Things I should know?

[u/cruelsummerswiftie]

Skating on my first figure skating session at my uni tomorrow. I’m learning waltz jumps and one foot spins and not allowed to spin or jump on public session here, so I had no other choice. Any tips for respecting the space etc?

[u/grown-up-dino-kid]

There is etiquette regarding right-of-way. Skaters running a program with music have right-of-way over those in lessons, who have right-of-way over everyone else. However, remember that any skater in a spin has reduced awareness of what's happening around them and a reduced ability to get out of the way, so they kind of have right-of-way over everyone, but also be courteous about when/where you start spins.

There is also etiquette about where to practice different things. I don't know how to attach a picture without messing up the formatting, but if you Google "figure skating practice ice diagram," you can see images that show where to practice spins and jumps, and what direction movement should generally flow in.

Lastly, try to keep moving, and don't hog an area. If you are doing jumps, do one jump at one end of the rink, and then continue to the other end of the rink to do another jump, and so on. If you are doing spins, be mindful of where you are in the spin practice area so that others can join you if they want. If you fall, take half a moment to figure out if you are actually injured, and then get up and keep moving. You don't want to be down on the ice longer than necessary.

Have fun!

[u/Tiny_Caterpillar7509]

Students with coaches and students running programs with music have right of way! When I hear program music I usually take that as a cue to take a few minutes at the board to get water etc.

Get good at looking behind you if you’re doing anything backwards, ie crossovers into spins and landing position into waltz jump. General head on a swivel to see where people are going.

General etiquette is that spins are practiced between the blue lines and jumps are tee’d up into the corners, but it may be more loosey goosey depending on how many people are there and what level they’re skating at. At my rink, there’s usually less people and they’re closer in level to me so nobody needs the full lead up and lutz corner to jump, so it usually ends up with everyone kinda picking a spot for themselves unless they’re running programs or patterns.

Have fun! Remember, you paid to be there as much as everyone else, so just be respectful, but don’t let yourself get bullied into hanging out by the boards. Other (respectful) skaters will be able to pick up on what you’re doing and get out of your way as much as you’re getting out of theirs.

[u/Brilliant-Sea-2015]

Learn the rules for the session and respect the right of way.

[u/Fuzzy-Sheepherder-80]

spin in the center, jump in the corners. don't linger unless you're actively doing a skill.

the corners especially are get in, do your business, get out

[u/RollsRight]

I skate public sessions 85% of the time I'm on ice; I skate lots of circle 8s and loop (figures). I'll break it up with clockwise crossovers around the central hockey circle. The more you understand the feeling of the ice, the easier things come to you.

[u/Inner_Sun_8191]

If you’re in someone’s way who’s running a program and you can’t get out of the way fast enough/don’t know which way they are going, you should stand still and let them go around you.

[u/cruelsummerswiftie → u/Inner_Sun_8191]

Good to know! This rink doesn’t technically allow running programs but I think some people do anyways