When are you no longer considered a beginner?

[Gailforce]

In the last year I've taken group lessons at three area rinks. At two of these, students are taught more or less with others of a certain/same skill level. At the first rink I went to all the students are in one group and the instructor goes around to each one by one. If there were a lot of kids I wouldn't get any instruction at all so I decided to try another rink. (The instructor here is very good but has to teach everyone without any help.)

At the seond rink it was very organized with lots of instructors and I passed quickly to the top beginner level. I was then "promoted" to another group class where I could do almost nothing they showed us. There was (in my opinion) a huge difference in skill level from the top beginner class and nothing to help bridge the gap. I was the only adult in with kids that seemed to be able to do everything. After a couple classes I decided to step back, practice on my own for a while and when I felt I had the basics of that class, I would go back. I'm not there yet but still working on those moves.

While at the second rink which had classes in the morning I also started going to an afternoon class at a third rink. The level and quality of instruction at this third rink is very high and they also taught dance which I wanted to learn. Their group class was very small so it's almost like having a private or semi-private lesson at a group price. I have the lowest skill level in this group but I don't feel pressured to keep up. In a way it's good to see the others working because it motivates me to improve. Also, most of the skaters here are adults.

After all of that background let me pose my actual question. When does a skater go from being a beginner to being an intermediate? I don't really care about an advanced level because it's doubtful I'll get to that point and that's Ok. I still consider myself a beginner but I can do the basics and I'm starting to learn figures and one foot backwards skating.

[chunchmeow]

I guess it depends on the actual moves that you can do and how easily you can balance when doing new moves. Its been my experience that the 8 levels were categorized with certain moves, so when you accomplish all (like a checklist) and are competent, you move up to the next level.

[Gailforce]

Originally Posted by chunchmeow

I guess it depends on the actual moves that you can do and how easily you can balance when doing new moves. Its been my experience that the 8 levels were categorized with certain moves, so when you accomplish all (like a checklist) and are competent, you move up to the next level.

I have no idea what the 8 levels are or what moves are on the checklist. Even though I've been back skating for almost a year, there is a lot of things I don't know. Would you mind listing the 8 levels and moves. I really appreciate it.

[chunchmeow]

Originally Posted by Gailforce

I have no idea what the 8 levels are or what moves are on the checklist. Even though I've been back skating for almost a year, there is a lot of things I don't know. Would you mind listing the 8 levels and moves. I really appreciate it.

holy crap lemme see if i can look it up, its been a super long time since I've seen that list.

Just gimmie like 20 min or so and I'll see what I can find.

[chunchmeow]

I found the list on an ice site but adapted it from memory for quads on an indoor wood floor. This list would be for people wanting to learn the basics of artistic skating moves. I know this doesnt include any big jumps but those should be taught by an instructor just so that you have the right form.

Basic 1
Sit on floor and stand up
March forward across floor
Forward scizzors — 6-8 in a row
Backward scizzors — 6-8 in a row
T-stop

Basic 2
Backward scizzors — 6-8 in a row
Two-foot turn from forward to backward in place
Forward alternating 1/2 scizzor pumps, in a straight line
Skating forward on one foot

Basic 3
Forward stroking
Forward 1/2 swizzle pumps on a circle — 6-8 consecutive — clockwise and counterclockwise
Moving forward to backward two-foot turn — clockwise and counterclockwise
Two-foot spin — up to 2 revolutions

Basic 4
Forward edges on a circle
Backwards edges on a circle
Forward crossovers
Backwards crossovers

Basic 5
Backward crossovers — clockwise and counterclockwise
One-foot spin — up to 3 revolutions, optional entry and free foot position
Side toe hop — both directions
Shoot the duck
Waltz Jump

Basic 6
Bunny hop
Forward arabesque
Backwards arabesque
Slalom

Basic 7
Forward inside open mohawk from a standstill position — R to L and L to R
Ballet jump — R or L

Basic 8
Moving forward outside three-turn on a circle — R and L
Moving forward inside three-turn on a circle — R and L
One foot spin, optional entry and free foot position
Mazurka — R or L

[Gailforce]

Originally Posted by chunchmeow

I found the list on an ice site but adapted it from memory for quads on an indoor wood floor. This list would be for people wanting to learn the basics of artistic skating moves. I know this doesnt include any big jumps but those should be taught by an instructor just so that you have the right form.

Basic 1
Sit on floor and stand up
March forward across floor
Forward scizzors — 6-8 in a row
Backward scizzors — 6-8 in a row
T-stop

Basic 2
Backward scizzors — 6-8 in a row
Two-foot turn from forward to backward in place
Forward alternating 1/2 scizzor pumps, in a straight line
Skating forward on one foot

Basic 3
Forward stroking
Forward 1/2 swizzle pumps on a circle — 6-8 consecutive — clockwise and counterclockwise
Moving forward to backward two-foot turn — clockwise and counterclockwise
Two-foot spin — up to 2 revolutions

Basic 4
Forward edges on a circle
Backwards edges on a circle
Forward crossovers
Backwards crossovers

Basic 5
Backward crossovers — clockwise and counterclockwise
One-foot spin — up to 3 revolutions, optional entry and free foot position
Side toe hop — both directions
Shoot the duck
Waltz Jump

Basic 6
Bunny hop
Forward arabesque
Backwards arabesque
Slalom

Basic 7
Forward inside open mohawk from a standstill position — R to L and L to R
Ballet jump — R or L

Basic 8
Moving forward outside three-turn on a circle — R and L
Moving forward inside three-turn on a circle — R and L
One foot spin, optional entry and free foot position
Mazurka — R or L

Thanks for the list. Well, I can do everything thru Basic 3, all but one in Basic 4 and a few other things from Basic 5 & 6. I don't know if I'll ever do jumps. That would first involve losing 20 pounds. I don't know where this puts me level-wise or if you have to complete thru Basic 8 before moving from the Beginner level.

[chunchmeow]

Originally Posted by Gailforce

Thanks for the list. Well, I can do everything thru Basic 3, all but one in Basic 4 and a few other things from Basic 5 & 6. I don't know if I'll ever do jumps. That would first involve losing 20 pounds. I don't know where this puts me level-wise or if you have to complete thru Basic 8 before moving from the Beginner level.

Well the only way to be able to tell would be if you went through a lesson program at a rink and the coach graduated you to the next level. The stuff in the list varies depending on where you skate and who your coach is, but this is more of a general list to follow if you're practicing on your own. Beyond the 8 levels is when you start doing jumps and preparing to become competition material.

[Bryan]

I don't consider myself a beginner in the slightest, yet I have not the slightest idea what most of the stuff on that list even means.

I've always thought that classifications like Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, Guru, etc., are all very arbitrary. Different people may draw the line in different places. In addition, some people focus on different things and would weight the importance of some of these items differently.

Of course, it could be that six years in, and I'm still a beginner; I certainly feel that way at times!

[sk8scott]

I think you hit the nail on the head there, Bryan. People learn different things, depending on their interests and skating environment.

There are skills I didn't learn for my first 6 or 7 years on inlines, because I didn't know those skills even existed. Then, there were other things I could do within a couple of weeks that are a challenge for many "expert" skaters.

I imagine it's that way for a lot of people. For example, I have a friend who was a star hockey player in college and who skates like a pro on flat ground, but is *terrified* of all but the smallest hills.

----Scott

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by sk8scott

I have a friend who was a star hockey player in college and who skates like a pro on flat ground, but is *terrified* of all but the smallest hills.

Heh. I grew up in a very hilly, mountainous area, but I learned to skate in Wilmington, NC, which is a very flat area. So I’m, uhh, rather sketchy about hills, too.

A friend and I took the opportunity to skate a local interstate before it opened, and had the experience of onramps and then a large, high bridge. Unfortunately, it was a dark night on an unlit, unmarked, freshly paved blacktop over and through the swamp, so we couldn’t really open up going down the hills for fear of serious debris or even chains. But it was pretty educational getting to lean my skates sideways against the slope while doing a really wide slalom, it was kinda like training wheels for learning to do a hockey stop.

They need to put in more hills around here. I’m a gonna go start a petition or something.

[inlina]

Originally Posted by Bryan

Heh. I grew up in a very hilly, mountainous area, but I learned to skate in Wilmington, NC, which is a very flat area. So I’m, uhh, rather sketchy about hills, too.

I have skated with people that absolutely bomb down hills, but are intermediate skaters at most (some I would suggest are barely past beginner stage). They only know one way to stop (if any), their form is poor when pushing, their backwards transitions a bad (if they can even skate backwards) etc.

Being able to skate down a certain hill by no means defines much. For some skaters, the list of skills previously posted doesn't mean too much either, becasue it isn't entirely relevant. It would be good to pull together a very general list of skills that defines what level a recreational skater *could* be considered as it is a question I have seen asked before.

CG

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by inlina

...are intermediate skaters at most (some I would suggest are barely past beginner stage). They only know one way to stop (if any), their form is poor when pushing, their backwards transitions a bad (if they can even skate backwards) etc.

If you’ve got nothing nice to say about somebody, make sure I’m out of the damn room!

Originally Posted by inlina

Being able to skate down a certain hill by no means defines much.

Until you find yourself on such a hill wishing you had a skid plate on your chin...

[inlina]

Originally Posted by Bryan

If you’ve got nothing nice to say about somebody, make sure I’m out of the damn room!

O.K. then........ Was that sarchasm or did you miss my point?

Originally Posted by Bryan

Until you find yourself on such a hill wishing you had a skid plate on your chin...

Just because you are a little tense (or even very tense) about going down a hill doesn't mean you are a lesser skater. If it makes you think about what you are embarking on and the level of protection you take, then it can be a good thing.

CG

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by inlina

O.K. then........ Was that sarchasm or did you miss my point?

Sorry, I tend not to use smileys and such. Twas sarcasm. Sarchasm is that wide open space between the person making the joke and the person not getting the joke. But as a rule of thumb, if I said it, it wasn't serious.

Originally Posted by inlina

Just because you are a little tense (or even very tense) about going down a hill doesn't mean you are a lesser skater. If it makes you think about what you are embarking on and the level of protection you take, then it can be a good thing.

I know. I just joke about it in a self-effacing way. I figure for someone who only skates on level ground, I handle hills pretty well! I am gonna try and get more experience with hills, and I'm seriously considering putting my heel brake back on or even getting a GatorBrake thingy.

[KeLLy]

Chunchmeow did state that the list is for quads on an indoor wood floor. (artistic i presume)

The requirements for eg freeskating outside could be very different. Or for recreation fitness skating, for slalom skating, hockey, speed skating... .

[Alpha]

I started skating when I was around 11. The thing was that I had a group of friends who also had rollerblades and we would just go up and down the block, trying to beat out each other. It was because of the constant challenging of each other that I picked up tricks, got better and will put myself out of the beginners level. Sure, I might not know the technical terms for various things, but as long as I can perform it, I don't see a problem with not knowing the terms. I've been skating for about 10 years now, the most outrageous thing I've ever done was going down a big slope with a lot of twigs on the ground :P, going down a long steep slide, going down stairs and making a ramp and jumping over or off it. Its funny how when you're a kid, you don't know much fear... but now it'll probably take me a few more thoughts before doing all those above :x.

Anyways, basically, when are you no longer considered a beginner is totally up to yourself. How do you view a beginner? Do you skate with ease or are you stressing a bit to get things done? I've never had a teacher, everything I learned was through competiting with friends and skating by myself. You'd be surprised the things you can pick up just skating alone and testing stuff out. Lastly, skating should be fun, as long as you're having fun, who cares what "level" you consider yourself. I actually never thought about the level I'm at until I saw this thread.

[NYsk8m8]

In response to the original post, I'd like to know what types of classes you took (i.e. "learn to skate", figures, freestyle, etc.) Also, you mentioned dances and I'm just guessing on a hunch that they were either American or International dances (i.e. the "Glide Waltz" or "Straight Waltz"). In this instance there are test structures involved with Bronze dances being the most basic, Silver being intermediate and then the Gold advanced dances. You'd have to have the basics down before you could start these (fortunately they're not difficult to learn!)

Group lessons that start off with basics like learning how to push, glide, stop, etc. tend to run differently among rinks but the end result is to advance as far as possible and also decide what discipline you'd like to skate.

You mentioned that there seemed to be a gap between ability levels between the beginner and intermediate classes. This could be an opportunity to pursue private lessons to "catch up" to the intermediate class. Do any of these rinks offer private lessons? I'd check it out.

Personally for me (and I consider myself an intermediate skater) I would say a person has reached the intermediate level when they can skate forward and backward edges well, perform crossovers, chasse's, progressive runs, and swings well too. That would be for dance. I'm not sure what's involved for freestyle but I think that list of 8 that someone listed was for figures.

Good luck and happy skating!

[rwsz]

Originally Posted by NYsk8m8

In response to the original post, I'd like to know what types of classes you took (i.e. "learn to skate", figures, freestyle, etc.) Also, you mentioned dances and I'm just guessing on a hunch that they were either American or International dances (i.e. the "Glide Waltz" or "Straight Waltz"). In this instance there are test structures involved with Bronze dances being the most basic, Silver being intermediate and then the Gold advanced dances. You'd have to have the basics down before you could start these (fortunately they're not difficult to learn!)

Group lessons that start off with basics like learning how to push, glide, stop, etc. tend to run differently among rinks but the end result is to advance as far as possible and also decide what discipline you'd like to skate.

You mentioned that there seemed to be a gap between ability levels between the beginner and intermediate classes. This could be an opportunity to pursue private lessons to "catch up" to the intermediate class. Do any of these rinks offer private lessons? I'd check it out.

Personally for me (and I consider myself an intermediate skater) I would say a person has reached the intermediate level when they can skate forward and backward edges well, perform crossovers, chasse's, progressive runs, and swings well too. That would be for dance. I'm not sure what's involved for freestyle but I think that list of 8 that someone listed was for figures.

Good luck and happy skating!

well Ny in freestyle the test levels are the same although not as many people test there as they do in figures and dance. to be advanced you would need to do advanced footwork, class a spins and at least double jumps. i guess mostly the world class skaters do all the triples although they are starting them usually in junior and junior world class.

Rick

[Gailforce]

Originally Posted by NYsk8m8

In response to the original post, I'd like to know what types of classes you took (i.e. "learn to skate", figures, freestyle, etc.) Also, you mentioned dances and I'm just guessing on a hunch that they were either American or International dances (i.e. the "Glide Waltz" or "Straight Waltz"). In this instance there are test structures involved with Bronze dances being the most basic, Silver being intermediate and then the Gold advanced dances. You'd have to have the basics down before you could start these (fortunately they're not difficult to learn!)

Group lessons that start off with basics like learning how to push, glide, stop, etc. tend to run differently among rinks but the end result is to advance as far as possible and also decide what discipline you'd like to skate.

You mentioned that there seemed to be a gap between ability levels between the beginner and intermediate classes. This could be an opportunity to pursue private lessons to "catch up" to the intermediate class. Do any of these rinks offer private lessons? I'd check it out.

Personally for me (and I consider myself an intermediate skater) I would say a person has reached the intermediate level when they can skate forward and backward edges well, perform crossovers, chasse's, progressive runs, and swings well too. That would be for dance. I'm not sure what's involved for freestyle but I think that list of 8 that someone listed was for figures.

Good luck and happy skating!

My question about passing from the beginner level was just to see opinions from other skaters. I really don't care what level I'm at as long as I'm having fun - which I am. I am 55 and competition is not in my future but that doesn't mean I don't have the desire to learn as much as I can. To answer your question about the second rink, I went from a beginner class where the most difficult thing was skating backwards (we had never worked on crossovers, etc.) to a class where they were doing mohawks and 3 turns. One class went like this: "Ok do this" (demonstrates a mohwak turn). "Now do it on the other foot." "Now do it with a jump." "Now do it with the jump on the other foot". "Ok. Let now do this next". (3 turn) That was a couple months ago and I still can't do a mohawk turn! I had never even seen a dance but I'm starting to learn some (Bronze & Silver) and I love it! Doing the steps is well within my abilities but there is a lot of perfection to work on. I have joined the skating club so going to club practices will help a lot. It's all good.


Gail

[BWI-Sheldon]

To me, your a beginner until you skate with someone who is worse than you.

Ha Ha Ha Ha