, backless, with 1400 or so rhinestones ... it really clashed with the helmet on her head! :lol:

That's hilarious!

I have a 7 yr old student who really wants to go heavy on the makeup & every comp I send her back to wipe half of it off--I keep telling her the judges want to see HER, not her makeup!

The funny thing is, this is also the girl who would happily set foot on the ice with her hair in snarls and hanging loose over her face.....*sigh* It's always a production to get her (or her mom) to do it neatly. What's up with that?!? :frus:

[Virtualsk8r]

Um...I remember one skater who came on on the ice wearing a princess crown......you know, the kind of stiff plastic one that Disney stores sell....and guess what happened to it during her first spin......:lol:

[RachelSk8er]

I agree! I find little tots dressed up like Las Vegas show girls highly inappropriate.

Or when younger kids (regardless of level) skate to music that is blatantly inappropriate. Chicago is NOT cutesy music for your 8 year old to skate to. Chicago is raunchy. Same with Grease. Sure, your kid looks cute going onto the ice all dressed up in her pink poodle skirt for her showcase program, but she's skating to music about teenagers having sex in cars for God's sake!!! Or the basic skills kid who skated to Barbie Girl by Aqua. And the "you can touch my hair, undress me everywhere" lyrics were not edited out. Really, parents/coach? I get your 5 yr old loves Barbie, but you couldn't find better music? And of course she was one of these pageanted-up looking kids with so much glitter all over her that it was blowing off as she skated.

Hence why I fondly refer to basic skills competitions as BIRTH CONTROL!!!

I'm glad my rink's ridiculously massive (450+ starts this year) basic skills competition has conflicted with ANs for the past 4 years now, so I've gotten out of volunteering/judging, haven't had to care that with my Saturday sessions get canceled for it, or had to go near the rink for any reason.

[sk8tmum]

Um...I remember one skater who came on on the ice wearing a princess crown......you know, the kind of stiff plastic one that Disney stores sell....and guess what happened to it during her first spin......:lol:

Fake hair story. You know those fake buns and curls some of them wear? Well, inevitably, in a spin, it flies off ... it looks like a dead animal lying on the ice ... the skater impressed me though, on a pass by the dead animal, scooped it up, and wore it around her wrist till the end of the program.

[sk8tmum]

And, the WORST possible result is when the skater with the really fancy dress actually DOES win the competition, (whether deservedly or not) - and then the other mums think that the fancy dress is critical to success!

[sk8tmum]

Or when younger kids (regardless of level) skate to music that is blatantly inappropriate. Chicago is NOT cutesy music for your 8 year old to skate to.

"Single Girls" being used for an interpretive by a 9 year old ... sigh. In full costume and with the same moves. Our coach nearly had words with the other coach ... we had to restrain and distract her before mayhem ensued :lol:

Actually, it's not just MUSIC, it's choreography; booty shakes and shimmies by little girls ... ick .. I wonder about the parents who find it appropriate for their daughters to shake their non-existent bosoms at an audience!

[Isk8NYC]

Or when younger kids (regardless of level) skate to music that is blatantly inappropriate. Chicago is NOT cutesy music for your 8 year old to skate to. Chicago is raunchy. Same with Grease. Sure, your kid looks cute going onto the ice all dressed up in her pink poodle skirt for her showcase program, but she's skating to music about teenagers having sex in cars for God's sake!!! Or the basic skills kid who skated to Barbie Girl by Aqua. And the "you can touch my hair, undress me everywhere" lyrics were not edited out. Really, parents/coach? I get your 5 yr old loves Barbie, but you couldn't find better music? And of course she was one of these pageanted-up looking kids with so much glitter all over her that it was blowing off as she skated.

I'm glad my rink's ridiculously massive (450+ starts this year) basic skills competition has conflicted with ANs for the past 4 years now, so I've gotten out of volunteering/judging, haven't had to care that with my Saturday sessions get canceled for it, or had to go near the rink for any reason.
I'll bet they're glad too since you seem to hate it so much. But how do you really feel? lol!

Not every song in Grease was about "having sex in cars" Greased Lightning, yes. Beauty School Dropout? no. Rock 'n' Roll Is Here to Stay? no. I have a student skating to the latter song and it's fine. You can't tag every song in a musical by the flaws of a few or the overall musical.

It also depends on WHAT they do while skating. I don't want to see a young girl doing suggestive moves. I despise it when anyone grabs their privates, regardless of their age or level. I think that's a key point: a kid skating to an instrumental from Chicago, doing appropriate moves is fine. The backstory doesn't matter.

I hated that musical "Phantom of the Opera" and thought the music sucked, but I would NEVER hold that against a skater.

[Skittl1321]

Um...I remember one skater who came on on the ice wearing a princess crown......you know, the kind of stiff plastic one that Disney stores sell....and guess what happened to it during her first spin......:lol:

If it was secured- I'm fine with kids wearing crowns, and hair glitter. Most don't skate to be competitors, but to be ice princesses :)

Though I do worry about young ones falling with the tiaras on. So not until the kids are pretty stable.

[RachelSk8er]

I'll bet they're glad too since you seem to hate it so much. But how do you really feel? lol!

Not every song in Grease was about "having sex in cars" Greased Lightning, yes. Beauty School Dropout? no. Rock 'n' Roll Is Here to Stay? no. I have a student skating to the latter song and it's fine. You can't tag every song in a musical by the flaws of a few or the overall musical.


Yes, and when a kid is skating to the Greased Lightning theme song (the real version with questionable lyrics, not the edited version), it's not appropriate.

[PinkLaces]

If you are looking for an affordable dress, we got our the tot dresses for ice show from Dancewear Solutions. They were fuschia tank dresses with simple heart rhinestones across the neck in the front and a heart clip in the back. On clearance for $14.99/each. They probably still have some. We actually got quite a few dance dresses that we used for our show. They were mostly under $35.Little girls for $25 or so. They looked great on the ice. They have a quite a few dance dresses with attached skirts and bottoms that work great for ice skating.

[vesperholly]

I think little skaters look absolutely adorable in long-sleeve turtleneck/scoop neck style dresses. GK Elite used to make the best ones, I was sad when they stopped making dresses. A sparkle velvet is about as much glitter as I'd go for that young — no beading, no illusion netting, no sheer sleeves, as little froofery as possible. Look for ones marketed as practice dresses. Simple, polished and put-together is the best.

Here's a few cute examples:

http://epk2.com/ProPhotoFX/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=525743

http://epk2.com/ProPhotoFX/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=501332

http://epk2.com/ProPhotoFX/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=526916

[Lenny2]

www.tidewaterice.com carries sizes down to child xs and makes dresses very similar to gk-elite styles. They also have some leftover gk-elite styles, in addition to a few Mondor styles. All very affordable.

[Tennisany1]

Jerry's also makes some cute dresses for little ones. Check the sizes carefully as I have found they fit quite small. One thing to consider is if your child is an independent sort you may want to go with the scoop neck so they can use the washroom on their own. Those back zippers can be a real pain.

http://www.jerryskate.com/category/1.aspx

I second the suggestion about checking with the parents of the local 7 year-olds. There are probably a few with dresses they would be willing to sell or loan.

[sleepyhead]

ROFLMAO!!:lol:
It took me 24 hrs to collect myself from the hilarity of this thread. I can't decide between the ball dress + helmet, the dead animal on the ice, the bosom-shaking, or the make up as the funniest and most unexpected images.
I don't personally have anything against make up - I thought the compulsory red lipstick on my 3 y/o (at Xmas dance concert) was cute, but not every mother (or daddy!!) thought so - and I was just surprised it might be an option in skating. Not that I'd personally choose anything other than a discreet pink gloss.
Thanks for the fab links!!
It turns out I'm an awful lot more conservative than I thought. The one we are in love with is at the expensive end - but would be approved by you guys as being long-sleeved, pale pink velvet with a few silver glitter embellishments (no stones). I haven't actually bought it yet - but I think I might!! I've just about persuaded myself it should have fairly good resale value here. There do seem quite a few 3-4 y/os who compete who would fit it ... maybe even my own younger DD eventually?

[LilJen]

If you can't bring yourself to spend the money on the outfit you mention, I second the recommendation to go to some dancewear websites and find something. Lots of good deals. Check under the On Ice/Skaters thread, and there's a sticky listing all kinds of websites with dancewear, much of which is very reasonable and affordable.

[Mrs Redboots]

Or a plain gymnastics leotard with a little wrap, circle or handkerchief skirt in toning chiffon - very easy to make (even I can)! Tights that match the leotard, probably, and there you are.

Make-up isn't required, natch, but if your child is naturally pale a discreet amount of blusher does help them stand out and not blend into the ice! And a anyway, "Make up for tests and competitions only" does help delay the dread day when they want to wear it as they are "grown up".

[isakswings]

Make-up isn't required, natch, but if your child is naturally pale a discreet amount of blusher does help them stand out and not blend into the ice! And a anyway, "Make up for tests and competitions only" does help delay the dread day when they want to wear it as they are "grown up".

Haa haa. My daughter will be 12 next month and she wears make up only for competitions/shows/tests. She has no interest in wearing it other times and I quite like that. :) My daughter is very fair, so she definately needs something to be seen on the ice. My problem has been finding make up that doesn't make her look TOO made up! :)

To he OP... I think simple is sweet on a little one. I've seen some "dolled" up little ones and some in simple, but pretty practice dresses. I agree that Jerry's has a nice selection of dresses for younger kids. :)