Coaching Skating 2016 - 2017

I never really thought of myself as someone who could ever teach kids. I have never really babysat and I have only one younger sibling. Let's just say my experience is lacking. In the fall, in the beginning of the skating season, I was asked by the head of the rink to become a coach. The rink was in need of a new coach and they probably wanted cheap labor, which I am. I started in October and I was asked to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Thursdays, I would teach 3 classes and on Tuesdays, I would teach 1 class. My first session I taught the little kids for the first 2 classes. I would then supervise a free skate and then teach an advanced class. I was often rotated throughout the year to provide additional help. As I got more advanced as a skater I started needing additional help with my more advanced jumps. I talked to my supervisor and I switched out teaching my third class for an axel class for me. For my Tuesday class, I taught one of the most basic levels and then went to skate my class. When the ice show time had come around I had been working for about 7 months. I was a feature performer, which meant I was one of the most advanced skaters in the show, and therefore got to do a solo. Part of this meant I had to bring out the littlest kids. The most basic levels in the Learn to Skate program are for tots under 5. These classes are called "Snowplow Sam 1-4." Each number is a different level with 1 being the most basic. They were split in half with the Sam 1+2 kids doing the limbo, and the Sam 3+4 kids doing the hokey pokey. I was there from day 1 helping choreograph and lead the routines. The kids did well, the bigger kids caught onto it quicker and really liked performing in the show. In the end, I have made a lot of new little friends with this job. I also have learned how to work with kids. I think this connects back to my learning at GCE because I have taken leadership, and have taught people how to do things they didn't know how to do. If you want to learn more about classes or sign up go to: Learn To Skate USA.com If you want to view my hours of teaching, click here

CM Put Your Right Hand In (2017)

CM  Do The Hokey Pokey (2017)

CM Circle Up (2017)

Figure Skating: 2016 - 2017

I have been figure skating for the past 3 years. I started off rough. When I was 7, my dad took me ice skating for the first time at the rink I practice at today. While we were skating I fell and broke my leg. My parents thought I would never have the courage to ice skate again. Years later when I was 12 years old I asked my mom to sign me up for skating lessons. I was enrolled in one of the most basic levels at the rink. I skated once a week for an hour and soon enough it became ice show time. Every year my rink puts on a huge show to showcase skaters from tots to triple jumps. I was in an ice show for the very first time and I liked it. I continued skating and started to learn how to jump and spin. Before I knew it I was a competitive full-time figure skater. I have also been on a synchronized skating team for 2 years. We compete at least 3 times a year and practice twice a week. Currently, I am at the Preliminary level and am still going strong. I am learning my double jumps and axels, which is a huge milestone for skaters. I am getting so much more flexible and so much closer to consistent axels and doubles. I am getting better and better every day, and couldn't be happier with my sport. My skating friends and coaches are my families and I love my rink. I have learned that as a figure skater you need to be strong, graceful, kind, and most of all confident.Figure skating is a frustrating sport that takes time and patience.If you are interested in skating visit Learn to Skate USA here. To see a log of my hours click here.

Here are some photos of me practicing:

CM "Spread Eagle" (2017)

CM "Ina Bauer" (2017)

CM "Spiral" (2017)

CM "Flexibility" (2017)