ULTIMATE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO SKATING A FREESTYLE SESSION

How do you find space to skate on a busy session at the rink without feeling like you’re going to crash and die?
Well… there are a specific set of rules that figure skaters follow on a freestyle session to ensure some resemblance of safety in a sport where we all wear knives on our feet.
Jokes aside, I know that as a beginner, it may sometimes feel intimidating to skate on a freestyle session for the first time so hopefully this video can help you feel more confident your first time!
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Based currently in NYC | 25
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[@lonahbee]

Thank you so much for this, it's so helpful!!! I've been to freestyle sessions a couple of times (we call them patch ice in the UK!) and I was literally terrified lol. I felt insanely out of place practising my basic moves whilst there were literal competitive athletes on the ice, but the patch ice sessions are usually much easier for me to fit around work, time-wise - so this video is super reassuring 💜 maybe I'll brave another patch ice soon!

[@cathydingg]

You can do it! Don't be intimidated by others, everyone is there to make progress at the end of the day!

[@IvyFox-lc6yg]

Thank you so much this will be so helpful as I just started going to freestyle sessions and was a little nervous!!

[@cathydingg]

I'm so glad this was helpful! Good luck and don't be nervous! You got this!

[@Kit_Katttttttt13]

I’ve just started my first figure skating lessons at 15 I’ve yet to do any freestyle or public sessions outside of lessons mostly cause I have to rely on my parents to take me back and forth but I really hope I can skate like you someday! ^_^

[@cathydingg]

@@Kit_Katttttttt13 you got this!! I believe in you! Trust me, you have so much time to make good progress so keep skating and you will definitely get there! 💕

[@Kit_Katttttttt13]

@@cathydingg ty!🫶🏻

[@mavelynnnn]

OH MY GOSH! this came at a perfect time! i am a new figure skater. i take group classes, adult 1 level. i’m 18 and work 2 jobs, so i dont have time for most of the public skate sessions. it doesnt fit with my schedule. i emailed and confirmed that i was able to participate in a freestyle session as a beginner figure skater. they said yes and i don’t need a coach. i cant wait! it’s tomorrow ❤❤❤

[@cathydingg]

Ah amazing!! I'm so happy to hear that!! Good luck and congrats on your first skate on a freestyle session!

[@mavelynnnn]

@@cathydingg IT WENT AMAZING!!! thank you so much for allowing these tips

[@c_t_skate]

Another thing to remember, accidents happen. Doesn't matter who the skater is, none of us are perfect, we have all accidentally gotten in someone's way or dropped our attention for just a second and not realized someone is coming our way, etc. Don't leer at the other skater, just say sorry/accept the apology and move on with your practice/lesson

[@cathydingg]

I agree! There are so many times especially when I first started when I would feel like it was the end of the world if I got in the way of somebody and it would make me feel awful and really self- conscious. But I've learned that what you said is extremely true, as long as we are all conscious, honest mistakes do happen and it's nothing to continue to beat yourself over with!

[@hannahmarielu]

me 3 years deep into adult skating, being friends with almost all the skaters, working great with several of the coaches, and STILL avoid freestyle sessions 🤣

[@cathydingg]

@@hannahmarielu hahaha I feel you- you totally don’t have to! BUT if you do, don’t be intimidated! You’re working just as hard as everyone else out there!

[@hannahmarielu]

@@cathydingg ❤️❤️

[@heleezu]

At my rink I only have freestyle sessions available and I'm that one person who follows all the rules, but no one else does 😅 there are literally always a bunch of kids spinning in the lutz conner

[@cathydingg]

I know!! It can be so frustrating at time! The lutz alone is already hard enough

[@PecanSandees23]

If your rink has sessions based on test levels, one should skate that session. I once had a lesson on a high-level session and after my lesson, I just got off the ice. It also annoyed the heck out of those skaters who tested up to that session to see a lower-level skater on their ice. They were nice about it; they only rolled their eyes at me. I used to be an Ice Monitor and had to tell people who were not on the right session based on their testing (didn't matter how good you were, if you didn't test up to the session level, you were out) to please leave the ice. That session was very strict; I was the Ice Monitor, and I couldn't skate that freestyle. Also, as a clockwise skater (lefty), just a reminder that ALL corners are Lutz corners.

[@glowinq_evenings]

thank you for mentioning the lutz corner thing, i’ve been so nervous to ask a coach♥️

[@sprayz390]

only reason why i don’t go to freestyle at my rink is because so much more expensive 😭

[@cathydingg]

@@sprayz390 AGREE the cost is so painful

[@rororowan]

just to add onto the very end- if you are deciding to skate on a public session rather than a freestyle, make sure you look at the rules for that, too :0 because some rinks/sessions will be ok with you practicing whatever, but some won't let you do jumps or anything lifting your leg above your hips! for the safety of the general population if its really crowded LOL

[@cathydingg]

Yes! 100% good call out! There are many rinks that don't allow camel spins or spirals on a public session because it requires the leg to be lifted above hip level! And because of that- there's a higher risk of hurting someone else that may not know how to stop or move out of the way

[@Kit_Katttttttt13]

@@cathydinggyea plus most regular people who just want to go skating for fun aren’t going to know anything about figure skating and might not even know most of the rules at the rink

[@Dorian_Nox]

When I first started skating in public sessions I remember watching the skaters practicing and I tried copying them...let's just say trying to do jumps with rentals aren't the best idea

[@cathydingg]

ahh yes be careful with your ankle!

[@Kit_Katttttttt13]

Yea I can’t imagine trying to jump in rentals I have to use them for a week or two more before my first actual skates come in and the rentals hurt so bad to even skate on the ground with😭

[@joseph.peralta]

I have my first lesson on a freestyle session on Tuesday and I'm scared af

[@aanyas.5830]

don't be scared! it seems a little overwhelming at first but js keep an eye out- most people are pretty friendly/forgiving lol :)

[@cathydingg]

Don't be scared!! All will be fine! You're there to practice just like everyone else and you have every right to be there! Just focus on your own skating and just remember that everyone else is mostly also just trying to practice and focusing on their own skating! Especially if your coach is there, he or she can help guide you!