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Archived Questions and Answers Last updated: February 16, 2001 (most recent at the top)   Q. Thank you so much for the articles entitled "Obtain a professional position with the help from PSA Coaches Manual" and "Common Sense and Fun Approaches to Teaching Basic Skills." I use to iceskate at the Broadmoor World Arena when I was younger, but it has been quite a long time since I competed. I miss it and have wanted to coach children for some time now, so I really appreciate the articles, they were informative, well written and motivational. I will take the information to heart, and get my resume out there. Thank you. P.S. Is there any way for me to obtain a manual or any information on the order of skills and teaching cues coaches use when teaching a beginning skater? I would find this very helpful in refreshing my memory. A. In our Links section go to the PSA and there you will find the Coaches Manual and other instructional information. However, you probably need to join PSA to order this information. It's a great organization so check it out Marta Q. I plan on going into Ice Skating. However, I'm 18 years old and others are telling me not to bother because I'm too old to hope to get into any competitions. What should I do? A. Heather, 18 is a little old to begin skating but that doesn't mean that you can't accomplish a great deal. You could look at it two ways, the first is to plan to compete as an adult. We now have adult nationals which attract many wonderful skaters who either never skated as a youth or are too old to compete in the normal system. Or, you could learn and test as much in the sport as possible with plans to coach or judge sometime in the future. Either route is very respectable. I encourage you to try and see what you can achieve, don't let others set your limits as a person. I have taken all of my tests in the USFSA as an adult and built a very successful career in teaching. Best of luck! Marta Q. I am 13 and doing a Term paper on the well-known Scott Hamilton. I was wondering if I could find out more information about him. A. Here is a book on Scott Hamiliton: Landing It: My Life On and Off the Ice. There are also websites which would have info on Scott such as ScottCares.com. Both of these are on our site, best of luck! Marta Q. I am doing a report on the evolution of ice skates. I need more reference articles and material can you suggest some web sites and or books? A. The Official Book of Figure Skating Printed by Simon & Schuster has some very good history and information. It even has a section on the history of the skate. Library of Congress # 796.91'2-dc21 We have a Book Review of this item, accessible from our homepage at www.iceskatingworld.com . I will keep my eyes open for other books or articles. The World Figure Skating Museum also has a great deal of info but I don't know how much, if any, is available on their website : www.worldskatingmuseum.org Best of luck! Marta Q. I am an American living in Austria. My children (ages 5 & 6) just began ice-skating lessons a few weeks ago. The teacher recommended buying WIFA brand skates and I've been trying to find information on the internet as to how good of a skate it is. They're rather expensive, however I don't mind spending the money if it is worth it. What can you tell me about this brand of skate? Thank you! A. As a coach I have not used WIFA skates because they are a Canadian co. and our pro shop does not carry them. I have known other coaches who liked the WIFA boot and put all of their skaters in them. He was an Olympian so I think that he must have had some good reasons to prefer them. In the US we have 4 major boots that are popular: SP-Teri, Riedell, Klingbeil and Harlick.
Marta Q. I have an axel and a double salchow, I have been skating for 2/12 years, now I am trying to learn my double toe, I land it really well some days and others I just seem to break out of it. My coach is getting really frustrated and so am I. Is this normal? What should I expect? Why does this happen? I don't know why some days it automatic and then it's gone. Thank you A. It would be impossible for me to know why you are having difficulty with the Double Toe unless I saw it, however, breaking out frequently happens when the jump is not rotating on axis. Have you tried videoing the good ones and the bad ones to compare? Not all jumps come as easily as others. Everyone seem to have one particular jump which causes them problems. You are not alone; there are many skaters who have difficulty getting a particular jump to become consistent. Be patient and try not to stress over it. Maybe you should begin working on another jump to relieve some of the tension from working on the Double Toe. Marta Q. How does an adult skater regain confidence after an injury? I'm 49 years old and have a good steady axel that I land every time. My doubles are completely rotated and my coach says all I need is trust to land them. How can I get "trust" after having injuring myself on a double toe loop? A. Trust, as you call it, is built up over time. All of us have to perform a jump a certain number of times before we become confident with that jump. That magical number can be different with each person and each jump, especially when you have an injury. My advice to you is to practice smart. Wear protective padding when practicing new elements. Harnesses are also a great way to learn new skills without the high risk factor. Practicing double jumps at a slow rate of speed under control and landing in the back spin will help you to gain confidence that you will land on your feet. Be sure to discuss your fear or lack of confidence with your coach. There are also some great books out on mental training. Check out our Skater's Library and also the protective gel pads displayed on our site. Please let us know how you are progressing. Best of luck with your skating. Marta Q. I recently got a pair of Riedell skates and they give me sores on the side of my heel. They?re not blisters, but my bone. HELP!!! A. This is a common problem. The best thing to do first is go back to the person you bought them from and show them the problem and get their opinion on what to do. From the sound of it, they need to be punched out over the spot where the bone is. The best way to do this is put the boot on, push on it with your finger until you find the exact spot and mark it with a pencil. This ensures that the correct spot is being punched out. Most pro shops and many coaches have the tools to do this. Otherwise, you can send the boot back to the company if padding needs to be removed or possibly more padding added around the area of pressure. Using doughnut-shaped pads may help in the meantime. The doughnut shape takes the pressure off the spot and distributes it around the outside of the area. Good luck with your new boots, and let me know if we can be of any further assistance. Marta Q.If a person wants to go from juvenile to Olympics, what are the steps one by one. A.First, you must test up through the levels to Senior, because only senior competitors participate at the Olympics. Next, you must compete at the regional qualifying competition for your area. The top four from each region go on to the sectional competition. If you are in the top four at sectionals, you go on to The U.S. Nationals. The U.S. Olympic Committee selects the athletes who compete at the Olympics. Usually they will be : the National Champion, The highest placement in the previous worlds, or the second and third place winners at nationals. As in the year Nancy Kerrigan went to the Olympics, there are exceptions to the rule as well as age restrictions. I believe that the current age minimum is 15 unless you competed at Jr. Worlds the previous year. The USFSA rulebook outlines the competition and test standards and is a great help to understanding the process. Thanks for your question! Marta Q. What is the main key to spinning? A. To have great spins you must be centered. Centering comes from a proper edge into the spin, correct timing of the free leg and proper balance on the blade. Our website has an article by Janet Champion on spins. Check it out in the Skater's Library, it may be of some help! Marta Q. I just ordered new skates because I used to be a figures skater/singles skater. Now I want to try to do pairs, how should I go about finding a partner? A. The USFSA sponsors a partner tryout. Check our schedules for upcoming events. This would be a good place to start. Many web sites have a classified section where men and women advertise for partners. Here at IceSkatingWorld.com you can take advantage of a FREE posting in our Partners section under Classifieds. Be sure to check the credentials of people before agreeing to meet with them. Past Skating magazines show the names and placement of those participating in qualifying events such as Regionals and sectionals. You might be better off to look within your own club and find someone who is also just beginning to start pairs and team up for some experience. Best of luck! Marta Q. I skate at the intermediate level. I am 13 yrs. old. I plan on competing at the New England Regionals in October. I have a clean double axel and triple sow...... but it is NOT consistent.. Can you please tell me WHAT the judges are looking for. I'm almost nervous to put these jumps in, I land them 3 out of 5 times. Besides jumps, what else can I do to be competitive? Thank You. A. You have a tough situation on your hands, but this dilemma is not uncommon in the figure skating world. Each time that you move up from one level to the next you will need to put new jumps in your programs and they will probably not be 100%. This can be very unnerving to some competitors but look at the world class level skaters . Many times they include jumps in their programs that are not at 80% or better. Remember that you are not alone, there may be many other girls in your group feeling the same fear and nervousness. The important part is how you deal with your fear and nerves. Use deep breathing techniques or visualization to help you overcome the nervousness and turn it into positive energy. I suggest you read, if you have time, The Inner Athlete, or The New Toughness Training for Sports. One or both may be found in our Skater's Library. For the second half of your question, I'm not sure that anyone knows exactly what the judges are looking for. I do know that as you progress a complete package becomes more important than just jump,jump, jump. Making sure that your spins are fast and include difficult combinations. Having super spins can be a huge plus since many skaters pay little attention to their spins. You should also include creative choreography in your program. Make sure you include connecting steps and turn into every element and not just crossovers and 3-turns. Your program should flow from one element to the next without noticeable interruption. Watch your program and critique each area to see where the weaknesses are and then try to improve upon it. Best of luck and please let us know how you are progressing. Marta Q. Hi, my name is Katie and I have a hard time with my knees. Whenever I fall I either fall on my butt or my knees...HARD. To fix the falling on my butt I got butt pads. To fix falling on my knees I got knee pads, but I can't do a sit spin in them. The last time I fell on my knees was June 6th, and sad to say I strained my knee really bad. I haven't quite gotten my axel but my knee starts hurting every time I do my axel. What should I do? P.S. I can do everything but my axel and my coach works me hard on axels and I am afraid to tell him. What should I do? A. Every skater is different, so don't be discouraged. Everyone seems to get stumped by one jump or another and for many, it's the axel. Think of it this way: For every jump there is a number of times you will try it before you are successful. Each jump may have a different number and every skater will have a different number as well. But, every attempt brings you one closer! There is no doubt that you are close so just keep working and it will come. Work without worrying about results and the results will come. You can do it! Happy skating. Marta Q. I’ve been skating for 6 months and would like to get my first pair of skates. Where should I go and what do I need to know in advance? A. Congratulations! First, if you have a private lesson instructor, you should discuss with him or her which boots and blades they prefer for your skill level. Next, go to a reputable dealer who have several brands of boots for you to try. Everyone is different, and it is important to find the right boot for your type of foot! Finally, the "break-in" period for new boots ranges greatly. You may experience soreness, pain and possibly blisters for the first few times you use your new boots. This is normal. Good luck! Marta Q. How do you prevent spinning on your toe-picks? A. The first thing you need to do is to feel where the rocker is. I suggest practicing a back-inside edge on your spinning foot. While skating on the back-inside edge, make sure your toe pick is not dragging. Next, practice two-foot spins, concentrating on feeling the rocker and edge, not the toe pick. Gradually begin to shift your weight to the spinning foot while keeping your balance point the same. Another suggestion is off-ice training. A dyna disk, similar to a blown-up Frisbee, will help you develop your balance and control. Finally, you need to talk to your coach and Pro Shop about your blades, because they have a big effect on spinning. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Marta If all else fails it may be an equipment problem. On excessively or incorrectly sharpened skates the toe pick may have to be ground a little shorter. Place the blade gently upright on a firm surface like a counter and rock the blade forward until the toe pick just touches the surface. If the back of the blade is less than 1/2 inch above the surface, this could be part of the problem. Any toe pick adjustment should be done by someone who has experience in doing that. Eric Q. Were can I find a personal figure skating coach so I can learn and make figure skating a profession? A. There are several places and resources to help you find a coach. First you can call or e-mail the PSA for a list of PSA coaches in your area. PSA is The Professional Skaters Association. They also have very good information on becoming a coach if your aspirations are to teach. Some other options are to join the United States Figure Skating Association, the governing body for competitive figure skating. Through the USFSA you can order an official rule book and a directory which list the figure skating clubs throughout the country. Finally, the Ice Skating Institute, a recreational organization publishes a directory which lists rinks and coaches. There is a link to each of these organizations in our Links section. Good luck with your skating and don't hesitate to let us know if we can be of any further assistance. Marta Q. What is the difference between a Mohawk and a Choctaw? A. When doing a Mohawk you remain on the same edge after the change of feet and continue to travel on the same circle after the change. When doing a Choctaw you change edge when changing feet. For example, if you go into the turn on the outside edge, you exit on the inside edge, and change lobe or circle when turning.
 Q. I have trouble keeping my head up on my double jumps. Is there any exercise to prevent this from happening? A. Thank you for the question! These off-ice exercises will strengthen neck muscles and take you more aware of your posture:
Marta Q. Do you know any tips for getting the change foot spin? I have been working on this thing for a year now and can only get 2 rotations on the back spin. Is there anything I can do off the ice to work on it? A. Yes, there are things that you can do off ice to help. A wobble disk is great for developing balance. Dyna Disk is the one that I use, you can get them through physical therapy offices or suppliers online. When practicing on or off the ice be sure to keep your free foot either directly above your blade,(center of balance) or slightly across the standing foot. You might also have your coach check to see if your blade needs to be adjusted, sometimes this can make a big difference. Good luck with your spin and keep on skating. Marta Q. I am 31 have been skating for 4 years and no matter how hard I try I can not get my spirals above hip level. As a child I was very active in ballet and gymnastics The axel I can not seem to get. Is there something I can do off-ice to help? I would love to go to adult nationals won?t go without one! Please help. A. There are several things that you can do off-ice to help both your spiral and axel. I suggest that you look into pilates. This is an exercise form which improves core body strength and increases flexibility. There are many books available on it and some are listed on our site in the Skater's Library. Sometimes you can find classes in it at YMCAs or gyms. I really believe in the benefits of this exercise. There is also a book on stretching that I highly recommend, called the Wharton's Stretch Book. Even if you don't buy it through us, you must get this book. Next, there are types of off-ice training which develop explosive power. This is the type of power that you need for jumps. Plyometrics is one way to increase explosive power. There are also plenty of books on Plyo, some of which are listed in the Library. As with any exercise program check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program. One of the exercises that I use with my students is having them step up unto an aerobic step and spring off bringing their arms and free leg through as in an axel takeoff. I have them land on 2 feet and try to get as much height as possible without worrying about rotation. Finally, be patient and try not to get discouraged. I learned all of my double jumps as an adult; I believe that it is possible for you too. Please let us know how you progress and good luck Marta
 Q. My daughter is 10, and she has been skating for two years and she is now on her Axel but not landed it yet. I want a diet and exercise program for her that she can do in her room before school using the VCR. Can you recommend a video for her to work along with in the mornings. Also any videos that she can look at for extension of arms, landings etc and body, hand posture. I do not have the extra money for ballet lessons. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thank you !!!!! A. Hello, and thanks for your question. There are instructional videos on the market for both ballet and pilates. Three for Ballet are : The Ballet Workout, Ballet Class for Beginners, A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class (for younger kids). Unfortunately I haven't seen any of them so I don't know if one is better than any of the rest. I hope to have these available on our site soon, but for right now you may look at Amazon and do a video search for ballet. I also recommend pilates for ice skaters. This is an exercise method designed to develop strength and flexibility. Some videos for pilates are: Denise Austin- Mat Workout, Hillary Burnett's: Mind, Body Mat, and The Method: Dynamic Toning. You also might check at the YMCA; frequently they offer classes in ballet or pilates at inexpensive costs. We also have a set of videos on our site called the Magic of Style, which are very good and I highly recommend them. We have numerous books on diet and health in our Skater?s Library so please refer to it for diet information. I hope that I have been of some help. Marta Q. My 8 year old daughter has been skating for a year and a half. She just recently moved up to the Gamma level and has expressed a desire to quit skating. She has a history of quitting things when a greater effort is required (i.e.: dance class, horseback riding) and I do not want this to be just a continuation of a pattern. She has competed successfully and like competitions, but said she doesn't like the work required. Do I insist she work through this or just let her off the hook? I think she can do this, but is just getting lazy! Thanks for your input. A. As a pro I see this very frequently. Here are some of the things that I suggest. If you are not taking private lessons, I suggest that you try a few. Private lessons can provide the instructor with the option of introducing new skills that may be more fun than practicing 3-turns! Skating must be fun and sometimes that means throwing in a few advanced skills even if the student is not quite ready for them. If you are taking privately, speak with your instructor about how both of you can add some fun to the learning process. Games like skating with beanie babies on the head teach proper body alignment and posture while the student gets a fun challenge. A second part of "fun" is the social aspect. If your child does not have any friends at about the same level who skate, it's highly unlikely they will continue. Having a friend to practice and play with is an important factor. Inquire about a club. Many rinks have figureskating clubs and junior clubs which could help you find some friends. They also give exposure to higher level skaters which might motivate your child to work harder to improve. Finally, if at all possible try to allow your child to request to go skating instead of prodding them to go. (Anything you want them to do, they won't be interested in.) Good luck and let me know how it all turns out. Marta Q. What is an appropriate age to start teaching my child to skate? A. This is a common question, but one that varies greatly depending on the particular child. I have occasionally seen children under 3 in skates, but 5 or 6 is probably a good age to sign them up for a tots class to see how they enjoy skating and to find out if they can handle lessons. Most children are attentive and coordinated enough to make good progress by the time they are 8. It is important to remember that most children who start skating will not ever enter upper level qualifying competitions, so they should be skating for the enjoyment and challenge that skating offers. Eric Q. My daughter is turning 6 yrs old and has been skating for 4 months. She passed Basic Level 3 skills test. She has alot of speed, does a good waltz jump and spiral. Her instructor says she has progressed quickly and is ready to compete. Since I have nothing to compare her skill level to, it sounds a little soon to me to talk about competition skating. What do you think? A. It sounds like your daughter is progressing quickly! Four months does seem a little soon, but realize that it may take several more months to get a program perfected enough to compete with. Most competitions do break down the groups by level and sometimes by age. In other words, she probably won't be competing against someone with a far superior skill level. Many coaches encourage competitions early to keep students motivated and give them goals to pursue. Frequently, a competition will add new excitement and enthusiasm to skating. Explain to your coach that you want competitions to be an encouraging and a confidence building event. Knowing this, hopefully, they will make sure that your student is prepared before that very 1st competition! Marta
  Q. Hi! I have been thinking about beginning to ice skate. I just wanted to know what exercises you have to do each day, what I should eat if there is anything special to boost my energy, how many times to go to the ice rink, and any really good advise for a beginner. Thanks!!! A. When starting out, it certainly helps if you can skate 3 days per week. Of course the more frequently you practice, the quicker your progress will be. You should also be taking instruction either in group or private lessons. There are many exercises that you can do at home to develop strength, balance and flexibility. You should check out the materials available in our Library. We have instructional articles and offer many books and helpful information. As far as eating, you need to eat a balanced diet with complex carbohydrates, protein and a small amount of fats. Best of luck and let us know how you are doing. Marta Q. I want to eat exactly like a champion skater, but I don?t know what they eat. What do they eat? A. Diet is very important for athletes. You should eat a well balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains being the most food you consume. Next you should eat protein such as chicken, turkey, eggs, pork or other lean meat. Finally, you do need some fats, monounsaturated are best, those are found in olive oil and nuts such as almonds. Before starting any diet, we always recommend that you consult your physician. You will need to skate about 3 hours per day, Monday - Friday. Ballet and Pilates are excellent off ice training but you may need to do jump exercises off ice as well. Check out our Skater's Library for help in these areas. You and your coach will pick out the competitions that you will attend. Normally you will go to 1 or 2 prep competitions and then Regionals. Hopefully after that you will qualify for sectionals and then Nationals. If not you may do 1 or 2 other competitions just to keep fresh until the next season. I hope that I have been of some help. Thanks. Marta Q. My daughter is 10, and she has been skating for two years and she is now on her Axel but not landed it yet. I want a diet and exercise program for her that she can do in her room before school using the VCR. Can you recommend a video for her to work along with in the mornings. Also any videos that she can look at for extension of arms, landings etc and body, hand posture. I do not have the extra money for ballet lessons. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thank you !!!!! A. Hello, and thanks for your question. There are instructional videos on the market for both ballet and pilates. Three for Ballet are : The Ballet Workout, Ballet Class for Beginners, A Fantasy Garden Ballet Class (for younger kids). Unfortunately I haven't seen any of them so I don't know if one is better than any of the rest. I hope to have these available on our site soon, but for right now you may look at Amazon and do a video search for ballet. I also recommend pilates for ice skaters. This is an exercise method designed to develop strength and flexibility. Some videos for pilates are: Denise Austin- Mat Workout, Hillary Burnett's: Mind, Body Mat, and The Method: Dynamic Toning. You also might check at the YMCA; frequently they offer classes in ballet or pilates at inexpensive costs. We also have a set of videos on our site called the Magic of Style, which are very good and I highly recommend them. We have numerous books on diet and health in our Skater?s Library so please refer to it for diet information. I hope that I have been of some help. Marta Q. Do I need to practice my Moves in the Field every day? A. Moves in the Fields are designed to teach the basic positions, turns, and needed skills for figure skaters in all disciplines. When practiced on a regular basis, the Moves will improve your balance, speed and power, extension, quickness, and help you progress faster in your primary discipline. It’s worth the extra effort!
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