Some levels are more difficult than other levels.
Some levels have more skills than other levels. Skaters learn
in different ways and at varying paces. Sometimes it takes
2 or even 3 sessions to perfect the skills in a particular
level. Because all of the skills layer and become progressively
more difficult, it is essential that the skater be able to
perform the skills according to the protocol set by the USFS.
This ensures that the skater will be well prepared and encouraged
in the next level.
My
skater wants to play hockey, why do Sam 1-3 and Basic 1 skaters
have to wear figure skates?
Since Figure Skate blades are designed for landing
jumps and performing spins, they tend to have a slight rocker
or curve to the bottom and tend to be wider than Hockey skate
blades. Hockey skate blades are designed for speed and agility
so they are thin and rounded on the bottom providing less
surface area on which to skate. A beginner will benefit by
having greater surface area on which to stand. Once your skater
is proficient at skating forward and stopping he/she may move
into Hockey skates. It is always wise to check with your Group
Lesson Pro before purchasing new skates to be sure you make
a well informed purchase.
Are
Guests permitted to participate in the IHWC Learn to Skate
Program? Yes, Guests are welcome in the IHWC
LTS program. Members are given priority during registration.
Guest registrations will be accepted after members have had
an opportunity to register. Guests may submit the registration
with full payment (including the annual USFS dues of $8.50)
and a completed participation waiver.
How
will I know that my skater is in the class? Will I receive
a confirmation call? Assume that your skater
is in the class you registered for and will begin instruction
on the first day of class. If a class is cancelled or a time
changed, you will receive a call from a member of the IHWC
Skating Staff.
How
many sessions of LTS are run throughout the year?
The IHWC offers 3 sessions of LTS throughout the season –
Fall (October –November), Winter (December – January)
and Spring (February – March). Each session is 7 weeks
in length. The LTS class calendar can be found online under
Ice Programs, then Learn to Skate.
I
missed the registration deadline. Can I still get into a LTS
class? Registrations are accepted through
the second week of class. By the third week of class, skaters
have typically moved on to more advanced skills. If the class
is not offered online, it is full, cancelled, or not available
because it is too far into the session. An option is to take
private lessons until the next session is offered.
I
can’t find the class I want on the online registration
form. What do I do? All of the classes offered
will be on the online registration form. If a class is full
or cancelled, it will be removed from the online registration
form. Look for the class you desire on another day or at another
time.
Why
would a class be offered and then cancelled?
Projections are made from the previous sessions enrollment.
Unfortunately it is difficult to tell how many skaters will
request specific classes. If a class does not meet the minimum
skater requirement, it may be cancelled to plug in a class
that is being requested by skaters.
My
beginner skater wants to be with his/her friend in a more
advanced class. Is it really that important that he/she completes
the beginner levels? First, as with any sport,
more advanced skills build on good foundation skills. Second,
your skater will not want to miss important safety issues
that are taught in the Sam 1-3 and Basic 1-2 classes. Third,
skaters compare themselves to their peers and quickly become
discouraged if they perceive themselves to not be meeting
the standard. If your skater wants to be a part of a more
advanced group, it is wise to start with private lessons and
work towards more advanced skills quickly.
My
skater wants to play hockey but no Hockey 1 or 2 classes are
offered this session. What do I do? Before
skaters can play hockey they need to have basic skating skills.
Your skater can begin skating instruction in Basic 1 and advance
through Basic 4. This will teach your skater how to safely
fall and quickly get up, skate forward and backward, swizzle,
glide, and successfully do forward and backward crossovers.
This will provide a great foundation on which to continue
to learn hockey skills. Another option is to add a private
lesson to work on specific hockey moves.
Why
are some classes combined? In order to offer
many classes and accommodate as many skaters as possible,
some classes may be combined. These are typically classes
that might otherwise be cancelled due to lack of enrollment.
These classes typically have parallel skill requirements.
An example of parallel skills are forward crossovers and backward
crossovers. Skaters can easily practice these two skills using
the same traffic pattern. While the instructor provides 100%
of his/her attention to the entire group.
My
4 year old is advanced for his/her age. Can my young skater
start in Basic 1 rather than Sam 1? Older
skaters tend to feel very self-conscious about being in a
class with very young skaters. Please start your skater in
the age appropriate group and allow the Skating Professional
to advance the skater. All skaters will advance at their own
pace, some more quickly or slowly than others.
What
class will my 4-5 year old skater advance to after completing
Sam 1, 2, and 3? Depending on the speed and
strength of the skater’s skills, the skater will be
advanced into Basic 1 or Basic 2. Some of the skills in these
classes will be a review for the Sam 3 skater, reinforcing
the use of edges, stopping and speed in both forward and backward
skating.
Are
there any opportunities for my skater to try a competition?
Yes, we are fortunate to have several well organized Basic
Skills Competitions in the Cincinnati area. Skating Pros also
take skaters to competitions in Columbus, Louisville, Lexington,
Cleveland, Troy, Indianapolis, and Kettering. Cincinnati also
has a Synchronized Skating Team formed of Basic Skills skaters
that competes in Tri-State area competitions. Contact the
Skating Director, Lisa Stoughton for ideas of how to get involved
in the local Figure Skating community.
Why
does my skater have to join the USFS every year?
The USFS Basic Skills program provides all of our instructional
material such as attendance sheets, curriculum, books, patches,
posters, badges, etc. All of the Skating Pros are trained
in USFS skills instruction. The USFS is the national governing
body for Figure Skating. Membership is renewed annually. As
your skater advances and becomes more involved, he/she will
join a local Figure Skating Club to become a member of the
local Figure Skating community and the USFS.
My
personal information does not come up in the online registration.
Am I doing something wrong? Try typing in
another phone number. All registrants are logged under the
phone number initially entered.
My
skater is going to take the summer off. We will start back
up with lessons in the fall. Perfect, there
is nothing better than a well rounded individual. This also
helps reduce burn out and keep our sport fun. Just remember
that success in sport relies on muscle memory. If your skater
can skate once every week or two, he/she will retain skills
and enjoying advancing in the fall.
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