How To Become a Figure Skater

The steps on how to become a figure skater will vary with each athlete, but there are some fundamental steps that apply to everyone. Firstly, you must invest in a good coach that has a rapport with the student. When just starting out, a half hour private lesson is enough once or twice a week to get a firm grip on the figure skating core elements. As you progress with choreography and putting together complete routines, the training time with the coach will intensify.

The next serious investment will be your figure skates. These skates differ from recreational skating in that the boot and blade are detached and each brings their own level of technology and performance to the skater. A popular choice for the skating boot is SP Terry, and for a high performance blade option try something from the MK company. However, your equipment is expensive, with quality boots and blades running about $1000 per set and must be replaced several times a year to maintain performance and safety.

In addition to the figure skater's ice time, there must be at least three hours a week in dance class added to the weekly training. Dance is extremely important to connect movements with fluency and interpret music, rather than using it for background noise. And the dance class need not be traditional ballet. There are many world class skaters that have successfully used other forms of dance to catapult their careers, most notably Jeffrey Buttle, with his sleek Broadway-style jazz applied to the ice.

When it's time to work on your jumps, the worst thing to happen is to start with fear. That can be eliminated immediately if you elect to train with a harness for the first month or so. If your ice rink does not have one, shop around until you find it. Your coach will know how to use it and will wean you off the safety feature when you're ready.

Ice time for the serious figure skater will be confined to a session called "freestyle." Check with your local rinks for freestyle hours, which usually run consecutively for most of the day. The ice time to avoid is "public skate" which is filled with novice skaters that are not able to get out of the way of a jumping jack on blades, so be respectful and stay in your own advanced groups. Most rinks will give you a price break on the ice time with a punch card, saving you significant money at the end of the month.

Figure skating is a rewarding career that allows the athlete freedom of expression and style. But, be realistic about the monetary investment, as you may have to look for a sponsor in the early stages. But if you plan wisely with the financing, your dreams can come true.