So today was the day I tried out the new rink. Polar Ice Gilbert. It's a huge facility with 2 separate rinks (North Pole and South Pole, cute!). I arrived about 11:15 a.m., just before the Adult Level 1/2 class was getting started. I found the person who was filling in for the Director of Skating that day, a very nice woman named Teri. I told her I had been emailing last week and that the other Director (Uyen) said I could watch the Adult Classes to see where I fit in. She showed me where they were gathering, and I sat right on the sideline and watched. Come to find out, Level 1/2 was too easy for me. The teacher's name was Patti, and she was an older woman, very nice, and very patient. I liked her and was impressed. Patti also talked to me a bit while the skaters were practicing, and I told her I had taken about 20 lessons and was planning to join in November.
Just before the Adult Level 3/4 started, Patti said it was too bad I didn't have my skates, I could join them to try it out. Well, I had my skates in my car, so she let me run out and get them, and I ended up trying out their 1/2 hour class. Patti had an assistant (interestingly, named Heather!), and while Patti continued teaching the other 2 students in class, Heather helped me with the moves I wasn't quite caught up on. It was great! We did forward crossovers, and then we did 1-foot gliding on both edges in a circle, in both directions. Then we practices the mohawk turn, which I've not yet been able to complete because I'm still unsure about going backwards on one foot. But Heather held my hands and gave me the tip of trying to do it in an arc instead of in a straight line (as I had been practicing). We did the mohawk turn in both directions (I had never even tried the other direction, so that was new to me!). We also practiced C-cuts on both edges, which is also exactly what I've been working on with Tabitha.
Then Patti put down the orange cones and we practiced going in between them (thankfully on two feet!). She brought the cones progressively closer together, which of course made it more difficult. I had done this exact practice with Tabitha a few times, so I didn't have any problems, yay! It was obvious that Level 3/4 is right where I should be.
The other 2 students were practicing backwards crossovers, so I know that will be coming up for me very soon!
Overall, I was very impressed with the class, the teachers, and the facility, so I'll be signing up on October 21 (discount day), for classes starting in early November. I can't wait to get started some place new!
Oh, and I also went back to Oceanside and got a refund for the classes I'll no longer be attending there.
Looking forward to a new chapter in my skating!