How long will it take to get into group class with my own age?

Question

I'm 13. I've been skating since I was 3, but just started lessons like 2 months ago. I just finished Beta yesterday. I'm the only one to move on the Gamma, but I feel like the 6-year-olds in my class are better than me! I'm also starting private lessons in two weeks. How long do you think it will take for me to advance so I'm in a class with kids my own age?

Answer 1

You're in Gamma after TWO MONTHS? WOOOW. In just a year you'll be doing some pretty neat stuff!

Answer 2

Haha, once you get to a certain level you don't take group lessons anymore.

You just take private lessons. I say once you start with your private coach quit group lessons because your going to progress alot faster and soon you will be to good for group lesson's anyway.  

Answer 3

Does your program have an adult class?  Maybe ask to skate with them.  I started formal lessons as 12 and didn't want to skate with the "little kids" either, so I skated with the adult class.  I liked that a lot better than feeling like I had to constantly out-do the kids in my class because I was older.  

If that isn't a possibility, I'm sure your private lessons will help a lot.  Since it's just you in the lesson, you get to spend time on what you have trouble with and spend less time on what you're good at....your progress dictates the lesson, helping you improve at a faster pace.  I'd still continue with the group lessons because they're a great supplement to private lessons.  Sometimes it's very helpful to hear different coaches explain things in their own way.  Maybe you will even be able to test out of levels rather than spending the full number of weeks in each.

Practice hard, get into the private lessons and I think you will quickly reach the other skaters of your age.