Learn to Skate USA (USFSA Basic Skills Rebranding)

[cittiecat]

Here is USFS thought process:

You are an ADULT, you are afraid of jumping, you WILL be prepared to do DancE! Even if you're 20 and can jump like a bean, we will prpare you to DANCE. You are an ADULT YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. WE WILL MAKE THAT DECISION FOR YOU!

Well said! I'm a bit annoyed that they just stripped out a lot of Adult 5 and 6, I'm technically Adult 4 because my one side of back crosses and I cannot find happiness, though I have several of the skills in 5 and 6. I am about to take a month off from learn to skate after July 2 because I am studying for the bar exam and I am likely to come back and not really have a place in Learn to Skate anymore. I think our rink offers some group free skate but I'm not sure. I'm kinda hoping our rink decides not to follow this.

On another note, I am afraid of jumping, but I am super excited to do it.

[ChristyRN]

I am about to take a month off from learn to skate after July 2 because I am studying for the bar exam

Study hard/smart. My daughter has taken (and passed) the bar in both Georgia and California.

Skating will still be there, even if you have to play with the kids. Our bridge class is half adult/half kid and we make it work.

[skategeek]

Out of curiosity, has anyone who signed up actually gotten their membership packet yet?  I joined on June 1 and haven't gotten anything so far.  I'm not worried or anything (yet) but curious to know if others have gotten anything so I know whether I need to chase mine down.

[AgnesNitt]

Out of curiosity, has anyone who signed up actually gotten their membership packet yet?  I joined on June 1 and haven't gotten anything so far.  I'm not worried or anything (yet) but curious to know if others have gotten anything so I know whether I need to chase mine down.

Nope, not yet

[skategeek]

Nope, not yet

Guess we'll just have to be patient.

[FigureSpins]

Out of curiosity, has anyone who signed up actually gotten their membership packet yet? 

Nope, haven't gotten my member or instructor package as yet but it's only been a few days.

[sarahspins]

I got a bunch of swag from my rink (pens, stickers, chapstick) but nothing from LTS USA directly. I completed my instructor registration on the 13th.

[FigureSpins]

At the PSA Conference, they gave out sticker sheets, chapsticks, bag tags, pencils/pens, skate towels and t-shirts. 
They also had promo flyers and a glossy booklet for coaches/directors to take home.

I wanted a t-shirt but I was sitting in the back of the room on the "wrong side" so I didn't have a shot at winning one during their presentation.

I'll use or give away the pens and pencils throughout the season.

I cut the stickers apart and have been giving them to skaters here and there at the rink.

Used the chapstick right away - it was really dry in NV/AZ.  The bag tag is hanging on my skate bag handle.

Took home three towels and I was tempted to score a few more but didn't want to appear greedy.
Reminds me of a Yogi Berra quote:  "The towels [at the hotel] were so thick there, I could hardly close my suitcase."
Gave towels to two of my skating students who didn't have drying cloths in their skate bags.

A few years ago, US Figure Skating gave out zipper pulls in the shape of ice skates that had "It's Great to Skate!" imprinted.  I had one on every coaching jacket - so much easier to zip/unzip while wearing gloves.  I'm down to my last one, sadly.

Good, practical tchotchkes are the best.  I didn't need a t-shirt, but still, I would have liked to have won one.

[jumptwist]

Has this program/curriculum been useful to anyone here? I've heard a lot about it and it sounds interesting. Just wanting to know. Thanks!

Here's the website https://www.learntoskateusa.com/

[Isk8NYC]

Mod Note: Discussions merged.

[AgnesNitt]

Update: Still no sight of my package from LTS USA.

[skategeek]

Same here.

ETA:  I just e-mailed them to see if we could get a rough estimate of when to expect them

[Isk8NYC]

I received a shipment notification yesterday for a package but it is probably for our club. 

[skategeek]

I just got a reply from LTS USA saying they'll be mailing things out starting next week.

[AgnesNitt]

We should start a pool on what's going to be in the package.
My bet is a stapled handbook, a pen, and a letter. More than a brochure, less than a manual.

[skategeek]

ID card with member number?

[AgnesNitt]

ID card with member number?

Good point. Card and brochure. Dang nab it I want a gimmee pen!

[AgnesNitt]

For you coaches, on the LTS USA website if you click on the FAQs button there's a bunch of videos on how to manage the website. I don't know why it's on the member's section (because the coaches/directors section is separate).

[Isk8NYC]

Card, special Skating magazine, skills-tracking book.  (Hopefully without typos)

[skategeek]

Also, according to the web site, a parent handbook.

[sarahspins]

Card, special Skating magazine, skills-tracking book.  (Hopefully without typos)

You dream big!

[Isk8NYC]

You dream big!

Hey - I'm trying to be more positive than my usual curmudgeonly self.

Since the website still has the pdf errors in the curricula, weeks after I pointed them out in writing, I assume the package will be incorrect as well.  Really - it would have only taken a few hours to get a volunteer to review the documentation.  The hyper-speed release schedule tells me that they didn't want any input other than the few, select people they included.

My tracking email said it was scheduled to be shipped on 6/28 and received yesterday.  When I checked the status (since it didn't arrive) this morning, it said FedEx checked in the physical package on 6/29 and it should arrive today. There is a time difference, so no big deal.  Can't wait to see what's inside!  It's a 4-lb package but I suspect it's the Skating Director materials, not the Member or Instructor package.

They

[Isk8NYC]

It was a package for the Club, not the individual, sorry.  It contains a bundle of pencils, another of pens, two stacks of sticker sheets, the little bag tags, lip balm and Snowplow Sam zipper pulls as well as small handouts about LTS USA.  Nice timing - we have our Club's Spring Membership Meeting this weekend so we have giveaways!

My instructor's package and my students' membership packets haven't arrived as yet.

[AgnesNitt]

Wail...wail...I haven't got any freebies yet! Send me one!

[skategeek]

My individual LTS USA member materials arrived today (or maybe earlier; I've been out of town).  As advertised, you get a membership card, magazine, skater record book, and parent handbook.  The card is attached to the insert that has the address label.  The skater record book (about 5" x 8") has some general info at the front (helmets and clothing, lacing skates, etc.) and then the rest of the booklet lists the skills for all the different programs (Snowplow Sam, Basic, Adult, etc.) and has stickers to use to indicate when a skill has been passed.  Gold stars!

The one additional thing I would love to see is the description of the actual passing standard for each skill, but I'm guessing that's in the instructor materials.