Q&A for How to Become a Figure Skater

You can start figure skating at any age. Assuming you are asking about being pro, then it is better to start at a younger age - but age is never an actual decider.

Absolutely not. While you might not make it to the Olympics, with hard work, it is not impossible to catch up to the people who started at 7. It all depends on how often you practice. If you practice 20 hours a week starting at 14, and someone who started at 7 practices 5 hours a week, eventually you'll get to where they are. 'Professional' can mean many different things, though. If by professional you mean Olympic or international competitor, you might have a hard time catching up, but if you mean small time competitor or professional coach, you can start at any age.

No age is too late. As long as you're committed to skating, you can achieve your goals. Some Olympic skaters didn't start until they were twelve.

There is no specific weight that every figure skater should be. Keeping a healthy BMI for your height and build and conditioning your body are more important than maintaining a certain weight for a competitive skater.

Increase your calorie intake, including a lot of protein. Your workouts will readily convert this protein to muscle, and as muscle tissue is dense, will increase your weight as well.

If you only practice near seasonal rinks and never go visit year-round rinks, unfortunately, it will be very hard to reach a competitive level. Even if you practiced every day at the seasonal rinks, it would be hard to maintain and hone your skills. It might not be completely impossible to do it while only practicing during one season, moving closer to a year-round rink would be advisable if you are serious about competing.

Build up your flexibility with exercises and stretches, many of which can be found online on sites like YouTube. Flexibility is a necessary quality in a figure skater, so it's important that you work hard every day to stretch and build the strength in your muscles.

There is no such thing as too late to skate, and it seems you are already ahead of the curve.

Concentrate harder during your lessons and ask the instructor if they can give you extra help. All that matters is that you try your best.

Start by taking group classes. I am 11 and started that way and I am now competitive. Once you get to a point where you start to do jumps and spins (for USA skaters, pre-freeskate) then if you want to practice more, try to get a coach and they will help you.

Show them how much you’re passionate about skating. If they see your love for this amazing sport they should hopefully allow you to start skating.

It will take time, but eventually, yes. The more you skate, the more it will come back to you.

Yes. It is always possible if you have the resources and commitment, but keep in mind skating is more than just balancing on blades. If you have the determination to also learn advanced jumps and spins, go for it!

Competitive skaters from a national to Olympic level skate anywhere from five to over 20 hours a week. If you want to seriously pursue a professional skating career, you should practice as often as you can.

You can get more flexible as you go through your training! Just make sure to adequately stretch each day.

No age is too old, however, you may need to work a little bit harder, as most girls and boys most likely would have started when they were younger.

Figure skaters come in all shapes and sizes. Just because you see thin figure skaters on television doesn't mean that if your body is different you can't be a skater. You can be a skater at any weight, but it can definitely help your performance if you are at a healthy weight and muscular.

If it is legal to get a job where you live, you can start earning money to help pay for it. Unfortunately, there aren't any ways to practice skating off ice, but land exercises are very important for figure skating.

A good coach concentrates on your technique, skill, and improvement. The coach should also be focused on what you need to make improvements on. The coach should also have some experience figure skating and provide you with plenty of support.

Start with little jumps like waltz jumps, and once you start to feel more comfortable jumping, move on to salchows, loops, and toe loops. Remember that the worst thing that will happen is you will fall. You can also practice jumping off the ice for a while until you feel more confident.

Johnny Weir is an American figure skater who took part in the Olympics, World Championship and the Grand Prix. He started figure skating at age 12. So just try and go for it!

Find a good teacher and take lessons.

Well, if you're aiming for Nationals, Internationals, or the Olympics, then you might have a harder time achieving those dreams. Most people that have won the Olympic gold at 15 started at age 4. But if your goal is competing on a slightly smaller scale, there is no time to start like the present.

Figure out where the nearest rink is, and try to get there at least once a week for practice. Or you could see if there are any frozen lakes that are suitable AND safe for you to use.

To learn to skate, you only need skates, a place to practice and a good teacher.

No one is too old to skate. You may be able to compete one day, but you'll have to settle for realistic goals.

It all depends on your commitment. If you are willing to give up time and effort, you can probably get up there in a few years. Practice and dedication are really what matter.

While roller and inline skating can help you with balance problems beginners face when ice skating for the first time, it is not necessary. While I did roller skate, I had never rollerbladed (inline skated) before I started ice skating. The motions for rollerblading and ice skating are very different, so while it may help you with balance, trying to practice for ice skating in inline skates can actually be counterproductive with memory movements!

Group lessons usually cost around $60-$70 for a six-week course. Private coaching generally costs $600-$700 per month. It will vary depending on where you live, who the coach is, etc.

Yes, you can. If you fall, there is a small risk your glasses may fall off or be damaged, but that isn't likely to occur unless you fall directly on your face. If you are concerned about this, you can switch to contacts or take off your glasses. There isn't really anything to worry about, though.