You are lucky! Unfortunately, not all rinks are that diligent.

Yeah I worry that the head guy might leave some day, then that diligence is questionable. Though the next guy in line is great also.

If you are properly fitted and have impact protecting insoles, you have some protection. The heel itself isn't necessarily "bad" if you are in the best boot option for you. However, the impact of landing jumps can affect your back and joints. That's why it's always best to get fitted by a trusted professional and work with a trained U.S. Figure Skating coach so that you can minimize the risks.

That has not been my experience and a lot of my skaters wear Jackson! However, any boot will wear out quickly if its too big, the laces are not tied correctly, or if it doesn't provide the skater enough support for their height, weight, skating level/style of skating. That's why it's always best to get fitted by a professional skate tech to find the best boot for you. Another thing to consider is that different people have unique expectations about how long a boot should last. Depending on how often you skate and how quickly you progress, you can't really expect the boot to last longer than a year in a growing foot. Have you watched this video? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UZH9jBYLm-E.html

I don't have any personal experience in that area. Have you asked your coach, skating director, or other skaters at your rink where they go? If you don't have a shop in your area, I have another video about options you can consider: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MqYmERC5tgk.html

I don’t have a coach rn but I asked some skaters at the rink today, one recommended a place that specializes in hockey and the other recommended polar skate shop so I think I’ll brave the one hour drive when I have time 😅

Yes, many skaters from all over come up to Polar Skate Shop! Just be sure to make an appointment on the website!

If Edea skates are properly fitted and maintained -> meaning you were fitted for the appropriate skate for your skating level and where you want to progress, have them shaped for your foot by an Edea-certified dealer, store them correctly, tie them the Edea way, and replace the laces each time you get your skates sharpened, Edea skates can last for quite a long time! The biggest reason that people say Edea doesn't last long is that they are incorrectly sized, tied, and never change their laces. You cannot compare Jackson's support to Edea's, as they differ entirely. The technology in Edea provides lateral support, so the support level does not impact your ability to bend your knees and ankles. The best thing to do is to discuss it with your group lesson instructor, the group lesson skating director, and your skate tech. They can provide you with more specific information for you and your skating. I also have a video about skates for teens here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DB0hlPMYkbg.html and more videos that explain what you need to know about Edea here: ru-vid.com/group/PLhIvo-BmGcaU91rtAwdxyzWWFiWW_6QCc&si=CdfwkNNhwOnzWWsJ

OMG! I almost forgot about them at this point!

If the Jackson boot you have is working for you, that's great! Jackson is a brand that makes a variety of different skate models. More information about Jackson's models and how they relate to skills level is available here: jacksonultima.com/pages/jackson-fit-guide Additionally, I have many more videos about how to select the best skate for you: ru-vid.com/group/PLhIvo-BmGcaWrdSOyrzbgzakn8HtnAGqV&si=1Jp_wnXBGesL3ZPQ

I'm sure your coach prepared you if they cannot be there. Take a deep breath and count to ten. You got this!

Thank you❤️ 3 hour countdown 🤞

Bandy skates are similar to hockey goalie skates. They have a longer blade that is more flat. The boot doesn't have a tendon guard.

Ember is a recreational skate designed for casual outdoor skating. The support rating is low and they are intended for style over instruction. This is why you do not see them listed in Reidell's support guide. I have tried on the Ember and found them very uncomfortable. I would not recommend them to a skater that is interested in learning to skate.

Absolutely! I did a video about the differences between hockey skates and figure skates: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8EAUs_BDSVw.html

Yep, went back to hockey skates and buying a new pair for good soon after. Breaking years of muscle memory wasn't going to happen.

@duncan4260 it’s easier to switch from figure skates to hockey skates.

The purpose of off-ice training is to strength and condition figure skaters. It's not meant to prepare someone that is not a figure skater for skating. If you are a dancer doing sport specific training for figure skating, I would think that could be detrimental to your dancing. In reality, many figure skaters do dance as part of their off-ice training. In my experience many skaters that come from dance excel more easily in figure skating.

Ah thank you! Is there anything else that I could do to prepare myself for being able to skate?

@user-om7ho9et9w not really. You already have athleticism through dance.

My experience is that Jackson is a good starting point. However, as skaters progress they find they have different needs and preferences. Some skaters stay with Jackson, while others move over to Risport, Edea, etc. Everyone is different.

They best place to start is with group lessons. You can ask your instructor or the skating director where the best place is to go to purchase your own skates.

That’s a common issue many of my skaters experience in Jackson - heel lifting. I used to experience it with Riedell. However, I’ve not experienced it at all in Edea. It could be the design or specific feet doing better in one brand over another. I’ve had skaters switch to Risport and Edea and the problem has been solved. Lower cut boots can provide for easier/deeper knee/ankle bend. However, they also don’t provide as good ankle support for jumping. That’s why lower cut boots are typically marketed for ice dance. In my experience, Edea provides the same level mobility without sacrificing support.

Would an ankle/tendon combo sleeve work to help the slippage until my next pair of skates, to get me through basic skills? I will look into Edeas at upgrade, but wanted to go traditional initially to be able to develop good fundamental skills before considering another brand. I don’t mind to pay money where needed, but also want to make sure that I also get exactly what I need. I will definitely look into Edea when the time comes for my next pair. Because I am on limited income, I do have to save well in advance.

@bradleyolinger1691 it might, you’d have to try it out. You could also consult with your skate tech.

RU-vid handles the copyright claims for anything posted to RU-vid. So, essentially, yes.

Happy to help!

The MTA actually has its own rules in place for music on public transit: new.mta.info/agency/arts-design/music/subway-performance-rules

Thank you! Good point!

Have you asked your group lesson instructor or the skating director what they recommend? That’s the best place to start!

Not yet, I’ll definitely do that next lesson! Thanks a ton!!

Unfortunately, no, it’s not fair use. Even elementary schools have to pay licensing to put on a play!

They may be similar, but not the same.

I'm not sure which competitions you are referring to. Larger competitions that are broadcast by NBC and Peacock will obtain licenses to broadcast.

The usage of the word "streaming" is what threw me off, as in my mind it implies any internet broadcast. But also many if these comps happen at odd times or while I'm at work, and I used to have the ability for replaying the streams. That definitely would be streaming, I believe, so that would need to go away

It's intended for local competitions that used to be streamed for parents and those who post competitions on RU-vid with the appropriate licensing to do so.

Purchasing music without a performance license, only gives you the right to listen to the track - not perform to it.

It's been discussed but no one knows what the answer is! Would that be exempt under "educational" grounds? Maybe they will address it tonight in the Town Hall!

If they pay for rights beyond the blanket license they already purchased, you can expect that membership fees and competition registration fees will increase.

In most cases, the owner of the work is not the record company. Rather, the artists are usually the owners. Do you think they should not receive payment for what they created when you use it for your benefit?

I think fair use should be expanded to included when enforcement of copyright law would encroach on expression in a way that's disproportionate to the amount of profit gained. I'm saying this as someone who HAS copyrighted music many times with money from my own pocket. I think it's completely fair to have people use something that's ultimately for public enrichment - especially if the people using it aren't MAKING MONEY from it, as most adult skaters like me aren't. It puts an unfair burden on regular people that provides negligible, if any, noticeable benefit to an artist. Also it's not necessarily ALWAYS the artists going after people, it is often companies and notoriously many times even artists themselves get copyright strikes for using their own music on their own channels. I would care more if this wasn't 100% about corporations wanting to have control over every facet of people's lives and milking them for all they're worth. That's the issue for me. I would be more than happy to pay an additional fee to USFS to keep freedom and keep corporations off our backs to be honest, though I think it's ridiculous. Personally, I don't think copyrights make any sense to enforce unless someone is making money by claiming your work as theirs. This may be a way I differ ideologically with many people, but I don't think Taylor Swift is going to starve because someone uses two minutes of her song at a competition, the same way Walmart isn't going to go bankrupt if they unlock their dumpsters and let unhoused people look for usable food in them. I mean....For the artists who do have the resources to ruthlessly brutalize people over copyrights, every penny they "lose out" on they have absolutely already stolen from the people by dodging taxes and/or relying on labor exploitation or harming the environment irreversibly. If anything, they should be GIVING BACK.

Also not to mention that like...I ALREADY PAY when I use a song. Usually twice because I pay for a digital version of a song in addition to owning an album. I think that's more than enough times to make up for the one time I play half a song at a performance. It just gets to be ridiculous. Big media is the only thing like this. If I go buy a shirt at Walmart, I don't have to negotiate a licensing contract to wear it outside.

When you buy an album or song, what you pay for is the personal right to listen to it. Unfortunately, you are not purchasing any rights to perform to the song.

Technically, under the letter of the law you could not record music with a virtual singles free skate test. Unless U.S. Figure Skating knows of a loop hole?

Absolutely! That's why USA Cheer provides a list of providers who have signed agreements and pledge to follow copyright law, serving as a resource for the cheer and dance community: usacheer.org/music-provider-directory

This is totally BS. There is nothing that says you cannot arrange or edit music for accompaniment of skating programs. Fair Use doctrine allows for limited use of music, particularly for non-commercial purposes. The person arranging the music is not performing or distributing music in any way that infringes on the rights holder's rights. There is nothing illegal in editing and/or arranging accompaniment for a skating competition performance. Copyright law does make provisions for this purpose. The purpose of the music is not for performance of the music, it's for the performance of the skater.

Actually, there is a federal law that says you cannot arrange or edit music. It even applies to public schools! Fair use legally cannot apply to performances for recreation or entertainment for _ any part_ of the audience. Ultimately, and unfortunately, relying on fair use as a defense is risky,

You're welcome! I think U.S. Figure Skating could have provided more resources and education leading into this. Unforuntaly, to my knowledge, there is no such thing as a blanket license for streaming or recording - that's a different license and it can't be blanketed the way a performance license is.

What they are failing to understand is that this use is NOT a performance of the music, it's a skating performance using the music as accompaniment. This use should fall squarely within the Fair Use doctrine.

A skating performance is governed by performance licensing under the law. Legally, it is not fair use.

It does! There's nothing to stop skaters from using a tone or drone like sound and skating to that!

What about a metronome for ice dance? There is that rule about requiring music to fit the character of the dance, though.

@@danasuperstar I think it may be time to make "protest" the character 😂

It's actually a federal law in the United States. So, it doesn't actually have to be an organization's policy for it to apply. However, U.S. Figure Skating decided to take an official stance so that all members know their responsibility under the law regarding copyright and music clearance. USA Cheer has done a great job with its member education and resources. You can see what they do here: usacheer.org/music

It was only a matter of time. I was talking with another coach a year or two ago and she was asking about this specifically. I remember saying that I think we're going to see something like this happen. Although, as I imagined it, it would have been much more organized and better prepared everyone!

USA Cheer provides its members with a list of approved providers that have pledging to follow copyright law when editing, creating, arranging, icensing, publishing or distributing compositions, recordings, or music productions. I think that is a great solution and U.S. Figure Skating could have had that in place before making the announcement. You can view USA Cheer's music resources here: usacheer.org/music

IDK how Skate Canada is handling this.

You can contact the rights holder directly. However, usually an agent does that on your behalf. That's the role that ClickNClear has.

What if a song is 20% on BMI and 78.76% on ASCAP--- combined total of 98.76% and ClickNClear does not have it in their database. What is the fastest way to get the 1.24% so that a skater can use it?

As I understand it, you would have to obtain permission from the other 1.24% of the right holders. If you need assistance, please reach out to music@usfigureskating.org.

@@miss-melody-tan USFS is not going to be policing each and every skater's song used at a local competition. This policy basically means that if there is a law suit for you using that song, they won't provide support legally. You're responsible. So use it at your own risk.

Exactly!

I'm sure broadcast feeds on NBC, the Olympic Channel, USA, Peacock, etc., will still have music. This seems to be targeted at smaller competitions that are not broadcast not through a network.

That depends on the source. How do you know it's not under copyright?

On YT there are lots of no copyright music marked videos for ppl to use maybe as background music etc.

@linkchen8245 that’s up to you if you want to take their word for it.

There are channels such as breaking copyright that has them. I have been using them on my youtube videos. But its always safe to double check

The date on the policy states it was approved by the BoD on 5/24/2024. I would like to know why it took a month to announce it to the membership.

Thank you! I realize that the rights ownership can be transferred. I was just keeping this high level for the figure skating audience. My family used to own a 40 seat restaurant (20+ years ago), and we had to get a license from ASCAP and BMI to play music.

U.S. Figure Skating's blanket licenses with ASCAP and BMI only cover your performance. It does not include any recording or streaming clearances, as that would require a sync license, and there is no blanket option for it. Each social media platform has its own policy on copyright. If you are posting videos to RU-vid, you can read its policy here: ru-vid.compolicies/copyright/

I run a small Photo/Video company that only does figure skating. We cover a lot of national marquee events for USFSA. I tried to get a license to continue to offer videos with music or live stream with music from ASCAP and BMI. I was told I needed a synchronicity license and they did not sell such a thing. To continue I would need to contact the publisher of each owner of every piece of music. I am considering shutting down the video portion of my business.

@KrPhotogs I’m sorry to hear that. Yes, according to federal law, you would need a sync license for each song. It can be expensive and can take a while. My suggestion is to still record without sound and the skaters can play their track while they watch the video.

In my area, the only option for skating is U.S. Figure Skating. I know that other areas of the country have ISI, but copyright law is the same - regardless of the organization's policy on it. USA Cheer has a similar policy to U.S. Figure Skating, although it seems to provide better resources and information for its members. Maybe that will come U.S. Figure Skating in time?