One of the most anticipated events in the Winter Olympics is the figure skating competition. An important aspect of figure skating is finding the right costumes. These outfits are specialized and are not as readily available like the day to day women’s clothing.

The best place to find figure skating costumes is to order them from suppliers of dance clothes. Suppliers will have a variety of designs and materials that are suitable for figure skating.

For everyday skating clothes you can use the basic leotard, tights and short skirts used in dancing. Other options include athletic pants worn with a basic t-shirt and a sweater. Anything that is light, comfortable, and allows movement while showing your form will do.

The clothes you can wear during figure skating practice can be easily found in any of the clothing stores in your area. You can also search and buy these clothes online.

If you would rather not buy ready-to-wear costumes then why not purchase custom-made costumes? Once you find a quality tailor, you can specify the design and they create the costume according to your specifications.

There are many advantages of getting tailor-made costumes. You get to choose the material and take part in the design. Plus, the finished product will fit you perfectly as the costume will be made according to your measurements.

If you don’t know a quality tailor or seamstress who can make your outfit, try asking other skaters if they know anyone. Observe any skaters whose outfits are really well-made because they most likely had their costumes customized.

Other ways to find a tailor or seamstress is to advertise in bulletin boards or ask your family, friends, and associates. Or, you could always search online for any who might be near you.

If you’ve been a skater at one time in your life or have in interest in the sport then you’ve probably heard of the names Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen. These men were the driving force behind what skateboarding is today.

Tony Hawk: Now most people probably heard of the name Tony Hawk. His name is synonymous for fun, action oriented extreme sports. What led to his popularity is the introduction of his popular video game series Tony Hawk Pro Skater. The series started on play station video game console and migrated to others. But Tony Hawk impacted the skateboarding community in different ways. He popularized and advocated organized skateboarding events such as the Xgames where he also participated. His notable achievements at these events include “the 900,” a move in which he does a grab trick by spinning his whole body 900 degrees. This notable achievement has not been done or recorded by anyone else in the history of the sport. Other extreme sports enthusiasts have tried doing the 900 but it’s much simpler to do on fixed gear equipment such as bikes. Tony Hawk completed the 900 three more times upon which is said, “I’m 42 and I did the 900.” This was a trick he wanted to complete 10 years ago and he finally achieved his goal. His actions are legendary in the history of the sport and he’ll always be remembered as a pioneer in the field of extreme sports.

Rodney Mullen: If you’ve ever seen someone do a kickflip (a trick involving spinning the board vertically) then you’ll have Rodney Mullen to thank for that ingenious move. He has created many other different spin moves and has worked extensively to create more flat ground skateboarding tricks that included the impossible (A flatground trick that involves spinning the board around your leg as you would a flag). He also perfected many other spin moves and his ability to maintain balance on the board made him an entertaining skateboarder to watch. He also introduced and popularized flat ground free styling as a skateboarding style that other skaters later decided to emulate. His achievement include beating. He has been in 18 full length skateboarding movies, mainly in montages of himself set to music. He is also featured in Tony Hawk Pro Skater series as a player that gamers can choose to play with.

Alan Galfend: Alan Galfend came into skateboarding in the 70s. He invented and popularized the “ollie,” a flat ground trick in which you jump with the skateboard and pull it with you towards your body. This trick later was utilized in flat ground, free style as well as vert applications. The trick set a whole new spin on skateboarding as the sport did not have many trick variation until the ollie was created. Generated from the ollie trick, many other tricks were possible including move grab tricks, spins and grind/slides. Alan Galfend left skateboarding to pursue other interests including go cart racing and Volkswagen racing. He later went on to open a service shop and a skateboarding shop which are both well renowned in their respective industries.

Skate boarding brings a certain image to it. The skate boarding videos display hard music. The riders take brutal falls and get right back up. When a rider performs a perfect trick – they just ride off out of site.

I am not a skate boarder. I tried a few times. It was just too hard for me to do. That is why I am writing this article.

A friend and I were having this deep conversation about what sport is the most difficult to master. He is a Doctor as well, and is one of the smartest guys I know. He brought up skate boarding. I laughed at first.

He continued to talk about the extreme coordination needed to do the tricks. We discussed a little of the neurology involved. And after thinking about it, I have to agree. Now I don’t claim to know everything about all sports, but this I do know skate boarding is very demanding on coordination, balance, and skill.

If you have ever sat and watched the kids at the skate park you may have noticed the difficulty in the tricks they perform.

Lets talk about a little about what is going on with these tricks. Balance comes through the ears, site, and the ability to know where we are in space. The brain gives us this ability and is done automatically.

Some people have better coordination than others. This is a natural gift to them. This gift of balance and coordination can be learned.

The average person can stand on one leg for 30 seconds. Trying this you will find that the older you are the harder this is. Closing the eyes lowers the time to 20 seconds.

I would like to know how long an experienced skate boarder could stand with his eyes closed? A sports physician for the Olympics told me the Chinese Gymnasts had a hard time standing for 20 seconds with their eyes closed.

One last comment, skate boarders are athletes. An athlete needs the ability to function correctly. This is directly related to how the brain, and neurology function. This is directly related to nutrition. It is rare to see an over weight kid skate boarding. It’s as unlikely as an older person picking up the sport.

On the same note, smoking, drugs, and alcohol directly affect the nervous system. They destroy brain cells, and affect the ability to coordinate all functions.

To seriously compete in this sport – you must maintain a superior healthy way of life. I would say even more than most sports, because like I mentioned – skate boarding is one of the hardest sports to master.

I have two products that I would highly recommend to anyone who plays hockey. Whether you are a highly skilled player or just getting started I believe these are the two best products you can get for your skill level and for the amount of money you will end up paying. Searching for the right products are hard because there are so many different products and product lines to choose from. Finding the right equipment for yourself is the hardest thing you will experience when getting started playing hockey. Hopefully, this will help you on your journey to becoming a great hockey player!

The two best hockey products I would recommend to you are the Bauer one.6 ice hockey skates and the Bauer Vapor 1x hockey stick. The Bauer One.6 hockey skates are very light and durable. They have held up for the past 5 years and I haven’t had any problems with them. Out of the three pairs of skates that I have owned, they are the best. Finding a pair of skates that you can’t feel on your feet because they are comfortable and light is the most important aspect of any pair of skates. I purchased these skates for only $199 which is usually the cheapest you can find new skates for. As for the Bauer Vapor 1x hockey stick, it is the perfect balance in a hockey stick that you can find right now. It is light, well balanced, accurate and all around well built. For people looking for a great stick for a low price, this is the one you would want to buy. If you cheap out on a stick you will tend to end up buying a heavier product.

These two products are the top hockey products that I would recommend to anyone. These are all products that I would give a 5 out of 5 star rating because they are really that great. It is sometimes hard to find the products that fit your needs just right and be an all-around fantastic product. I know it took me a while to find the right stick and the right skates. I never had anyone suggest a product so strongly than I am right now, give them a try if you believe me and let me know what you think about them. Hopefully, these recommendations make it easy for you to adopt these products. You will not be disappointed!

While I’ve been skating off and on for over 40 years, competed in numerous events and am now a coach for adult skaters, I remember the very first time I stepped onto the ice. I was just nine years old and was so excited to experience the ice for the first time. Of course, back then I wasn’t doing it for the physical and psychological benefits of the sport. I didn’t know any of that stuff – I just wanted to glide around and have a great time, the way all those figure skaters seemed to have fun on TV. Little did I know that when I took those first wobbly steps, I was beginning a lifetime love affair with the sport of ice skating!

On that first day, I had no idea what to expect. I had roller skated a lot around my neighborhood, but had a feeling that ice skating would be totally different. Because there are so many unknowns when you pick up a new sport or hobby, I’d like to share with you my initial experiences back then, and how much things have changed today for beginners. More importantly, I’d like to share with you what, as a new skater, you can expect when you venture onto the ice for your first time.

I still remember that day, when my mother took me to the ice rink one summer afternoon. We drove up to this big old building with a sign that read, “Ballard Ice Arena” on it, in big blue letters. The ice rink was located in Seattle, Washington, in an older part of the city, so the building had that old vintage look you’d expect from Rocky movies. As we opened the door, I remember looking into a dingy lobby and being unimpressed. It looked so much older on the inside of the building than it was on the outside. Talk about vintage!

I approached the skate counter with my mother by my side to get my first pair of rental skates, and almost started giggling when I was handed these blue and very unattractive skates. They were nothing like the beautiful and glamorous white skates that I imagined. They looked as though they had been through a war–with many gigantic feet!

As I sat down and began lacing up my skating boots, they felt like they were two foreign objects attached to my feet and not like a comfortable pair of sneakers. They pressed my feet in all the wrong places, and they felt pretty heavy for a 9 year old girl. Then, when I stood up for the first time I remember thinking, “How on earth do people walk in these things, let alone skate in them?!”

Slowly, and ever so cautiously, I proceeded to wobble down the hallway to the ice with my ankles trying to balance over the very thin blade, trying not to look like the beginner that I was. I remember how musty the air smelled too, as I advanced to the ice, but yet it had a clean and crisp quality to it, because of the cold temperature. It is still a smell I love, even today, because of all the beautiful memories I associate with it.

Ahhh, finally! There it was! I could see the glimmer of the ice in front of me as I approached.

As I stepped onto the ice… I immediately grabbed the railing to hang on for dear life! Yes, I knew ice was slippery but, wow, it was really slippery! “Whoa,” I thought to myself, “how is this any better than roller skating?” I just stood there for a minute or so to get the feel of things and see how to balance on the ice surface.

As I started to get a better feel for the blades, I slowly began shuffling my feet forward, in a walking-like motion. I was still hanging on to the railing, but as I moved along, I realized that skating forward was very much like moving forward on roller skates. So, I began to push off with one foot a little as I skated. It got easier and easier as I went until I finally could let go of the railing.

While balancing on skates was initially challenging, what was a surprise to me is how easy it was to maneuver. Much easier than roller skates! I could turn in various directions easily and the gliding felt almost effortless. “This is a feeling I could learn to love,” I thought to myself.

But just like the pavement outside, the ice wasn’t completely flat. Because the rink was old and there was a little dripping coming from the ceiling, the moisture froze, and eventually accumulated into bumps on certain parts of the ice, especially around the edge. I remember going over the bumps and it seemed a bit like the moguls on skis-something to be avoided at all costs! Hey, I just learned to balance myself; anything more than that was too much!

After a while though, I got used to the feeling of the ice, and it seemed to get easier the more I relaxed. While falling was still a distinct possibility, I seemed to be able to balance pretty well. So I continued skating for about 45 minutes or so before I had to sit down for a break next to my mom. She asked how I liked it and I told her, “I love it!” My mom was really happy for me, since she found a new activity for her daughter to keep her out of trouble for the summer!

While I rested on the sidelines, I watched slightly older skaters perform all sorts of cool spins and jumps in the middle of the rink. They were amazing! I laughed at myself as I just struggled to stand and skate forward in these contraptions called “ice skates,” and here these kids were practically dancing on the ice! I remember thinking to myself about how much I would love to learn how to do that!

Well, that first experience may have been a long time ago, but I can still relate to new skaters and the challenges of starting in a new sport. Of course, it was different for me as a kid than it is for my adult students. But I have to say that after looking back, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Skating has been a big part of my life and a huge passion. However, a lot has changed in skating and like all sports it has evolved-thank goodness!

One huge change is that ice rinks today don’t tend to be dingy and old, but are typically either stand alone buildings, or are part of a sports complex, or are smaller venues in shopping malls. They’re often maintained well and are beautiful. Back then, it was a different culture. Rinks were often family owned and there was a certain amount of prestige associated with learning to skate in a dingy place and ending up in some big, glamorous competition. It was mostly about competition, and amenities beyond the basics were thought to make you soft. Hey, if you couldn’t skate in some run-down building with just the bare essentials, how could you stand the pressure of a huge crowd in a competition?

The ice was also different. Today, many rinks have more than one sheet of ice and are open all year! There are even some rinks that are outdoors, like one location in Vail, Colorado. I once skated on an outdoor rink in Canada in a park surrounded by a shopping area that was quite lovely, and had a friend who skated at a rink in New York that she said is in a building high above the city! The rink was suspended on one of the floors of the building with windows all around it. That’s a far cry from the rinks 40 years ago.

Today, the ice is often just as beautiful as the rinks. It’s often cleaned every one and a half to two hours in most rinks now so there should be no bumps on the ice and the temperature is maintained so there are no drips from the ceiling creating the obstacle course that I experienced at the old Ballard Ice Rink. And surprisingly, the temperatures in most rinks are fairly warm.

The one thing though that is still questionable is the skating equipment, specifically the rental ice skates.

Some rinks have great rental skates and maintain them well, while others… well… not so much! As a coach, this bothers me because a lot of people get discouraged if the equipment is worn down, because it causes pain for the new skater and they don’t stick long enough with the sport to give it a chance. Often skaters will quit, thinking that it’s their ankles that are the problem, instead of the poor equipment that is not supporting their foot properly. (A little trick to help with that is to bring to ACE bandages to wrap the ankle for support before putting on the skate for extra support.)

The sport has grown so much and the environment in skating rinks has changed a lot so the experience for beginners is much more fulfilling. A lot of rinks even have games and amenities in the lobbies such as snack bars and skating shops. They are quite pleasant today and do a lot more to make the beginner feel welcomed and appreciated.

Ice skating is a wonderful sport and holds something for everyone and people of all ages. I did the majority of my skating as an adult and it kept me fit and in great shape for years. It’s great exercise! But, it’s also a sport that builds character, teaches grace and makes you strong. And, it’s so much fun! I invite people of all ages to give this sport a try and see the difference it makes in your life; physically and psychologically.

Happy skating!

Dancing is essentially a mood enhancer and a very good way to burn off some calories as well. But dancing on skates will require some great body balancing skills, and a lot more fun at that. Some popular workouts are jam skating, roller dancing and relaxing. With a pair of roller skates and some funky music, you could virtually invent your own style. If you do together in a group, there is no telling what you can come up with, especially if you put in some acrobatic maneuvers as well. Well, all in, it is just fun.

Through the years, skate dancing has evolved from one form to another. Its popularity has been like a roller coaster ride, sometimes reaching great heights and other times reached ebb. As most group roller skates dancing is done at roller links, its availability has clipped the popularity of roller dancing somewhat. With maintenance at an all time high, it is a sad fact that public roller rinks are shutting down with added frequencies. No matter what, roller dancing will always be a fantastic way for a group to excite themselves, and it will somehow live on, whether there are roller rinks or not.

Roller skates dancing are a great way to stay cohesive with your group of friends. It is very physical because you can see your friends, you can bump into them and you move your bodies in unison to the thumping music together. Contrastingly, you will not be able to sense that reality if you were to just network your friends through the internet! As the saying goes, people need to get physical and not going virtual. You might have thousands of friends in MySpace, but you don’t really know them at all.

One of the real benefits of dancing with skates is that you can get a real sweat out. Just dance for an hour and you will burn off 350 calories. It is a real body trimmer, and you will get a wonderful mood after the dancing. It is also one of those rare occasions that you can exercise and still enjoy the music at the same time. If you are a gal, roller dancing on a regular basis will shape your body like a ballerina. Your muscles will be so flexible that you can even contort yourself into a little box.

But before you can dance on your skates, you will have to learn proper skating techniques and also tech yourself stability control on those wheels. Good skate dancing can only be done on quad roller skates. Inlines are not suitable, and if you have basic ice or figure skating skills, you will do well on the dance floor.

One thing that many players who don’t reach their potential have in common is that they never learn to power skate. Power skating is absolutely crucial training for any player that wants to make it to elite levels, and even for those who just want to have a good time, the changes power skating can make in your game are incredible.

Skating by nature is a completely unnatural movement; in fact, hockey is the only major sport that revolves around a movement no human naturally knows how to do. Teaching yourself to skate is doable, but without instruction, you’ll only be able to go so far, regardless of how much you practice. The reason is that tiny adjustments in your skating stride can have huge impacts on your overall speed and agility on skates. Players who never seek power skating training never realize the small flaws in their technique, and spend their entire lives re-enforcing bad habits that hold them back their entire hockey careers.

You’ll be hard pressed to find any elite level hockey player that never took a power skating course, if not many power skating courses. These courses are available for players of all ages. They aren’t just for kids. Plenty of adult classes run at arenas all over the United States and Canada. Power skating classes also aren’t expensive, and when you consider the long term benefits and the ability for the classes to open up your game, you owe it to yourself as a player to at least look into seeking skating instruction.

Skating is a fun sport but one needs to be very cautious while skating as there are several risks involved with it. Do you have a desire to go skating? If yes then get ready because in this article we are going to provide you with several tips of ice skating that will set you on the freezing floors like a pro.

The first thing you need to do is get a pair of good ice skates for you. You can buy a new pair or hire them from the skating centers. Tie it in a proper way. Make sure it is just perfect, neither too loose nor too much tight. When you are ready with the skating shoes jump (I mean go) on the skating field or rink.

Avoid looking down when you start skating. You need to look by keeping your head high in the direction that you are moving in because this will make you stable on the floor and reduce the chances of you falling down.

You also need to warm up because the sport takes place in a cold area. So if you warm up it will be all the more good for you. A perfect warm up technique is to start with some light bending and then go on to stretching. You can also take some lessons that will teach you the basics to use your ice skates if you are very serious about learning skating.

Another thing that you should avoid is leaning back. This is because leaning can make you fall badly on your back and hurt yourself. Always try to keep your knees bent so that the weight is in the forward direction.

To stop skating you have to bend your knees and turn the toes in the inwards direction. You should also point your heels out and push them out. This will slow you down and let you stop.

You will experience the best skating if you are moving in a clockwise direction. If you fall down don’t take that too much seriously because these are too common.

So, we hope that these tips will be useful to you and will get you going when you are in the rink. These are just the basics that will set you on the floors. For going speed skating, ice hockey or figure skating you should take advanced courses on skating and have fun.

Trying to purchase a pair of figure skates for the first time can be a daunting task. The usual question is: What brand do you choose? However, choosing the figure skate that’s best for you depends on several factors and each of those factors are important.

The first thing to consider when choosing figure skates is your skate size. The best way to determine the skate size is to measure the length and width of your foot. There are several pro-shops that will measure your foot for you. However, if your rink doesn’t have a pro-shop, there are several good websites out there that have specific instructions for how to measure your foot to determine what size skate you need.

Once your size has been determined then it is important to consider which brand of skate to purchase. Each brand of fits differently and the most popular brand of figure skate may not be the one that best fits your foot. Some brands fit more narrow like a ladies dress shoe and some brands have a wider fit like a tennis shoe. Some of the most common brands for beginner figure skaters are Risport, Riedell and Jackson. If you have a foot that is very narrow, you may want to consider a Risport. This brand has a very narrow fit. If you have a medium to wide foot then you may want to consider a Jackson as they have a wider fit.

Each brand of ice skates has several models to choose from and they can range in price from $80 – $600 USD or more. When you have selected the brand that fits your foot, it is time to find out which model of figure skates would be best for you. The first question to ask would be: Are you going to only skate a few times a year or are you going to skate several times a week? If you are only skating a few times a year, then a recreational skate would be a good choice. If you are skating several times a week, take classes, or skate competitively, then the best model would be discerned by your skate level. Compare your skate level to the different brands of figure skates with the help of your figure skating coach as your weight and size may influence whether a lightweight boot or an extremely stiff boot should be purchased.

Ice skating can be a very enjoyable sport, but if you do not have the right type of skates for your feet it can be very painful. Do some research and weigh your options before making your final decision. More importantly ask questions! It is difficult to make a wise choice if you don’t have all the information available to you.

Imagine whooshing down the road with the wind for company and in a set of wheels that doesn’t require you to turn 18 and get a license. Roller Skating as a sport is a big favorite among kids, especially in Karnataka. Although the number of skating clubs in the city isn’t all that high, awareness about the game is building up and there are several district, state and national level championships held to hone your child’s talent and competitive spirit. One of the clubs in the city is Esther Roller Skating Club (09886568364), run by ace skater Esther Bernard, 25. Esther was ranked the 24th fastest skater in the World Championships held in France in 2001 and has represented India in several Asian Roller Skating Championships. With 27 gold medals at several National and All India Roller Skating Championships behind her, she’s a great source to get some skating tips from. MetroMela spoke to her.

* I believe the right age to start learning roller skating is four years. This sport needs strong ankles and around this time, children’s ankles are strong enough. Their bodies are also flexible, they pick up the technique well and are easier to handle than smaller children.

* Skating is a great way to maintain balance. I feel that children are able to do well in studies and the sport even if they have taken it up in a professional way. I myself missed school half the year because of tournaments but did well in academics. I attribute a lot of it to the discipline of the sport.

* Skating teaches you to think smart and plan. You also learn to coordinate, balance your body and concentrate.

* It builds a good immunity level in your body. In all these years, I’ve rarely seen skaters fall ill.

* When you are skating, ensure that you have a lot of water in the breaks in between.

* There are chances of lots of bruises in skating, even though the kids use knee guards etc. Some kids play safe but to really learn, you need to get aggressive.

* Parents need to be aware that skating can become an expensive sport. The equipment for beginners is available at any sports goods shop across Bangalore. Beginners can buy good skates from Yonex for around Rs. 400. For kids participating in tournaments there is professional equipment available from premium brands like Bont, which you can order from abroad or through the skating clubs. Those are expensive and cost around US$ 250.

* Children can take up the game at any age but the ideal age to start is four plus. Most of the children I train for competitions are in the 5-7 age bracket (semi-professionals) and 8-12 years (professionals).

Skating Clubs in Bangalore…

Ace Rollers School of Skating

Started by an enthusiastic group of parents who wanted to promote skating as a sport, this club has been in existence for the last six years and takes children from four years onwards. Children coached by the club have participated in state level, national level and even the world championship. Experienced coaches train the kids and physical fitness is of utmost importance, says Dr Veena Ashok, a committee member. Beginners have four classes a week for an hour each, while those going for professional tournaments have classes six days a week at 5.45 AM. They practice at the Jayanagar Stadium.

Esther Roller Skating Club

Run by 25 time national champion Esther Bernard, this one year old club takes in kids from the age of four. Classes are held at the skating rink in National Games Village, Koramangala. They also hold summer camps from where they select talent for tournaments. There are three categories – beginners, semi-professionals and professionals. Classes are held in the evenings between 4.45 PM and 7.30 PM. The fee is Rs. 300 a month approximately.

Coles Park Skating Club

This club is run by five-six coaches and takes in kids from four years of age. The classes are held at Coles Park. You can opt for either early morning classes (6.20 AM to 7.30 AM) or evening classes (7 PM to 8 PM). The fee is Rs. 550 a month.