Planet Ice's "Learn to Skate in 5 Days" Course

[Lily]

Hi everyone. Haven't started a SkateUK course yet, although I have had lessons in the USA so i'm not a total beginner. Was just looking to start a 6 week course over the summer when I saw the "learn to skate in 5 days" course advertised which has a 30 minute lesson every day for 5 days and it's £50. Has anyone done this and do you think it would be worth it? Was also wondering if it is mainly aimed at young children? i'm 21. thanks!

[iSk8]

Depends on the level of 'skating' you would expect to have after 5 days and where you're actually starting from.

I suspect that it's aimed at absolute beginners, and probably schoolchildren during the summer holidays, with an aim of being able to skate forwards and backwards safely, but not that well.

You need to assess your skating objective and choose some appropriate course or coaching.  What can you do and what do you hope to be able to do?

[linny40]

I would say a course like that is for total beginners as said to get them "moving" you cant learn an awful lot in 5 days of 30 mins, just the basics

best thing is to ask them exactly what the course teaches and explain your level and see what they have to say. It may not be an age range as such just total novices

[pagesjk]

I work at Planet Ice. The course is aimed at beginners and they will go through the Skate UK program. so if you can a bit then you could get to grade 3 or 4 by the end of the week. The coaches at the rink i work at ask that they don't have anyone above grade 4 on the intensive course. It is a good way of jumping up the first few grades before moving onto the weekly learn to skate programs which take the grades at a slightly slower pace - passing one or two grades every 6 weeks.
Any other questions just ask.

[Lily]

Depends on the level of 'skating' you would expect to have after 5 days and where you're actually starting from.

I suspect that it's aimed at absolute beginners, and probably schoolchildren during the summer holidays, with an aim of being able to skate forwards and backwards safely, but not that well.

You need to assess your skating objective and choose some appropriate course or coaching.  What can you do and what do you hope to be able to do?

i'm pretty much a beginner, but i can do snowplow and T stops, 1 foot glides, forward and (just about) backwards crossovers, swizzles, two foot turns, a bunny hop, things like that. i guess what I was hoping was to get assessed to see what grade i'm actually at, and maybe get some grades under my belt before i start doing the 6 week courses, as i don't really want to have to go through 6 weeks of levels 1 and 2. i havent skated in about 5 months either so just to get some confidence back.

I work at Planet Ice. The course is aimed at beginners and they will go through the Skate UK program. so if you can a bit then you could get to grade 3 or 4 by the end of the week. The coaches at the rink i work at ask that they don't have anyone above grade 4 on the intensive course. It is a good way of jumping up the first few grades before moving onto the weekly learn to skate programs which take the grades at a slightly slower pace - passing one or two grades every 6 weeks.
Any other questions just ask.

thanks for your reply. would i get to be assessed individually then or learn anything past grade 3 or 4? also is it likely i would be the only adult there?

[angelgirls29]

At our rink (from the very little I've seen) they skate, stop and try backwards.

Your best bet is probably having a 15min private lesson, explain to the coach that you've skated before and get them to assess you. Then, if you're missing an element, they can show you and they can sign off your levels before you start the 6 weeks courses.

[skatebrasil]

I think the Learn to skate in 5 days is a good incentive for people of all ages to experiment with skating on ice with a coach as opposed to just going skating for the afternoon. It can then follow on to the SkateUK program that is well organised and busy at Birmingham Ice Leisure Box.

[Lily]

At our rink (from the very little I've seen) they skate, stop and try backwards.

Your best bet is probably having a 15min private lesson, explain to the coach that you've skated before and get them to assess you. Then, if you're missing an element, they can show you and they can sign off your levels before you start the 6 weeks courses.

I contacted Planet Ice Cardiff about private lessons a while ago and they said they would just pass my details on to the coaches, however I haven't heard anything yet. I tried emailing the head coach from the Cardiff Ice School website however the email bounced.

If I do go straight into SkateUK courses and start at the class for levels 1&2, is it possible to move up to the class for levels 3 to 5 in the same 6 weeks? (they are at different times)

[linny40]

I contacted Planet Ice Cardiff about private lessons a while ago and they said they would just pass my details on to the coaches, however I haven't heard anything yet. I tried emailing the head coach from the Cardiff Ice School website however the email bounced.

If I do go straight into SkateUK courses and start at the class for levels 1&2, is it possible to move up to the class for levels 3 to 5 in the same 6 weeks? (they are at different times)

I would imagine that depends on your coach at the rink, but cant see why not if they think your advanced enough.
Contact them again by phone and say you have waited sometime for someone to get back to you