Meh
For an app presumably targeted at coaches of young beginning skaters, this app does the bare minimum. The descriptions of the skills sound like they are pulled straight from the online Learn to Skate instructional notes. There are icons meant to show how current the app is, but since the skills and levels highlighted have been part of the Snowplow Sam curriculum for years it just makes the app seem dated.
Furthermore, as a coach, I’m disappointed with the video examples of marching and forward skating. They have only one video of each skill, and the little skater demonstrating the skill is using her toe picks to advance. It would be better to have a variety of examples so you can see natural variations in the execution of those skills. It would also be better if the demonstration video showed proper edge use.
Furthermore, as a coach, I’m disappointed with the video examples of marching and forward skating. They have only one video of each skill, and the little skater demonstrating the skill is using her toe picks to advance. It would be better to have a variety of examples so you can see natural variations in the execution of those skills. It would also be better if the demonstration video showed proper edge use.
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Great app - easy to use
These apps are great. Chock full of useful information and video samples. Easy to use if you're a coach or student. They also make great reference for the casual skater. Cant wait to see what comes next.
Age appropriate videos!
This is a great app to help show parents and skaters what their child should be able to do to pass a level! Parents have long said, I don't know what the skills should look like, so I don't know how to help my skater when they practice. No more! With this inexpensive app, a parent can help their skater during skate practice away from their learn to skate instructor! Students can know what they should look like and practice away from the instructor to come back the next week with the new skill improved drastically due to the time spent practicing!
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Pretty Neat
The app is really helpful. It lists the skills that as shown in the US FIgure Skating basic skills program record book for the level purchased, in this case Snowplow Sam. Clicking on each skill launches a quick video that shows someone performing each skill. If the skill involves using both the right and/or the left foot, the video shows each one.You can rotate your phone to view the video in portrait view and much larger. That is about it- it simply has organized videos, no additional tips, tricks, etc. However, it is soooo much more helpful than the Record Book to see what you will be tested on.
I like for the Snowplow videos that it uses a skater who appears to be about 5 years old. She performs the skills just like real snowplow skater would- i.e. very well, but not as smoothly as a 14 year old would.
I also LOVE that the Snowplow 3 skater is wearing a helmet. I think that it is great that U.S. Figure Skating is tacitly encouraging kids and their parents to play it safe. At the Snowplow Sam age, kids genearlly don't have the speed or strength to tuck their chins when falling, nor the coordination to ensure that they don't take a nasty fall.
I also purchased the adult app, since I take skating lessons at the same time as my daughter. The videos helped me to better understand some of the things that my coach had been trying to explaing to me. It was helpful to watch them over and over (whereas my coach generally only demos them once) so that I could watch for arm position, then feet, then body, etc. I think it will really help me when I practice, especially if I can't remember exactly what I was supposed to do.
I like for the Snowplow videos that it uses a skater who appears to be about 5 years old. She performs the skills just like real snowplow skater would- i.e. very well, but not as smoothly as a 14 year old would.
I also LOVE that the Snowplow 3 skater is wearing a helmet. I think that it is great that U.S. Figure Skating is tacitly encouraging kids and their parents to play it safe. At the Snowplow Sam age, kids genearlly don't have the speed or strength to tuck their chins when falling, nor the coordination to ensure that they don't take a nasty fall.
I also purchased the adult app, since I take skating lessons at the same time as my daughter. The videos helped me to better understand some of the things that my coach had been trying to explaing to me. It was helpful to watch them over and over (whereas my coach generally only demos them once) so that I could watch for arm position, then feet, then body, etc. I think it will really help me when I practice, especially if I can't remember exactly what I was supposed to do.
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