Instruction
By Jo Ann Schneider Farris, About.com Guide to Figure Skating
There are many moves figure skaters must master. This section includes links to ice skating lessons. Learn how to fall and get up on skates, learn how to stop, learn how to skate forward, and learn how to spin and jump.
- Figure Skating Lessons
- How to Become a Figure Skater
- Information for Parents of Skaters
- Dance for Figure Skaters
- Figure Skating Tests and Competitions
- About Ice Dancing and Pair Skating
- Off Ice Training
- Figure Skating Books
Figure Skating Lessons
This section includes links to lessons on falling and getting up on skates, how to stop, how to skate forward, and how to spin and jump.
- Figure Skating Techniques
- How to Get Started Figure Skating
- Learn How to Fall and Get Up on Skates
- Learn How to Stop
- How to Skate Forward
- A Lesson on Forward Swizzles
- Before You Try to Skate Backwards
- A Lesson on Forward Crossovers
- A Lesson on Backward Swizzles
- How to Do Back Crossovers on Ice Skates
- How to Spin
- Do a Spiral
- Figure Skating Jumps Every Ice Skater Must Know
- Footwork Sequences for Figure Skaters
- Basic Ice Skating Spins
- How to Do Michael Jackson's Moonwalk on Ice Skates
How to Become a Figure Skater
In this section, get an idea of what's involved in becoming a figure skater.
- Private Skating Lessons
- Practice Figure Skating
- Register for Ice Skating Lessons
- Dress Like a Figure Skater
- Join a Figure Skating Club
- Compete in Competitions and Take Figure Skating Tests
- Buy Figure Skates
- Review of The Champion Behind the Champion - A Children’s Figure Skating Book
- Understanding Figure Skating Tests and Levels
- Suggested Meal Plan for Figure Skaters
Information for Parents of Skaters
Learn how to balance your skating child's life and get tips on how to be a supportive skating parent. Teach your child how to eat and drink and also be an athlete. Learn how to build your child's confidence.
- At What Age Can I Get My Child Started With Ice Skating?
- Proper Behavior for a Skating Parent
- Ice Skating Birthday Party Ideas
- Can Serious Figure Skaters Train and Also Go to School?
- Shattuck-St. Mary's School - A Boarding School for Figure Skaters
- Review of "Training Figure Skaters" - A Book by Jack Curtis
- Ideal Practice Schedule for a Figure Skater in Training
- How Much Do Private Ice Skating Lessons Cost?
- What Extra Fees Do Figure Skating Coaches Charge?
- How to Switch Figure Skating Coaches
- How Can Financial Donations Be Given to Competitive Figure Skaters?
- How to Become a Figure Skating Judge
- Review of The Champion Behind the Champion - A Children’s Figure Skating Book
- Understanding Figure Skating Tests and Levels
- K12 Distance School Curriculum - An Educational Alternative for Figure Skaters
- Suggested Meal Plan for Figure Skaters
Dance for Figure Skaters
Ballet and dance training, on and off the ice, is essential for figure skaters. In this section, get information on ballet and other forms on dance.
- Figure Skaters Need Ballet Training
- Review of "Ballet Secrets for Skaters" - A Book by Barbara Denise Files
- "Fundamentals of Alignment and Classical Movement for Figure Skaters"
- Kathy Johnson - Modern Dance Teacher to Elite Figure Skaters
Figure Skating Tests and Competitions
In this section, get familiar with the recreational and competitive figure skating competitions and events that are available for ice skaters of all ages and levels. Learn about the figure skating test structure and figure skating associations.
- Compete In Ice Skating Competitions
- How to Become a Figure Skating Judge
- What Are Moves in the Field Figure Skating Tests?
- Difference Between Ice Skating Institute and U.S. Figure Skating
- Ice Skating Competition Journal
- What is the Figure Skating Competition Season?
- Show Good Sportsmanship at Figure Skating Competitions
- Makeup for Figure Skating Competitions
- What is Competing Against the Book?
- Ice Skating Institute
- The New Figure Skating Judging System
- Understanding Figure Skating Tests and Levels
- National Showcase - A Theatrical Figure Skating Competition
About Ice Dancing and Pair Skating
Ice dancing and pair skating look similar, but the two figure skating disciplines are very different.
- What Is the Difference Between Ice Dancing and Pair Skating?
- All About Pair Skating
- How to Become an Ice Dancer
- "Learn to Ice Dance" an Instructional DVD Review
- Pair Spins and Ice Dance Spins
- What Are Compulsory Ice Dances?
- Elements of an Ice Dancing Free Dance
- About Pair Skating Twist Lifts
Off Ice Training
In this section, learn about recommended off ice activities for figure skaters.
- Off-Ice Training for Figure Skaters: Why, What, When and How by Lauren Downes
- The Importance of "Off-Ice Jumps" - By Figure Skating Coach Lorna Brown
- Sk8Strong Figure Skating Off-Ice Strength and Conditioning DVDs
- Figure Skaters Need Ballet Training
- Sk8Strong Off-Ice Figure Skating Training DVD Demo Video
- The PIC® Skate
- Off-Ice Edge - A Figure Skating Training Aid
- Review of Sk8Strong's Figure Skating Off-Ice Training DVDs
- Suggested Meal Plan for Figure Skaters
- Review of iCoachSkating.com - A Website for Figure Skating Coaches
Figure Skating Books
There are many books about figure skating available. Get information on these resources in this section.
- "Forever Two As One" - Review of Babilonia and Gardner's Story
- Review of "A is for Axel" - An Ice Skating Book by Kurt Browning
- Cammie and Alex's Adventures in Skateland
- Review of The Champion Behind the Champion: LambieAnn's Story
- Review of Dorothy Hamill's Book "A Skating Life"
- Janet Lynn's Books
- "Mia" - Review of the Book That Goes With the American Girl Figure Skating Doll
- Review of "Bravo, Mia!" - A Figure Skating Book
- Review of "Training Figure Skaters" - A Book by Jack Curtis
- Figure Skating With Carlo Fassi
- Review of "Ballet Secrets for Skaters" - A Book by Barbara Denise Files
- Review of "Silver Blades" Figure Skating Book Series
- A Surprise Finish - A Christian Figure Skating Novel by Lynn Kirby
- Review of "Cracked Ice" - A Book by Sonia Bianchetti Garbato
- Review of "On Edge" a Book by Jon Jackson
- Review of "Donald Jackson - King of Blades"
- Review of "Frozen in Time" - A Book by Nikki Nichols
- Review of "The Fun of Figure Skating" - A Book by Maribel Vinson Owen
