Whens the right time to get a figure skating coach?

Question

i know that there is a lady at a rink nearby who is available for coaching. she left her number at the rink. how can i make her want to coach me?

i can barely skate straight, but i really want to learn! my dorm is really stubborn, they have only taken to me to the rink twice in the last three months. by getting lessons, they'll have to take me on a daily basis, and after the repitition and practice, i should get better.

should i call during the day? at night? should i even call? should i wait and try to learn more?

also... ahem ahem.... im not exactly the most fit person around. i just started going to the gym and i rollerblade everyday. i heard that weight lifting and stationery cycling is good for skaters. should i get fit and then call?

ugh. so many questions. anyways- thanks... i look forward to reading ur answers!

Answer 1

I figure skate. i dont have a coah and never have im self taught. You can get better if you go once or twice a week thats what i do!! try it and after a month or too you will see your imprvements!

Answer 2

Go ahead and call the coach, if you feel like you would like to learn to skate then go ahead and talk to the coach. Most are willing to take on students whether they are decent skaters or not, and they are willing to work with you so that you can become a better skater. Everybody has a different time when they are ready for a coach, you just have to decide when you feel the time is right for you. Just keep working out while skating, it will take time, but you will eventually become much more fit if you put your mind to it. Good luck!

Answer 3

Some get a private coach from the beginning.  Others wait until they are in a comfort zone (and can afford it) before getting a private coach.  Many start off with group classes and eventually get a private coach.    

Are group classes available at your rink?  Besides the fact that it'd be a lot cheaper, it starts from the very beginning basics.  You would also skate with others at your level and age range.  With each level, you deal with different instructors and feel out their teaching styles . . . it's a good way to see which one might suit you as a potential private coach.  

It's ok to call the coach just to ask questions and talk to her about where you're at and what she thinks.  If you can, talk to her in person at the rink when she's on a break.  Otherwise, give her a call as you would any person you're calling for the first time - at a reasonable hour (not early in the morning, not late at night).  

Basically you are the one paying, so as long as she is agreeable to giving you lessons, it's your decision whether you want to be coached by her or not (you are hiring her).  By talking to her, it'd be like an interview (for both of you) . . . does she teach beginner levels, what is her schedule (her's has to fit yours as your dorm probably can only take you at cetain time), how long are the lessons, how much will it cost . . . and possibly if she'd be agreeable to a some trial lessons so you can make a final decision (that way you don't have to feel committed in case you find in the first lesson that this really isn't the coach for you).  

You might also ask her if she is open to giving sporadic lessons - like setting up lessons with you every now and then - whenever you call and set it up with her (only because of your school/dorm schedule).  

That's great you've gotten "active"!  Going back and forth from rollerblade to ice skates might feel strange at first (or maybe not - some do them interchangeably with no problems) and I am thinking "maybe" that is why you had that skate (I think toe tripping) problem when you got on the ice (sorry I didn't answer that question).  Yes, specific weight lifting exercises can help with skating, but isn't necessary at this point.  Stationery cycling (especially resistance exercises) - similar muscles groups to skating.  Anything you do to get your heart rate going is good!!  Remember skating will give you a workout too.    

To wrap this up, if you feel ready for private lessons, then it's your decision.  I think talking to the coach will probably help with your decision as well.  

Best of luck, bumble bee :)  . . . tell the dorms they can just leave you at the rink - hee hee - before you know it, it will be your second home - hee hee!!

Answer 4

as soon as possible. it sounds like a figure skating coach would be able to help you progress so that you can get very better as quickly as possible.

Answer 5

I wouldn't call her just yet unless you are so busy that you ae unable to take lessons during the rink's group classes hours. Dunno, guess my experiences with how "special" figure skating coaches are in Mexico has taught me that unless you're 6 years old and your family is the owner of a multibillion dollar business (or the daughter of a govenor, yes, the daughter of ones of Mexico's govenors figure skates believe it or not); then if you don't fall into the previous category, then either you have to put up with a bad coach but "have a coach" to be with you at competitions or you coach yourself like I do (which in my case isn't too much of a problem since I know so much that there isn't much that they can teach me, I only have a weight lifting coach).

I did see things were a little better in the US, but again I'd look for group classes as a first option if you are a complete beginner. I guess it's probably different in the US, but when I used to be in group classes in two different rinks in Mexico over 5 years ago, the only freestyle classes available at a reasonable hour were with girls over 6 years younger than me and all of them were below my level. While at the time it was okay for me because I was still a teenager and most of the girls were nice people and the level difference wasn't that great, now I'd just be wasting my time and money. Why in the h**l would I waste my time doing Upright spins and Bunny hops when I could be working on stuff that's my level like reverse change of feet on spins and double jumps.

As for going when the dorm wants; part of being a skater is to have the discipline to go to the rink when nobody is asking you permission to go. A lot of skaters go to the rink for an hour at 6 am before school; a lot of them who don't have cars travel by bus or whatever is resonably possible to get to the rink. If the dorm wants to play Xbox or watch Wheel of Fortune, well whatever.

Good for you to do something to lose weight. If there's no other way possible, it would be okay to have a 45-1 hour classes once a week with this lady. If you practise another 2 days on the ice on your own, she will notice you are improving because she isn't seeing you everyday and she will be more impressed. One thing my bitter experience with coaches is that you have to impress the coaches with whatever you've got if you aren't a little kid from a really well-off family.

Roller blading is really good. Both the technique in the low levels is nearly the same as on the ice and the skates are heavier. Just watch out for falls cuse falls on cement really hurt. If your ice skating progresses a lot (enough for you to do stuff like Lunges and spirals and maybe even half jumps) and you want to continue, you might want to consider buying your own freestyle skates since rentals are really low quality and the tiny blade isn't good for doing figures. Just that you will have to find a time when spending about 300 dollars for good skates is the right moment.

I don't do cycling myself, but the cardio will help you lose weight. Later on, do jogging instead to avoid growing huge heaps of muscle on your legs that are too heavy and bulky for skating. If you know a nutrionist or something, ask them to give you a special diet that will help turn the fat into muscle more easily.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Getting a coach sooner is better.  I doesn't matter when you call her, just call! :-)  Weight doensn't matter!  I am 138.5 pounds and I'm competing intermediate and novice levels!  Good Luck