Too Old to Be a Figure Skater?

This week, I received several questions from an eighteen year old who is interested in becoming a figure skater.

"Can I learn figure skating, although I'm already eighteen years old? People at my ice rink have told me that I'm too old to learn how to jump. Is that true?

I joined a local figure skating club and I'm about to begin lessons, but being told that I'm too old makes me wonder if I should even bother trying. I see many younger skaters at the ice rink, but the oldest skaters I see beginning figure skating are about fourteen or fifteen years old.

I want to be a competitive skater, but I don't think there are coaches that take my desire to be a competitor seriously, and they only seem to want to teach me basic skills. I want to learn advanced jumps and spins.

How can I find a trainer and a coach that believes in me and will take me in the direction I desire?

Also, I need advice on what is involved on how to train properly.

I'd also like to have a choreographed figure skating routine. Can you help me choreograph a skating program to music?"

I have put together some answers to this young person's questions since this is a topic that may be of interest to many new figure skaters.

• Am I Too Old to Begin Figure Skating?
• Can Adults Skate and Compete? Is There an Age That is Too Late to Start?
• How to Choreograph Your Own Figure Skating Routine
• Choose a Figure Skating Coach