7 Things You Should Probably Keep in Mind About Figure Skaters
I was at a moves in the field clinic yesterday with about 20 other figure skaters on the ice. Everyone was doing different patterns and working on different things with coaches in clusters scattered on the ice and it was just CHAOTIC. I've aged about 10 years since from the stress and fear of collisions.
So I was thinking about ice etiquette, especially in terms of figure skaters and came up with a list of things to keep in mind for you figure skaters and non-figure skaters alike.
1. Figure skaters are Moses and you others are the Red Sea.
I'm not saying this just because I think we are more important than other skaters. I'm saying this for your safety.
I go backwards, I go fast, I spin, I jump, I do spirals, etc, etc. All that makes me a potential danger to you and your face. I have spikes on my toes and by god, no matter my level, I can say that I possess strength! Figure skaters can fuck you up, whether they want to or not.
What do you do? Be aware of figure skaters on the ice with you. Step aside if they're coming your way and they don't seem to notice you (even if I'm looking where I'm going when I'm backwards, my line of sight is still limited). I can only do so much.
Hey, I've had a toepick stab my calf while I was going backwards. It's not fun.
2. If you have small children, tell them to avoid the people doing the spins, jumps, and "leg-lifts" on the ice.
I can't even begin to count the number of times I have had little children waddle DIRECTLY at me while I am in the middle of a spin of going into a jump.
When I'm in a spin, such as a camel spin, all my focus is on my spin, on my position, on my center. My line of sight is also hindered because you know, I'm SPINNING. So I can't react quickly enough if a small child decides it would be okay to place themselves right beneath my foot.
I do my part by watching where I'm going and trying my best to not cause bodily harm to others, but you must also make an effort and show me you want to keep living as well.
I swear, most of the time it's unintentional.
3. PLEEEEEEEASE respect our practice time.
My rink caters to both figure skating and hockey, but since hockey is able to bring in way more revenue, figure skating takes the backseat of the two.
We do get private figure skater-only sessions, but come on. They are really fucking early and as a coach from my rink said, "Freestyle sessions are the last to get scheduled and the first to get cut." Hockey needs the ice but there are freestyle sessions scheduled? Out comes the chopping block.
Bottom line: unless you see us strolling around the ice with friends and messing around (it's usually obvious when we are), please don't bother us, trip us, get in our way, etc.
4. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't ask us about our sport.
Most of the time, figure skaters do, of course, prefer to practice and not have random people come up to us and ask us about shit.
Even so, don't be scared. I really can't tell you how exactly to look for someone that's open or not to questions, but typically, skaters who are trying to concentrate have their eyes cast down, a stoic expression, and sweaty complexion. Or we're with our coach.
But honestly, have no fear. Ask honest questions and act like you are interested and really trying to understand. Sure, sometimes I may think your question is really basic and the answer obvious, but that's the nature of the educator. I will understand why you'd ask such a question. : )
5. Don't act like a dumbshit, though.
If you are trying to learn how to stop or skate properly, we will be glad to take a few minutes to tutor you. But if you get all silly and start asking me how to do a triple salchow, I'm gonna slowly start losing my patience, especially if you are a stranger. Even if you ask it jokingly, it's not funny, sorry. =|
One of my least favorite things is watching an inexperienced skaters clumsily attempt to do multiple rotations in the air or do a spiral. It's sad. It's frustrating and does make me feel like you are disrespecting me and my sport.
6. Blade guards are off limits. Seriously.
These are blade guards.
Figure skaters wear blade guards, as do speed skaters and some hockey players. But I think we value our blade sharpness more than them. I spin, do turns, patterns, etc, and if my blades are not up to shape, I can't do anything! So I wear blade guards off the ice to protect them. Often I will wear them until I actually get on the ice, placing them on the dashboards next to the entrance to the ice.
Probably one of my greatest pet peeve is when other people get their grubby hands on them and put them on their blades.
There are so many problems with that. First, my guards are fashioned to fit my blades. They most likely will not fit yours, so don't even try. Second, it should be obvious. They're mine. They're not cheap to get. I need them, a lot. Did I mention they're mine? If I find you handling what's not yours but mine, I will charge over and bitch you out. So, HANDS OFF THE GUARDS!
7. You're not a figure skater, so please don't try to dress you think we do.
Every time there is a large public crowd at my rink, I can guarantee that there will be a couple of girls wearing dance tights (often pink or white; skate tights are usually brown) and a sparkly skirt or a dance leotard.
I say, don't.
You look like a wannabe. You look out of place. Figure skaters dress differently from dancers and people can tell figure skater from dancer.
If you are not a figure skater, just wear what you would wear if you were gonna go exercising outside during the fall/winter--basically, warm but forgiving clothes that allow you to move around.
8. As a bonus, no electronics on the ice, no games of tag, and no throwing ice around. Not only because they're annoying but usually pretty dangerous.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha...how many times have I seen people with cellphones on the ice that end up breaking them? Well, once, but come on. The ice is hard and slippery; if you slip and drop the phone or fall on the pocket containing it, your electronic device breaking is the usual outcome.
So leave your phone or iPod off the ice or at least safe. (Yes, figure skaters often have our iPods with us, but we are usually experienced enough to not suffer a freak fall and we use a protective cover that straps to our arms)
I know people are afraid of their shit getting stolen if they leave it off the ice, but rinks typically provide lockers. At my rink, no one ever steals shit from bags left at the benches. Your best bet is to keep your phone in a well padded pocket and skate carefully and bring only things to the rink that you are able to keep on your person. I've also seen people who carry little backpacks with them on the ice.
No games of tag: it's annoying, to be frank. You're stumbling around and not paying attention to others around you--that's dangerous. And no throwing snow! It's stupid and distracting to figure skaters and generally everyone else.
ETA: HEY I KNOW PEOPLE THINK THIS IS BITCHY, BUT INJURIES DO OCCUR OUT OF CARELESSNESS FROM BOTH PARTIES BUT THE FIGURE SKATER ALWAYS TAKES THE BLAME BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSEDLY ~MOAR EXPERIENCED~, SO I WON'T AND CAN'T BE NICE ABOUT IT.
AND THINGS LIKE TOUCHING BLADE GUARDS AND SHIT ARE JUST REALLY ANNOYING, OKAY? UNTIL YOU'RE ON THE FIGURE SKATER'S SIDE OF THE SITUATION, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION, BUT IT'S THERE.
So I was thinking about ice etiquette, especially in terms of figure skaters and came up with a list of things to keep in mind for you figure skaters and non-figure skaters alike.
1. Figure skaters are Moses and you others are the Red Sea.
I'm not saying this just because I think we are more important than other skaters. I'm saying this for your safety.
I go backwards, I go fast, I spin, I jump, I do spirals, etc, etc. All that makes me a potential danger to you and your face. I have spikes on my toes and by god, no matter my level, I can say that I possess strength! Figure skaters can fuck you up, whether they want to or not.
What do you do? Be aware of figure skaters on the ice with you. Step aside if they're coming your way and they don't seem to notice you (even if I'm looking where I'm going when I'm backwards, my line of sight is still limited). I can only do so much.
Hey, I've had a toepick stab my calf while I was going backwards. It's not fun.
2. If you have small children, tell them to avoid the people doing the spins, jumps, and "leg-lifts" on the ice.
I can't even begin to count the number of times I have had little children waddle DIRECTLY at me while I am in the middle of a spin of going into a jump.
When I'm in a spin, such as a camel spin, all my focus is on my spin, on my position, on my center. My line of sight is also hindered because you know, I'm SPINNING. So I can't react quickly enough if a small child decides it would be okay to place themselves right beneath my foot.
I do my part by watching where I'm going and trying my best to not cause bodily harm to others, but you must also make an effort and show me you want to keep living as well.
I swear, most of the time it's unintentional.
3. PLEEEEEEEASE respect our practice time.
My rink caters to both figure skating and hockey, but since hockey is able to bring in way more revenue, figure skating takes the backseat of the two.
We do get private figure skater-only sessions, but come on. They are really fucking early and as a coach from my rink said, "Freestyle sessions are the last to get scheduled and the first to get cut." Hockey needs the ice but there are freestyle sessions scheduled? Out comes the chopping block.
Bottom line: unless you see us strolling around the ice with friends and messing around (it's usually obvious when we are), please don't bother us, trip us, get in our way, etc.
4. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't ask us about our sport.
Most of the time, figure skaters do, of course, prefer to practice and not have random people come up to us and ask us about shit.
Even so, don't be scared. I really can't tell you how exactly to look for someone that's open or not to questions, but typically, skaters who are trying to concentrate have their eyes cast down, a stoic expression, and sweaty complexion. Or we're with our coach.
But honestly, have no fear. Ask honest questions and act like you are interested and really trying to understand. Sure, sometimes I may think your question is really basic and the answer obvious, but that's the nature of the educator. I will understand why you'd ask such a question. : )
5. Don't act like a dumbshit, though.
If you are trying to learn how to stop or skate properly, we will be glad to take a few minutes to tutor you. But if you get all silly and start asking me how to do a triple salchow, I'm gonna slowly start losing my patience, especially if you are a stranger. Even if you ask it jokingly, it's not funny, sorry. =|
One of my least favorite things is watching an inexperienced skaters clumsily attempt to do multiple rotations in the air or do a spiral. It's sad. It's frustrating and does make me feel like you are disrespecting me and my sport.
6. Blade guards are off limits. Seriously.
These are blade guards.
Figure skaters wear blade guards, as do speed skaters and some hockey players. But I think we value our blade sharpness more than them. I spin, do turns, patterns, etc, and if my blades are not up to shape, I can't do anything! So I wear blade guards off the ice to protect them. Often I will wear them until I actually get on the ice, placing them on the dashboards next to the entrance to the ice.
Probably one of my greatest pet peeve is when other people get their grubby hands on them and put them on their blades.
There are so many problems with that. First, my guards are fashioned to fit my blades. They most likely will not fit yours, so don't even try. Second, it should be obvious. They're mine. They're not cheap to get. I need them, a lot. Did I mention they're mine? If I find you handling what's not yours but mine, I will charge over and bitch you out. So, HANDS OFF THE GUARDS!
7. You're not a figure skater, so please don't try to dress you think we do.
Every time there is a large public crowd at my rink, I can guarantee that there will be a couple of girls wearing dance tights (often pink or white; skate tights are usually brown) and a sparkly skirt or a dance leotard.
I say, don't.
You look like a wannabe. You look out of place. Figure skaters dress differently from dancers and people can tell figure skater from dancer.
If you are not a figure skater, just wear what you would wear if you were gonna go exercising outside during the fall/winter--basically, warm but forgiving clothes that allow you to move around.
8. As a bonus, no electronics on the ice, no games of tag, and no throwing ice around. Not only because they're annoying but usually pretty dangerous.
Hahahahahahahahahahaha...how many times have I seen people with cellphones on the ice that end up breaking them? Well, once, but come on. The ice is hard and slippery; if you slip and drop the phone or fall on the pocket containing it, your electronic device breaking is the usual outcome.
So leave your phone or iPod off the ice or at least safe. (Yes, figure skaters often have our iPods with us, but we are usually experienced enough to not suffer a freak fall and we use a protective cover that straps to our arms)
I know people are afraid of their shit getting stolen if they leave it off the ice, but rinks typically provide lockers. At my rink, no one ever steals shit from bags left at the benches. Your best bet is to keep your phone in a well padded pocket and skate carefully and bring only things to the rink that you are able to keep on your person. I've also seen people who carry little backpacks with them on the ice.
No games of tag: it's annoying, to be frank. You're stumbling around and not paying attention to others around you--that's dangerous. And no throwing snow! It's stupid and distracting to figure skaters and generally everyone else.
ETA: HEY I KNOW PEOPLE THINK THIS IS BITCHY, BUT INJURIES DO OCCUR OUT OF CARELESSNESS FROM BOTH PARTIES BUT THE FIGURE SKATER ALWAYS TAKES THE BLAME BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSEDLY ~MOAR EXPERIENCED~, SO I WON'T AND CAN'T BE NICE ABOUT IT.
AND THINGS LIKE TOUCHING BLADE GUARDS AND SHIT ARE JUST REALLY ANNOYING, OKAY? UNTIL YOU'RE ON THE FIGURE SKATER'S SIDE OF THE SITUATION, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION, BUT IT'S THERE.