Sandbagging the group class

[Meli]

So the flyers went up for the next round of the group class.  There's Adult 1, and Adult 2/3.  This is my third round of Adult 2/3.  Now, I won't deny that my back edges need work, as do my back crossovers.  The problem is that my fellow sandbaggers have departed to hockey (pink laces and all!) and the remaining folks are more in line with the skill level of the class.  In this round, the instructor ended up being the same person that I take private lessons from, so she just adjusted things accordingly--they did 2 foot turns, I worked on 3 turns.  Not a big deal.  And if she asks what we want to work on, I generally defer to the other folks as to what they want to do.  Class size is usually around 2-4 people. 

Now I need to decide if I want to continue with the group.  Really, it's cheap. $110 for 8 weeks, plus I get free public on the class day, and I get 8 other free publics.  (Publics are $7 around here.)  Group is 6:45-7:15, there's an ice cut, and then public is 7:30-8:30, during which I take the private lesson.  So group is essentially a warm up for the lesson, and it also kills the time between work and the lesson, not to mention a few extra calories burned.

So really, in a lot of ways makes sense to go another round, but is it time for them to kick me out of group class?  If nothing else, I'm their example that chubby chicks can skate.   

[Loops]

I dunno...sounds like you have a pretty good deal to me!  I'd be reluctant to give that up I think.  How are the publics?  Full?  Skateable?  And it sounds like you're still getting something out of the class, so......why give up all that extra ice time?

[SynchKat]

If you are getting something from the class I say keep it up.  Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
I also always say you get out of a class what you put in.  You can make it as difficult or easy as you want.  I am typically the most advanced skater in the group classes I do and some of the lower level skaters will complain it's too easy.  Well I just push harder, so I get to the other end faster during exercises, or I work on my extension or often the coach will add a turn or two in for me.  It's just good being out on the ice with other like minded people. 

[Neverdull44]

Keep the group class, unless you are two or three levels higher then the group.   It's a great deal on ice time.   And, ice time is key to success.

There is always something that can be perfected.  Extension, carriage, speed, balance, another revolution to a spin.  Use that class as perfecting moves you already "know."

Plus, imagine all the adults you are inspiring by being there!

[Query]

Based on http://www.usfigureskating.org/Content/AdultCurriculum.pdf, you are beyond beyond USFS Adult BS 3, if that's what you mean.

Class size is 2-4, and you get your regular private coach? Unless your coach is unable to manage groups of mixed skill levels well, or the class only has a few square feet, this is a great deal, which incidentally gives the coach a chance to spend a bit more time looking at your skating before the lesson.

Plus, it motivates you to get there early and spend more time on the ice. And how else could you warm up on-ice before your lesson?

On the other hand, if it is at the same time, hockey would be a great warm up too - but the gear costs would be high.

[sarahspins]

Keep the group class, unless you are two or three levels higher then the group.   It's a great deal on ice time.   And, ice time is key to success.

There is always something that can be perfected.  Extension, carriage, speed, balance, another revolution to a spin.  Use that class as perfecting moves you already "know."

I ditto this, but even if you are many levels above the group, don't immediately assume you won't get anything out of a lower level group class.  For a couple of years I took a similar group class and was well above the level of the other skaters, and still felt like I got plenty out of it - mostly because if nothing else, it gave me the opportunity to focus on things that I otherwise wouldn't have wanted to spend private lesson time on, plus we often spent about half the class doing conditioning type moves, which are also not something I'd typically want to devote much private lesson time to either (I don't mind doing them, but I can just as easily go do them on my own after my lesson, I don't feel like paying for private lesson time to do them is a good use of money).

Since paying for the group isn't more than paying for the equivalent amount of publics would be, I'd stick with it.  The only reason I dropped my group class is that my rink stopped offering it at the time that made the most sense for me.  I picked up an extra 15 minutes of private instruction instead, but I often miss the group class.

[Meli]

Sounds like another round it is! I just didn't want to seem like a jerk for taking a class where there was a decent disparity in the skill levels.  It was a little easier when I had a couple of others at my level, but now I'm probably going to be the only one.  As they've been doing a lot of edge work, I've been working on holding the edges longer and improving control in preparation for the MIF tests.  I'm also not one to sacrifice my ice time if I don't have to do so.  I'm not sure who will be teaching it next time, (I had the ice dance coach the first two rounds), but my options tend to run to my coach, the ice dance coach, or the spin coach.  We'll see!

[skatezilla]

My rink offers Adult 1, Adult 2/3, Adult 4 and Adult FS. There are several of us who have taken a number of terms of Adult 4 because the next level scares us too much (it's all levels of FS and we're just not ready for it). The instructor doesn't mind and basically tailors the class to whatever we want to work on. Our group classes are $89 for 8 weeks and we get to skate free at ANY public session so it'a real deal.

[ChristyRN]

Our adult class ranges from Adult 1 (she's 68!) to my all-the-FS-levels. They do break us up, but my group has me, one beginning jumper, and one in ~Adult 4. I love the fun we have and nobody thinks I'm sandbagging because I do what the rest do, just more. They're working on waltz? I do one or two then move on to toe or sal. When we do edges, I do about twice what they do. It never hurts to work on the basics because it's what everything is built on and the stronger your base, the stronger your upper skills.

I can also add the adult skater perspective. We have a great coach (she does my privates), but she started as a kid. Sometimes hearing a different perspective or wording can make all the difference in the world. I can add that in.

[PinkLaces]

Are they expecting you to move up to a group class with the kids? I ask because I skate at 2 different rinks and there 2 different expectations.

Old rink - Once you get out of ISI Delta, they expect you to take group lessons with the kids. Unless there are 3 or more adults in FS. Then we get our own class.

New Rink: Adult group is every level. There are 2 coaches that split their time between all the students. Current class has 12 everything from Pre-Alpha to FS 4/5.

If the class is that small, I would just stay in it unless they tell you to take a different class.

[mamabear]

I stayed in group class long past Adult 4 because it came with a free practice session each week and the class size was very small.  For a long time, it was on the schedule as a group class but it was just me.   Sometimes there would be another skater who was a level or two above or below me and that worked fine.

Eventually, some brand new adult skaters started and the instructor was trying to do Adult 1, Adult 3 and it didn't work quite as well.  I moved to private lessons at that point.  I still take part in a group class for power and edges and I do like skating with other people.  I think it pushes me to try harder.  Sure, the other skaters are kids but they are nice kids and I enjoy skating with them.