Figure Skating

Emily Hughes - Long Program - 2006 Olympic Figure Skating - Torino Italy

Getting into ice skating

Ice skating has enjoyed an increased profile over the last couple of years, helped by the popularity of celebrity ice dance shows and the continued strong interest in Olympic figure skating. Ice skating is also often favoured by those looking to increase their skating speeds or to obtain a smoother skating experience, owing to there being low friction between the ice skates and the rink surface, and fewer uneven areas.

For anyone who dreams of taking to the ice there are a few points to consider. Firstly, for the beginner, it is probably best to purchase the more ‘all-round’ recreational ice skates rather than specialised figure skating or sports skates. Secondly, the skate selected should generally be one size higher than one’s normal shoe size.

Thirdly, instruction by a qualified trainer is always strongly recommended, particularly for those who are new to skating in general. It is particularly important to be able to minimise any potential injury by learning how to fall forwards rather than backwards. Fourthly, since ice-skating can be very physically demanding it is important to increase one’s fitness levels through aerobic exercise. It is also essential to help guard against ligament damage by always warming up with stretches before taking to the ice rink.

Finally, ice skating should only be undertaken on publicly sanctioned areas such as an ice rink or a body of frozen water specifically designated as safe for public use by a local authority. It is generally highly dangerous to risk skating or even walking on un-sanctioned frozen lakes or river beds. Furthermore, when using an ice rink or other busy public area it is essential to follow protocol and skate in the direction indicated so as to avoid the risk of collision.

At Skates.co.uk we can advise in more detail on ice skating as well as being able to supply a wide range of great value quality ice skates.

3 Figure Skating Off Ice Exercises To Improve Your On Ice Performance

Figure skating is a sport that requires more than just grace and artistry. While most non-skaters don't realize this, pulling off any technical element in skating requires a significant amount of strength and stamina. Awkward positions must be held for extended periods of time, and muscles that most people hardly ever use must be strong in order to execute the jumps, spins, and lifts that impresses the crowd and judges. All figure skaters, regardless of age or ability, should engage in a proper off-ice strength and conditioning program in order to give them the strength and stamina to execute elements, and also to help prevent injuries.

Note: Be sure to check with both your coach, your parents, and your physician before engaging in any off-ice exercise and conditioning program.

Figure skaters looking to build any sort of off-ice conditioning program need to look at their overall objectives in order to put together an overall off-ice program. I would like to suggest three exercises in particular that all off-ice programs should incorporate, and this is for all skaters, including pairs, dance, and freestylers.

1). Bicycle crunches. Like athletes in just about any sport, if a figure skater were to do absolutely nothing else off-ice except ONE thing, then it would have to involve core strength. Your core strength is what allows you to check out of jumps, center your spins, and maintain an erect posture in dance and step sequences. Try doing a twizzle or checking your rotation out of an Axel without core strength -- it simply isn't going to happen.

A study conducted at San Diego State University evaluated over a dozen different abdominal exercises for increasing core strength, and one stood out far and above the rest: The bicycle crunch. To do the bicycle crunch, lie on the floor with your abs engaged and your lower back pressed into the floor (you may have to rotate your pelvis under to achieve this). Put your hands beside your ears (DO NOT pull up on your neck!) and elevate your legs to about a 45 degree angle. Move your legs through a bicycle pedaling motion while simultaneously crunching up in a twisting motion and touching your elbow to your opposite knee.

2). Arabesque exercises. In the worlds of dance, gymnastics, and figure skating, the arabesque position is one of the most common positions you will need to learn to sustain. For figure skaters, this is particularly true when it comes to spirals and camel spins. An arabesque is represented most perfectly by the standard flat blade or edge spiral position of the pre-preliminary and preliminary Moves in the Field tests, with the skating leg held straight, the free leg at or above hip height, and the torso at a 90 degree angle to the skating leg.

To build your flexibility and stamina for holding the arabesque/spiral position, work on the following rotation, to be completed on each foot. Start by holding the arabesque position for one minute while supporting yourself with the wall, then another minute with your leg supported by a partner or half wall, then one minute on your own, then another minute with your arms on the wall again. Rest about 30 seconds between each position. These one minute intervals will be difficult at first, but will improve over time and greatly assist you, especially if you also do ballet or gymnastics.

3). Box jumps. For most spectators of our sports, it's the jumps that draw the big rounds of applause. If you are a freestyle skater, your jumps are usually your most difficult technical element, and one of the things you spend the most of your training time working on perfecting. Fully rotating your jumps, particularly your doubles, triples and, if you can pull it off, a quad, requires an incredible ability to obtain "hang time" in the air. Getting "hang time" is mainly a matter of being able to vault yourself into the air with incredible power, which itself is a matter of shear strength.

Box jumps are one of the best ways to work on your jumping power and increase your time in the air. A basic box jump is completed by jumping onto an 18 to 24 inch tall wooden box with both feet from a standing position. Exploding up onto the box, and then exploding off the box and back to the ground is the most basic method for working on your jump power. Additional methods of box jumping include jumping up onto one box, then immediately onto another, higher, box, and then back to the ground. There are numerous variations of this exercise, all of which will improve your jumping ability.

These three exercises in and of themselves comprise the most basic off-ice training program possible. Of course, as with any athlete, eating right, getting enough sleep, and a basic cardio program are also of benefit to all skaters.

Jassen Bowman is an ice dancer and freestyle skating test judge.

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Figure Skating Dresses

These are our ice skating dresses for our competion in Texas.

Figure Skating

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Blades of Glory - Review

Released in 2007, Blades of Glory from Dreamworks is a sports comedy directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck and Produced by Ben Stiller.

Will Ferrell and Jon Heder are the lead 'pair', who exploit a loophole to do their act in this movie - which is to 'Kick some Ice'.

So, welcome to the world of competitive figure skating - and all its passion and power generated by an unlikely pair who aim to steal the trophy, beating the odds. Two men skating together -- Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) - become the first male pair in the history of figure skating!

As aintitcool.com states, 'figure skating for the first time ever is finally watchable. Also, hilarious.

Blades of Glory is about two rival figure skaters (Ferrell and Heder) who after a fight with each other in front of 30,000 fans, have their gold medals stripped from them and are banned from competitive skating for a lifetime.'

Three years down the line, one is many pounds heavier while the other is still girlish, but still not 'hot'. Both agree to put aside their differences as well as their similarities - they're both men! --and exploit a loophole (created exclusively for the movie) that would allow them to compete in the pairs figure skating category.

This category is, of course, usually reserved for opposite-sex couples and this duo must go face-to-face with fierce competition from rivals far more experienced at the art, such as Stranz (Will Arnett) and Fairchild (Amy Poehler), the unrelentingly competitive reigning champion pair.

'Amy Poehler and Will Arnett (as evil brother and sister figure skaters) manage to steal almost every scene they're in. There are some really great moments including a hilarious ice skate chase and some very funny ice routines (that i won't spoil). The ice skating was never boring. And the costumes are as funny as the people wearing them, especially the outfits given to Poehler and Arnett. Also, Jenna Fischer has never ever looked as hot as this. Purr-Rawrr.'

This very funny movie was shot in both Los Angeles, California and Montreal, Quebec (Canada).

Figure Skating Ice Rinks and The Future Frequency Strategies

One very important thing with figure skating ice rinks is that the ice doesn't ship away after each subsequent skater. About the worst thing that can happen is as you go into a triple Axel you hit a piece of ice which has a groove in it exactly in the wrong spot, and it's even worse if your perfect landing, at that crucial point is compromised by a piece of chipped ice from perhaps one of the skaters before you. It appears to me that this problem is easily solvable without stopping the event or contest and sending in the Zamboni to make the ice perfect again.

There has been a lot of new research with water ice and the molecular structures. Those that work on hockey rinks and ice skating rinks know that the exact temperature used to make the ice, and then make it perfectly smooth is as much about science as it is about art. Ice structures also depend on other things such as frequency, and many folks don't know this. The friction and electricity, static electricity which is created by the Zamboni going over the ice also matters. If we were to better incorporate all these components of making the perfect ice, then we could prevent all the problems discussed in the first paragraph.

Stronger ice with the exact properties needed for the ice skaters would make it safer, faster, and therefore much more competitive between the skaters. That means the spectators get a better show and we have fewer accidents or mistakes that are not the fault of the skater. In other words the ice would have nothing whatsoever to do with any misfortune and it truly would be up to the skaters and their abilities. It also wouldn't matter if you go first or last, as more things would be equal. It's too bad that with all the ice science that is known today, that we don't use some of this latest technology and research for figure skating ice rinks.

Why has there been so much research done lately? Some of it has to do with ice melt going on at our poles on Earth, but there is research being done in Japan with snow flakes and other ice formations which could be incorporated into the sport. Also when it comes to speed skating, we often hear the athletes talking about how fast the ice was, or that it had a little drag. All of those issues would be rendered obsolete if we had a set of standards, and applied some of this frequency technology as the ice hardens therefore helping the molecules stay tighter. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Ice Skating Dresses

Are you a woman looking to buy some attractive but practical ice skating dresses?

If you are a woman or girl keen on the occasional session of ice skating, or you know another woman or girl who is, it should be little surprise - the pastime has become more fashionable with the popularity of ITV show Dancing on Ice. However, you will naturally want to look good while people watch you skate around that rink; after all, the nicer you look, the more confident you will feel, and the better your ice skating performance should ultimately be.

Part and parcel of that should be finding some attractive ice skating dresses to wear - and indeed, there are plenty of types and designs to choose from. Perhaps, if you are an adult, you could wear some freestyle length or dance length ice skating dresses, or buy some freestyle length or dance length ice skating dresses intended for a
younger relative?

There is no point mulling over so much choice, however, if you cannotfind any retailers of ice skating dresses.

Where should you look first in your search for these retailers?

Ice skating dresses are a rather obscure form of clothing to be shopping for - so whatever you do, you shouldn't just turn to all the usual clothing retailers, like the high street shops, or other retailers you might find in the phone book. Instead, you should resort to loading up a decent Internet search engine like Google or Bing, and
initiate a search for 'ice skating dresses'. You should expect to be amazed by the comprehensive array of ice skating dresses retailers that emerges on screen.

What should be typical of the best ice skating dresses shops?

You should seek a specialist retailer of skatewear, dancewear, and related gifts and accessories. This kind of store will clearly know its stuff concerning this niche market. The clothes they stock should be manufactured from modern technical fabrics, which stretch well and mould to the body shape, whilst also boasting great breathable qualities for extra comfort.

If, however, you remain undecided about what to buy, it should remain easy to contact one of the firm's knowledgeable advisors by phone.