Source
r/FigureSkating•
dnb04

Two LTS classes at once?

Hi there! I’ve just gotten back into skating after taking lessons as a child and skated recreationally my whole life since. I’d consider myself a beginner even though I know the majority of the basics. I just started in an LTS class at the rink by my house. I really want more instructional time…20 min once a week just doesn’t feel like enough. Would it be helpful to enroll in another LTS session at another nearby rink or is that overdoing it? Thanks!

Posted Jan 7, 2022, 8:18 PM UTC · edited

421
frigzy74•

This is totally fine. Most rinks also have practice time you can utilize so you can spend more time on the ice on your own for less cost than another lesson.

8
dnb04OP•

So the way my current class is structured is 40 min of practice time and 20 min of instruction time. The practice time is before the lesson, which I thought was kinda weird…and it’s fuuuuullll of crazy little kids that are falling and cutting you off constantly lol. Do you think I’d gain anything by doing a second LTS course at another rink? So I’d be doing two a week.

2
foodie202•

Try adding a public skate session that's less busy to practice in, maybe during off peak hours and see if that helps. If your second LTS session is also chaotic during practice time then you might spend more time dodging kids than focusing on your skills.

6
frigzy74•

I think you would. You’d probably also gain from just more practice time. Give it a shot for a session and see.

5
KeyserSozeWearsPrada•

Ugh, I remember my practice time was exactly like that- except they also cordoned off a third of the rink for kid’s hockey, so we would have pucks flying onto our area. I even had a little kid hit my skate with his hockey stick (on purpose) while I was doing a spiral. I’m surprised they only do 20 minutes of lessons though.

3
dnb04OP•

Yes! Kids hockey is going on during our practice as well. Haven’t had any pucks fly into the area yet, but the hockey kids do sometimes come flying into our area because they’re going so fast

2
ExaminationFancy•

Practice time before class is actually better. You’re all warmed up and ready to go. My last LTS group lesson was before practice time, and I never had the chance to warm up.

1
dnb04OP•

I can agree it is nice to warm up! It would be nice if they maybe split it- 20 min before and 20 min after

2
crystalized17Advanced Skater•

Maybe you should get a private lesson if you’re wanting more instruction.

4
KeyserSozeWearsPrada•

I took three 30min LTS sessions at once (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday) and skated during public sessions (2-3hrs each) Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday. It was a lot of work but I progressed very quickly and benefited from three different LTS coaches. Make sure you’re practicing on your own though, otherwise you won’t get anywhere.

4
dnb04OP•

All different rinks/coaches?

1
KeyserSozeWearsPrada•

All at the same rink but all different coaches.

2
dnb04OP•

That’s nice. I ended up enrolling in the second class and am so glad I did. It’s a way better class with a way better coach- I’m going to learn way more there

2
ExaminationFancy•

When I was in Adult 2-6, I practiced in the public sessions. NOT ideal, but LTS students only have to pay $5 for public sessions.

At my local rink, once you pass Adult/Basic 5, you are allowed to skate in Freestyle sessions. Those sessions are only 45 minutes, but there’s only a handful of skaters on the ice and the ice is in so much better condition. You can skate in Freestyle sessions solo or with a coach.

2
J3rryHunt•

Going to more classes especially at a different rink doesn't translate to getting you to a higher level sooner. Different coaches have different ways of teaching you the same set of skills. You might confuse yourself after a while and it backfires at you. You are better off to see if the same coach in LTS classes offered 1on1 time as well. Also practice when you learn in class in your own time will be more beneficial then going to to a different class in a different rink.

2
LilnuggetarielSkating Coach•

I would talk to a LTS coach you like working with about starting private lessons, that way you have control of the schedule and frequency.

2
Finnrick•

What are you hoping to gain with more instruction?

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dnb04OP•

Faster progress. I really want to learn more specifically about figure skating. Will I get that in LTS sessions?

1
Finnrick•

Are you practicing on additional days besides just lesson days? Adding a separate day for practice (probably at a public skating session) can really make a difference when learning new skills.

Maybe see if you could add some private lessons. It’s still valuable even if you only take an extra lesson once a month or every other week.

Taking another LTS class is great. Lots of skaters do. You’ll get feedback from another pair of eyes from a different instructor who might explain things slightly differently. But you also might get just “more of the same”

LTS skills are figure skating skills. Beginner skating forward and backward, 1 foot glides, balance, control, turns, etc are all figure skating skills.

If you’re thinking of jumps and spins as the figure skating skills you want to learn more about, those will come as you progress to a level where you’re ready to start learning them.

4
sarahspins•

At most levels of LTS faster progress is made with just more time on the ice - aka practice on the days you don’t have instruction, not just in the time before your class lesson (that time truly counts more as a warm up - it’s harder to learn new skills when you hit the ice cold).

Adding in another day of class won’t hurt anything, but you would most likely get the same benefit from just skating on another day and working on the skills you worked on in class.

2
dnb04OP•

Ended up enrolling in the second class at the other rink and am so glad I did. We had 45 minutes of instructional time versus 20 and the coach was so much more helpful. I’ll still be doing both classes, but I can tell I’m going to learn a LOT more in the second class.

1