Author Topic: Rinks with good coaches in the South East  (Read 3110 times)

LisaC

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Rinks with good coaches in the South East
« on: September 12, 2018, 02:10:26 pm »
Hello! There is a chance that we will return to the UK this year after living in the Middle East for the last 6 years. My 13 year old son has been skating for 3.5 years and will be looking to join a club and continue with his lessons.  I am looking for a rink where he might be able to skate 4 times a week with some off ice training. He has done only one test - ISU open freestyle silver, he has also only ever done one competition.Can anyone give me some advice on rinks and coaches? Is there a rink which has a few boys with similar age and skills? TIA :)

The Sacred Voice

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Re: Rinks with good coaches in the South East
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2018, 05:28:05 pm »
I can't help you with any specific info on coaches or South Eastern rinks in general as I've sadly never been to any. What I did do was try to assess which rinks male skaters of your son's age came from by analysing the recent male entrants to UK competitions, particularly ones held in the South East*. I wrote a lot of stuff originally, but the take home is basically this: whatever rink you end up at then your son will probably meet two or three other guys his age. There aren't a lot of guys in this sport in general (my own rink, Oxford, only has three or four at your sons age, compared to dozens of girls), but there are generally a few at each rink.

* Analysis based on competition entries is a bit flawed because not everyone competes, but it's the best I had to go on to indicate where has male skaters.

Based almost entirely on hearsay from speaking to the younger skaters at my rink, I know that there's a popular male coach in Chelmsford who coaches several achieving, young male skaters - I've no idea what his name is though.
« Last Edit: September 12, 2018, 07:40:41 pm by The Sacred Voice »
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black

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Re: Rinks with good coaches in the South East
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2018, 07:34:57 pm »
Left to right, roughly speaking;

Oxford Ice Rink   https://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/oxford-ice-rink/
Planet Ice Gosport   https://planet-ice.co.uk/locations/gosport/
Planet Ice Basingstoke   https://planet-ice.co.uk/locations/basingstoke/
John Nike Leisuresport, Bracknell   https://www.jnlbracknell.co.uk/
Planet Ice Milton Keynes   https://planet-ice.co.uk/locations/milton-keynes/
Slough Ice Arena   https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/slough-ice-arena/
Guildford Spectrum   http://www.guildfordspectrum.co.uk/ice-skating/
Planet Ice Hemel Hempstead   https://planet-ice.co.uk/locations/hemel-hempstead/
London, Queens Ice & Bowl   http://www.queensiceandbowl.co.uk/
London, Streatham ice and leisure centre   https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/lambeth/streatham-ice-and-leisure-centre
London, Alexandra Palace   http://www.alexandrapalace.com/ice-rink/
London, Sobell Leisure Centre   https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/islington/sobell/ice-skating
London, Lee Valley Ice Centre   http://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/outdoors/ice-centre/
Sapphire Ice & Leisure, Romford   https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/sapphire-ice-leisure/
Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre, Chelmsford   https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/leisure-theatres-and-museums/leisure-centres/riverside-ice-and-leisure-centre/ice-skating-at-riverside/
Planet Ice Gillingham   https://planet-ice.co.uk/locations/gillingham/

(The ice mouse - have I missed any?)

All these rinks normally run all year-round, and there are a number of additional seasonal rinks that are setup around Christmas time.

Hemel, Queens, & Sobell are not full size, plus Hemel has some handy pillars to help improve your co-ordination, & hold the roof up.

NISA, the current National Govening Body of Ice Skating in the UK, have a coaching accreditation program.
You can check this here; http://www.iceskating.org.uk/index.cfm/work-force-coaching/coaching/nisa-licensed-coach-levels-1-5-2018-2019/
Levels 1 to 5; with 5 being most NISA qualified.

Opinions on rink and coach quality are going to be subjective.

Purely on a competitive basis you could look at some previous results; http://www.iceskating.org.uk/index.cfm/events/competitions/nisa-competitions/
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black

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The greatest trick figure skaters ever pulled, was convincing the world it was easy.

LisaC

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Re: Rinks with good coaches in the South East
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2018, 05:54:29 am »
Thanks for your replies and very useful info!  O0

The ice mouse

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Re: Rinks with good coaches in the South East
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2018, 12:12:51 pm »

Black


I don't think you have


I prefer frozen ice. I will try anything once. I

hermitdave

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Re: Rinks with good coaches in the South East
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2020, 03:59:07 pm »
Did you find a rink ? You are welcome to visit Romford. I would like to think that the quality of coaching and skaters is decent. Graham Newberry and Edward Appleby both skate here.



 

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