On the ice sliding from one end to the other, Ice skating is sometimes viewed as an art and those that participate in ice skating are greatly admired. The actual activity of ice skating has a long history and has been around for a number of centuries; possibly even before the discovery of metal blades, it is believed that animal bones and wood were used.

Today ice skates are boots made and attached to metal blades and are sometimes seen an a mastered art that looks easy to learn but can prove otherwise difficult. Because skate blades are used in various ice sports and activities, it is essential to understand the different types, their uses and designs. There are two main ways or styles of ice skating today, they are figure skating and hockey skating. Figure skating is used for ice skating activities such dance, freestyle skating aerobics and as the name suggests, figure skating. Where a skater creates figures when moving across the ice, a good example of this would be creating a plain 0 in ice. Hockey skating is part of the sport of hockey, there is no art to this, only balance and control of one’s body and being able to move quickly on the ice field of play. Each one of the two types of ice skating uses a different kind of skating blade that is designed specifically for that type of skating.

– The figure skates – blades are longer styled in the shape of a “rocker” and give life to the name the blade carries that of a rocker. The blades are designed for a slow halt and have a small tail at the back which is used to enable a skater to come to a halt. The rocker design is effective for a skater on the ice as it gives them more control over their movements as they slice their way across the ice.

– The hockey skate blades by comparison are very different. Instead of the rocker design, they are designed to build momentum and enable skaters to easily move across the ice and make sudden stops. Thus the hockey skate blades are designed narrower and less curved than figure skates.

Skate blades are manufactured using carbon steel and are heat hardened to make them stronger and last more on the ice. If the skates are not hardened, they can easily wear with time. Because of carbon’s reaction to water, it is essential to ensure that proper care is given to maintain ice skates. Areas such as a person’s body weight, skill level on the ice, personal discipline and ice temperatures contribute to the wear and length that ice skates last. If there is any sign of wear on the blades it affects the way one moves and skates on the ice.

If a person is to own and keep a pair of ice skates, one must show the passion that is so clearly exemplified on the ice by dancers and hockey players

Most indoor ice skating rinks maintain a temperature between 45 and 60 degrees, depending on the temperature outside. When you are dressing your child for ice skating lessons or free skating at the ice rink, your first challenge will be warmth.

Skaters will be exercising strenuously, so it is important to dress your child in thin layers that can be removed easily as their bodies warm up. Avoid dressing your child in a bulky winter coat, as heavy coats make it difficult to move freely. A warm turtleneck under a warm, close-fitting sweater will keep your child warmer than a winter coat, and will permit free movement.

Many girls want to wear a skating dress. If you plan to have your daughter take lessons, then a simple skating dress and tights may be a good investment. However, if she is simply going to skate recreationally now and then, this might not be an investment you want to make.

Close fitting sweat pants or zipped wind pants are good choices for both boys and girls. Jeans do not have much ability to stretch, they easily absorb moisture, and they are very slow to dry, which makes them a less optimum choice for skating.

One of the most important parts of your skater’s wardrobe should be a comfortable pair of thin, seamless socks. A sock with seams can rub against the foot and cause blisters. Because skate boots are designed to be tight, thick socks can squeeze the foot and reduce circulation, which will make your child’s feet feel cold more quickly.

If you child will be renting ice skates, bring along a thicker pair of socks to wear over the thin pair to provide extra padding in case the rented rink skates don’t fit perfectly or are well-worn.

For several reasons skaters should always wear gloves. Gloves obviously will keep a skater’s hands warm. They also provide some protection in case of a fall on the ice or if another skater runs into a child who has fallen.

A warm wool hat will keep your skater’s head and ears warm. Avoid any head covering that could impair your skater’s vision. “Hoodies” or parka hoods should be avoided.

For the same reason, skaters should never wear scarves, which can obstruct vision or catch a skate. Many rinks prohibit any kind of scarf on the ice.

Girls should always have their hair pulled back or restrained, so that it cannot get into the eyes.

Avoid letting your skater wear jewelry. Most rinks prohibit any kind of jewelry, which can break and fall onto the ice and trip another skater.

And finally a note to parents of boys: Boys will be extremely uncomfortable if they are asked to wear white skates. If you have inherited a pair of white skates that fit your boy, either dye them black (black shoe polish will also work, but it can be messy), or cover them with black skate covers. Your son will skate much more confidently if he “fits in” with the other boys at the rink.

If your child will be taking ice skating lessons, you can observe what the other students are wearing before the first lesson and talk to the coach about appropriate clothing for lessons.

As a skater for 40 years and a coach for the last 15 years, the one critical factor in skating is correct posture. It’s something that my coaches drilled into me for years. If I had a dime for every time a coach told me, “Get your chest up!” or “Shoulders back!” or “Stand up tall!”, I would be a really wealthy woman! The good news in all this is that they were right. Standing up tall is imperative in ice skating.

For newer skaters, if there is one thing I recommend throughout every single move it is to skate tall (aka: “Stand up tall!”) Skating tall means to:

1. Keep a soft knee bend at all times,

2. Keep an arch in your lower back,

3. Keep your shoulders back, and

4. Keep your chest up.

Did you get all of that? And, you have to do all of that, at the same time, all of the time! Not just sometimes– really, I’m not kidding, all of the time. I know, I know and I hear you. It’s a lot to remember when you are learning to do your crossovers, or learning a spin, or running through your new program, but it makes all the difference in the world! Here’s how…

The simple act of dropping your chest (a big no-no) changes the weight on your blade. When you drop your chest, it puts your weight more on the front of the blade which causes toe scratching with the toe picks-not an attractive sound when delivering a beautiful program. Straight knees (another big no-no) have the same result.

Did you know that on average, about 50-60 percent of a program for a newer skater is stroking and footwork in preparation for the jumps and spins? It’s true. Of course this percentage changes as you become a better skater when you can perform bigger jumps and longer spins, but a good percentage of time for newer skaters is the stroking and footwork. If you are bent over, that means 50-60 percent of the time your performance looks, well how should I say this nicely, “ICKY!” Yes, that’s an official coaching term (kidding). But seriously, there is nothing worse than watching a skater deliver smooth jumps and spins in a program and have the rest of it look “icky” because they couldn’t get their chest up. And, remember this- there is nothing that will drive your coach more nuts! Just saying…

Conversely, when a skater stands up tall, the spectators see a confident and competent individual. A skater with solid stroking and footwork and maybe just decent jumps and spins is much more pleasant to watch- from both the spectator’s seat and the coach’s. Overall, the program looks more polished because it flows. And, yes, judges may even score you better in competition and on your freeskate tests! I’ve seen it happen over and over again!

One last thing, to all you skaters out there– please, for the love of God, stand up tall! And for all the coaches out there, you owe me a dime (or twenty)!

When you’re thinking about buying a pair of ice skates, it’s important to first define what kind of skating you plan to do. Just as the word “ball” can mean any one of a hundred different kinds of balls, the term “ice skates” encompasses boots with ice blades for playing hockey, racing, figure skating and ice dancing, or simple recreational skating. Different skates are designed for each of these kinds of activities.

Figure skates are designed with a very stiff boot so that the foot and ankle are well supported when a skater jumps or spins on the ice. Lack of support from the boot can cause a skater’s foot and ankle to twist on landing, which can cause injury.

Although it is difficult to see the difference from a distance, the heel of a high quality figure skate will be made of leather, rather than the wood usually found on recreational skates. Leather provides a more resilient cushion when the skater’s weight lands on one foot.

Hockey and racing skates do not feature the kind of built-up heel you will find on a figure skate. These boots generally have a flatter sole.

Figure skates all have prominent toe picks, the jagged part of the blade that permits a skater to “dig in” to the ice when jumping or pivoting. Racing and hockey skates have no toe picks, because these skaters do not perform these maneuvers. Recreational skates will have slightly smaller, less sharp toe picks.

Because they are manufactured from heavy leather, figure skates are often much heavier than skates designed for hockey, racing or simple recreational skating. Several skate makers are now designing recreational ice skates from plastic, vinyl, soft leather or heavy canvas, all of which are lighter and usually more comfortable for simple ice skating activities. The break-in period for soft skates is usually very short or nonexistent. Soft ice skates also have more internal room for extra padding for warmth and comfort on the ice.

All ice skates will be available in various inexpensive to high-quality versions. Beginner and simple recreational skates usually come with metal blades attached. Skates intended for more advanced skaters are usually sold without blades, as advanced skaters in any ice sport want to choose their blades and have them professionally mounted on their skate boots.

All ice skate blades must be sharpened occasionally. Dull blades will not perform well on the ice. Someone who has been skating with rented skates will be surprised at the improved performance when first taking to the ice on well-sharpened blades. Blades should be sharpened by a professional. Blade-sharpening is not a do-it-yourself endeavor.

We all know that Vintage style doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. However, what do we mean when we say ‘Vintage’? Some people have particular decades of style in mind; others think it means anything older than last season’s runway! An idea about vintage that hasn’t been embraced by enough people is that the shape and cut of the dress is actually more important than what era it reminds us of. It goes without saying that there is a huge variety of body shapes and sizes, and not all dresses will flatter every figure. You wouldn’t walk into a high street store and buy a piece that fit you badly, so why do the same for the sake of a retro find?

When it comes to vintage silhouettes the Skater dress is without a doubt the most universally flattering style. With its nipped in waist and flared skirt this cut manages to create curves if you desire, or flatter those parts you wish to hide. Not only this, the flared skirt actually creates the illusion of longer legs, so that absolutely everyone can benefit from the Skater, to look and feel fabulous.

There’s even better news; the high street has caught on to the skater craze so that you can find your dream dress without scouring vintage and thrift stores endlessly. Buying authentic vintage can be incredibly satisfying and rewarding, especially when pieces are a bargain, but this endeavour is also likely to be hard work and not always productive. To ensure you find a piece that fits seamlessly and doesn’t have an unreasonable price tag, head to the high street or online fashion stores.

It’s never been easier to find skater style dresses in a variety of colors, prints and fabrics. Polka dots, pastels, stripes and embellished with lace; the possibilities are truly endless. Start a Skater collection! You can never have too many of these stunning dresses because they go a long way to making the simplest and yet most effective outfits. Paired with a cute pair of ballet pumps, or some up to date wedge heels for extra glam, you will be ready to walk out the door in minimal time. The more eye-catching the print, the less you need to accessorize in order to make an impact. If you do want to add some extra touches, however, a waist belt and a clutch bag in complementary tones will do the job.

If you’re looking for an easy way to jump on the vintage style trend, skater dresses are surely the first place to start. It is a simple yet fail-safe style that will add a touch of retro glamour to your wardrobe, even if you don’t buy an authentic vintage piece. Whether you’re boy-shaped, pear shaped or a stunning hourglass, there is no better cut to suit all and look eternally chic. Check out online fashion stores now for a stunning variety of skater dresses, where you are sure to find your dream ensemble!

In a previous article, I discussed what to do when you stop making improvement or just have one of those days when nothing seems to be working. So what should an adult figure skater do on a day like this? Remind yourself that bad days happen to everyone, young and old, regardless of level of skill.

Some days, it’s hard to get going for no real good reason other than I am feeling lazy, and sitting in the sun or on the sofa would be preferable. The hardest part is driving into the parking lot and asking yourself “what on earth are you doing here?” or “How are you going to survive the next two hours?” or “you’re cold, you have dishes to wash…” or “The car is so nice and warm; there’s a huge shopping mall half a mile away….”. Would milady like some cheese to go with that whine?

The first five minutes on the ice is the worst; I’m cold and uncoordinated. Somewhere in there, I transition away from stiff, cranky old lady to totally happy and comfortable old lady. The first five minutes seems to last two hours and the next 115 pass in five minutes!

So what should an adult figure skater do when this happens? Remind yourself it’s only five minutes!!

The same thing happens at competitions: “What are you doing here? It’s a Saturday! What if you crash and burn? You’re up against the kids (well, usually they are 16-18 years old); they will make fun of you.”

Remind yourself that as soon as you walk into the arena, the adrenaline will hit and brain and body will remember that they’ve got a job to do. Your family is off doing their Saturday activities and are looking after themselves quite nicely; don’t worry (my older child even sends me encouraging text messages now).

As for the “kids”, once they get past the initial shock of realizing that I’m not some skater’s Mom or coach, they are intrigued and enthusiastic. I’ve had some nice conversations with competitors in their early twenties who feel they are at the end of their competitive career through a combination of injuries, reduced training time, due to school or work, or having ceased to improve their skating skills.

Few of them ever realized that adult figure skating is growing and there will be many chances for them to continue in the sport for as long as they want to and that they can continue setting and achieving personal goals. Often, their coaches don’t even realize how many opportunities are out there in adult figure skating. This is essentially the reason for my website.

So what should an adult figure skater do in this situation? Get the message out! There is no need to give up on your passion just because you are past a certain age!!

Everything happens for a reason, the good days and the discouraging ones. Overall, the training is going well and the next competition is several weeks from now, so no need to panic (yet!). I have time; strictly speaking, I don’t have to “peak” until the Adult World Championships in May. Although at my age, I’d settle for an “upward trend.”

How do you get motivated on the blah days? What kinds of self talk do you use to get past the times of discouragement?

An athlete who participates in a sport, whether it be individual or team, obviously has an increase in risk for injury than the non-athlete. If the athlete participates in one sport year round, that risk may increase due to the repetitive motion and muscle dominance associated with that sport. Competitive figure skating is a sport that requires year round practice, with little time for rest; therefore, skaters are susceptible to injury in various joints and muscles. When a family enters the world of competitive figure skating, or even recreational skating, it is important for that family to be aware of the factors that cause and can prevent injury. By adhering to some basic guidelines, a skater may have a long and prosperous career without significant interruptions by injuries. Longevity in the sport is important to maintain consistent training and progress, and a skaters’ overall musculoskeletal health is important post-skating career. This article will discuss several precautions a skater can take to prevent injury.

Proper Equipment

Biomechanical alignment of the body is influenced from the bottom up, starting at the feet. An alignment dysfunction, lack of motion, or improper arch in the foot can have an effect on the knee, hip, and back. Unlike gymnasts, who have no support on their feet, figure skaters have the luxury of wearing exceptionally designed boots to support them. A skilled boot fitter will be able to match the correct skate to a skater’s level of ability, yet the correct boot is only the beginning of the process. A skater with a flat foot may need either generic or custom arch supports to prevent excessive pronation in the skate. If pronation is not addressed, it may cause a skater to twist the boot or favor one edge over the other. A high, rigid arch can be addressed with extra cushioning in the arch of the skate, to increase the amount of shock absorption in the foot, which is lacking in a high, rigid arch.

Attention should be paid to the width of the foot, the flexibility of the ankle, and the skaters’ weight. If a skater uses a boot that is too stiff or too flexible for his or her body type, it may affect a variety of joints. The ankle must bend properly for the knee and hip joints to function correctly.

Mounting of the blade in the proper position can affect a skaters’ balance on the edges and the ability to maintain control in turns, spiral, spins, and jump landings and takeoffs. An excessive angle of turn-in of a skaters’ knee or an anteverted hip (turned in) may require the blade to be moved to compensate for the alignment problem. An experienced boot fitter will spend a significant amount of time watching a skater balance, walk, squat, etc. to find the ideal blade alignment for that skater.

Padding is also essential to prevent injuries from falling. Every skater falls when he or she is learning a new jump, and those falls are not always pretty! Vulnerable areas are the hips and buttocks, and various types of padding have been invented to create a cushioning for the susceptible areas. If the padding does not provide enough cushioning, and a skater lands consistently on a certain spot, it may be beneficial to cut a hole in the pad over that spot and build up the padding around it. Therefore, pressure will not be put on the sore spot. Padding on the buttocks can also reduce the amount of shock to the spine when a fall occurs. Back injuries are quite common among figure skaters, and all necessary steps should be taken to prevent them.

Proper Warm-up

I can’t stress the importance of a proper warm-up enough! In this day and age, skaters rush from school to skating with a few minutes to spare to put the skates and gloves on, leaving little time for stretching and warm-up. The problem is, those ten minutes of warm-up that the skater skips can quickly result in a muscle strain. Muscles should reach a certain temperature and mobility level before a skater completes jumps that require plyometric strength or spins and spirals that require a certain degree of flexibility. A muscle that is not warmed up can not be pushed past its maximum flexibility level, and will result in pain.

Dynamic warm-ups have gained in popularity in the past five to ten years, and involve taking each joint and muscle through its full range of motion in an active way. The tissue temperature of a muscles increases far more quickly with dynamic stretching than if a skater stretches statically. Static stretching (holding a muscle in a lengthened time period in one position) does not increase tissue temperature and will not effectively prepare a skater’s muscles.

Ideally, 15 to 20 minutes of dynamic warm-ups should be completed, yet even 10 minutes will provide a skater with a decent warm-up to prevent muscle strains. A skater will learn which muscles are his or her ‘problem area,’ and can create a warm-up that is most beneficial for the body as a whole.

Off-Ice Strength and Conditioning

Every skater should be involved in an off-ice strength and conditioning program, whether it be one day or five days per week. Skating is a sport that creates dominance in certain muscle groups, and over time, a skater develops an imbalance in muscle strength. This may lead to joint or muscle pain. If a skater is properly evaluated by a health professional, that person can determine which muscles are inflexible or weak, and will guide a skater toward a program that will focus on the skaters’ deficits. Sk8Strong has developed programs that will focus on skating specific muscles, yet also address the need for an overall balance in musculature to prevent injury.

Figure skating also requires a significant amount of hip stability from the gluteal and hip abductor muscles, and strength in the quadriceps. Without proper hip stability, a skater will have trouble stabilizing landings, achieving the correct alignment on jump takeoffs, and creating power for higher jumps. Gluteal and hip abductor strength (in my opinion) is lacking in many skaters, and can be the primary cause of inconsistency, injuries, and slow progression of skills. It will greatly affect the movement pattern of the lower extremity when a skater bends the knees and hips.

Core strength is absolutely necessary for a skater to prevent back injury. Skating is a sport with a high demand for core stability, and the abdominals play a large part in keeping the back and trunk healthy. At least two days of core strengthening exercise is recommended for any skater, both to prevent injury and improve skating skills.

Strength and conditioning may also involve stamina training, if a skater is at a level that demands a lengthy program. There are various methods of stamina training, including the use of a slideboard, jump rope, elliptical, or exercise bike. The slideboard is most useful, as it trains the muscles in a similar manner to skating. Why is stamina training is important to prevent injury? Near the end of a program, the muscles are fatigued. Fatigued muscles do not create as much power, and the risk of falling is increased. Stamina training will increase oxygenation to muscles, increasing the chance that the muscles will stay strong at a later point in a program. This will improve performance and decrease the risk of falls.

Flexibility: too much or too little

Since the inception of the International Judging System, there is high demand for flexibility for all skaters. Spin variations and spirals require more mobility than in years past to gain the maximum amount of points. For the lucky few that possess the natural mobility for these positions, the need for consistent stretching is not at a premium. In fact, the ‘overly flexible’ skater should do more strength training to compensate for the overabundance of mobility in his or her joints. Excessive joint mobility typically results in a lack of stability.

The muscles a skater should focus on for mobility are the psoas (front of the hip), hamstrings (back of the thigh), and adductor (inner thigh). A flexible psoas is will help a skater reach back efficiently for jump takeoffs and extend the free leg for landings and spirals. The adductors and hamstrings will also affect a spiral and camel spin.

Quadriceps (front of thigh) and ITBand (outer thigh) tightness will not directly affect most skating moves, yet play an important role in prevention of injury. Skaters are constantly using these two muscles for power, which tends to make the muscles tighter. Both will affect mobility and motion at the knee and hip, and can cause pain around the kneecap if not stretched on a regular basis.

Try Moves Within Your Range of Motion

Some skaters just aren’t meant to do a biellman or a haircutter spin, no matter how hard they try. A biellman requires a great amount of flexibility in the hamstrings, psoas, adductor muscles, and a great amount of joint mobility into extension of the lower back joints. It is recommended to consult with a physical therapist of other health professional to evaluate back mobility and flexibility of the previously mentioned muscles before trying a biellman. Forcing a joint into a position that it does not naturally reach is harmful to the joint, and a skater is setting her or himself up for injury. Find alternate ways to gain points, and your body will thank you!

Ice skating is not all glamor and grace. There are also inherent dangers, and all ice skaters, especially the beginners, should be aware of these. In the year 2007 alone, 4,500 skaters were injured in Austria, requiring hospital care. Wrist and head injuries topped the list.

The Fall

Falling on ice is the first danger to be considered, whether skating indoors or outdoors. It not only depends on the skills of the ice skater, but also on the quality of the ice surface, as well the ice skates used. Serious and fatal injuries are very rare, though, but there are isolated cases of paralysis after falling on ice. The skate blades also present one potential cause of danger, as it is very sharp it can slice skin and cause injuries. This emphasizes the need to wear protective gear, especially helmets, for avoidance of head trauma or other similar injuries caused by falling on a skates metal blades.

Skating Outdoors

Moving and gliding on frozen waterways is still an observable fact. As natural ice is unpredictable in terms of strength and structure, there is a potential danger of falling into freezing water whenever the ice breaks. The fact that the ice conditions cannot be controlled should hinder skaters from trying to skate on frozen bodies of water. Once they fall, it will be very hard, if not impossible, to get back onto the ice or out of the water, as the ice tend to break in a continuous manner. This becomes even more hazardous when the skater has no company while skating on naturally-occurring rinks. In the depths of the freezing water, it will be very difficult to swim because of the skates and heavy winter clothing, so there is a big chance for the skater to drown or suffer from shock and hypothermia.

When skating outdoors, one has to remember that the ice is thinner, and therefore weaker, in areas near river or pond edges because of vegetation and higher temperature. Ice is also weak under bridges and areas with most sunlight exposure, also because of warmer temperature.

Because of these ice skating dangers, people need to be educated about wearing appropriate protective gear and, if possible, staying out of frozen waterways when skating, or, if they really want to, they need to know the thickness of the ice first before putting their skates on and starting to move on ice.