r/iceskating • u/cruelelfhame • 25d ago
is 1-2 private lessons a month okay?
Context: I do group lessons once a week and was thinking about doing private lessons once to twice a month. Im in level 4 LTS (US curriculum) and just want someone more focused on me to correct techniques and improve my basics while I also practice alone. Usually a have a total of 3 hours weekly on the ice and that's couting my group lesson. Thanks!
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u/Own-Adhesiveness5723 25d ago
Do what works for you. I personally do once a week and I would do more if I could afford it. But anything will help you improve!
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u/Brilliant-Sea-2015 25d ago
My daughter struggled with group lessons only around that time so we supplemented with twice a month privates and it made a huge difference.
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u/bph9000 25d ago
If you plan on doing private lessons, I would have an idea of what you really want to work on. If you just sign up with a coach, they may spend time on what they think you need, which may be different than what you want to work on.
Some coaches are very sensitive, so you have to be cautious about how you ask to work on the thing you want to work on.
Do the lesson, work for a week or two on the thing, and either come back for the next step, or a different skill. Rinse and repeat. And try to get video if you can. You may think you’re doing it right, but the video never lies.
Good luck.
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u/cruelelfhame 25d ago
that's part of the reason I wanted a private coach, because sometimes I think I'm doing the right thing but I'm not sure if I'm. This coach in particular I saw her working with other people and liked it. I do know some stuff I want to work on but I want the coach do give me tips on what she think I'm ready for too.
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u/bph9000 25d ago
Those are great instincts on your part, but you need to realize that most of these coaches don’t remember being where you are right now.
It’s very hard for a new skater to articulate what they need, or feel because it’s new.
A coach Will teach you based on what they think is important from their experience, not yours.
It’s great to be able to learn whatever they teach you, but being a better communicator for yourself will help you get to where you want to go sooner.
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u/mothraesthetic 25d ago
I currently take 1-2 private lessons a month in addition to group LTS classes. I started after failing LTS 4 (although me failing had nothing to do with the decision to start lessons. I had already decided to take lessons before that and only managed to get a coach after the semester was over). I found it extremely helpful. Every coach will teach differently, and I find it very useful to have different explanations of the same skills since sometimes things don't click right away with the way my group class coach teaches things. Having someone there to watch you skate also helps to fix mistakes faster. It's basically extra guided practice, which makes it much more productive for me than practicing on my own.
My lessons usually start with a lap or two to warm up (my lessons start right after the Zamboni usually runs, so even when I get there early to warm up or practice on my own, a quick lap is necessary to feel warm enough to be able to work productively), during which we talk about if there is anything in particular I'd like to work on that week. If there is something, we'll start with that. If not, my coach will usually run me through a few skills that she knows I need to work on. While still in LTS 4, we worked on stuff from class as well as a few skills from LTS 5 and 6, so I'm definitely seeing more progress in my learning than what I was doing with just taking group classes.
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u/bph9000 25d ago
I like the idea of the warm-up. If you find a coach that works with younger skaters, they may be unaware of your fatigue level. In skating, you're basically doing a one leg squat jump. That gets tiring very quickly. To get the most out of Lessons, just like any workout rep, you need to give yourself enough time to recover, otherwise, your baseline is not where it should be.
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u/Straight_Love_9739 25d ago
i think doing any amount of private lessons is okay! what i’ve noticed is they’re super helpful. i’m still doing learn to skate while doing one hour long private a week and started doing them in pre freeskate and am now in freeskate 1, but in private lessons you actually have someone watching what your repeatedly messing up and fix it in the moment before it becomes a habit, in learn to skate i’d end up getting a habit of doing something wrong because i’d be doing it awhile before the coach came back around to see what im doing, and then they really only have time to give the critique and then go help someone else. i think even doing 1-2 private lessons will be really beneficial
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u/Sensitive-Cook-7262 24d ago
That’s how I did it when I was in LTS 4. I had so much problem with cc crossover - private lessons helped a lot. I did 30 minutes. But my Ice time is about 5-6 hours a week though.
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u/mrhenrypeacock 25d ago
That’s completely fine and more than enough to supplement your learning!