Welcome to 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships Memories
I wish i could say that was me (the lady) – sadly i can’t. My name is Susie Tsang and i have loved figure skating since my Dad took me to see the 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships when i was fifteen. It made a big impact on me. I love all sports, even though I’m studying Science at College. This is MY blog and i hope you enjoy it!
Remember this ?
I joined a skating group in Cleveland 2 years ago and up until recently, our skating school (C.S.S) ran ISI Learn-To-Skate classes and was the home skating rink for the Broadway Skating Club, a long standing member of USFSA. Perhaps this was ironic in that our rink is the closest rink to their national headquarters in Colorado Springs. The only problem that we faced in the 5-1/2 years that we have been open has been in hosting ISI competitions. The skating club was less than enthused about supporting an non-USFSA event. Other than volunteer support for competitions, we really didn’t have any other issues. Kids enrolled in the ISI classes that wanted to make the jump to private lessons and competitive skating did so and sought membership into the skating club. The same coaches that teach Learn-To-Skate teach privates as
well, so there exists an efficient mechanism to transition group lesson kids to skating contracted ice time and seeking private lessons from our coaching staff. Our club are no longer offering ISI Learn-to-Skate classes in lieu of Basic Skills classes which is a shame, i feel.
My Skate Classes!
The great thing about the Cleveland Adult Skate Groups i go to is that they have a wide range of classes from beginner to advanced. They also have private lessons. For a beginner I recommend Sheila Mortinson for a coach. She has tons of patience and loves teaching adults. She also has lots of great tricks up her sleeve for making learning things easier. There is also lots of ice time so you can practice on your own. I always take a few lessons from her as well as taking lots of classes. I also recommend getting a locker. It is worth the extra $16 so you can stash your wallet someplace safe.
I’m a bit late in my learning to skate endeavor, a friend told me about Cleveland Adult Skate Groups and I must agree they are geared toward the beginner. There are several group classes for the beginner, Adults Class is more for the advanced beginner/intermediate skater. The attendees never get ”testy” when someone doesn’t move out of the way fast enough. There are also never issues you find on any freestyle sessions: “I can only do this jump at this very same spot every single time I try it”; “I’m gonna stand here and talk”; “The track is a great place to try my camel spin”; “I see you coming toward me and I will move out of your way”. Its never frustrating and for those of you who think I’m a bit late starting my skating well look out!! Ha Ha – one day this MIGHT be me:
One of the reasons i so love figure skating is the music – beautiful, moving inspiring music – to be able to skate gracefully to it (not there yet!) must be the most magical experience and well worth working towards i feel.
Skating Tip One – Stretch!!
If you go to the U.S.F.S.A website you will find a detailed section on coaching. The first thing any coach will tech you is about stratching and its importance. The neat thing about this week is that I wasn’t so sore the next day! I could actually walk! lol.We pretty much did the same stretches. What I don’t understand is why we spend soooo much time working on our splits. I’m no longer suppose to be practicing them with hands on the floor. I’m suppose to be just doing over splits now, and practicing the one where my hands are over my head and doing a back bend. Gee, I wish I had a flexible back! There was this one girl who was doing horizontal splits against the wall (actually monkey bars) lying on her back. The coach climbs on the monkey bar and just stands on her legs (yikes!) and forces them over into 180 degrees. My goodness, I am glad I wasn’t that girl. But when she came to push mine open, I don’t think I have ever screamed so loud as an adult before! New stretches: the bridge (back arch). Also, pushing our back up with hands in front and bending legs (trying to touch head to toes in back arch). Then she came around and pressed us into a back arch. We stretched the arms and shoulders against the wall. Also, leg in front up against the wall as high as possible and press. And then same thing except leg behind. Then we did floor work across the gym, kicking leg in front, kicking leg behind with back leg bent trying to touch toes to head, and then kicking leg behind with body dipping down (like Charlotte spiral). The floor work was really fun.
Advice i was given by Jane Rogers, my first teacher, which i will pass onto you: “I would be careful with someone who is forcing the stretch like you mentioned. Maybe you could arm yourself with a bat before class? 
. So how do you do this over stretch thing with the chair? And how high is the chair? I have visions of a folding chair and putting your leg on it, then just sliding down. In my case, I would either slide into the chair, at which time it would fold and I would be stuck in it, or I would stop, not even at a full 180 degrees and I would fall to one side or the other. Very graceful and you can well imagine.”
I have a trip to Australia next week that i have planned for 3 months – hopefully some great times ahead in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney – will update soon!
