Parent FAQ

• If your child is young and new to ice skating, we recommend snowpants, jackets, waterproof gloves, and a helmet is a must. If your child is a new skater but older, they might prefer to forego the snowpants in favor of thermal leggings (or tights & leggings) layers are a great idea, and soft thin gloves are fine but bring a couple pairs so that when they get wet they can be swapped out for dry ones. Cold skaters don't learn as fast! There are also protective headbands that are less bulky than a helmet but are intended to protect heads from falls.

• If your skater is working on harder skills or simply working hard each practice, they will get warm quickly! Layers they can remove as they get warmed up are a good choice. Skaters might also enjoy wearing tights, practice skirts, or club gear to lessons! Stretchy and snug fitting clothes are best because they allow for free range of movement and won't present a hazard on the ice. Baggy clothes are discouraged. Higher level skaters should have skates that fit snugly, and only wear a thin skating sock inside their boots. (think: nylons)

Some long-standing reputable brands are Jackson, Riedell, Edea, Harlick, Risport, and Graf. When your child is just starting out they can get by on a simple, cheaper skate of any brand as long as the ankle support is sturdy and strong. The worst thing for a beginner skater is to have a skate that doesn't support them, they'll think they "can't skate" but really their equipment is the problem!

Skates shouldn't be bought a size up for growth - they should fit snugly with minimal space between the toes and the end of the boot. Toes should Not be bent. Heel should not slide up and down but stay firmly in the heel of the boot. Tying laces properly will also help with this. Skates should be tied looser at the toes, firmly across the foot, tightest at the ankle, and then looser again at the top of the boot. You should be able to fit a finger in the boot at the very top. (Lacing well takes practice!) Make sure to only wear one pair of thin socks inside boots. Some people also prefer gel socks, or barefoot.

Used skates, found online or in person at a skate swap, can be a wonderful way to get your child into the next size up, or try out a different brand or style of skate.

Make sure the blades are sharp, whether you buy used or new. Dull blades makes skating very difficult. Figure skate blades should have toe picks on the front of the blade, and the bottom one is most important. If it gets accidentally removed in a poor sharpening situation, the blades need to be replaced.

Blades need to be covered in a hard skate guard for walking around off ice, and should be dried thoroughly after skating. Do not store with hard guards on the blades or they are more likely to rust. Soft covers called "soakers" are available for transporting your skates to and from the rink, but it is best to store the skates in a safe place uncovered if possible. Never walk on concrete with uncovered blades!

Students who are interested in working hard and often are likely to progress more quickly if they are properly fitted at a pro skate shop in a good, supportive pair of figure skates.

For more information about Equipment - check out this pdf from USFS.

• Encourage your child to have fun and look for new ways to learn
• Help your athlete set SMART goals for their sessions, and the season.
• Encourage them to speak up and ask questions
• Remind them (and provide the opportunity!) to eat well, warm up and stretch properly before their ice time.
• Engage them in other types of activity throughout the week, especially those that build strong core muscles.
• Encourage your athlete to practice diligently, have patience, and to always try again.

Figure Skating is an artistic sport built on finesse and strength. This takes time and repetition to learn, and many many falls. Keep going!

If you want to pack a rink bag prepared for many eventualities, here are some extra items you might include:

• water bottle
• shelf stable snacks, especially high protein snacks
• extra gloves, for when the first ones get wet
• extra socks
• lip balm
• tissues (noses tend to run in the cold)
• extra hair ties, if your skater has long hair
• other protective gear like knee pads and crash pants
• gel socks
• hand warmers
• notebook & pencil
• off ice warm up gear like jump rope, stretching band, etc.
• bandaids
• fuzzy comfy socks for after skating
• shoe deodorizer for inside skates after use

(Please do not bring headphones for skaters to use on ice, they're too distracting and can cause accidents)

We have a web page dedicated to protective gear suggestions as well as fun stuff and accessories. The items linked are merely suggestions and we have not tried them all personally. Some items may be affiliate items for the club meaning we make a little commission if you decide to purchase through the link. However many/most are not.

We aim to have a skating showcase performance, and maybe even a proper ice show, and will need all hands on deck for these performance opportunities. We also fundraise all year to keep costs at a minimum for our families. Figure skating is a notoriously expensive hobby/sport but WFSC would love to see it be more accessible for all Williston families someday. We have dreams of eventually having a skate library and/or a competition costume rental library as well, among many other ideas and visions! We need all the help we can get to make these a reality for our skaters.

Some of the current fundraising projects currently in the works are hosting a booth at the local festivals and vendor shows, selling concessions at the new waterpark, and of course networking with local businesses! If you know of someone able and willing to donate financially, we have an easy way to do that right here.