Figure Skating

As you progress in your figure skating, you will want to understand better the figure skate blades to choose the best ones for you. There are various styles with different profiles, toe rakes, tails, metals... I have tried gathering all the info you may need to choose and maintain your blades.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Anatomy of the figure skate blade 

Before we look in details at the various profiles your blade can have, it is best you understand the different parts of that blade.
Below is a simplified drawing with the main elements:

• The runner is the area of the blade the is in contact with the ice when gliding
• The non-skateable zone is between the runner and the toe rake. It is used when spinning
• The toe rake is the front of the blade, also known as the teeth
• The drag pick (a.k.a. Master or Drop pick) is the bottom pick
• The king (a.k.a Primary pick) is the top pick
• The stanchions are the columns between the runner and the plates
• The toe plate is the larger metal plate that attaches one stanchion to the toe area of the sole.
• The heel plate is the smaller metal plate that attaches the other stanchion to the heel area of the sole.

Criteria to choose your blades - overview

Below are the main criteria to compare when choosing your blades.
This is a quick overview. Explanations are provided on each one, and more, later in the article to better understand why.

#1 Style

• Parallel – most blades run parallel; easiest to sharpen
• Parabolic – similar to parallel, but the blade is thinner at the center, which helps to center your weight on this part of the blade
• Tapered – the blade is thinner at the tail end of the blade, this results in less drag and friction, offering increased speed

#2 Rocker radius

• 7-foot rocker - The blade is more curved (meaning less contact surface with the ice) - Smoother when spinning (during spins, twizzles or turns) but less control on your edge work and when landing jumps.
• 8-foot rocker - a little bit flatter (more contact surface with the ice) - Better for speed and edge control, more stability when landing jumps, but harder to find the sweet spot for spinning 

#3 Toe rake style

• Straight-cut toe rake - Most common for beginners - They dig into the ice quickly and deep for firm grip - good for height on jumps but provide less momentum
• Cross-cut toe rake - Best for intermediate and advanced to avoid sliding and secure the jumps - quicker initial rotation with less sliding - but less help for height
• Size - You can also choose blades with larger spikes or not. Beginners prefer smaller ones to avoid tripping, while advanced skaters (but not dancers) may prefer larger spikes for more contact with the ice

#4 Spin rocker / Sweet spot position

• To make the best spin (with as little friction as possible), you want the sweet spot of the blade to fall on the forward half of the balls under your foot (see drawing further down).
• The spin rocker is the section in front of the sweet spot, the part of the blade you spin on.
• The radius of this section is stated in inches - such as 12" or 17" (Sometimes there is another inflection point with 2 radiuses)
• The curvature's biggest impact is on the location of the sweet spot. Do you need it closer to the front (small toes) or longer?

#5 Chassis shape and material - for very advanced skaters

Most blades have the classic profile you can see on the drawing above.
However, in recent years, a new technology and shape has been introduced: the Revolution.
Skaters find that the new cantilever shape and composite material combination provides more elasticity. It cushions the impacts. The blade is often described as smoother and more responsive.It is enjoyed by skaters of high levels.
You can also have your preferences concerning the material of the blades. However, once you have selected all the criteria you normally don't have that many choices remaining.

#6 Available sizes (length)

Finally, not all blades are available in all sizes.
Make sure the ones you look at are available in yours.

Details about all those criteria and more in the following sections.

The different blade styles

Width of the blade

Dance and synchro blades can be narrower than standard blades.
This enables faster shift between edges. Considering the complex footwork required in this discipline, this is an advantage. 

The stanchion height

On their blade summary table, the John Wilson website also mentions the stanchion height with attributes such as high, low or standard.
However, not many blade manufacturers mention the height of the stanchion
It is the height from the ice to the sole of the boot (top of the mounting plate). 

Low stanchion height means closer to the ground (ice) and more balance. So often better for less advanced skaters.
Higher stanchion height means more clearance. It is often enjoyed by male skaters. Their wide boots could otherwise scrape the ice.

Chassis profile - classic vs revolution

Most blades have the classic profile you can see on the drawing above.
However, in recent years, a new technology and shape has been introduced by MK and John Wilson: the Revolution.

Originally, they were designed to be lighter with composite chassis.
However, as skaters started using them, they found that the new cantilever shape and composite material combination provided more elasticity. It cushions the impact. The blade is often described as smoother and more responsive.

The blade profile: rocker, spin rocker and sweet spot

About the rocker

The rocker is the curved part of the blade that allows it to rock back and forth.
Several elements of that radius have an impact on your skating position:

• The radius of the rocker
• The position of the sweet spot
• The radius of the spin rocker

The Rocker Radius

The radius of that curve is not the same for all blades. The smaller the radius, the more rocking movement is possible.
There are 2 main rocker options: 7 or 8 foot radius.

• 7-foot rocker
  The blade is more curved = less contact surface with the ice
  Pros - smoother when spinning (during spins, twizzles or turns)
  Cons - since you have less contact surface, you have less control on your edge work and when landing jumps.
  Best when learning to control and center spins. Can be best for less advanced, but would require a transition period if moving to 8-foot when starting bigger jumps.
• 8-foot rocker
  The blade is a little bit flatter = more contact surface with the ice
  Pros - better for speed and edge control, more stability when landing jumps
  Cons - the sweet spot is less obvious and harder to find for spins and turns
  Best when trying to land bigger jumps, but only when you already master spins.

The sweet spot

The curvature of the blade is not continuous though. Closer to the pick the curvature changes to give clearance to the toe picks.
The point of inflection where the curvature changes is called the sweet spot. It is the ideal part of the blade to spin and turn on.

Before the sweet spot is the spin rocker, after it is the rocker.

When you are placing your body weight and foot pressure on the sweet spot, it feels slick as there is hardly any friction.

To make the best spin (with as little friction as possible), you want the sweet spot of the blade to fall on the forward half of the balls under your foot. (Try spinning on the floor without skates, to feel the part of your feet making contact with the floor, and where the most pressure is).
Therefore, you need to find the right blade for you - shorter toes would have a sweet spot more forward for example.

The spin rocker radius

The spin rocker is the section in front of the sweet spot, the part of the blade you spin on.
It is located between the sweet spots and the point where the blade cannot rock further because of the drag pick.

The radius of this section is stated in inches - such as 12" or 17". Sometimes there is another inflection point when there are 2 different sections with different radiuses in the spin rocker (for example the Pattern 99 by Wilson). On the John Wilson website they refer to the spin rocker as secondary rocker and the attributes as aggressive, standard or subtle.

The curvature's biggest impact in on the location of the sweet spot whilst avoiding contact of the drag pick with the ice.

The larger the spin rocker radius, the flatter the blade (subtle), the longer the spin rocker section
The smaller the spin rocker radius, the more curved the blade is (aggressive), the shorter the spin rocker section.

Do not mix up with Radius of Hollow (RoH)

You might also often hear about the radius of hollow of your blade. This is very important for your skating but it is not about the profile of the blade. It has to do with how deep the sharpening of your blade is done.
Blades are sold with a recommended RoH. However, you can sharpen them the way you want.

In the next section we will look at toe rakes.

Toe rakes

Cross-cut toe rake

• As written in the name, the spikes are cut at an angle, crisscrossing
• Best for intermediate and advanced to avoid sliding and secure the jumps
• Pros - less deep, only gripping onto the top layer of the ice, which means quicker initial rotation - less sliding, more consistency
• Cons - Less impact on height

K-pick toe rake

This shape has been discontinued.
The design had 3-4 extra picks to provide more control, and according to manufacturers increase jump height and length on some of the jumps (toe loops for example). 

Other elements of the toe pick

Then, once that choice of profile is settled, different blades will have different shapes for the:

• Drag pick (or master pick or drop pick) - it is the lowermost spike that is normally spaced a little further. It is used to initiate the verticality of the jump. It is the last section of the blade to leave the ice on a jump, and the first part of the blade to touch it upon landing. And it slightly touches the ice on most spins.
• King pick (or Primary pick) - the topmost spike that is normally large and protruding. It improves contact with the ice when using the toe. Some blades have a very large and aggressive King pick while dance blades have a discreet one.

I recommend reading each blade description and their claim on how it helps your skating.

The Tail length & Lift angle (or heel lift)

The tail length

At the back of the blade, behind the heel plate is the section called the tail.
As a beginner or intermediate, there is no need to worry about the tail.
As you progress, dance skaters and synchronized skaters, will prefer shorter tails to perform quicker steps and avoid mix-ups with other skaters' blades.

The heel lift angle

Because of the rocker, as the drag pick comes into contact with the ice, the tail is lifted. The height it reaches is called the lift angle.

The lift angle (which depends mostly on the rocker) is a good number to define the time it takes for your pick to come into contact with the ice.
The higher the light angle, the higher the toe pick clearance, the longer it takes for your drag pick to contact the ice, the best it is for spins and jumps.

As the blades get sharpened, the angle goes down and the skater cannot rock forward for spins and jumps.

In the next section we will discuss materials.

The blade's material

Now that we have discussed in detail about the shape of the blade, from all angles, let's have a look at the materials being used. The type of metal can have a major impact on that blade’s performance. 

A blade's hardness is measured by Rockwell C (HRC).  The hardness determines how long your blade stays sharp under normal use.
However, the blade must get softer in the center (away from the edges) to give some flex.  Different materials can be used by fusion or by coating.

Typical materials used are listed below with their characteristics, pros and cons.

High Carbon Steel (runner and chassis)

• Steel alloy where carbon has been added to pure steel 
• Most common material, especially for beginners and intermediate
• Easy to sharpen
• Often with a Chrome finish
• The hardness should be around 60 HRC

Stainless Steel (runner and chassis)

• Harder material
• Less rust and stains
• More difficult to sharpen - The chromium content in stainless causes the edges to roll and make them less sharp. 

Nickel (coat)

• Often used to plate over another metal
• Offers resistance to corrosion
• Often used for beginners

Titanium (coat & chassis)

• Very resistant
• High tensile strength-to-density ratio
• Lighter

Carbon-fiber Composite Materials - for the chassis

• When two or more basic material are fused together
• Lightweight
• Stronger blades
• Preferred at high level

Aluminium for the chassis

• lightweight

Mount, Sharpen and Maintain blades

Mounting figure skating blades

For beginner, you don't have to worry. Blades will be mounted on the boot.
However for more advanced skates or if you purchase the blade and the boots separately, you need to mount the 2 together.
Always read the recommendations and instructions. 
But, here are a few things you should know:

• You should let a professional mount your blades (either a pro at your local rink or at a skate shop)
• A temporary mount has some screws in place allowing to make minor adjustments. Some will prefer a position slightly closer to the toes. Others with a big arch, will prefer a position slightly more towards the inside of the boot. DO NO jumps on a temporary mount
• The boot heel & sole must be covered with the plates to avoid twisting the blade. 
• Possible check on the ice: Glide straight with both feet under your hips, on clean ice with sharpened blades. If, for one of the feet, you see only one line or if one line is thicker than the other, then your weight is not balanced properly (leaning on one edge) and you need to modify how the blade is mounted.

Sharpening blades

Before first use, and regularly when practicing, make sure to have your blades sharpened to help glide on the ice.
The sharpening creates a smooth concave grind that must be centered.

Proper sharpening requires an excellent technique. It must be adapted to the skater's:

• weight
• level
• type of skating

Do not try doing it yourself!

Learn more on my article about sharpening.

Dry out your blades

As mentioned just before, another critical step to take care of your blades is to dry them out after practice.
You don't want any rust forming on them. Which is why you need to be diligent when drying them.
You need an absorbent and soft towel (learn more in my article).
I have found a material that I love. And I added figure skating designs that you can personalize to make them more fun. Check them out:

Extra FAQs

Is there a best figure skate blade?

No, there is not. It all depends on your level, expectations, feet profile...

Why are some figure skating blades so expensive?

To create high level products with strength, flexibility, sharpness, lightness and all, you need a complex manufacturing process with different metals.
You need something that can sustain the repeated landings from jumps.

More expensive metals and more difficult manufacturing means more expensive blades.

However, if you are a beginner, there is no need to put too much money on them. This is for advanced skaters.

How are they made?

3 pieces are made (more for newer profiles) - the runner, the heel plate and the toe plate.
They are soldered together.
The blade is then coated with chrome plating for example. And the chrome is ground off the edges to that the steel is touching the ice.

You might also be interested in:

Want to choose your next figure skates, clothes or accessories? Below are some of the best figure skating brands on the market and tips on how to choose the best ones for your needs.

Note: This is for intermediate to advanced figure skaters. if you are an absolute beginner, you might want to head straight to my article about the best ice skate for beginner adults and teens or the best figure skates for girls.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Best figure skating brands - selection criteria

Let's me start by saying that there is no absolute best figure skating brand - whatever the product: Boots, blades, clothes, accessories.
It always depends on your personal needs.
You need to find the best brand for you, the best fit to your shape and expectations.
Below are some criteria to consider, before looking into the most popular brands for each type of figure skating equipment.

Most popular brands short answers

I recommend you read the article to learn more about the best brands, but if you are looking for a short answer the most popular brands of figure skates are:

• Boots: Jackson, Riedell and Edea
• Blades: MK, John Wilson and Riedell

Skating level

First-of, a beginner skater does not need custom boots or personally designed costumes.
For figure skates, you start considering buying separate boots and blades at an intermediate level. Before that, the complete stock figure skates are absolutely sufficient. However, as you progress, finding the perfect fit will give you an edge.

Your skating level will impact:

• Customization needs for the boot
• Stiffness level of the boot (more support needed)
• Quality of the blade
• Durability, as you skate more or less often
• Lightness of the boot 
• Special technological advance to absorb shock

If you are a beginner skater, purchasing an advanced boot will NOT make you a better skater!

Shape

For example, the shape of your feet, for the boots:
Each figure skating boot brand is known for different shapes fitting different types of feet. For example:

• Jackson skates have a wide toe-box, but they are the most versatile and tend to fit most feet, which is why they are so popular
• Graf skates have very high arches
• Riedell skates are narrower
• Edea skates work for squarer feet
• ...

But also, your training clothes. Some brands will be a better fit depending on your morphology.

Budget

Another essential criterion is price.
You can find figure skating equipment at all prices - especially for boots, blades and costumes the price variations are huge.
When a child is still growing, you want to be reasonable as the skates will have to be changed frequently.

Having high quality and durable skates is great, but not if it impacts the financial stress level of the skater or the family.

What ice skates do Olympians wear?

You should never base your choice on which famous skater is wearing them because they don't have the same shape of feet.
But if you are curious:

• Jackson - Nathan Chen, Kaetlyn Osmond, Alina Zagitova, Adam Rippon, Guillaume Cizeron...
• Riedell - Alexa Linden, Johnny Weir, Vincent Zhou, Amy Lin...
• Edea - Evgenia Medvedeva, Gabrielle Papadakis, Yuzuru Hanyu, Kaetlyn Osmond... (very popular with the latest generation of high-level figure skaters)
• Risport - Shoma Uno, Wenjing Sui, Alexandra Trusova...
• Graf - Ashley Wagner, Javier Fernandez, Carolina Kostner, Brian Orser, Alexei Yagudin, Evgeny Plushenko, Oksana Baiul.

Next, I will introduce the best figure skating brands for:

• Boots
• Blades
• Training clothes and costumes
• Accessories

BOOTS - Best figure skate brands

First things first, you need boots.
Like for shoes, there are different shapes of boots depending on the manufacturer.

The most popular brands for ice skaters of all levels are Jackson and Riedell because they cover a complete range of products from beginners to Olympians, but for high level, the Edea boots are becoming increasingly popular.
But they all have their specialties.

Let's learn more about all of them

EDEA

• Origin
  Originating in Italy, the first boots hit the ice in 2002, after 2 years of research and development.
  Headquarter - Crocetta del Montello, Italy- website
• Products
  They manufacture boots only. Their boots have become very popular recently with high level skaters.
• Shape specificity
  For squarer feet (heel, arch and toes of the same width).
• Specific Technologies
  The Edea boots are famous for being significantly lighter than other boots, as they are made of synthetic material instead of leather.
  Top models have anti-shock technology to relieve pressure when landing a jump
  Careful, you can't heat them like typical boots, since they are not made of leather.
• Famous customers
  Famous figure skaters wearing Edea skates: Evgenia Medvedeva, Gabrielle Papadakis, Yuzuru Hanyu, Kaetlyn Osmond ...  See the list of Edea Skaters

GAM

• Origin
  Owned by the same company as Jackson
• Products
  Entry to mid-levels skaters - good comfort
• Shape specificity
  Wide toe-box
• Specific Technologies
  Leather with heat molding capabilities

Harlick

• Origin
  In 1935, Louis Harlick, a custom footwear maker, made his first pair of custom skating boots. He joined with the Henderson brothers in 1960. Today, the company is still owned by the Henderson family.
  Headquarter: San Carlos, California, USA - Website
• Products
  Boots only. High quality boots with customization using special padding. Fitting in California - not for beginners
• Specific Technologies
  Handcrafted from traditional leather.
• Famous customers
  Used to be worn by Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, Meryl Davis and Charlie White

SP-Teri

• Origin
  Making skating boots since 1948, Joseph Spiteri launched his own company in 1963 in California. It is now led by Bill Fauver who used to be a competitive ice skater.
  Headquarter in Nashville, Tennessee, USA - wesbite
• Products
  Boots only with customization, famous for its fit, entry level to elite
• Shape specificity
  Customized with material, flexibility, padding, orthotic allowances, tongue options, insoles...
  
• Famous customers
  Mirai Nagasu, Dorothy Hamill

Other figure skate brands

On Amazon, you will also notice other brands. They offer some good entry level skates for reasonable prices. They often started with other products such as roller skates or hockey skates and are branching out into ice skates.

• Bladerunner (Italy)
• Botas (Czech Republic)
• Lake Placid (USA)

Now let's talk about blades...

BLADES - Top figure skate brands

Another essential for creating the perfect figure skate for you is the blade.

The most popular brands at high level are MK and John Wilson.

Specific attributes to look at for your blades (depending on your level)

• Material - Carbon steel (most common to start with), nickel, aluminium, carbon fiber, stainless steel, titanium - different materials offer different advantages: corrosion resistance, strength, elasticity, weight...
• Blade types - Parallel (most of the blades, easier to sharpen) and parabolic (help center your weight) are the most common but new shapes are appearing such as the Revolution, and other traditional such as side-honed or tapered.
• Rocker - 7 foot or 8 foot (more or less curved)  - 7' is more mobile and easier for spins while the 8' is better for speed, edge control and jump landing.
• Toe rake (a.k.a Toe pick or Teeth) - several shapes available: straight-cut are great for beginners to intermediates (low profile to avoid tripping over them), then cross-cut is common. For advanced skater the K-pick is preferred as it is more aggressive.
• Tail length and lift angle - Tails are shorter for ice dancer and longer for figure skaters. Blades also have different lift angles (how high the tail is from the ice) - this has an impact on the time for the toe pick to come into contact with the ice (larger lift, longer time).

Want to understand more? - check out my complete article about figure skate blades.

MK Blades

• Origin
  MK means Mitchel & King
  Headquarter - Sheffield, United Kingdom - website
• Famous products:
  The Dance Blades, Phantom Blades, Gold Star Blades
• Shapes and materials
  Competition level blades are available in various profiles
  Materials are carbon fiber composite and steel
• Famous customers
  Many famous figure skaters use MK blades, especially ice dancers: Tessa Virtue, Gabrielle Papadakis, Patrick Chan...  See their Hall of fame

John Wilson

• Origin
  Historical blade maker, John Wilson was commissioned to make blades for King William III in 1696
  Headquarter - Sheffield, United Kingdom - website
• Famous products:
  The Pattern 99 Revolution blades, the Gold Seal Blades...
• Shapes and materials
  Competition level blades are available in various profiles
  Materials are carbon fiber composite and steel
• Famous customers
  Many famous figure skaters use John Wilson blades: Yuzuru Hanyu, Shuman Uno, Nathan Chen, Adam Tippon...  See their Hall of fame

Both John Wilson and MK have similar websites and the same address. They are both owned by the parent company HD sports.

Paramout SK8s

• Origin
  Headquarter - Gurnee, Chicago area, IL, USA - website
• Famous products:
  Customization possible
• Shapes and materials
  Carbon steel
• Famous customers
  Many famous figure skaters use John Wilson blades: Javier Fernandez, Nicole Rajico...  See their Skaters list

Jackson and Riedell

We already saw these 2 companies in the Boot section. They both make blades to go with them.

• Jackson Ultima - various profiles in aluminium and stainless steel 
• Riedell Eclipse - various profiles in stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum and titanium

CLOTHES & COSTUMES - Good figure skating brands

Best figure skating dress brands

For competitions, it is often best to have your own design and a seamstress to create the perfect costumes for your morphology and your programs.
However, this has a cost.

Some brands are offering a variety of pre-made figure skating dresses:

• Mondor
• Chloe Noel
• Jerry's Skating World
• Elite Expression
• Liuhuo
• ...

Best figure skating training clothes brands

Jacket, leggings, leotard, tops, skirts... There are many ways to dress for figure skating practice.
There is no one brand that really stands out. They include:

• Chloe Noel
• Elite Expression
• Jerry's Skating World
• IceDress Thermal apparel
• Mondor
• ...

But you don't have to choose clothes that are specific for figure skating. As long as they are thin, warm, breathable and not soaking up water, most sport clothes will be fine.

You can find here my suggestion for 5 looks to enjoy at practice.

ACCESSORIES - Best ice skating brands

Figure skating laces brands

Figure skating laces are made by a combination of figure skate manufacturers,  figure skating clothes manufacturers and accessory manufacturers:

• Edea
• Riedell
• Jackson
• Jerry's
• A&R

Other accessories with figure skating designs

And if you are looking for everyday life accessories with figure skating designs check out my collection on Zazzle with:

• Notebooks
• Mirrors
• Leggings
• Tank tops
• Yoga mats
• Jewelry
• Bedroom decors
• and much more...

You might also be interested in:

Looking for news and inspiring figure skating posts on your social media? Check out the following 20 figure skating Instagram accounts (and a few Tik Tok suggestions too) you could follow.

But,  if you are looking for more in depth figure skating content, check out my articles about ice skating movies and figure skating books.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

Official figure skating governing bodies accounts

Before we go to famous figure skater's account, let's have a look at the Instagram of the figure skating governing bodies.
This is the best way to keep informed of competition, rules, significant changes, top figure skaters...

ISU (International Skating Union)

The ISU posts about:

• Training practices
• Mostly figure skaters at international competitions (with lots of pictures and some videos)
• Skater quiz
• Events coming up

Add some of the best figure skating moments to your Instagram feed!

US figure skating

The US figure skating entity posts about:

• Questions from fan to figure skaters
• Picture and video of US figure skaters at competitions
• Training tips with warm-up routines or techniques by US figure skaters
• News about events comping up, celebration, new funds...

Skate Canada

The official page of Skate Canada shares in English and French:

• Photos and videos of Canadian skaters at competition
• Results from competition
• Skate Canada merchandise
• Fun games and interviews with Canadian Skaters

British ice skating

British ice skating covers more than figure skating (also speed skating short and long track).
For figure skating you will see posts about:

• General tips
• News and updates about current and future events
• News about skaters and teams
• When figure skating is on TV

Famous figure skaters on Instagram and Tik Tok 

Now, let's talk about the accounts of figure skaters.
On Instagram, the most followed accounts are those of top figure skaters on the International Competitive circuit.
However, on Tik Tok, the most followed accounts (for the moment) are those of unknown skaters sharing moments on the ice.

There are so many accounts by figure skaters that it is hard to narrow down.

I prefer skaters that are mostly sharing about ice skating, but you can also find accounts that are a mix of figure skating, lifestyle, fashion...
You should follow the skaters you enjoy watching on the ice.
And here are a few big accounts to consider following:

Famous figure skater Instagram accounts

Some of the biggest figure skating Tik Tok account:

Below are some of the biggest accounts in terms of followers. I have chosen those that really share a lot of ice skating videos.

• @tinahelleken
• @gianna_szp
• @patricia.on.ice (in German)
• @amirah_skater
• @pj_hallam
• @oniceperspectives

Best for figure skating tips

Next in the collection of ice skating Instagram accounts are those sharing videos with tips.

• In regard to on-ice tips, those are mostly for beginner to intermediate levels (how to do mohawks, step sequences, warm-up...)
• However, those sharing off-ice training routines are great for all levels

Below are a few examples of such accounts that I find well done.

On-ice skating tips

Off-ice figure skating training 

Want overall introduction about off-ice training? See my article about off-ice figure skating training.

Synchronized skating teams Instagram accounts

Are you passionate about synchronized skating?
Share the official Instagram accounts of your favorite teams!
Below are a few examples:

Figure skating brands on Instagram

Other accounts you can follow on Instagram are those of figure skating brands.
This can give you another perspective on ice skating.

Brands of figure skates

Brands of figure skates share

• beautiful picture so figure skaters and ice skates
• giveaways
• photos of top figure skaters wearing their brands

Brands of figure clothing and accessories

You can also find brands of figure skating clothes and accessories. Those are mostly pictures of products.

I am personally sharing my designs on the various products on Zazzle - blade towels, tank tops, t-shirts, notebooks, phone covers, water bottles and so many more products that you can personalize - see my collections. 

They can give you ideas of gifts for friends or ideas of what to ask for at your next birthday!

Popular hashtags for figure skating

Want to follow figure skating on Instagram? Check out the following popular hashtags:

What to wear at practice? Check out my recommendations and 6 style suggestions for your figure skating training clothes - athletic, dancer, minimalist, modern...

Skip to the end if you are looking for figure skating outfits for boys / men.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you (learn more).

General tips to choose figure skating training clothes

Before I share my 5 looks to consider for figure skating training, there are a few things you should keep in mind when selecting an outfit for ice skating practice for you or as a parent for your kid skater:

Warmth and layers

Ice skating rinks are generally cold.
And during practice, sometimes you are working a lot, sometimes you are doing less movement.
Therefore the ideal training outfit has layers and removable pieces, particularly for the top part of your body. (tops, jacket, neck warmer, gloves...)

For an absolute beginner, it is better to start with warm clothes with long sleeves.
However, as soon as the skater understands how his/her body reacts to the change in activity and the cold of the rink, the outfit should be adapted with:

• long or short sleeves 
• a jacket layer
• warmer clothes or not

Material - Water reaction, breathability, resistance

When choosing your outfit, make sure you opt for fabrics that are:

• Non water absorbent and quick to dry - especially for the bottom part. Figure skaters tend to fall a lot and you don't want to wear clothes that absorb all the water and then freeze up!
• Breathable - figure skating is a real workout (regardless of some people say), the skater is sweating. A good fabric will keep you comfortable and dry when sweating.
• Resistant - figure skating pants will see a lot of things, from the falls to the hooks and blade of the opposite skates... Therefore, you want a material that can last the many practice hours required to master skills.

But whatever the material, always make sure to take your clothes out of the figure skating bag when reaching home!

Shape

The skater should be comfortable, but the clothes should not be baggy or floating so that:

• they do not hinder movement
• the coach can see the lines and the moves to give feedback.

Style

The training outfit is a great way to show personality.

There are always trends in what skaters are wearing at practice, but the skater should always choose what makes him/her comfortable and feel good.
It is important to have confidence.
Like a capsule collection, it is also important to think of how the skater can mix the pieces together to create multiple outfits.

There is no one brand that standout over the others.

Keep hair away from the face

Finally, whatever the clothes chosen, the hair should be kept away from the face, like in ballet. 
They can be attached in Ponytails, buns or braids, or cut short.

Figure skating clothes - 5 style suggestions

Now let's have a look at 5 styles that are popular with girl/woman figure skater. Trends rotate among them.

#1 Modern look

• A legging style of figure skating pants with one color or design element (not too many elements)
• A simple long sleeve top, close to the body (or short sleeves for those who are warm when practicing)
• A warm-up jacket, close to the body (so you can keep it, if cold, but it does not hinder the movements), sometimes repeating the element from the leggings.

#2 Athletic look

• Heavy weight tights (avoid competition tights, as they are thin and will tear very easily - learn more about tights)
• A leotard, either plain color or with a design and colors, for the skater to express personality.
• A sculptural short with the same color as the main color on the leotard
• A warm-up jacket, close to the body (so you can keep it, if cold, but it does not hinder the movements)

#3 Minimalist look / warm skater

If you don't want to wonder what to wear every time, have a set of plain color pieces that you just put on without worry.

• Simple comfortable leggings, one color
• Simple top - long sleeves or tank top, depending on the skater's level of comfort
• Simple Polar fleece - for warm-up and when going out of the rink

Socks

In the next section I wall talk about other accessories to complete your look, however first we need to talk about socks.
Whatever the look, the skater must decide what to wear inside the boots. This is essential, even if not seen.

Socks should be

• thin enough for the foot to feel the points of pressure 
• without seams so as to avoid friction
• reaching over the boot to avoid friction at the top of the boot

Accessories - gloves, neck warmer, leg warmer, boot covers

Now let's have a look at other accessories that can complete your look.

Hands 

It is, of course, essential to protect the hands. They are often the ones that get cold and, in case of a fall, they are in the front lines.
You want gloves that are not absorbing water and drying fast (sadly there is more design choice but less fabric choice for young kids)

Consider wearing padded gloves to protect your hands - check out my article on the best figure skating gloves.

Neck

With the wind of skating fast around the ice, the neck can get cold. You can cover it while warming-up and when cooling down after practice.

• Turtleneck leotard or top - but that means you have your neck covered during the whole practice; you can remove it if you are too warm
• a neck gaiter that you can add and remove as needed

Hair

Finally, the skater should think about a hairdo. As written before, hair should not be in the face.

• Consider a head band that is made to protect the head in case of a shock (when practicing jumps)
• Otherwise, you can find skating themes or neutral hair accessories.

Leggings

T-shirts and tank-tops to personalize

Figure training outfits for boys / men

There are a lot less figure skating training clothes choices for boys and men.
Basically the outfits consist of:

• pants
• a top
• a jacket / fleece

Figure skating pants

Figure skating pants for men are mostly black. Sometimes they have stripes on the side, and a few are navy blue.
You can find a few different materials and shapes, but overall, pretty basic.
If you want colors you can look at the yoga leggings for men. But the material is not made to enter in contact with ice. They can be quick dry too.

Tops

Jacket

I recommend looking at yoga / cycling gear. They are often waterproof, quick to dry, breathable and close to the body.

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