Parent FAQ
What should my skater wear to lessons?
Warm! Snug, and stretchy. Helmets are required for some ages/levels. Only ONE pair of socks or tights should be worn inside skates.
Click "read more" below for a more detailed explanation.
Read More- 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)
What kind of skates does my child need?
It depends on the skill level of your skater! Buy skates with a supportive and strong ankle. Be sure to have them wear skate guards anytime they're off the ice (even on the mats) to protect the blades and make them last longer between sharpenings.
Read MoreSome 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.
How do I know if my skates fit well?
Your heel should be touching the back of the skate while wearing one pair of thin socks. When it is, can you wiggle your toes? You should be able to! Toes should not be bent. It's ok if they can feel the end of the boot but it should not have pressure against the toes. When the boot is laced up properly the heel should not slide around, or up and down.
- The more snug the boot fits, the more supportive the skate will be for your ankles.
- If the boot is too large, the skater will not have as much control.
- If the boot is too small, the skater might experience pain, and/or cold feet due to poor circulation.
The boot should be laced snugly with the tightest lacing from the instep area to the ankle. Leave the lace slightly loose at the very top. You should be able to insert your finger between the ankle and the boot top to allow for range of motion.
New skates will need time to be "broken in" and the leather form to the foot. Some skates can be heat molded or even "punched out" at a pro shop to hasten this break in process.
Tips for Effective Lessons
Encourage your child to take an active role in their lessons.
Communicate early and often with the coach, especially with concerns or questions!
- 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!
Why do you offer Hockey lessons at a Figure Skating Club?
Our Basic Skills curriculum isn't specific to figure skating. It is beneficial for all ice skaters, regardless what discipline the skater eventually specializes in.
That being said, we do offer testing for Hockey badges through Learn to Skate USA, just like we offer testing for their figure skating badges. Our classes will be combined until we grow too big to do so, but each skater will test according to their preferred discipline.
Hockey players can significantly benefit from figure skating lessons due to the focus on detailed edge work, balance, and agility, which translates to improved skating technique and overall performance on the ice. Figure skating coaches emphasize precision and proper body positioning, helping hockey players develop more efficient strides and enhanced control. Beginner hockey lessons often focus more on learning to play the game, and working on stick control. Skating skills can take a backseat due to lack of time. We can help!
What should my skater have in their skate bag?
Obviously the most important items are skates, thin socks, hard guards, and a helmet. Other important items are a cloth for wiping the blades dry after use (avoids rust), and "soakers" which are soft guards to cover the blades during transport to and from the rink.
Click "read more" below for an extensive list of the more optional items, and links to our resources pages.
Read MoreIf 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.
do i need to volunteer?
We are a club built from volunteers, so ... Yes! We couldn't do it without you. There will be a minimum number of required hours per family each season. Please feel free to do more than the required as well!
Read MoreWe 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 is working hard to make it accessible for all Williston families. 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.
We have been so blessed by the generosity of the local hockey club - Williston Basin Skating Club - for the use of their ice, and their Zamboni, and resources/members. They have even worked with us to lower our ice rental costs! In exchange, and to show our gratitude, we are volunteering at their events as well. This is essential to the long term success of our club and we are so thankful to them! The least we can do is help them sell concessions or take tickets at a hockey game now and then.
Some of the other 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.
Can my skater compete if they are in Learn to Skate?
Yes! Our Competition Prep Program is designed to serve your skater and your family with all the information, skill, and time needed to prepare for competition. However, if your skater is still below Basic 3 in Learn to Skate and therefore not eligible for our Comp Prep program, they can still compete! Please connect with our coaches and arrange private lesson time with them to create a program set to music for your skater. Please note that this time might need to be on public ice if our club ice time schedule is full. Scheduling priority for private lessons goes to skaters enrolled in our Comp Prep Program. Also subject to coaches availability.
What is USFS?
USFS is the acronym for United States Figure Skating, also referred to as US Figure Skating. We have another page on our site with more information about them so check it out HERE.
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