Public rinks and pet peeves

[Meg LU]

Hello! I'm new here but I wanted some opinions.
- So this is a hot take from personal experience and just watching younger skaters. but I truly think that if your not experienced enough in skating you shouldn't be wearing headphones/ earbuds. ( If your just wearing them for warm-up and or doing programs that's different)
I say this from personal experience on BOTH sides!
when I was younger I wasn't educated on the rules of the ice rink, but on a public and free style I bumped into skaters, we both fell, on one occasion I got yelled at. That's when I realized how aware I have to be on public and freestyle. On the other hand I was bumped into by a beginner I knew. They weren't aware and when we fell they cut me. I don't think it weighs on the mind how dangerous ice skates are? after you like get decent at skating? (Also you cant hear your skates properly, like if your scratching your toe pic esc)
Thoughts! I wanna hear

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I don't think anyone should have anything blocking them from hearing and taking their attention away from the ice and surroundings.

 

[k8a]

Personally, I always skate with only one earbud in when I work on choreo. Being able to hear what's happening around you is so important in order to stay safe.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Hello! I'm new here but I wanted some opinions.
- So this is a hot take from personal experience and just watching younger skaters. but I truly think that if your not experienced enough in skating you shouldn't be wearing headphones/ earbuds. ( If your just wearing them for warm-up and or doing programs that's different)
I say this from personal experience on BOTH sides!
when I was younger I wasn't educated on the rules of the ice rink, but on a public and free style I bumped into skaters, we both fell, on one occasion I got yelled at. That's when I realized how aware I have to be on public and freestyle. On the other hand I was bumped into by a beginner I knew. They weren't aware and when we fell they cut me. I don't think it weighs on the mind how dangerous ice skates are? after you like get decent at skating? (Also you cant hear your skates properly, like if your scratching your toe pic esc)
Thoughts! I wanna hear

I'm astonished to read that anyone would wear earphones on the ice at any time. Where I live (in Canada) it's just not done in skating clubs, and I've seen it listed on the Rules of the Ice signs for people skating on public sessions. I don't skate on public sessions, but just observing them as I walk by, I've never seen anyone wearing earphones. The ice wardens at the gates would not allow anyone to step onto or remain on the ice if they were observed doing that. The danger seems so obvious I'm surprised it would need to be specified. I did once see a choreographer alone on the ice at a private club experimenting with some footwork ideas, using headphones, but she took them off as soon as her pupil stepped on the ice and was still removing his guards.

Perhaps people skating outdoors on natural ice with no ice wardens and no broadcast music might do that. The climate here in the Vancouver area is so mild we virtually never have frozen water areas, so I've never skated on a lake or river. They would never be used in an arena or on an artificial outdoor rink, though.

 

[kinari]

Hello! I'm new here but I wanted some opinions.
- So this is a hot take from personal experience and just watching younger skaters. but I truly think that if your not experienced enough in skating you shouldn't be wearing headphones/ earbuds. ( If your just wearing them for warm-up and or doing programs that's different)
I say this from personal experience on BOTH sides!
when I was younger I wasn't educated on the rules of the ice rink, but on a public and free style I bumped into skaters, we both fell, on one occasion I got yelled at. That's when I realized how aware I have to be on public and freestyle. On the other hand I was bumped into by a beginner I knew. They weren't aware and when we fell they cut me. I don't think it weighs on the mind how dangerous ice skates are? after you like get decent at skating? (Also you cant hear your skates properly, like if your scratching your toe pic esc)
Thoughts! I wanna hear

I totally agree. Sometimes I don't even like it when people wear their earbuds when they're doing a program because I don't know where they're coming from (I almost crashed into someone doing a 2sal!!). I think that if your music is not too loud where u can hear other people it's fine or if you're on a session all by yourself/a relatively empty session it should be fine, but overall I don't think that people should rlly wear headphones/earphones on the ice

 

[Query]

At the places I most often skate, many skaters, especially more advanced skaters, almost always wear headphones or earbuds.

And sometimes they skate while stairing at a smartphone. Both beginner and advanced skaters.

It's a good thing my schedule allows me to skate on relatively uncrowded ice. When I've gone to busy sessions, I soon gave up. Too dangerous, and too difficult to practice.

 

[Meg LU]

I don't think anyone should have anything blocking them from hearing and taking their attention away from the ice and surroundings.

This! I thought I was crazy but its getting so annoying and just dangerous !

 

[Meg LU]

Hello! I appreciate how everyone responded to my last thread ( Hot takes on earbuds/headphones )so I thought I would make one for anybody who wanted to discuss or just state some pet peeves or hot takes- or maybe ask if rules are in-forced at some rinks but maybe not at others.
Lets all be kind an respectful!
A pet peeve: Well one of my pet peeves is children playing in the Lutz corner - even after you let them know you were doing said Lutz lol
and another hot take- I don't like walkers, I think they shouldn't be allowed on LTS and only be allowed to very small children on public ( even then I think they need to fall and learn) and or if it is heavy needed!
At the rink I just transferred too they don't allow them on public. and the amount of people I see improve on the session from the wall to actually skating around is crazy!
and something from my old rink was they didn't enforce the middle rule or people cut off. On a public it had about 300 people on it one time!

Put your hot takes below! I would love to hear and discuss <3
Remember this is for people to be heard not people to be hurt. so be nice <3
Thank you !
M

 

[Query]

I do prefer a "no pets on the ice" rule.

That includes pet peeves.

I very much appreciate the rinks that are available for me to skate on. I appreciate the people who work there, and the people who subsidize those facilities, despite the financial losses, or missed economic opportunities, that having an ice rink almost always entails.

 

[kinari]

Hello! I appreciate how everyone responded to my last thread ( Hot takes on earbuds/headphones )so I thought I would make one for anybody who wanted to discuss or just state some pet peeves or hot takes- or maybe ask if rules are in-forced at some rinks but maybe not at others.
Lets all be kind an respectful!
A pet peeve: Well one of my pet peeves is children playing in the Lutz corner - even after you let them know you were doing said Lutz lol
and another hot take- I don't like walkers, I think they shouldn't be allowed on LTS and only be allowed to very small children on public ( even then I think they need to fall and learn) and or if it is heavy needed!
At the rink I just transferred too they don't allow them on public. and the amount of people I see improve on the session from the wall to actually skating around is crazy!
and something from my old rink was they didn't enforce the middle rule or people cut off. On a public it had about 300 people on it one time!

Put your hot takes below! I would love to hear and discuss <3
Remember this is for people to be heard not people to be hurt. so be nice <3
Thank you !
M

My pet peeve is letting REALLY young skaters (who don't have a lesson) on freestyle ice rather than public ice because a) they don't know the rules of the ice (ex: don't linger too long in the Lutz corner, if you see a program running then get out of the way, etc) and b) they're not aware of other skaters which is really dangerous! Honestly if a skater had a lesson yea that's fine, and I understand how freestyle ice is for everyone, but if your skater is like 3 years old playing tag with her friend on a busy freestyle session...it can be really dangerous for other skaters. Like at my rink there are these two little girls who just play tag and hide and seek on freestyle ice and I nearly bumped into them when I was running my moves, which can be dangerous to both me and them!
So TLDR: if ur REALLY young (like 4 and below ish) and don't have a lesson/are just there to mess around, I'd rather they go to public ice (even if its a bit more crowded)

 

[gkelly]

My pet peeve is letting REALLY young skaters (who don't have a lesson) on freestyle ice rather than public ice because a) they don't know the rules of the ice (ex: don't linger too long in the Lutz corner, if you see a program running then get out of the way, etc) and b) they're not aware of other skaters which is really dangerous! Honestly if a skater had a lesson yea that's fine, and I understand how freestyle ice is for everyone, but if your skater is like 3 years old playing tag with her friend on a busy freestyle session...it can be really dangerous for other skaters. Like at my rink there are these two little girls who just play tag and hide and seek on freestyle ice and I nearly bumped into them when I was running my moves, which can be dangerous to both me and them!
So TLDR: if ur REALLY young (like 4 and below ish) and don't have a lesson/are just there to mess around, I'd rather they go to public ice (even if its a bit more crowded)

Most of the rinks I've skated at have had a minimum skill level for skaters to use freestyle ice when not in a lesson. Very few 4 year olds would meet that skill level (beginning single jumps and one-foot spins), but if they do have that skill, that's an appropriate place for them to start working on their loops and sitspins, etc. And Moves in the Field/Skating Skills patterns (or whatever the equivalent are called outside the US).

I remember once when I was a teenager I saw two 9-year-olds sitting on the ice (in the corner), chatting and giggling. They were old enough to know better, and they certainly had the skill level that they needed to be on freestyle (and patch -- this was many decades ago) sessions to practice their skills. But at that moment they were just interested in socializing.

 

[Meg LU]

My pet peeve is letting REALLY young skaters (who don't have a lesson) on freestyle ice rather than public ice because a) they don't know the rules of the ice (ex: don't linger too long in the Lutz corner, if you see a program running then get out of the way, etc) and b) they're not aware of other skaters which is really dangerous! Honestly if a skater had a lesson yea that's fine, and I understand how freestyle ice is for everyone, but if your skater is like 3 years old playing tag with her friend on a busy freestyle session...it can be really dangerous for other skaters. Like at my rink there are these two little girls who just play tag and hide and seek on freestyle ice and I nearly bumped into them when I was running my moves, which can be dangerous to both me and them!
So TLDR: if ur REALLY young (like 4 and below ish) and don't have a lesson/are just there to mess around, I'd rather they go to public ice (even if its a bit more crowded)

Oh i can totally understand this, at my old rink we had alot of kids, they would have lessons and then stay on to "practice" but would end of running into alot of skters and or getting scolded by a coach for being in the way. its def a process. I think there just needs to be like a day where the coach says listen, if your not practicing get off the freestyle and do off ice- or idk its a sticky sitch.

 

[Meg LU]

Most of the rinks I've skated at have had a minimum skill level for skaters to use freestyle ice when not in a lesson. Very few 4 year olds would meet that skill level (beginning single jumps and one-foot spins), but if they do have that skill, that's an appropriate place for them to start working on their loops and sitspins, etc. And Moves in the Field/Skating Skills patterns (or whatever the equivalent are called outside the US).

I remember once when I was a teenager I saw two 9-year-olds sitting on the ice (in the corner), chatting and giggling. They were old enough to know better, and they certainly had the skill level that they needed to be on freestyle (and patch -- this was many decades ago) sessions to practice their skills. But at that moment they were just interested in socializing.

Huh ive never heard of that, I feel like that would fix alot of issues with todays freestyles. I don't think alot of new skaters know alot of freestyle ( I was one of them, i didnt know you had to pay for it with a lesson when i first started.) I just think there needs to be an upper party to educate the lower party without it seeming rude.
But the system of having to have certain jumps and or moves I feel would be so helpful on freestyles. Thanks for your thought!

 

[kinari]

Most of the rinks I've skated at have had a minimum skill level for skaters to use freestyle ice when not in a lesson. Very few 4 year olds would meet that skill level (beginning single jumps and one-foot spins), but if they do have that skill, that's an appropriate place for them to start working on their loops and sitspins, etc. And Moves in the Field/Skating Skills patterns (or whatever the equivalent are called outside the US).

I remember once when I was a teenager I saw two 9-year-olds sitting on the ice (in the corner), chatting and giggling. They were old enough to know better, and they certainly had the skill level that they needed to be on freestyle (and patch -- this was many decades ago) sessions to practice their skills. But at that moment they were just interested in socializing.

That's a great idea and I wish more rinks had that! At one of the rinks I go to, their website states Basic 3 and above for freestyle sessions, but I wish they would enforce it more often. Sometimes we even have hockey skaters on the ice where it's flooded with figure skaters!

 

[Meg LU]

That's a great idea and I wish more rinks had that! At one of the rinks I go to, their website states Basic 3 and above for freestyle sessions, but I wish they would enforce it more often. Sometimes we even have hockey skaters on the ice where it's flooded with figure skaters!

Hockey skaters! thats crazy! i cant imagine how stressful that gets trying to do like pmoves in the field!

 

[Meg LU]

New pet peeve unlocked, Music with lyrics in programs. I always enjoyed them for shows or showcase (lol) but I am watching the ladies juniors and its so distracting from there skating! I would not be able to focus, personally, I would be singing and bumping to the beat and most likely be kind of out tuned with my program. Thoughts!? Like its so fun but oh my gosh if I had like a lady gaga program I would b dancing off the ice