Learn to Skate Newsletter October 2021
Spooky season is here and there is lots going on this month! We have updated session dates below, some great info for parents, and some new students who passed their tests. We also have some news to share with you all. Read on to find out more!
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Test Corner
The following skaters have passed their tests in the passed two months. Congratulations to you all. We are all so proud of you. Keep skating to great!
Not Pictured:
Kristina Breaux - Basic 4
Carter Zimmerman - Basic 1
Clair Twidwell - Basic 1
Itahisa Gonzales - Basic 1
Mallory Burlew - Basic 1
Connor Heath - Basic 2
Pictured (from left to right):
Madeline Marsh - Basic 3
Eleanora Cariker - Basic 2
Evalyn Mason - Basic 2
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News
GroupMe and Fit by Wix
Starting October 1 the club will not use GroupMe anymore. This will be the last notice. All notices and urgent updates concerning the club or rink will be posted in the Fit app from then on. Any questions from skaters/parents that would be proposed through the app will now need to go through Fit by Wix if you wish to have a response. The Fit app can be found in the App Store for android and apple phones.
Christmas Show
Christmas Show preparations begin this month! Decoration Day is Oct. 16 starting at 11 am and will be held at Coach Pam's house ( 2110 Coteau Rd, New Iberia, La 70560). Group Practices begin Oct. 23, 9-10 am. From now on we will be posting Show updates in the Christmas Show Group on the Fit app. If you are not in that Group yet, please let us know so that you can be added. This will be how you receive up-to-date information concerning the Show.
Updated Session Dates
Due to the weather we have been having the end dates for the fall session have changed slightly. The new end date for Mondays is 10/25, and for Saturdays is 10/16. Once the Fall session is over, we will release the dates of the Spring session. If you have any questions concerning Learn to Skate, or any of the above topics, please message us on the Fit app, email us, or speak with us in person at the rink.
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In Skating This Month
The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is going to be held in Gdansk Poland from Sept 30th - October 2nd. There will be twelve US athletes competing this weekend.
This will be the 24th season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series. This competition consists of seven international events. Each athlete is eligible to score points in two of the seven scheduled events (pairs can compete in two of four designated events). Depending on the develoments during the JGP Series, the ISU Council will evaluate if and how the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2021 (schedule for Dec 9-12, in the Osaka, Japan) could be held by applying alternative qualification criteria. The ISU will stream all events on its YouTube page.
Below is a list of skaters competing this weekend.
Athelete(s) - Hometown(s) - Training Town
Women
Mia Kalin - Oakland, CA - Oakland, CA
Clare Seo - Colorado Springs, CO - Colorado Springs, CO
Men
Will Annis - Duxbury, MA - Norwood, MA
Jacob Sanchez - Montgomery, NY - Newburgh, NY
Pairs
Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard - Lake Barrington, IL; McHenry, IL - Geneva, IL
Anastasiia Smirnova and Danil Siianytsia - Shakopee, MN - Bloomington, MN
Ice Dance
Isabella Flores and Dimitry Tsarevski - Colorado Springs, CO; Lakewood, CO - Colorado Springs, CO
Leah Neset and Artem Markelov - Minot, ND; Volzhsky, Russia - Colorado Springs, CO
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Parent Connection
Did you know that US Figure Skating (USFS) has a parents education page for Learn to Skate parents? Check it out here where you will login using your skaters member number. On the upper left hand side, you'll find a tab. Click on the 3 lines and scroll down to Resources and find the Skater/Parents Resource tab. There, you'll be able to find great, helpful information to help your skater succeed.
The learn to Skate classes follow the USFS format and work to progress your skater as they learn now skating skills using the Learn to Skate Format.
US Figure Skating Levels
When a skater has decided this is something they love and want to pursue it further, the next step is taking official USFS tests. Your coach will recommend when to begin preparing for tests. There are eight different levels with each level consisting of a "moves in the field" test and a "free skate test":
Pre-Preliminary
Preliminary
Pre-Juvenile
Juvenile
Intermediate
Novice
Junior
Senior
There is a separate Adult Track, which is Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. After and Adult has passed their Gold test, they would proceed to take the Intermediate test if they choose to continue. See the Test Structure page for more information explaining the test and competitive levels.
Test reward the skater for their hard work and prepare them for the next level as each skill and element will be built upon with a harder degree of difficulty in the next level. Tests also determine which competition level your skater is at if they are interested in competing.
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Quotes
"There are no limits to what you can achieve. Dream Big, aim high and never give up."
-- Kaetlyn Osmond
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