My little skating diva has been very busy the last few weeks. After much agony and heartbreak she made the decision to change her coach. It was a great decision for her to make, but it was hard because her original coach was also her first group class instructor. Unfortunately my work schedule and her brother's medical schedule make us a fairly inflexible group and after years of her coach being a little late to extremely late for my child's lessons and lots and lots of miscommunication and tears, my ice diva pulled the plug. Luckily, I had been paying attention to the coaches in our area and already knew I wanted to add a second coach. Her coach of choice is now her coach, and the two of them are like peas in a pod. This coach is not only technically great, but very patient with little kids, and important in our family, on time.
So this makes me wonder, how do other parent's pick a coach? Do you care about PSA? Is timeliness important, or is it the cost?
My daughter still loves her original coach, but she is happier with her new coach. One of the things I like about the new coach is that she is giving advice on what to work on off ice, and created a training plan for my child. I greatly appreciate this because I can only afford so many lessons a week and I want to make sure she knows what to work on to help her accomplish her dreams.
My daughter competed in her second USFSA competition of the season this last weekend, spring preview. She was recalled. It was a first for her, and it was nice to see all that hard work pay off. Now of course she wants to win a recall award, but as a newly minted eight year old she does not yet grasp the work involved in that :)
Next event, Crystalline Classic!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Monday, November 25, 2013
Toughest Decision Ever
My little Ice Diva has had the same coach since the beginning, and the two of them have been thick as thieves for a long time. Recently however, something changed - and my seven year old actually requested a coach change. It broke my heart. It made me angry that her coach had let her down. It made me sad that I would have to do something I had thus far avoiding doing my entire life. I have never ever ever broken up with anyone. I've never quit anything, except for one job which I only quit because I was pretty sure they were violating all types of laws and I would be held responsible.
Her ex coach is upset. I feel horrible, but somehow I know that listening to my daughter about who is and who is not a good coach for her is the right thing to do. The fact that her pediatrician (yes I discussed it with her doctor), her father, and many other's felt that it was the right thing to do helps. However, it still sucks. This is the ugly side of figure skating no one talks about. What happens when the relationship that was so good suddenly sours. My daughter wants more out of skating, her old coach was unable or unwilling to take her seriously. She was late for practice and valued the time of other skaters more than my daughter.
Its a sad night all around.
Her ex coach is upset. I feel horrible, but somehow I know that listening to my daughter about who is and who is not a good coach for her is the right thing to do. The fact that her pediatrician (yes I discussed it with her doctor), her father, and many other's felt that it was the right thing to do helps. However, it still sucks. This is the ugly side of figure skating no one talks about. What happens when the relationship that was so good suddenly sours. My daughter wants more out of skating, her old coach was unable or unwilling to take her seriously. She was late for practice and valued the time of other skaters more than my daughter.
Its a sad night all around.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
First Axel
The Axel is a big deal - its the hardest of single jumps, or so I am told. My daughter, who is seven started working on it with her coach in a harness about a month or so ago, and yesterday she landed one... then another... and then two more. Technically they were not great, she cheated a little bit of her rotation but she landed it. I don't know if its because I forced her to wear her halo, and her butt pants, or if its because I have been asking (um..hmm.. strongly encouraging) her to practice them off ice, but yesterday was her day. I am ecstatic, thrilled, over the moon, and can't wait for her to practice her technique. She however wants to play with her kitten, watch TV, and generally rest on her laurels... Although I can't blame her - she works at her sport way more then I work at my sport, I am worried that this new found Axel confidence "I got it mom" is going to back fire. I don't know from experience but round the rink it appears that the Axel is a fickle creature, success coming and going all the time. My daughter has seen the Axel gifts given out at the rink from coaches and parents and is basically expecting it to rain like Christmas. I have had to explain to her that the increase in coach time to work on technique in preparation for San Jose in February is cutting into "impulse gift getting" and isn't success enough of a gift? But I did splurge and get extra kitten toys for her baby, and a new pair of leg warmers for the rink :)
Happy Skating
Happy Skating
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.
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.
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
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
Love to watch ice skating - then check out icenetwork...
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Its My Party....
Skating through the music decades was a huge success for my daughter's home rink. There were only a few hiccups with the performances, most notably one duet's music was cut very short, but the kiddo's involved were pro's and handled the situation with the finesse of trained professionals. The Mama Drama was limited, to just one parent - the self elected skate mom of a team ignoring requests for help in locating another child for the rehearsal. Otherwise, it was all good.
Last nights show was a personnel best for our little girl - holding her spiral for longer and higher then ever before, and truly acting out the music. She even threw in some moves she just learned a week and a half ago at a figure skating camp. Good Times. Shows are the best, because the drama for the kids is much lower. No one is judging the performance and there are no mandatory elements so you can add in something you just learned and are still perfecting. Its a great place to try out a light entertainment piece.
I prefer to put the money saved on sewing my child's costumes into making the rest of my family more comfortable with on ice sitting. My daughter's rink sells tickets for bleacher sitting as well as tables on ice. The on ice tables are a fantastic deal if you also have a two year old running around - because they have room to run and play during the performance. Also, the tables are stocked with candy and refreshments, not to mention the better views.
Good luck to the skaters going to the USFSA competition in Vac, CA today.
Last nights show was a personnel best for our little girl - holding her spiral for longer and higher then ever before, and truly acting out the music. She even threw in some moves she just learned a week and a half ago at a figure skating camp. Good Times. Shows are the best, because the drama for the kids is much lower. No one is judging the performance and there are no mandatory elements so you can add in something you just learned and are still perfecting. Its a great place to try out a light entertainment piece.
I prefer to put the money saved on sewing my child's costumes into making the rest of my family more comfortable with on ice sitting. My daughter's rink sells tickets for bleacher sitting as well as tables on ice. The on ice tables are a fantastic deal if you also have a two year old running around - because they have room to run and play during the performance. Also, the tables are stocked with candy and refreshments, not to mention the better views.
Good luck to the skaters going to the USFSA competition in Vac, CA today.
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