Today I witnessed an interesting crash between two skaters.
Visualize this: A skater is working on her double lutz. She is 'in lesson' with her coach watching from the boards. Let's call her LutzGirl. There's another skater, also in lesson, at the same end of the rink. Let's call her BackwardSkater.
LutzGirl is doing an approach to the lutz circle. She raises her pick-in leg and then BackwardSkater skates behind her, through the lutz circle.
LutzGirl's free skate rams BackwardSkater in the stomach (edit) with her skate. LutzGirl falls forward onto her knees, lets out a small scream of pain and rolls in agony onto her side. BackwardSkater is bent over moaning.
Who's at fault?
Here are some thoughts:
LutzGirl had the right of way to the lutz circle, but shouldn't her coach have been watching the area around her?
BackwardSkater did not have the right of way, but LutzGirl would do a lutz then skate to the boards and confer with her coach. So the lutz circle would be open for say 5 minutes at a time, then LutzGirl would abruptly keave the boards and do a lutz approach.
However, LutzGirl had been doing lutz approaches off and on for 15 minutes.
Neither coach called out a warning.
Again, who's at fault?
(FYI; Both skater's recovered and finished freestyle)
Showing posts with label etiquette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label etiquette. Show all posts
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Wear The Vest Willya!.2
So my skating club sent out a notice with rules about wearing a vest and signing up in order to get your music played.
This is a delightful change of pace from all the rinks around here. Sometime last year vests disappeared from all the rinks I skate at, even the ones that had enforced their use. As I've said before, being a visitor to a freestyle requires both psychic powers and the observational skills of Sherlock Holmes.
When I visit a rink, I like to see this.
So, after the big announcement about vest wear, I showed up for freestyle at my rink. And yes, you know what happened.
Our poor club president. She's fighting an uphill battle on the vest thing.
We're polite too. No matter what happens.
This is a delightful change of pace from all the rinks around here. Sometime last year vests disappeared from all the rinks I skate at, even the ones that had enforced their use. As I've said before, being a visitor to a freestyle requires both psychic powers and the observational skills of Sherlock Holmes.
When I visit a rink, I like to see this.
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| "I'm ready for my music, Coach!" |
 |
| Find the one in program |
 |
| There, there. Sympathy shoulder hug. |
On the good side, between the club president and our lovely skating director, on ice etiquette is so well enforced I've never seen an accident.
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| We watch out for other skaters |
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| We know the rules for right of way |
Saturday, June 29, 2013
So, You're in LTS and You Want to Skate a Freestyle Session
So, you're in Learn to Skate and you want to practice your new skills, but you find public ice just too crowded. You've heard of this mysterious thing called 'freestyle' ice, where there's only a handful of skaters on it. So you check the schedule, you pay the fee and you get on Freestyle Ice.
Sadly for you, you've just violated one of the sacred rules of figure skating. As a skater for you to get on Freestyle Ice one of 4 things needs to happen:
1. You have passed Basic 8 (or Delta in ISI)
2. If you have not passed Basic 8 or Delta, you are in lesson with a coach
3. A coach (probably the skating director) has approved you to skate on freestyle sessions even though you're in LTS (I don't know how rare this is, but it doesn't seem to be frequent)
4. In some rinks (apparently training rinks) you have to get the skating director's approval to go on freestyle
The skaters on a freestyle session are relying on all the other skaters to know freestyle etiquette, be able to skate and observe the other skaters, and be able to avoid other skaters. If you don't have good heads-up skills and good stopping skills, you can irritate the heck out of the other skaters and maybe be a safety hazard.
If you are in LTS and you don't understand the problem list below, that's an indicator you shouldn't be on freestyle.
1. You don't yield properly to skaters in program or lessons
2. You hang around harness alley
3. You hog the lutz circle.
4. You can't stop quickly enough
5. You don't have a sense of where the other skaters are headed and you get in their way
I've never seen a figure skater kicked off a freestyle session for not being qualified, though I suppose it does happen. Coaches will not talk to you in case you are another coach's student, so don't look for any help there. Initially people will be polite and avoid you, but eventually they'll get frustrated with you in the way. What may happen is some of the other skaters will find you an irritant and may do, shall we say, ice bullying to get you off. They may skate really close to you, they may spin in your path, they may jump close to you, or try other ways to physically intimidate you to get you to leave.
This is not bullying of one freestyle skater by another (bad enough in itself) but bullying of someone who doesn't know the rules, and doesn't belong on the session. It's their only way of letting you know you don't belong. Because:
"The skaters on a freestyle session are relying on all the other skaters to know freestyle etiquette, be able to skate and observe the other skaters, and be able to avoid other skaters. " You are a danger to them, and their polite actions to avoid you means they waste precious training time, so eventually they get more forceful.
So you're frustrated with the ice tourists getting in your way? Multiply that by 10 and you have the frustration of a freestyle skater avoiding your LTS self.
Yeah, frustrating, but you'll have to keep practicing on public for a while longer.
And before you cry 'It's unfair!', there are certain sessions I avoid because they have a higher proportion of high level skaters. So, even in freestyle, there's divisions.
 |
| Oops! Maybe you shouldn't be there. |
1. You have passed Basic 8 (or Delta in ISI)
2. If you have not passed Basic 8 or Delta, you are in lesson with a coach
3. A coach (probably the skating director) has approved you to skate on freestyle sessions even though you're in LTS (I don't know how rare this is, but it doesn't seem to be frequent)
4. In some rinks (apparently training rinks) you have to get the skating director's approval to go on freestyle
The skaters on a freestyle session are relying on all the other skaters to know freestyle etiquette, be able to skate and observe the other skaters, and be able to avoid other skaters. If you don't have good heads-up skills and good stopping skills, you can irritate the heck out of the other skaters and maybe be a safety hazard.
If you are in LTS and you don't understand the problem list below, that's an indicator you shouldn't be on freestyle.
1. You don't yield properly to skaters in program or lessons
2. You hang around harness alley
3. You hog the lutz circle.
4. You can't stop quickly enough
5. You don't have a sense of where the other skaters are headed and you get in their way
I've never seen a figure skater kicked off a freestyle session for not being qualified, though I suppose it does happen. Coaches will not talk to you in case you are another coach's student, so don't look for any help there. Initially people will be polite and avoid you, but eventually they'll get frustrated with you in the way. What may happen is some of the other skaters will find you an irritant and may do, shall we say, ice bullying to get you off. They may skate really close to you, they may spin in your path, they may jump close to you, or try other ways to physically intimidate you to get you to leave.
 |
| If you can't play by the freestyle rules, they want you gone |
"The skaters on a freestyle session are relying on all the other skaters to know freestyle etiquette, be able to skate and observe the other skaters, and be able to avoid other skaters. " You are a danger to them, and their polite actions to avoid you means they waste precious training time, so eventually they get more forceful.
So you're frustrated with the ice tourists getting in your way? Multiply that by 10 and you have the frustration of a freestyle skater avoiding your LTS self.
Yeah, frustrating, but you'll have to keep practicing on public for a while longer.
And before you cry 'It's unfair!', there are certain sessions I avoid because they have a higher proportion of high level skaters. So, even in freestyle, there's divisions.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
First Time on Freestyle?
One day you'll pass all your group lessons, or maybe your coach will say, "I think you're ready for freestyle."
Serious stuff up front:
If you are on freestyle for the first time and don't know the rules, it would be polite to skate around the perimeter until you figure them out. Different rinks have different rules. Your coach should give you a quick run down. There's lutz corners and harness alley, and so on. I'm not going to summarize them here 'cause every rink is different.
Freestyles are usually assigned a specific time period. Freestyles are not like public, you don't play a flat fee for the hours you skate. You pay in chunks of time. Each rink is different. I've seen by the 1 hour, 45 minutes, and by 15 minutes. You pay for your chunk of time, and if you get off early, you don't get your money back Some rinks allow 'bridging'. With that, effectively you can get on the ice at any time and skate until your time is up. .
And now for fun....
Sign in with the ice monitor
On some rinks you'll see pairs or ice dancers working on new lifts.
Or maybe you'll be lucky to have an elite skater zip right past you and you'll feel the wind brush your face.
There will be people doing things through the center of the rink. These people are probably practicing a program, or working on Moves Tests. At first you'll feel like a cat with a rubik's cube, but after a few weeks you'll learn to recognize what they're doing and where they're heading. They have the right of way (generally).
I hope you enjoy your first time on freestyle. After you get off, there's just one thing to do.....
Serious stuff up front:
If you are on freestyle for the first time and don't know the rules, it would be polite to skate around the perimeter until you figure them out. Different rinks have different rules. Your coach should give you a quick run down. There's lutz corners and harness alley, and so on. I'm not going to summarize them here 'cause every rink is different.
Freestyles are usually assigned a specific time period. Freestyles are not like public, you don't play a flat fee for the hours you skate. You pay in chunks of time. Each rink is different. I've seen by the 1 hour, 45 minutes, and by 15 minutes. You pay for your chunk of time, and if you get off early, you don't get your money back Some rinks allow 'bridging'. With that, effectively you can get on the ice at any time and skate until your time is up. .
Just like taking lessons on public, don't interrupt someone in lesson.
And now for fun....
Sign in with the ice monitor
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| Know the rules for paying the ice monitor. Some rinks, you pay the monitor, others the desk. If you're paying cash, it's nice to have exact change. First time freestyle? May be too early to buy a bunch of tickets for the discount |
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| You'll be tempted to 'dress up'. It's not necessary. Dress how you're comfortable. |
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| Assuming you're there for a lesson, say 'hi' to your coach, but don't interrupt a lesson. Catch their eye, and wave to let her/him know you're there is all that's needed. Skate around and warm up. If you haven't passed Basic Skills you may only be allowed on ice with your coach. Ask. |
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| There will probably be overdressed little girls. |
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| And some scary teenagers who resent you on 'their' ice. But mostly people will be there to skate, not judge you |
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| You'll feel enormous next to the other skaters Don't worry, that will fade |
On some rinks you'll see pairs or ice dancers working on new lifts.
Or maybe you'll be lucky to have an elite skater zip right past you and you'll feel the wind brush your face.
 |
| Wow, who was THAT! |
There will be people doing things through the center of the rink. These people are probably practicing a program, or working on Moves Tests. At first you'll feel like a cat with a rubik's cube, but after a few weeks you'll learn to recognize what they're doing and where they're heading. They have the right of way (generally).
 |
| Don't worry, you'll learn what the Moves Patterns look like and who has the right of way |
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| Say hello to Mr. Nap! |
Monday, October 22, 2012
Skating Etiquette for the Complete Beginner
How to Behave on Public Ice
First Rule Of All: Don't hang around in one place. This is called camping out, or hogging the circle. Yeah, this means you, you hockey adult learner practicing your back and forward crossovers on a hockey circle for 30 minutes.
Let me explain, just because your coach teaches you on a hockey circle there's no reason that you have to spend your entire practice time on one. Try alternating back and forward crossovers down the rink. That get's you moving. I can assure you, that once you pass the pre-Bronze adult test you will never skate crossovers in a circle again. Get your butt moving. That's how you'll learn to skate.
Second Rule of All: Don't hog a spot on the boards. Need some support on the boards for a new element? Sweetie, you don't own the boards. Move after you've done a few. And when you move check traffic by looking both ways!
Third Rule of All: Yes, even as a beginner you can skate in the center. But the law of survival demands you keep your eyes open when you do this. There will be people jumping into the center and wanting to spin there. Be respectful of the other skaters--go to the center to work, not to chat. Don't hog the line, the circle or the center. Leave that up to the teenagers. If you're a regular, or you look like you have power/skills/or are a serious skater, they'll generally give you room (but when you get to that point, you won't need this post. Just relax, that day will come when the teenagers will give you space.)
Fourth Rule of All: Don't swear in an ice rink. You can't say the D word, or the F word, or the S word around kids. It doesn't matter that the kid's parents are slack jawed yokels that can't string a sentence together without using the F word as a non-specific intensifier, you're not supposed to swear.
Seventh Rule of All: Even if all you can do is skate and stop, you're in the top 50% of all the skaters on public. It's your job to look out for them. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't skate backwards unless you can look behind you, or have a spotter. When entering traffic, look both ways. Don't stare at the ice while you're skating, look ahead at the other skaters, so you can avoid them. It's a lot like driving. Drive Defensively. Skate Defensively.
Eighth Rule of All: Well, this isn't so much a rule, as a suggestion. If you're a regular at a rink, learn the rink guard's and desk staff's names. Be nice to them.
Public skate is for the public. Just about the only enforced rule is to follow the direction of traffic. For all the rest you're on your own!
First Rule Of All: Don't hang around in one place. This is called camping out, or hogging the circle. Yeah, this means you, you hockey adult learner practicing your back and forward crossovers on a hockey circle for 30 minutes.
Let me explain, just because your coach teaches you on a hockey circle there's no reason that you have to spend your entire practice time on one. Try alternating back and forward crossovers down the rink. That get's you moving. I can assure you, that once you pass the pre-Bronze adult test you will never skate crossovers in a circle again. Get your butt moving. That's how you'll learn to skate.
Second Rule of All: Don't hog a spot on the boards. Need some support on the boards for a new element? Sweetie, you don't own the boards. Move after you've done a few. And when you move check traffic by looking both ways!
Third Rule of All: Yes, even as a beginner you can skate in the center. But the law of survival demands you keep your eyes open when you do this. There will be people jumping into the center and wanting to spin there. Be respectful of the other skaters--go to the center to work, not to chat. Don't hog the line, the circle or the center. Leave that up to the teenagers. If you're a regular, or you look like you have power/skills/or are a serious skater, they'll generally give you room (but when you get to that point, you won't need this post. Just relax, that day will come when the teenagers will give you space.)
Fourth Rule of All: Don't swear in an ice rink. You can't say the D word, or the F word, or the S word around kids. It doesn't matter that the kid's parents are slack jawed yokels that can't string a sentence together without using the F word as a non-specific intensifier, you're not supposed to swear.
Corollary: If the F word slips out after a crash, no one will notice because the music is so loud. Your coach will look shocked though.Fifth Rule of All: Don't skate drunk. Yep, I've seen it. One woman was doing drunk baby toe loops during a holiday skate, then she came over and clutched at Dance Coach while babbling about not being drunk. "Old girlfriend?" I asked drily after she skated away. He shuddered, "Never saw her before."
Corrollary: If you say "I'm not drunk," you are. And the good looking coach is not your old boy friend.Sixth Rule of All: Enjoy your skate. It's easy to become obsessed or frustrated with some element, or lack of progress. Take some time off and do stuff you like. If you're reading this blog, you're not going to the Olympics, you're skating for fun. Have some.
Seventh Rule of All: Even if all you can do is skate and stop, you're in the top 50% of all the skaters on public. It's your job to look out for them. Be aware of your surroundings. Don't skate backwards unless you can look behind you, or have a spotter. When entering traffic, look both ways. Don't stare at the ice while you're skating, look ahead at the other skaters, so you can avoid them. It's a lot like driving. Drive Defensively. Skate Defensively.
Eighth Rule of All: Well, this isn't so much a rule, as a suggestion. If you're a regular at a rink, learn the rink guard's and desk staff's names. Be nice to them.
Public skate is for the public. Just about the only enforced rule is to follow the direction of traffic. For all the rest you're on your own!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
The Little Old Lady Way--On Ice
About the time I passed 60, I started calling everyone 'hon', 'dear', or 'sweetie'. It's like an announcement was made in my head:
"You are an old lady now. Have Fun with It."
It's wonderful being 'aged'.
Today, a boy skater (16), I'll call 'Youngling', came up to me and Miss Cheerleader. He was today's rink guard; the three of us all take from Dance Coach. "Does my hair look okay?" he asked us. It stuck out everywhere. What do I know? Is that popular now? I looked at him critically, "Youngling, I'm old enough to be your grandmother, You.Look.Adorable." Miss Cheerleader hooted, as we both know how sulky teenage boys can be when you say stuff like that. I expected an eye-roll. But Youngling just grinned. You see, when you're a Little Old Lady, they don't mind.
When I got on the ice, Dance Coach was his usual, "Move faster. Push Harder. More Extension!"
I was pushing, moving, extending past ice tourists -- technically within inches of people as I'm faster than all but the annoying wannabe hockey boys-- I was all "Sorry hon." or "Sweetie, you're fine." or "Did I scare you dear?"
This drives Dance Coach Batty!
"When did you get so chatty....and nice? You used to be loud and 'everybody move out of my way, now!' You're not the same person."
Well, of course my skills have become 100X better. I'm not afraid of falling and breaking something as I was when I was fresh out of broken ankle recovery, and I'm about 50 times more confident than two years ago. I no longer flinch when I pass close to someone.
Thanks to Dance Coach, Cruella, Amazing and Moves Coach for building my skills. I'm not a hopeless case after all.
Just one thing's missing.
I'd.Kill.To.Have.The.Knees.I.Had.When.I.Was.14.
Other than that, being 60 is a lot of fun!
"You are an old lady now. Have Fun with It."
It's wonderful being 'aged'.
Today, a boy skater (16), I'll call 'Youngling', came up to me and Miss Cheerleader. He was today's rink guard; the three of us all take from Dance Coach. "Does my hair look okay?" he asked us. It stuck out everywhere. What do I know? Is that popular now? I looked at him critically, "Youngling, I'm old enough to be your grandmother, You.Look.Adorable." Miss Cheerleader hooted, as we both know how sulky teenage boys can be when you say stuff like that. I expected an eye-roll. But Youngling just grinned. You see, when you're a Little Old Lady, they don't mind.
When I got on the ice, Dance Coach was his usual, "Move faster. Push Harder. More Extension!"
 |
| I should just record Dance Coach for motivation Move Faster! More Extension! Push Harder! |
This drives Dance Coach Batty!
"When did you get so chatty....and nice? You used to be loud and 'everybody move out of my way, now!' You're not the same person."
 | |||
| Old Me "Get off my ice! You crazy kids!" |
 |
| New Me: "Dahlink, you are zo Vunderful" |
Well, of course my skills have become 100X better. I'm not afraid of falling and breaking something as I was when I was fresh out of broken ankle recovery, and I'm about 50 times more confident than two years ago. I no longer flinch when I pass close to someone.
Thanks to Dance Coach, Cruella, Amazing and Moves Coach for building my skills. I'm not a hopeless case after all.
Just one thing's missing.
I'd.Kill.To.Have.The.Knees.I.Had.When.I.Was.14.
 |
| So true, so true. |
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Chatty Cathy
As a child I craved a Chatty Cathy doll. If you haven't heard of one of these, they were early talking dolls. Pull a ring on her back and it would repeat one of 11 recorded phrases.
Unfortunately, some of the adults who talk to me at the rink are just like her--but they won't shut up.
I'm there to practice, and I'm willing to stroke around a couple of times to catch up, but last week a woman I barely know verbally clung to me for a quarter of an hour talking about her party plans. I actually had to leave the ice and go home to get rid of her
I even had an 8 year old stalker once. She trailed me around the rink for a half hour saying, "See my spin!", "See my spiral!" "See my other spin! Is that a back spin?"
See my yawn.
Kids are easy to get rid of. Keep moving and don't make eye contact, or say "Your mom is here for you."
Adults are a little trickier. I usually use, "Well, I won't keep you from practice." and skate away.
But there's a lesson here. I never talk to a person more than two trips around the rink, then I use my 'I'll let you practice' line.
Some people are there to socialize, some to skate. Make sure you know which one you're talking too.
Unfortunately, some of the adults who talk to me at the rink are just like her--but they won't shut up.
I'm there to practice, and I'm willing to stroke around a couple of times to catch up, but last week a woman I barely know verbally clung to me for a quarter of an hour talking about her party plans. I actually had to leave the ice and go home to get rid of her
 |
| Yes, please tell me more about the cake for a party I'm not invited to |
I even had an 8 year old stalker once. She trailed me around the rink for a half hour saying, "See my spin!", "See my spiral!" "See my other spin! Is that a back spin?"
See my yawn.
Kids are easy to get rid of. Keep moving and don't make eye contact, or say "Your mom is here for you."
Adults are a little trickier. I usually use, "Well, I won't keep you from practice." and skate away.
But there's a lesson here. I never talk to a person more than two trips around the rink, then I use my 'I'll let you practice' line.
Some people are there to socialize, some to skate. Make sure you know which one you're talking too.
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