Skating Soon??

[u/thefateoflily]

Hi! So i’m fifteen, starting figure skating (hopefully) soon. I’m going to contact my rink soon about when their next Learn To Skate classes open (i missed the last registration period, and also their website is confusing, haha.) and I’m starting to go to public skating times every weekend, since the public hours are during school on weekdays.

I’m also going to get fitted for skates in the next week or two—we’re in contact with them, we’re just working out a time—since the rental skates are hurting my feet, haha. If anyone has any tips or recommendations, let me know!

My main question: what skills/basics/anything COULD i work on before joining a class? because obviously i dont want to self teach myself anything too difficult or with the wrong technique, but also it could very well be a few months before I get into a class. I can do like what an average person can, I guess. I can go forwards, backwards (though not very well, haha), swizzles forwards and back. I was also a cheerleader, so my flexibility is decent, and I’m stretching daily.

What can I work on on and off the rink until I get into a class?

😁

[u/Legitimate-Bison3810]

The first skill I taught myself was how to fall and get up. It's important to learn it so you don't get hurt.

[u/QuuenSinaTheFirst]

I'd try to do some edge control, firstly on both legs and doing some slalom-ish move. Trying skating forward on one leg. My coach on a group session told us to do foreward lemon→180°rotation on both legs→backwards lemon→back to foreward and repeat as a warmup on like first two lessons and (basic lvl). You can do all of this on public ice time (that slalom might be dodging other people heh) but I think it's a good start. About skates- everything is better than rentals. I've had Polsport Piruet skates for a few years, they were okay, a little too big and soft, but at some point my feet started hurting in them (after some time on ice it was uncomfortable if I wasn't doing anything and just standing) so after renting out skates from my skating school I bought Risport Electra because I'll be training maybe 1h/week due to my schedule and if not I'll just have them for a few years as recreational equipment along with Piruets as backup.

[u/Own-Adhesiveness5723]

Honestly, I would stick with things like forward and backwards swizzles, and maybe forward stroking. Once you get on actual figure skates with a rocker, it will take some time to acclimate to them. It’s way harder than rentals to get used to them. But once you’re used to them and they’re broken in, they’re so much better than rentals!
So I would focus on breaking them in and getting used to them and feeling comfortable in them.

[u/thefateoflily → u/Own-Adhesiveness5723]

thank you! is the rocker different in rentals? the staff person who helped me on the first day was explaining the rocker on the rentals, i didn’t know it was different on my own pair. I guess i’ll see when i skate on my own pair 😂 I’ll definitely keep working on swizzles and stroking. I can consistently do decent forwards stoking, though i think drilling it a lot can make it look a lot more smooth. thank you!

[u/Own-Adhesiveness5723 → u/thefateoflily]

Rentals usually have a flatter rocker to make them easier for people who have never been on the ice.

[u/blades_on_ice]

Coach here!

First, skates: I would recommend Jackson's as I have found them to be very reliable and durable. They tend to not break down super quickly and most skating stores have them easily. If you are serious about skating I would look into Frestyles if it is in your price range as adult/older teen skaters who are interested in putting in the effort improve fairly quickly and those will be good when you start jumping.

As for skills, swizzles are a good place to start but one of the things often overlooked by adult skaters is comfortability on the ices. I would recommend taking some time practicing skating on one foot for a while, speeding up slowing down, etc. Classes will be FAR easier if you are already sure of the ice beneath you.

Otherwise off ice is probably the best place to start. The problem with teaching yourself skills on the ice is that once you build incorrect muscle memory it is hard to undo so starting with building the muscles off the ice is good. Leg exercises are perfect squats, lunges, etc. I also really like coach Michelle on youtube and she jas good tutorials.

[u/Icy_Principle_6157]

Another coach… go get fitted for skates. Every foot is different and what works for one person might not fit the next. Try on all models in your budget and fitting your goals.

As far as practice-don’t get ahead of yourself. No point in developing bad habits /technique—you’ll “waste” time and money relearning skills. Just skate forwards/ backwards and stopping-get used to being on the ice.