Some figure skating questions (adult-related)

treesprite said:

Some people are more comfortable with children because children don't usually question their instructors' teaching practices.

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Interesting comment. My one coach and I have a rule that I cannot question or say no to anything he asks of me to do because there is a reason for the request that I will figure out eventually.

mskater93 said:

Interesting comment. My one coach and I have a rule that I cannot question or say no to anything he asks of me to do because there is a reason for the request that I will figure out eventually.

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What is interesting to me is that the both of you have this rule.

I just got off the phone with the friend (who is also a coach) of my coach, and I just ordered a new pair of boots / blades for about $450 I know that it's not skates in the $k range like the better skaters here, but it's a heck of a lot better than the $80 Reidel skates I have now. Ironically, it's Reidel that I'm ordering the new skates from, lol. My next goal is to get out of my hockey helmet (no, I'm not wearing it at the computer).

thevaliantx said:

I hope that I have not given the impression that I have questioned her teaching practices, to her face. At this point, unless something has happened to her in the past three days or so, I have this feeling that there isn't going to be a next lesson. I did tell that I would like to ice dance and even compete in figure skating at the adult level, and her only response has been "that is a couple of years away". I took her word for it. She did mention the idea of my keeping a notebook when I practice alone so that I don't forget the stuff I have learned in lessons, but that's all she has said.

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Sorry, I didn't mean to imply you had, just making a general statement about people who stick primarily one group over another (like children and adults).

Competition doesn't have to be "a couple years away". She is limiting you to USFSA advanced level competition. There are competitions for people at basic skills levels. You may want to look into ISI for that sort of competition.

Yay for new skates. It will take awhile to break them in--just a warning. Some peep have an easier time than others though. Here's hoping you are one of those.

I can speak as someone who has coached both kids and adults and it is different. Not necessarily with adult questioning but you have to totally change your teaching technique and style. For instance adult don't necessarily like hopping like a bunny or playing red light/green light. Also kids will try anything because they are fearless, adults know falling hurts. So she might just be getting used to coaching adults. Also with you saying you want to try dance, etc. is she a dance coach? Often coaches specialise (I was a dance coach) so if she is looking for a long term student and doesn't teach dance she might see no long term gain for her. Sense coaches also like teaching people who already have the basics. Personally I'd rather take someone with no experience so they can learn the way I want them to learn and it's a challenge.

Nit saying any of this is true but this is business for her and coaching skating is a hard way to make a living. Just like in any business some peep communicate better than others. Be patient. But then again if you don't feel comfortable with her anymore move on. It is hard as an adult to start skating and to figure out your way around the skating world. My husband often just shakes his head when I tell him about skating stuff.

Oh and if you decide to go the dance route there can be a huge social component to that with dance weekends and guest days. (sorry this ended up a rather long post).

thevaliantx said:

What is interesting to me is that the both of you have this rule.

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Understand, though, we have a very long term relationship (knew each other growing up - I was a recreational skater, he was a high level competitor and we're near the same age), so the trust factor is very high and there are some long running jokes going on between us. It was initially established to create more of a coach-student relationship versus our friendship outside the rink. We continued with this rule because he sometimes asks me to do things that *I* think are well beyond my comfort zone which I have tried to talk him out of when he knows based on HIS plan that it's the right time to introduce the skill/concept. And finally, the rule has been maintained because I tend to overthink and overanalyze things and we are trying to establish a "feel first, analyze later" approach for me, which really IS working to improve my skating.

Heck, we have such a fun relationship, we even had a pinkie swear during yesterday's lesson with regard to Adult Nationals and jump content/layout.

It's funny because sometimes he has me do these "crazy" skills/exercises on ice that don't seem connected to any plan at all and then all of a sudden later in the week I go "oh! that's why we did that!!" because it fixes a problem with something else or makes something else much easier.

I guess I'm becoming the redident Drama Queen! must bge a slow news day around here. What I found out today is that my coach (and her husband) just bought a 9-hole golf course and they are working 'til their ears bleed to get things up and running. Growing up around family that golfs I've got to this could be a great opportunity for her. Golfing is such a relaxing sport. Just ask Tiger how HE relaxed. Now THAT was a master of the holes-in-one (sorry, couldn't help it).

On the skating side of things, and considering that my coach has had two knee operations (when she was seeing almost two weeks ago whether I could squat and glide with both feet together, she mentioned the surgeries), I wonder if my coach can take me where I want to go with this. Maybe the master plan is for me to go as far as I can with her, and then move on with one of the other coaches at the rink? She is very nice, and she's wonderful with children (my son are scheduled for a 50/50 1-hour lesson this upcoming Thursday), nice people are SO hard to come by these days.

My coach did say that she's very surprised that I am as good as I am for a beginner skater. The other coaches I have looked at work fro Zeinher Skating School. One of their instructors is a top level ice dancer, the other was a successful figure skater.

I did suspect that the house rule about not asking questions, had to do with the age gap between teacher and student being small and with a person friendship already in place. I'm kinda' thinking that maybe I should approach my coach about something like this along the lines of "I am the horse, you are the whip, get into my head and right this ship". I am very strong headed, and when my head goes down and the starting gate opens it's all hell broke loose.

Good to know your coach isn't just blowing you off. I detest golf, so won't comment there. I'd prefer to patch if we're going to do something relaxing.

Basically, you'd be surprised what a coach can teach, even if he/she has physical limitations. The biggest thing about a coach is that they need to be able to convey to you what is right and what is wrong (and what would make it right) about your technique to that your elements get better. My male coach spent 6 weeks in a walking boot when he partially tore his achilles (and my female coach was in a cast for 10 weeks when she broke her ankle) and both of them were able to continue lessons with their students even if they were unable to demonstrate elements. Just because a coach has had knee surgeries (and I think just about every one has at SOME point), doesn't mean they can't teach. There are some things that DO need demonstration from time to time and there are things where you coach calls you over to the boards to "fix" something with arms or free leg and make you feel it, but just because they no longer really skate themselves precludes them from being a good coach. My female coach was competitive back in the 60s. Do you think she's ever done double Axels and triple jumps? No (and she'll be the first to laugh if you ask about it), but she knows what the proper technique is for singles and doubles and can translate what needs to be done to move those to their next logical step to her students working on double Axels and triples.

When you progress further and get more in tune with what things feel like, coaches need to be a bit less hands on with regard to teaching method. Maybe it's always been a little different for me since I am a CW skater and very few coaches are CW also, so it's always been a describe or mirror type issue for me.

good news that this god resolved.

So when do you get your new skates? Are you going to go ahead with your lesson this week with the badly mounted blades. Good luck

I'm torn on what to do with the lesson this upcoming Thursday. Since we can all agree that I will curve to the left if I attempt to glide on the right-footed skate, should I just work on pumps? Is there anything else that I can work on? The lesson was actually supposed to be a split (between my son and I), so should I just let him have the whole hour? He's five years old and loves to dance and twist around, and has said that he wants to learn figure skating (at least in comparison to throwing on a ton of hockey equipment), but I will be the first to admit that I'm being selfish and that I want to learn figure skating more The new skates are supposed to be in this Friday, maybe sooner, but I was told that the first day I won't be able to do anything in them because the blades won't be mounted, and that they'll just be doing all the things necessary for a proper mounting.

What do I do with the old skates? I feel guilty about selling them to someone, knowing the issue with the blade mounting on the right boot. I'm okay with the skates being intended for recreational use only.

You could just give the skates away. They would be fine for someone who just wants to skate once in a while with their family.

You could just go ahead and skate if you are just doing basic stuff. You could work on one foot glides on the good foot.

I think I'll advertise the one good skate in a magazine for pirates.

Yesterday I bought a cheap sports pants / shirt combination at Wal-Mart, so I want to 'try on' my new clothes in skates. (wife was laughing yesterday that I was so excited to wear the clothes around the house that the tags were still on)

Ha ha that's a good one. I never thought of the pirate market...but they must like skating as well

I love getting new stuff, especially clothes. I usually lay them out on the bed to look at them and then try them all on. You have to make sure they are comfortable! You'll look like a whole new man in your new skates and clothing. I can't wait to hear about your experience with the new skates. Let us know how you like the Reidells. I need new skates and had Jacksons, I had only ever had Wifas but got the Jacksons because I needed cheap and easy to break in. They broke down too quickly so I'm going to be shopping around.