What should I choose? PLEASE HELP!?

Question

Ok so I have a hugeee problem!
My family is not rich at all and I've been skating for 2 years now. My mom recently (in October?) cut my lessons down to 15 minutes a week (yes omg :( im serious). I know they do so much for me so I can't really complain, and my mom is trying really hard to get a job so that I can get at least 30 minutes a week. (I have 4 brothers, all under 16) 

Ok so anyways. My coach said that with only one 15 minute private lesson I'll have to choose what I want to focus on, moves in the field or freestyle. 

I want to do moves in the field because I'm on a synchronized skating team, this year we competed pre-juvenile and my coach said I'm one of the best and strongest skaters on the team. Next year she wants to put me on the higher team (we would go to nationals :)) I really really want to, but I would have to pass pre-juvenile and juvenile moves in the field tests within 2 years. (I just recently passed preliminary). I'm not the best at moves in the field but my coach and assistant coach think I could do it! And they really want me on the higher level team, but I really have to pass the tests.This is the choice my coach wants me to choose because she is my synchro coach too and most of her students take from her just for MIF.
I don't want to do MIF, because it bores me.

I want to focus on freestyle (jumps and spins) because they are much more fun to practice, to be honest I love to fall and feel like I'm trying really really hard and that I'm a good skater. (i feel like this only for jumps) and the feeling of finding your sweet spot on a spin is irreplacable. I just started my axel for jumps and I feel like I'm semi close to landing it (maybe another month...?). Anyways so I really want to land it and move on to my doubles. :)

I definitely love jumps and spins more than MIF, but I feel like if I don't land my axel during my lessons than i'm just wasting time...Also I won't be able to compete singles, my favourite part of the year if I choose MIF. But if I don't do MIF, in 2 years or maybe this year I could end up being the only one of my friends on the lower team, which if that happened I would quit without a doubt, because the girls on that team can't skate and led us to almost tears every practice. 

I have no idea what to do. My coach said I couldn't split my lessons in half or do an every other week thing, but she said if I chose MIF than every so often I could do freestyle (like once a month). But I wouldn't be able to compete. :(

What do you think I should choose? I can't bear to think of not being on the higher synchro team where I've been aiming for since my 1st day of synchro (1.5 years ago). but I love to compete with singles and I was going to compete at pre-pre 3 this year and I was super excitedd... this choice is like about to make me cry! 

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD CHOOSE?   



PS: Does anyone have super quick ways to earn money for skating? (my rink doesn't higher people under 16 and I'm 14 :()
PPS: random- has anyone tried cashcrate? I heard it was a great way for money (I lovee to take surveys). My dad says its a scam. Nothing I show him will make him belive. Any experience? Or anyway to persuade my dad? haha thanks.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

You can get a job at 14. Babysitting of course, paper routes, and some fast food places hire 14 year olds. My friend got a job working at a family owned Mexican restaurant when she was 14 so that she could help pay for gas to drive to the ice rink more often (they live 1 hr away from the rink) and so she can save up for her own car once she can drive herself to the rink. So getting a job would be a good start. If you can't find any jobs, then babysitting would be your next alternative. Those online "make money soon!" websites are 99% positive to be a scam. Your dad is right, he's had a lot more experience in the world than you.

Anyways, if I were you, I would do MITF (moves in the field) lessons and still practice freeskate, aka jumps and spins. You're probably nowhere close to landing your axel if you just started and are skating nowhere near close to as much as you should per week. It takes most skaters at least a year of skating 4-5 hrs per week to land their axel. There are exceptions, but your skating and lesson time situation doesn't make that encouraging. If money wasn't a problem here, you should be having 30 min to an hour of lessons per week, then practicing for 3-4 hours outside of that. But since money is an issue, just skate as often as you can afford. Again, get a job! You can work five hours at minimum wage and make over $35, so that easily pays for one lesson. And if your parents see you are contributing, then they may be willing to spend a little more on your skating. 

Focus on field moves now, get to the higher synchro team. You can pass pre-juv and juv FM in two years, but you have to be dedicated to it. I passed preliminary in late 2008/early 2009ish, pre-juv failed in Sept. 2009, pre-juv passed in Jan. 2010, juv failed may 2010, juv passed July 2010. (Intermediate passed April 2011 :D hoping to pass novice moves by the end of the year. I'm focusing on freeskate currently though.). So its entirely possible.

Maisha · Answer

Pick whichever one you thought of first and do it because that's the one you want to do.

And also, get a job somewhere else.  Any local store will be willing to higher if you work for minimum wage.  I don't think fifteen minutes is worth it.  
Trust me, just do some job hunting.  If you really want to skate, you need to learn how to support yourself.  

Not a scam, but you barely get money off of Cashcrate.  I don't recommend it at all.

? · Answer

like I said in your other answer. you cant get a job til your 16. no one will hire you. and again skating ia one of the most expensive sports out there PERIOD. 15 mins isnt really even worth it. if you cant afford it too bad. wait til you turn 16 and get a job. sorry thats harsh but thats life. the econemy sucks.

? · Answer

Why not alternate?
One week do MIF, next week do freestyle, and so on...

I hate it when people do this, but can you answer my ice skating DRESS question :)?

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What should I choose? PLEASE HELP!?

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