Figure Skating Dresses DIY

Jeanne Binet makes a figure skating dress using Jalie sewing pattern #3136 (View A). She uses nude mesh for one half of the bodice to give a one-shoulder dress illusion. The same pattern can be used for a dance leotard (without the asymmetrical skirt). Sewing Pattern: Jalie #3136 - Leotards and Dresses Fabric: Red Krystal (from Suzie Spandex) and nude mesh Needles: Schmetz Stretch Thread: 100% Polyester Music: www.jewelbeat.com Our complete sewing pattern line is available on www.jalie.com. Visit our website for a complete list of retailers in the Canada, US, Europe, Japan and Australia.

Figure Skating Costumes

Competition costumes for skaters of both genders can be theatrical and heavily beaded or trimmed, and can cost thousands of dollars if designed by a top-level costume maker. Although the use of flesh-colored fabric means the costumes are often less revealing than they may appear, there have been repeated attempts to ban clothing that gives the impression of "excessive nudity" or that is otherwise inappropriate for athletic competition.Women generally wear opaque flesh-coloured leggings or tights under dresses and skirts, which may extend to cover their skates.

Do You Need Off-Ice Training for Elite Figure Skating Jumping?

Yes, You Do Need Off-Ice Training for Figure Skating Jumps!

The one thing about elite athletes is that they never stop trying. Trying to get that extra inch, that extra spin. Years ago people only trained on ice, but today the thinking is much different. Now we know that if a skater wants to improve and develop competitive skating skills and get to the next level, off-ice training is a given. The days are long gone when medals are on by people who just train on ice. The actual physical aspect of figure skating jumping lends itself well with off ice training. Just as the act of glide skating looks effortless, but the skating stride is very complicated with many small actions blending together to make a skater look like he or she is sailing effortlessly on water.

Strength, coordination, flexibility must be fully developed so that a skater can develop and realize their full potential on the ice. Things have really changed in the past 15 years in the history of figure skating. Things that are expected now by junior skaters were never seen until skaters started to train off ice. These jumps are more dangerous than anything that people even 20 years ago would have attempted. Indeed, one of the harder figure skating jumps 15 years ago, and axle, is considered quite simple by today’s standards.

In the 1987 World Figure Skating Championships Brian Orser of Canada was the first skater to put two triple Axle jumps in the same program. At that event he also landed one in the short program so he is also credited with being the first figure skater to land three triple Axel jumps in the same competition. In the 2010 Winter Olympics, Mao Asada became the first female to duplicate this extraordinary feat.

Obviously, one of the best reasons for off ice training, is that while one practices on the ice, losing balance and falling, thereby risking injury. The newer, higher jumps, need the stability that off-ice training gives. On ice training is effective for some things, but for building strength and agility, training needs to be done on a stable floor. Why would this be? Well if you think about it, it is because while the skater is on the ice, there are many factors that decrease the efficiency of the training. Just being on the ice, on top of essentially knives attached to skates, balancing on top of a sheet of glassy, smooth ice, is hard enough. Can you imagine doing the exercises on the ice that you can do on the floor?
Imagine that the skater wants to develop leg strength. To do this would be much more hazardous and difficult on ice than if the skater went to an off ice area such as a gym or weight room and did their squats and other exercises in running shoes and on solid footing.

Imagine if the Skating Coach told the skater to do squats and leg lifts with their skates on!

Therefore, it is obvious that off ice training is more effective and certainly less hazardous because you have a solid footing and are not likely to fall.
Many ice skating arenas have rooms that they rent out for just this off ice training. Many will be just ordinary rooms but the trend is to have rooms that are like ballet style exercise rooms with full mirrors and railings to hold onto and stretch against.
Some rooms have carpeting, but a hard wood or linoleum floor with a yoga type mat works very well also. This gives the skater better traction which in turn makes the exercise count for more.
Look for an instructor with some type of coaching certificate, like a National Coaching Certificate. Ask around at the arena for information and advice on what programs are offered and what others do off ice. These instructors are trained in the correct style and also, more important maybe, is they know HOW to coach. It is not everyone who can look at a skater do a failed Axle and say, "Your right foot is not coming down quickly enough, adjust it this way". Don't forget to check out the different types of dance, yoga, and the various other off ice training activities.
Off ice training is much more than strength and fitness. Other types of instruction, such as yoga, can be considered an additional off ice training. Although not specialized for figure skating, yoga builds great stamina, flexibility and strength in a relaxed atmosphere.
ANy skater that is trying to reach for the gold, will want to reach their full potential. To do this they must include off ice training with on ice training.

How To Find Great Figure Skating Dresses

How do you go about finding perfect figure skating dresses? Well, there are actually many ways, but the easiest thing to do is to go to a big name figure skating competition. That will give you the styles on the skaters. You can see if there are any figure skating dresses there that you think might be suitable for you or your daughter.

Another possibility is that often at these competitions, seller’s form out of town come with many dresses and accessories and set up a temporary shop inside the skating rink. It is really great to see so many dresses at once, and usually these are not figure skating dresses that are locally available. These vendors sometimes even take debit cards!

The Internet Shopping on-line is common practice now, and very safe.

If you look in your telephone book, you can often find shops that are devote to figure skating. No physical store means better prices for the buyers! These usually have catalogues, or of course now a days, have Internet shopping set up.

Or you can look on line. Some beautiful figure skating dresses are on the Internet, and at very good prices.

If you want to get it exactly to your taste, or your color, fabric etc. I would recommend a local dressmaker. If you don’t know of any around, another possibility to get information would be to call up your local skating rink and ask for the contact for the local skating club. Anyone in this club will be able to suggest a suitable dressmaker, one who knows that extra something to put onto the skating dress to make it go from oh to OH!!!

Also, if you have any experience in sewing, and especially sewing, you can make a nice figure skating dress. There are many figure skating patterns available. I have used Kwik Sew with great success, not only for dresses, but practice wear as well. Any plain pattern can be transformed with a few well-placed beads and spangles.

Remember, many competitions including the Olympics have been won in a Mothers handmade figure skating dress.