Instruction
By Jo Ann Schneider Farris, About.com Guide
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
- Information For Figure Skating Coaches
- Ice Skating 101
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.
- Step-by-Step Beginning Ice Skating Lesson
- 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
- All About Toe Loops
- Register For About.com's Figure Skating 101 E-Course
- Before You Consider Becoming a Figure Skating Coach
How to Become a Figure Skater
In this section, get an idea of what's involved in becoming a figure skater.
- How to Choose an Ice Rink To Match Your Figure Skating Goals and Needs
- Step-by-Step Beginning Ice Skating Lesson
- Register for Ice Skating Lessons
- Private Skating Lessons
- Practice Figure Skating
- 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
- Concussions In Figure Skating
- Understanding Figure Skating Tests and Levels
- Suggested Meal Plan for Figure Skaters
- Figure Skating Freestyle Session Etiquette
- Choreograph a Figure Skating Program
- What's So Great About Figure Skating?
- Falling Is Part of Figure Skating
- Becoming a Skating Champion: Advice From Olympic Coach Tom Zakrajsek
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
- How to Be a Figure 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
- Toronto's St. Andrew's Junior High School's Program for Figure Skaters
- Does Cyber Bullying Exist In the Figure Skating World?
- Before You Consider Becoming a Figure Skating Coach
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
- Names of Ballet Moves That Are Similar to Figure Skating Moves
- Do Figure Skaters Ever Spot Their Spins Like Dancers Do?
- Names of Ballet Moves That Are Similar to Figure Skating Moves
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
- Understanding How Figure Skating Jumps Are Scored
- How to Qualify for Regional Figure Skating Competitions
- Figure Skating Competition Checklist
- How to Prepare for the Pre-Preliminary Moves in the Field Figure Skating Test
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
- Social Ice Dancing Photo Gallery
- What is Social Ice Dancing?
- Pair Skating Lifts
- A Figure Skater's IcePartnerSearch.com Success Story
- How To Switch Figure Skating Pair or Ice Dance Partners
- Ice Dance Training Session Etiquette
- Advantages of Sister-Brother Ice Dance or Pair Skating Teams
- Figure Skating Partner Tryout Etiquette
- Colorado Springs Ice Dance Academy
- Before You Choose an Ice Dance Coach
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
- Stretching Exercises for Figure Skaters
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
- Skating Forward - A Book by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz
- Review of Flying Camels and Tiger Mothers
Information For Figure Skating Coaches
Get familiar with the different levels and qualifications of figure skating coaches and ice skating instructors.
- Before You Consider Becoming a Figure Skating Coach
- How to Become a Figure Skating Coach
- What Is CER? - Figure Skating Coaches Continuing Education Requirement
- What Is the Professional Skaters Association?
- Review of a Professional Skaters Association Seminar
- Linda Kola Alexander - A Skating Teacher to Skating Teachers
- Careers in the Ice Skating Industry
- Memories of Figure Skating Coach Giuliano Grossi
- Before You Consider Becoming a Figure Skating Coach
- Marina Zoueva and Igor Shpilband - Olympic & World Ice Dance Coaches
- Teaching Skating Classes Is a Bit Like Going Fishing!
Ice Skating 101
In this section, information is provided on different figure skating moves. The information given is of interest to ice skating fans, new figure skaters and veterans.