Learn to Skate Newsletter - November 2022
Updated: Jan 23
Happy fall everyone! There are lots of fun things happening soon. Read on to find out more!
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Test Corner
(left to right)
Congratulations to Jasper Wei and Chenyue Katina Hui for passing their Snowplow Sam 1 test!
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News
Christmas Show
The annual Christmas Show is coming up! This years show will be held on Sunday, December 18 at 3:30 pm. If you are planning on participating but have not filled out and turned in your sign up paperwork, please do so by this Saturday, November 5. If you need a copy of the sign up form please ask your coach for one asap. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 each. We hope everyone, even those not participating in the show, can make it out to support our club and our skaters.
Spring Show 2023
Next year's Spring Show's theme is going to be BROADWAY!
We will have a meeting for anyone interested in participating in that show on Saturday, November 12th at 9:30 am, after freestyle ice time.
We understand that it seems early, but we would like to get a jump start on costumes and the lineup of songs. This way we will have a better chance of getting the costumes we would like to order, as they run out of stock very quickly.
Attendance of this meeting is required for anyone who wishes to participate in the show.
All skaters are welcome to sign up, even our youngest skaters! Each skater will required to perform in the opening number, closing number, and a group number with others in similar levels. Only skaters who are currently in Freeskate 1 and up will be given solos. More information will be given at the meeting.
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Parent Connection
With the end of our fall session quickly approaching FSCLA wants to give all of out Learn to Skate parents some tips on how to encourage a skate who does not pass.
It won't always be possible to pass a level in skating every step along the way. Some levels will require more time and practice to master. FSCLA's Learn to Skate program is built on a step-by-step skill progression. If a skater hasn't mastered the prior skill, then it will become a future frustration in learning more challenging skills. For example, a forward outside three-turn is taught in Basic 4 and is comprised of three different fundamental skills: forward one-foot glide (Basic 2), two-foot turn (Basic 2), and backward one-foot glide (Basic 3). If a skater hasn't mastered balancing on one foot both forward and backward on the left and right feet, then learning a three-turn will be extremely difficult.
There are three phases when learning new skills; introductory (skill is just introduced to the skater), developmental (skill is getting better and stronger), and mastery (skater can perform skill 8 to 10 times). Evaluations to move up to the next level should be done when skills are mastery. A evaluation should never be scary or frightening. This is an opportunity for skaters to show off their newly acquired skills they have learned in class. If a skater is not ready to be evaluated their test is postponed until them and their coach are more feel more confident in their abilities.
Other ways to enhance a skater's skills are to attend public skating sessions or open practice sessions, practice the skills off-ice or ask an instructor for a supplemental 15-20 minute private lesson to help the skater. A good rule of thumb for private lessons is a three to one ratio; for every lesson, practice three times. However, make sure the skater knows what they are striving toward so that this is considered deliberate practice and not creating bad habits by making the same mistakes over and over.
Both the skater and their instructor can turn a "needs improvement" into a positive experience by allowing the skater to know what exactly the skater can do for next evaluation time. Remind your skater to be proud of themselves for giving a solid effort. Victory is sweeter when you worked hard to achieve it.
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In Skating This Month
Ilia Malini lands quad axel at Skate America, and at 17 yeas old, becomes youngest men's champion in the event's history. He opened his free skate program by landing the hardest of his 6 quad jumps - a 4 1/2 revolution axel with a forward takeoff. The other 5 quad jumps are 4 revolutions, making them 1/2 rotation fewer than the axel, and have backward takeoffs. Last month he was the first skater to land a quad axel in a competition. Malini told NBC Sports, "This morning, I wasn't really sure if I would attempt it or not. It came over my head. Everyone's watching. I have to go for this. I went for it, and I just landed it, and I was in shock. I mean, the whole building was screaming for at least a couple of seconds after that. I didn't even hear the music after that. I didn't even know the music was still playing."
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Quote
"Failure is inevitable - and it's the people that keep trying who become successful."
- Marai Nagasu
(bronze medalist for Team USA in 2018)
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