Bracknell Ice Skating Club Newsletter - March 2005

New Initiatives Proposed

After months of reviewing the use of club ice and the activities it runs, the BISC committee has agreed in principle to introduce some changes and developments - both on and off the ice.

Club representatives and the coaches met on March 23 and are now discussing how to make the best use of club ice.

This is likely to affect the structure of group lessons during the Tuesday club session, but not other club sessions in the near future.

“We're working towards having a more structured content on Tuesday evenings, possibly incorporating such things as Annie's Edges exercises, with the aim overall being to improve the 'basic skating' skills of many of our members, rather than concentrating on a particular discipline,” club vice-chair Laura Hetebrij and committee member Sue Truby said after the meeting.

“BISC would also like to encourage some continuity in these group lessons - with content and/or coaching professional. We are very aware that the 45 minute patch between the group lessons is not well used as far as learning is concerned. There is much social activity which could just as easily take place off the ice, but we don't want to remove this social interaction completely.”

Wednesday evenings will generally remain as they are now with the first Wednesday in the month for synchro, and the third for the dance club. The fifth Wednesday, when there is one, will be for competition run-throughs when skaters can do their programme following a timed warm-up with their coach at rinkside rather than on the ice, just as in a competition situation. These sessions will be bookable in advance to ensure there are not too many skaters.

Friday evenings from 5-5.30pm will generally remain as now with the first Friday in the month for synchro development. The rest will be allocated to whichever group of skaters needs it most - solo dancers just before their British Championship qualifiers and final, novices just before the novice championships, synchro just before synchro competitions, adults just before the Bracknell Adult Open and the championship, etc. Some Fridays will also be allocated for competition run-throughs, again bookable in advance.

Saturday lunchtimes will remain as a working patch with private lessons.

If anyone has strong views about what would be good on Tuesdays, they should talk to their coach or Laura Hetebrij or Sue Truby so that those views can be taken to the next meeting with the coaches on April 13.

In the meantime, please be aware that during the 45 minute patch on Tuesday evenings, there are skaters having private lessons, so wandering around the ice chatting to friends is not very helpful if someone is trying to run through a programme in a lesson. Please observe etiquette during this and all other club sessions.

Further details about any on-ice changes will be publicised in future editions of BISC News.

Meanwhile BISC is to introduce off-ice sessions in ballet-based dance, pilates and general fitness/stamina subsidised by proceeds from its 200 Club.

The ballet and pilates classes will be held on Saturdays, starting April 16. They will be taken by a highly experienced former professional ballet dancer who is qualified to teach both ballet and pilates.

Initially there will be two parallel classes, each lasting 1hr 15min, at 10am and 11.30am. Both will begin with pilates as a warm-up into dance. It may be that from September there will be separate classes for pilates and ballet or separate classes according to ability.

The classes will be held in the room to the above right of the AV room. The cost will be £2 per session, payable termly in advance.

The idea has proved so popular that both classes were filled within days of a notice being put on the club board. There is now a waiting list for courses starting in June and September - names can be left at the club table or for Scott Waller at rink reception.

The fitness/stamina classes will begin as soon as a suitable instructor is found.

The club is also to introduce motivation charts to encourage members to progress more quickly.

Their achievements - every clean jump and properly executed spin, and equivalent elements for dancers and synchro skaters - will be shown on Elements Charts which will be put on the club board alongside a new Test Chart which will show every club member's test levels. The Test Chart will be updated after each test session with those skaters moving up a level being highlighted.

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