Skating Costs

Yesterday I picked up my car from the shop and Charlie, the desk clerk said, "You dive  a lot? Cause most people only put 12 thousand miles a year on their car, and you put twenty-five."

Stupid figure skating addiction.

Eighteen dollars an hour for freestyle.

Twenty-five dollars a lesson.

USFSA membership.

$7 per public session.

Lake Placid....$275 for ice time..$50 for registration....$100 gas money....$350 for a place to stay.....$$$$$ for lessons.....$$$ tchotchkes.

The  fantasy that someday I can do this.

Priceless.

Lake Placid Adult Skate Camp Part III--Facilities (updated_2017)

All Lake Placid Posts here including latest reviews.

UPDATED 2017

The Rinks: There are two rinks usually used for the adult classes: The USA rink and the 1980 rink. The dressing room is between the two rinks. When you sign up for the program, make sure you get a locker. It's only $10 and really saves you a lot of effort hauling your skates around. The Locker Rooms seemed to be reserved for adults. The only time I saw a kid skater in there was when one came in to sit with her mother who was an adult skater.

The Ice: IN 2017, THE ICE WAS SUPERB.

The Miracle on Ice: It's all over the place. There's even a museum in the facility. If you like hockey history, you'll enjoy it.

Other People at the facility: Adult Skate Camp is just one of several activities taking place at the facility. The following is historical {There's a kids skating camp going on at the same time. In 2008 there was also a hockey camp going on,  There are also tourists and tour guides going through.} Due to early school start dates in  ~2014, there's fewer teenage and kid skaters or synchro teams. In 2016 I didn't see any hockey or synchro camps, and very, very few kids. When you show up, what you see is what you get. In 2016, there were plenty of hours to skate.

Off-Ice Facilities:  They offer a lot of off-ice classes. Most of the attendees were from the kids classes, but adults still show up, but in limited numbers. There's Pilates and Yoga and other skating focused classes. For most of these off-ice classes all that's needed is a big open room. If there are weight lifting facilities, I don't know about them. There's also an outdoor trampoline for jump training. You won't know what they're offering until you get there. Look around and sample to see what you like.

Overall:  It's a big commercial facility with lots of hallway and stairs, expect to get lost several times your first day there. Although there are elevators, you'll find it faster to go up and down the stairs. I recommend leaving your skates in your locker. I didn't know about the lockers the first time, and I exhausted myself hauling my skates around.

Skate Bags:  I flew in, so I didn't bring my Zuca. I don't remember seeing any adults with Zucas because of the lockers. In fact if you keep your stuff in a locker, a Zuca is just another thing to worry about. I kept my stuff in a locker, and sometimes carried a small bag   around with me to hold phone, tickets, schedule, a book etc.  I also kept my credit card case with me at all times in a zipped pocket in my jacket even while skating. I think I'm the only one who did that.

Pro shop:  There's a skating shop across the street from the rinks. It has a stock of stuff you might need (soakers, guards, tights etc) at very reasonable prices.
There's a gift shop that offers jackets etc. It doesn't carry skating gear.
I don't know the status of the skate sharpener.  There used to be one, but I always have my blades touched up a couple of weeks before I go, so I've never needed to look him up.

What to do, other than skate: Shop. Lots of good shops. There's a boat tour of the lake. Eat. Fall exhausted into bed at the end of the day.

Lake Placid Adult Skate Camp Part II: Getting Started (edited 2017)

All Lake Placid Posts here. including more recent reviews.

UPDATED 2017

Reception:  There's a reception at the Olympic Skating Center the evening before the Monday start. It starts at 7pm. You'll get a reception packet, an ID, and a schedule. When I went there previously, the website just had an outline of the group class themes they thought they'd offer. The schedule is the first time you will actually see the classes to be offered.   Sometimes, various resident coaches will be there. The Protopopov's will be introduced. Non-resident coaches may be introduced too. The last time I went, there has been a skating session after the reception, and a group class. The last couple of years the schedule has been delivered as a PDF. If you don't see it in your email, check your junk folder. Mine went there one year.

The schedule: My procedure is to go through the schedule as soon as it's in my hot little hands. I circle all the group classes I think I'll attend so I can set up my private lessons around them. Then I start tracking down coaches. I have a couple I like, and if they're there I try and set up my schedules with them at the reception. If it's a resident coach you can email them if their address is on the website. The schedule will vary between weeks. One time I went, there were a lot of dance classes, the next time there were hardly any.  To schedule lessons, you'll need to have the ice time schedule (for the 3 rinks) and the group class schedule, in order to schedule your lessons with the coach. It's a little like juggling with chainsaws.

Paying for lessons:  Group lessons all cost the same ($13). Private lessons are different. You buy tickets at the box office. (If there's a class on the evening of the reception, you'll need to buy a group ticket the next day and find the coach.)    If you're buying a ticket for a private lesson you'll need to tell the clerk in the box office the coach's name. I like to buy a couple of days worth of tickets at a time for group sessions, and all the private lesson tickets for the week all at once. They do have occasional group class changes so you don't want to get stuck with an extra group class ticket (you can get a refund, but it's a hassle). If you have an extra ticket, you can give it to someone. It's not tied to you. In fact, treat them like money.

Private lessons: How do you pick a coach for a private lesson? Well, I found the website listing of coaches helpful the first year, and I coincidentally knew one of the non-resident coaches so it wasn't difficult for me. You can also try a private lesson with one of the group coaches, if you like their style.  If it doesn't work out, it's just 30 minutes of your life. [For example, I set up two lessons with a non-resident dance coach that I was willing to give him the ticket for the second lesson just to get rid of him, but we came to an agreement about the lesson. Still, it was a relief that it was only two short lessons. ] I suggest trying to line up private lessons early, they fill up. (If you want to skate with the Protopopovs they charge double, as it's two coaches at once.  I didn't see the Protopopovs in 2016.)

Exhaustion:  Don't over extend yourself when you're setting up your schedule. The last time I went, I skated five hours a day, plus two hours walking back and forth to the rinks. I didn't have any problems, but I want to warn everyone not to overextend themselves. At another skate camp I attended, people did overextend themselves, resulting in 3 people in one day (Wednesday) stepping on the ice with their guards on. Head cracks all around. You've been warned.

Food:  There's many expensive restaurants in the town. The rink also has a small snack bar, with soups and stuff, so it's not crap rink food. If you want to go to a grocery store, you'll need a car unless you're super tough. I hiked it one day, the nearest grocery store is several miles away (uphill going back to town, with the groceries).Now I rent a car. I'm saving my legs for the ice.

Tomorrow will be Part III--The facilities.