TO COMPETE OR NOT TO COMPETE   By PJ Kwong

For many parents and skaters alike, this is the time of year where you gather around the TV set or in your local rink and watch competitions.  You may be early on in your figure skating journey, or already with some experience under your belt.  The truth is, at some point either you or your coach will bring up the notion of “competing”.

It is my feeling as a coach, that competing can be a very valuable “life” experience for lots of skaters.  As my coaching colleague, friend, former coach and 4 X World Ice dance Champion, Bernard Ford says, figure skating competition is great experience for life…it is an experience in which the skater has to take complete responsibility for his or her performance, for good or bad.

We need to, for the sake of clarity, make a distinction between competing and being “competitive”.  When a coach speaks of a child becoming “competitive” in any of the 4 disciplines, singles, pairs, ice dance or synchronized skating, they are looking at putting your skater on a track that would head ultimately towards trying to qualify to compete at a national championships.

As parents and skaters, you have to understand that this is a road that is fraught with all kinds of challenges.  There are a great many demands that will be asked of your skater as well as your family.  There are financial considerations, issues of time commitments, travel possibilities.  If you think that this if for you, then you need to have a frank discussion with your coach to find out exactly all of the ins and the outs.  Be realistic when considering your family, and the resources you have available to you, also be realistic when considering the natural temperament of your child.  Many children can exhibit lots of natural talent, but without the tough skin that is required to be able to withstand the number of disappointments that go along with the successes.  That said, I have yet to meet or speak to a current or former competitive skater who doesn’t say that this has been a defining experience in their life, one one that they wouldn’t change.

For some families and skaters, the ideal solution is to compete locally through club competitions and invitational events, which offers some of the same benefits.  Remember that this is a decision that only you and your skater can make, and should not be influenced unduly by your coach or by what other children may have chosen in your club.

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MID-SEASON EQUIPMENT  TUNE-UP  By PJ Kwong

The Holidays have come and gone, and so has half of the skating season.  By now you have already seen some progress and are enjoying the satisfaction associated with your increasing figure skating skills.

Some questions…How do your skates feel?  How do your feet feel inside them? How are your hands coping with the cold? Are you warm enough during your warm-up?

First things first:

YOUR SKATES:  If you find that your skates have become wobbly since the time you first purchased them and started to skate in them, this could mean that they are starting to break down, which would indicate on your next pair, that you need a firmer pair.  If you find that you are slipping as you skate, it could mean that you need to have your skates sharpened, which should happen routinely every 15 hours or so for recreational skaters, and more often for competitive ones.

YOUR FEET:  If you find that your feet feel tight or are pinching inside your skate boot, it likely indicates that your foot is growing.  One way to make your skates last through the rest of this season, and your growth spurt is to remove the insole located inside the boot along the footbed.  This will create a bit more room inside the skate, as well changing your footwear to something less bulky from what you are wearing.  If for some reason your boots rub you in a spot, it might be time to consider investing in Bunga Pads (check them out online at our website), a protective and very soft and pliable rubber sleeve with adjustable pads worn on the foot inside the boot at the location of the sore spot.

YOUR HANDS: If you find that your hands are suffering from the cold, try mittens instead of gloves. In the alternative, arrive at the rink with more than one pair of gloves, so as one pair becomes wet from falling, you can change to a warm and dry pair.  My secret trick is to hold my gloves or mittens under the hand dryer in the dressing room, and then put my chilly hands into very warm mittens…works like a charm!

WARM-UP: There is nothing more difficult than trying to focus on lessons and practice times when feeling cold.   Take a look at your skating wardrobe and determine if you need to pick up some more items such as turtlenecks and fleece tops and vests important in layering.  Also look at the weight of the tights you are wearing, and if they are heavy enough to keep you warm.

MISCELLANEOUS:   A couple more things.  Now that you have started to master some new skills, talk to your coach about things like protective pads for hips and bums, which are bound to take a beating.  You may also want to consider investing in a “spinner” which you can use at home to help increase your confidence while learning rotational concepts as found in jumping and spinning

Continue to skate hard and have fun!

Thanks for calling us toll free 1-877-396-6423 or emailing us at info@dresswright.com, with your feedback

Good Luck, Skate Hard – ‘tll next time!

5484 Tomken Road, Unit 18, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 2Z6

905-282-1555

Toll free 1-877-396-6423 info@dresswright.com