Why Figure Skating Is GREAT!

Thousands of people will tell you that figure skating is a GREAT! sport. But what makes this unique ice sport so great and worth your time? That question is exactly what we will tackle in this article.

Webster's Dictionary defines great as "remarkable in degree, magnitude, or effectiveness." Skating is truly remarkable in the degree of detail it can be pursued, breathtaking in the magnitude of things one has to learn, and extremely effective in building character.

"Skating is about discipline. It teaches so much more than jumps and spins. It teaches about coping with the twists and turns of life, too." -Alison Scott, mother of Jeremy Abbot, two time U.S. National Champion

Now here is an answer from a teenage skater: "You have your ups, and your downs. How you deal with these falls is how you succeed. You cannot look back, or feel sorry that you fell, you just got to get up and keep going. You have to get up and try again. THIS is why I love figure skating." -Casey Yee

Below are my personal reflections from 21 years of competing:

Skating allows you to possess a unique set of skills. You can do things that only a small fraction of a single percent of people in the world can do. It is so rewarding to dedicate yourself day after day, year after year to develop skills that others couldn't even comprehend of doing quickly.

Constant personal growth. I feel like I can accomplish anything now. I feel like I'll never be in harder situations than I've already gone through. It's a crucible.

You learn to set and work towards goals. Achieve them and reset them higher.

When you fail, you know it quickly. Your life becomes practice for the Ultimate Success Formula of learning from mistakes, making adjustments, and moving forward. Skaters do not have a "padded room" life. You can get so strong emotionally, mentally.

You learn how to think and how to weed the garden of your mind. Most will never dig into the recesses of their mind to maximize its abilities like great skaters will. Is the average person as aware of negative thoughts and have they learned to listen?

You can develop balance and fine motor control far beyond most other people on the planet! They will never know what it feels to have control over their body like you do.

You learn to deal with anxiety and performing in front of and audience. Can help with public speaking and work situations. You get used to standing on your own.

To be good, it demands a lot of time and sacrifice. If you are a competitive skater, you know that you can't do everything other kids your age are doing. Do I regret not going to all the parties, etc? No way.

Constantly being pushed outside your comfort zone. Everyday you have to strive to be your best.

Choosing to focus all your energies on one thing. It becomes something you take ownership of. Greatness in any pursuit only happens with this ingredient.

No other sport combines that artistic and physical requirements of skating. It has the artistry of dance and the athleticism of gymnastics.

There is always something else to learn, someone who is better than you. You can progress at your own pace.

It's the hardest thing I've ever done.

You learn to deal with physical pain and discomfort. Injuries are a common hurdle.

Skating students are used to working hard and they don't expect everything to be easy. You need to do really hard things with a smile.

Perseverance: knowing that you may have to do something a thousand times before you get it and stepping down that road and doing it anyways.

You learn to do things even when you don't want to do them. The lesson learned is that you are not run purely by your emotions.

Skating teaches you that you can't control everything that happens to you in life, no matter how hard you work on it. Maybe you step on a loose ice chip on the ice. A skater's balance needs to be so fine tuned to complete certain elements that even though you've landed a jump a thousand times before you sometimes fall.

You get familiar with uncertainty and continue moving forward even though you don't know exact how it is going to end.

There are untold benefits of day dreaming, visualization, and seeing your future in your mind's eye. These are all things that competitive skaters do.

Freedom! Where else can one glide with speed, leap into the air, look at the world at a lean and not fall over. There is nothing like it!

Skating also taught me time-management and how to plan ahead. All the different times I'd sneak in my homework while riding in the car or during lunch at school.

It teaches you to lose graciously.

When Amanda Evora got off the ice after her long program at the 2010 Olympic Games with partner Mark Ladwig, she looked at the camera and said, "It's worth it!"

I hope you have found this article insightful and encouraging. I want other people to experience the same great benefits that I have experienced through competitive figure skating. That's why I coach skating and why I created MySkatingMall.com! Please pass on this article to anyone who would be encouraged by it.

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Figure Skating Careers

Can figure skating be anything other than a young kid's sport? What careers are available through figure skating? Are there lasting benefits? I'd like to weigh in on these issues since figure skating has been a huge part of my life for the last 25 years.

The Cliff Notes version of my path through skating goes something like this: Fell into the sport on accident while trying to play hockey; spent several years in recreational skating while doing a thousand other activities; other activities slowly got the boot as skating took center stage; by the time I was in middle school I found success in skating (it was anything but a straight line!); I had the privilege of representing the U.S. at many international competitions over 10 years including the 2003 World Championships; and currently I am coaching full-time. As you can see, I have been fortunate to experience many of the different stages that skating can offer.

David McCullough said, "Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love." Perhaps that is why I have chosen to stay in this sport for my career. Or maybe it is because it is so complex that I never could master it and I was NEVER bored of it. My dad tells people that he thinks I chose skating because it is the hardest thing that I've ever done. That is so true!

So how does one get into coaching? As early as possible, start volunteering in your local basic skills program to learn teaching skills and PATIENCE. More importantly, it should be lots of fun. I HIGHLY recommended that you pass your Senior tests in the discipline that you want to teach. Many rinks and ice shows will not hire you without this credential. Down the road find a coaching mentor(s) who will let you apprentice with them. This will frequently include standing in on lessons that the mentor teaches, keeping a journal, and some one-on-one mentoring time. The Professional Skaters Association (PSA) has a great Apprenticing program which is a must do. Around the time of the mentoring, you will also need to complete the PSA's Basic Accreditation Exam. Many rinks require this credential before allowing coaches to teach at the facility. Pursue PSA ratings exams as early as possible and work towards a Master Rating. The majority of top coaches have followed this path. Becoming a great coach has everything to do with from whom you can learn. Be willing to travel to PSA educational events and visit top coaches at their home rinks. Try to visit a major training center with top coaches if at all possible. You can learn a great deal by being around others who are pushing the envelope.

If you have aspirations of becoming a choreographer, get as much practice creating programs as possible. Put your own competition or show numbers together. Help friends and younger skaters with their programs. The education for this skill is much less formal and more organic. Take lots of off ice dance classes like ballet, jazz, and modern dance. The more exposure you get to different dance forms, the better choreographer you will become! Get as many influences as you can by attending stage dance and theater productions. It is important to realize that only a handful of people can make a living through skating choreography alone. You will likely need to teach another skating discipline so prepare yourself for that fact.

If not coaching, then what? With well-rounded skating skills you can be hired by a touring ice show like Disney on Ice, Holiday on Ice, or cruise ships. If this sounds interesting to you, learn basic pair skating skills to help make yourself more marketable. It is a challenge to make a full time income coaching figure skating in most areas of the country. It is a good thing that skaters tend to be resourceful people! Plenty of other jobs can be combined with coaching. For example, one coach where I work produces corporate ice shows.Others get involved with music editing, outfit design, or coach part-time while having another career. There are numerous options if one is committed.

Involvement as a volunteer is a greatly rewarding option for skaters. There is a great need for trained technical specialists since most competitions are using the International Judging System. Becoming a specialist, a judge, an official, or club volunteer are all ways to stay involved. I have been a member of the Athlete's Advisory Committee through U.S. Figure Skating for many years now. This committee of athletes plays a huge role in the governance of our sport and makes up 20% of all members on U.S. Figure Skating committees. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Skating can give one much more than a way to make a living. I feel like I can accomplish anything now and that nothing that I can come across in life will be harder than what I've already done in skating. Something very special happens when skaters force their comfort zones to grow each day rather than living life "comfortable". Character is the return on an investment in figure skating.

Ryan Jahnke is the founder of MySkatingMall.com, a marketplace to buy and sell new and used skating items. Half of all commissions collected by MySkatingMall.com raise money for skating clubs, teams, and charities. He is also a PSA Master Rated Coach in Freestyle and Field Moves.

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The Figure Skating Costumes

One of the most anticipated events in the Winter Olympics is the figure skating competition. An important aspect of figure skating is finding the right costumes. These outfits are specialized and are not as readily available like the day to day women's clothing.

The best place to find figure skating costumes is to order them from suppliers of dance clothes. Suppliers will have a variety of designs and materials that are suitable for figure skating.

For everyday skating clothes you can use the basic leotard, tights and short skirts used in dancing. Other options include athletic pants worn with a basic t-shirt and a sweater. Anything that is light, comfortable, and allows movement while showing your form will do.

The clothes you can wear during figure skating practice can be easily found in any of the clothing stores in your area. You can also search and buy these clothes online.

If you would rather not buy ready-to-wear costumes then why not purchase custom-made costumes? Once you find a quality tailor, you can specify the design and they create the costume according to your specifications.

There are many advantages of getting tailor-made costumes. You get to choose the material and take part in the design. Plus, the finished product will fit you perfectly as the costume will be made according to your measurements.

If you don't know a quality tailor or seamstress who can make your outfit, try asking other skaters if they know anyone. Observe any skaters whose outfits are really well-made because they most likely had their costumes customized.

Other ways to find a tailor or seamstress is to advertise in bulletin boards or ask your family, friends, and associates. Or, you could always search online for any who might be near you.

A perfect gift for golfers is the personalized golf tees along with a Personalized golf balls that a golfer will surely love.

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The National Figure Skating Championships Attract so Many People

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Figure skating

I've never seen one of these kind of videos before so I thought I would make one! Once my rink opens up again (they're re-doing the ice for fall) i'll be putting up more skating videos!