Part of the problem in dressing for practice is the fact that skaters are exercising in freezing cold temperatures. When the skaters first get on the ice, or they are at a level where they don’t move very much, the body needs to be kept warm. Most rinks maintain the air temperature at approximately 35-40 degrees. The appropriate attire for the beginner and more advanced skater differs.

Skaters working on Basic Badges 1-3 need to keep warm throughout the sessions. A wind suit of nylon pants and jacket worn over leggings or tights and a turtleneck with sweatshirt over it will keep the skater warm and dry. The nylon will not absorb the moisture from the ice when the skater falls. As the skaters get warm, they can remove and rearrange the top layers as necessary.

As the skaters become more proficient, they may want to wear a skating dress or skirt and Mondors or tan colored tights. (This is not mandatory) The advantage of a skirt is that if a skater has to use the restroom she does not have to get completely undressed to do so. Clothing worn on the upper part of the body should fit close to the body so the coach can see the body alignment. Layers should consist of a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt and close fitting sweater or sweatshirt.

Skaters should keep an extra set of gloves in their skate bag. This way they can change when they become wet. A pair of shrinky gloves with a soft fleece mitten over should keep hands warm. Hair should be pulled back from the face. If it can touch your eyes it needs to be restrained. To keep the feet warm, the skater should not wear extra socks. Instead they should wear boot covers designed to keep the feet warm.

Private lessons are not arranged by the Marshfield Silver Laces Figure Skating Club. All of our instructors arrange their own private lessons. Choosing a private instructor is a personal choice. The Club recommends that you talk to a number of different instructors. You are employing them and need to make sure that they are compatible with you and/or skater. Discuss:

• What you expect to gain from lessons

• What you expect of them

• What competitions

• Who chooses competitions

• Who selects the music for your routine

• Who choreographs routines

• Questions regarding skate selections

Instructors can help you advance and train. An instructor helps you learn new skills, perfect current skills, choose the proper skates, help in developing programs for competitions, and provide music tapes for your programs.   A list of instructors is supplied for your convenience.

You may contact the instructors on this list, but you are not limited to these instructors. Contact your instructor before signing up for practice ice time. An instructor generally gives a 10-20 minute lesson to each of their students and that limits the number of students a coach can work with during a specific time. 

Instructor fees are determined by the individual instructor. Payment of fees is made directly to the instructor.

It is recommended to have an instructor once you reach the Freestyle 1 level. It is highly recommended that you contact an instructor early in the year as each instructor has a limited number of skaters they can coach. Due to the limited ice time, Silver Laces Figure Skating Club has a policy that a skater must be enrolled in group lessons concurrently with the private lessons. The exception would be the skaters that have passed out of all group lessons and still are interested in private lessons.

Availability of ice time will first go to skaters who have previously been established with a private instructor in the previous years.

Please: No requests on placement of your child in a certain class. Requesting a certain instructor puts limits on the way we can utilize the ice to our best advantage. All students are required to pass certain skills before advancing on to the next level. Our instructors decide which level a skater is placed. At some levels the skills are harder and it is not unusual to have to repeat the class two or three times, especially Basic 4 & Basic 5. A skater must pass all the skills in each level to advance.

We try to limit class size to 8 students and under.