Figure Skating 101

 Figure Skating Basics

By: Julia Serra 

Figure skating is different from most other sports. One way is that it is an all year sport. Meaning most ice rinks go by two ice contracts. We have the summer contract which goes from June through late August. And fall, winter, and spring contract which runs September through June. In between each contract there is a week of drop in ice. Occasionally the rinks will have hockey tournaments over the weekends. So, that means there is no ice available. During these times you would usually take a long weekend. Or if you have a competition or tests coming up you can usually find ice at another rink. Each session is normally 50 minutes long. So, if a session beginnings at 4:45 it will go until 5:35. If you contract to skate Monday-Friday the 2:45 and 3:45 sessions those are you will skate every day. Or you have to buy drop in passes. 

In order to be a member of the most skating academies you must contract at least one session per week. If you do not contract at least one session you cannot be part of the spring ice show. The ice at The Onyx or also known as Suburban Ice Rochester runs 25, 30 and 50 minute sessions. The first Senior session starts at 2:15 almost every day for a 30 minute session (some days the schedule is different). Then the 2:45 session is 25 minutes and goes until 3:10, then 3:10-3:35. Next, there is a 10 minute ice cut where they resurface the ice. After that the 3:45, 4:45, and 5:45 are all 50 minute sessions with a ten minute ice cut in between. Senior ice is for juvenile and intermediate IJS novice-senior freeskate only. On these sessions you can work on moves, freestyle and only pre-gold and gold dances. For the general sessions you can be at any level and work on anything.

When you join any skating club you will need a coach. Coaches usually work on one area of elements. So, if you want to get your triple gold (getting to Senior in moves in the field and freeskate and gold dances) you will need more than one coach. If you are a competitive figure skater you could have or have had the following coaches; moves in the field coach, power coach, choreography coach, freestyle coach, spins coach and possibly dance coach. It seems like a lot but when skart skating one of the first things you start working on is moves in the field. Each test takes around a year to complete. So, by the time you are done with moves, freestyle will start to get more competitive. And sometimes people get power coaches after they are done with moves to work on speed and edges. If you are not a competitive figure skater you will most likely never work with a choreograph coach. And other coaches are not necessary, like a spins coach. Your freestyle coach will work on spins with you anyways. 

It does seem a little confusing to any beginner skater. There is a lot going on and happening around you. But figure skating is an awesome sport! 

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