What is your fav. Figure Skating Club?

[FSWer]

Hey guys. I was just wondering what everyone's favorite Figure Skating Club is here?

[Roseline]

I tend to like the skaters coming out of Detroit SC, as well as Winterhurst.

[IceDanceSk8er]

Being from Boston, I'm partial to the Skating Club of Boston. There is so much talent coming out of this club. I mentioned in a post in another thread, Boston has 4 dance teams, 3 ladies, and 2 men in the USFSA's Team Envelope. This says a lot about the program there.

[Skatingsarah]

I'll Say MINTO SKATING CLUB cuz it kicks butt!!!! But I guess I'm kinda bias....
Actually I'm going to have to go with Mariposa! They have some really good skaters down there.... :!::!: JEFFERY BUTTLE!!!!:!: :!:

[Stormy]

I'm also partial to SC of Boston, as well as the other Mass. clubs, Colonial, New England FSC, Hayden FSC. Charter Oak, too.

[Poohsk8s2]

There are not too many people saying good things about Charter Oak. They put very little into developing the young skaters, instead they try to recruit established skaters to call their own, IE Sasha Cohen. For a club in a recognized training facility, IMHO they are a joke. It's too bad for the skaters that pay the dues year after year.

[Nubirtap]

Vancouver Skating Club ofcourse!:P :P

[~Qtip~]

The MINTO SKATING CLUB has alot of good skaters!!!! It is a Great Training center!!!!

[AshBugg44]

Well I'm kinda partial to the Skating Club of Oregon since it's my club! lol

[icedancer2]

Mine too! (although I'm impressed with DSC and SCOB, both are places I've been associated with in the past!

[IgglesII]

Originally posted by Poohsk8s2
There are not too many people saying good things about Charter Oak. They put very little into developing the young skaters, instead they try to recruit established skaters to call their own, IE Sasha Cohen. For a club in a recognized training facility, IMHO they are a joke. It's too bad for the skaters that pay the dues year after year.

A club in a recognized training facility that hasn't even been open ten years, which was previously nearly run into the ground by someone who looked out for his own self interests and couldn't give a flying fig about the rink, club or anyone else. Takes awhile to overcome something like that.

One also has to wonder if the "star" coach who's been there from day one should stop being given so much credit for Olympic medals of the past, and start being criticized for the multitude of failures that have followed over the past 8 years. When was the last time said coach got a skater who didn't come to her already senior into US Nationals?

[Terri C]

I'll say it in two words:
WASHINGTON ROCKS!!!

[Poohsk8s2]

ITA about the "olympic medal" coach in Simsbury, Iggles. But you also have to look at what it takes to develop contending skaters.

IMHO you need a strong club that takes an ardent interest in what it takes to have their *dues paying* skaters succeed. IE Seminars, critiques, rapport with the judges for feedback, etc. My experience is those things are few and far between from Charter Oak. When it does happen, it is usually quite expensive for the participants. Charter Oak, like the rink, that is BTW run by the club president, view themseves as one of the "premier" clubs in New England... and this is not based on their own success, but rather the ride on the coat tails of others. IMHO elite skaters go to wherever the ice is free from cost for long periods of time each day. For a club to base it's reputation on the elites that train there, is an empty validation worth. Meanwhile, your developing skaters absorb the cost with higher session prices, while losing valuable ice time to the elites. The Freestyle schedule is reduced leaving the ice quite crowded... while the younger, hard working skaters try to fit skating into an after school schedule. It's close to home, but the club is not my #1 choice, nor that of others,as is evident by many of the serious skaters jumping ship for the Skating Club of NY. IMHO Charter Oak's interest lies with status, NOT with developing skaters.

[2skates]

As a member of Charter Oak, I have been reading these postings and feel that there should be some facts presented.

Charter Oak has done seminars (mostly for free) for its members and critiques. They have hosted informal talks about judging and understanding competition results, rule changes, etc. There have been critiques (free - after the competition). There have been social events almost every month.

The fact that Sasha Cohen is a member is news to me...it has not been publicized in our monthly members newsletter so I am not sure how the club is trying to capitalize on that...I see it as a chance to meet an "elite" skater...and I am sooooo happy to hear this!

Since Tarasova's group has been training in Simsbury, I don't see much interuption to the FS session. The fact that ice rates went up $1 (for the first time that I can remember).... is not a club issue as we skaters buy ice from the rink not the club.

I see more adult sessions and consistant figure skating time. I also see a friendly place to train - which is a plus for those who are interested in training developing skaters. I love skating in Simsbury. Well done Charter Oak and ISCC!