Sassy Skate Mom: 2013-11-03

Friday, November 8, 2013

More Ice Please

My little ice skating Diva forgot her coat this morning when we made the forty five minute trek to the rink before school. So I only signed her up for one thirty minute block of ice time, expecting her to want to get off as soon as she got cold. I was very surprised to see her put her coaches coat on (that women is like a fairy godmother sometimes) and after thirty minutes of hard skating she bounced off the rink. I was waiting with her bags all packed when she shouted at me "can I have more ice time" and turned around and caught back up with her coach. Watching the two of them together can make me smile. It ain't easy to explain to a seven year old how to do something complicated like the free style four dance step, but that women did not give up, and when my little ice diva wanted to work on her jumps her coach tied a scarf around her neck in order to remind her to keep her head up. After her full hour of morning skating she spent another thirty five minutes taking to her coach about music, jumps and costumes. And while I would have been exhausted by the constant commotion her coach pulls up a laptop and starts going through song after song as they try to figure out a good light entertainment piece for the upcoming year.

Sometimes when your kid is learning something new you question why you put them through it. How do you know if they REALLY like skating and not just want to skate to avoid letting other's down. I don't know how other's know but it is mornings like this when I have to drag my kid off the ice, and out of the rink, and watch her watch the tournament in Japan on icenetwork and then have her ask to go skating again that I know she REALLY enjoys it.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

USFSA or ISI

New skate mom's always ask me (like I know) how DD got started in ice skating. I explain that she went to an outdoor rink, decided she wanted to skate and then I got her into group lessons. What I suspect these new skate mom's are really trying to decide is whether or not they should join ISI or USFSA. My DD joined both.

The ISI - or International Skating Institute is a skating group geared towards the recreational skater. Its competitions are cheaper to enter, and being a member is pretty cheap as well. The rink DD skates at six days a week is an ISI rink. This means that the rink teaches the "we skate" program. My daughter loves the ISI method of teaching which is like climbing a ladder. Each level is four or five new skills, when you get close enough to mastering them you test and get a badge. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150645175901699&set=a.442196101698.232733.117409556698&type=1&source=11

USFSA is the United States Figure Skating Association, I have been told that this is for more "serious" figure skaters. I don't know if that is true or not because it also offers a learn to skate program - called something like snow plow sam. USFSA fees are much higher - and the competitions are more expensive to enter as well. However, at a high enough level in USFSA you can compete at Regionals and win a spot for Sectionals. If you are good enough, and old enough you might even make the Olympic team. https://www.facebook.com/pages/USFSA/102167899824981

So what should your kid join? Probably ISI. My DD would not have joined USFSA until she can land an axel and a few doubles except that she got the opportunity to be on a competition team that competed predominately at USFSA competitions. Membership in the team required membership in USFSA. That being said however, DD loved the USFSA competitions.

Get Your Sparkle On

Get Your Sparkle On. Its that time of year again; winter shows, competition wind up, the holiday's, and oh yes the OLYMPICS.
I am very excited to watch the Olympics - my DD snuggles up close, she is watching the skaters, but I am watching the outfits and counting the falls. I am sure that makes me a horrible person, but as a lawyer I am used to the idea that most people consider me a horrible person.

Right now I am looking for dress ideas to create costumes for a duet based upon marshmallows. Only little girls can get away with wanting to look like a giant puff ball. Since marshmallows are white, they will need additional sparkle to get the attention of the audience. Generally when I am trying to figure out how much sparkle to add onto an item, I think plus one. As in, go to the limits of good taste and add one more. However, for this skating season I am going to have to think plus 1000. I blame this sparkle fest on the Olympics. Not many people can skate at a FS2 level or above, and so when a mere layperson watches your seven year old doing a half hearted sit spin, they will almost always exclaim "she should be in the Olympics". And of course, if your DD or DS "should" be in the Olympics, then they should sparkle. So get your sparkle on!

Speaking of competition season, my DD had a fantastic time at ISI 2013 Worlds. She placed first in FS2 Artistic and was recalled for the special show with Ryan Bradley. Given her success she is convinced that she deserves the plus 1000 rule. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150645175901699&set=a.442196101698.232733.117409556698&type=1&source=11