Freestyle sessions?

Question

My younger sister (who is 12) has been skating for a couple of years, but our mom just won't let her go to the freestyle sessions.

One (the main reason), because she thinks its not worth the money. Two, because they are usually in the mornings, and she thinks its too early.

My sister really wants to go in the morning so she will have time in the day to do projects, homework... rather than going to public sessions, which are usually crowded, in the afternoon or evening. She's not going to the freestyle sessions a lot, maybe just 1 or 2 times a week.

are morning freestyle sessions worth the money (which is like $9 here)?

how to persuade our mom?

Answer 1

Your mom probably thinks it's not worth the money because for $9 your sister would only skate less than an hour on a freestyle session.  More money for less time on the ice compared to public sessions - is what she may be thinking.  Or maybe it's just too early for her . . . remember your sister gets to skate but mom has to wait and hang out.  

Freestyle sessions would definitely be worth it if your sister would get in better practice.  Freestyle sessions are for those who can move around well on the ice (usually the rink require you to be at a certain level).  It is a practice session for skaters - whether they're taking a lesson, practicing jumps and spins, or doing a program . . . without the restrictions they have for public sessions, and with different rules.

The time is less than a public session, but your sister would get solid, quality practice time.  She wouldn't have to deal with:

*Crowded public sessions where she'd have to waste time waiting for skaters to move who don't know what they're doing (and most rinks don't allow jumps and spins anyway on public sessions).  Public sessions are for public skaters.  It's really not supposed to accomodate advanced skaters.    

*Socializing.  Since much of the time she can't really practice well, there's a tendency to socialize more - and take breaks.   With expensive freestyle sessions, skaters know it's not a social hour and try to make the most out of that session (it's sort of a competitive air . . . makes you want to practice harder).

Your sister can tell your mom . . .

*She can't practice well on public sessions.  Public skaters who have no control get in her way . . . and technically she's not supposed to do "tricks" on public sessions - especially if it's crowded.  She can't skate in full force.  

*9 bucks for 45 mins of solid, quality practice time is worth more than a 2-3 hour crazy session that's a couple bucks less . . . where most of the time is spent trying to find any room to skate and avoiding collisions with public skaters.    

*There's no way she can practice a program on a crowded public session.      

*Like you said, it'd be better time management . . . get skating in in the mornings, and have the whole afternoon/evening to devote to SCHOOL instead of wasting a couple hours putzing around on crowded public sessions.  

I would tell your side of things to your mom in a nice tone . . . but also show her how she would benefit from your sister skating the mornings too like:  

*Your mom won't have to do afternoon drop offs and pick ups to the rink - her day mid/late day would be freed up too.  

*She can meet other moms of serious skaters (and they might convince her too that freestyle sessions are better for practice than public)

If all else fails, maybe your sister can talk to your coach about how much trouble she is having practicing on public ice.  Then maybe the coach can try to talk to your mom about it.  

But . . . your sister might want to check out or ask others about the FS time she wishes to skate before trying to persuade your mom.  Sometimes those morning FS's can be crowded too - especially the session just before school time - so would that be comfortable for your sister to make it worth it to her.   But, at least she'd be skating in a session where everyone can watch out for themselves - and she'd be allowed to do everything - and go as fast as she needs to.

Answer 2

I would suggest letting your mom know how much better the ice is at the freestyle sessions and talking to her about how important it is to her to let her go to the freestyle sessions instead of the public sessions. The freestyle sessions are typically what I skate for practice and for my lessons because the ice is awful during public sessions and hard to practice anything during.