- Joined
- Feb 7, 2015
My daughter started skating in the basic skills program at our local rink 3 years ago at age 4. She has special needs and we transitioned to private lessons after about 4 months in the program because she was unable to handle the group lesson environment. She loves skating and her coaches are incredible. She participates in 3-4 basic skills competitions each year and really enjoys learning her programs and moving up.
Last year we joined our skating club as a junior member as she was competing basic skills. Upon renewal time this year I learned that she could only do a junior membership for one year and we needed to purchase a full membership for her. Financially this is not possible for us right now. Her medical costs are very high despite insurance. Many of her therapies are not covered and we pay out of pocket for them.
She’s going to be in basic skills levels for at least one more year. She’s working on basic 5 right now with her coaches and competed at basic 4 earlier this year before our membership expired. Unfortunately now that we haven’t renewed our membership she can’t compete anymore.
Is there really no way for kids to compete at this small basic skills competitions without a membership? Or am I just missing something somewhere? There’s such a huge gap in cost and it seems crazy to pay so much for a membership just for a $30 competition.
I realize skating is an expensive sport. It has been an amazing thing for her, and she seems to understand that she can still enjoy it without competing for now. But I know she’s also sad and jealous when she sees her rink friends getting ready for competitions and she’s not.
Last year we joined our skating club as a junior member as she was competing basic skills. Upon renewal time this year I learned that she could only do a junior membership for one year and we needed to purchase a full membership for her. Financially this is not possible for us right now. Her medical costs are very high despite insurance. Many of her therapies are not covered and we pay out of pocket for them.
She’s going to be in basic skills levels for at least one more year. She’s working on basic 5 right now with her coaches and competed at basic 4 earlier this year before our membership expired. Unfortunately now that we haven’t renewed our membership she can’t compete anymore.
Is there really no way for kids to compete at this small basic skills competitions without a membership? Or am I just missing something somewhere? There’s such a huge gap in cost and it seems crazy to pay so much for a membership just for a $30 competition.
I realize skating is an expensive sport. It has been an amazing thing for her, and she seems to understand that she can still enjoy it without competing for now. But I know she’s also sad and jealous when she sees her rink friends getting ready for competitions and she’s not.