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21+ Figure Skating Stretches (when, what, how)

Last updated on April 24, 2021

Find out figure skating stretches routines to perform before and after practice, as well as outside the rink, in order to prevent injuries and improve performance. This should be an essential part of your training.

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Table of Contents
Stretching for figure skater - why, when, how
Warm-up: 8 Dynamic Stretches before figure skating practices
7 essential Post-Training figure skating stretches
Off-ice training - 6 flexibility stretching routine for figure skaters

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Stretching for figure skater - why, when, how

Why should a figure skater stretch?

Stretching is an essential part of every sport. Sadly, it is often the most overlooked. Some skaters, especially younger ones, don’t grasp the importance of warming up before ice skating practice or cooling down after.
A good stretching routine will:

  • reduce muscle imbalances
  • prevent injuries, such as pulled muscles or worse - If your muscles are tight when you’re performing a fast leg movement, for example, your muscles are more likely to snap. 
  • improve performances

Sasha Cohen Split jump, by Rich Moffitt from Boston, USA, CC BY 2.0

Essential to know before stretching

  • Stretches should always be done on warm muscles. If done before training or during the day, start with five to ten minutes of movement that increases your body temperature and causes a light sweat, e.g. jogging or jumping jacks.
  • Don't hold your breath! - It is essential to bring oxygen to the muscles and expulse carbon dioxide for a good stretch. Breathe slowly out as you lean into the stretch.
  • Stretching should be pain-free -  if it starts hurting, move back-off to the position where you don’t feel any more pain and hold it.
  • When holding the position, you may start feeling ease in the muscle. Then, you can push the stretch a little further.  

What muscles should ice skaters stretch?

Figure skaters use almost all the muscles - especially on jumps and spins, but even on simple steps. The whole body contributes to balancing on the little thin blade.
Even though the most important are your lower body stretches, do not overlook the upper body.

  • Muscles of the legs: quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, calves and achilles, groin, hip abductors, and hip adductors
  • Muscles of the upper body: neck, shoulders, upper and lower back, chest, sides of torso 

When should figure skaters stretches?

For figure skaters, stretches are required at 3 moments of your training for different objectives:

  • During warm-up, before any ice skating training sessions - First do a general body warm-up and then do dynamic stretching (short quick movements) to prepare your muscles for the rapid contractions and prepare for some flexibility movements specific to your programs.
  • Right after practice - when your muscles are still warm and you are cooling down, gradually decrease the pace and then perform static stretching (long slow holds) to improve overall flexibility and balance your muscles.
  • During the week, off-ice training - if trying to improve flexibility for better performance, extra sessions of stretches are important. But stretches should always be done on warm muscles.

Exercises for all 3 stretching moments will be shared in the following sections of this article.

Important Note

The following recommendations are based on years of figure skating practice, recommendations by coaches and by physical therapists.
They are typical stretches for figure skaters, without special needs.
Before any physical activity, especially with a specific injury and difficulty, it is always recommended to consult your doctor or physical therapist to adapt to your individual needs.

And don't forget to hydrate!

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Warm-up: 8 Dynamic Stretches before figure skating practices

Most warm-up exercises (apart from those to increase your heart rate) are dynamic stretches, which means moving through a range of motions, repeatedly but with control. The motion limits should be challenging but comfortable.
They are not often thought to be stretches, but since they force you to increase your range of motions compared to normal activities, it does stretch your muscles.

They are essential to improve your range of motions and mobility, thus preparing your muscles for what there is to come during figure skating practice.

Plan

  • Before putting on your skates, get your heart rate up by doing some jogging or jumping jack.
  • Then complete the routine of exercises below - keep control of your movements even if dynamic (do not throw yourself in every direction)
  • Repeat movements (slower movements at the beginning, higher intensity at the end)
  • Then put on your skates
  • And redo some arm swings, side lunges and trunk rotations before getting on the ice

Dynamic stretches to warm-up

1. Arm Circles

  • Stand up straight
  • Make circles with your arm, keeping control of your shoulder
  • Alternate circles from front to back and back to front
  • Do both arms

2. Bended swings

  • Spread your legs on the side
  • Sand up straight with your arms at 90° on either side
  • In a controlled manner, go and touch your opposite feet with your fingertips
  • Alternate
Figure skater stretching swings

3. Front lunges

  • Stand up straight
  • Move forward with one leg and bend to 90 degrees (the back leg bends as well)
  • Push to stand back up
  • Alternate legs
Figure skater stretching lunges

4. Side lunges

  • Stand up straight
  • Spread your legs to each side of your hips, stay centered
  • Bend one leg to 90°
  • Move back up to the middle
  • Bend the other leg to 90°
  • Move back up to the middle
Figure skater stretch warm up side lunges

5. Trunk rotations

  • Stand up straight and spread your legs slightly to align with your hips
  • Lift and bend your arms in front of your chest (but keep your shoulders down)
  • Rotate left and right - make sure you control the movement, go as far as possible without triggering pain

6. Ankle rotations

  • Stand up straight and spread your legs slightly to align with your hips
  • Place your foot you its toes
  • Rotate in both directions
  • Alternate feet
Figure skater stretching warm up ankles

7. Leg curls

  • Finish with high intensity leg curls 
  • Alternate legs to bring heels to butt 
  • Alternate legs to lift knee to stomach level

8. Figure skating movements

  • Simulate jumps
  • Simulate landings
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7 essential Post-Training figure skating stretches

Right after practice, when your muscles are still warm, you should complete this stretching routine every single time.
This is essential to balance your muscles and improve flexibility.

Those stretches are called static, because they are held in a challenging but comfortable position for a period of time without bouncing. You slowly take your muscles to the end of their range. 

Because you are at the rink, all the following exercises can be done standing up and still with your skates on (but don't forget to put your blade guards on).

#1 Quadriceps stretches

Your quadriceps (front thighs) are powerful muscles. They are hard at work during figure skating practice. 

  • Stand straight (don't lean forward)
  • Fold one leg behind you, and grab your foot with your hand on that side
  • Keep your other leg straight and keep your knees as close as possible to each other
  • Pull your heel gently toward your backside, feel the stretch in your quad.
  • Hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds. Switch legs.
  • Release and repeat 3 or 4 times. 
Figure skating stretches quadriceps

#2 Calf stretches

Figure skating is very demanding on calves. They must be systematically stretched.

  • Stand in front of a wall or in front of the rink railing
  • Stretch one leg behind you and bend the other - keep the distance the same as your hips
  • Pull your heel gently toward the ground while bending the front leg
  • Hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds. 
  • Release, switch leg and repeat 3 or 4 times. 
Figure skating stretches calves

#3 Standing hamstring and back leg stretches

There are many positions good for stretching hamstrings.
Below are 3 different positions, choose the one that is the most efficient for you:

  • Stand straight up
  • Position 1 - Place your right leg in front of you. Bend your left knee (a little)
    Position 2 - feet slightly spread apart under the hips
    Position 3 - cross your right foot in front of your left foot, keep knees straight
  • You can place your hands on the most stable thigh (or both)
  • Gently lean forward, keeping your back straight (no hunching!)
  • Hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Release, switch leg and repeat 3 or 4 times. 
Figure skater stretch hamstring

#4 Groin and inner thigh stretches

Lateral lunges are one of the easiest ways to stretch your adductors and inner thighs after practice while standing up.

  • Take a wide lateral stance with your right foot
  • Turn your right foot pointing 45 degrees outside
  • Bend the right knee and lunge slightly to the right side
  • You feel the thigh muscles of the straight left leg lengthen.  It’s important not to bounce!
  • Hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Release, switch leg and repeat 3 or 4 times. 
Figure skating stretch groin side lunge

#6 Back and abs stretch

With all the twists, contractions and impacts, your abs are hard at work to keep balance and momentum. This exercise allows you to stretch your side abdominals, obliques and also your arms.

  • Stand straight up
  • Feet slightly spread apart under the hips
  • Cross your fingers, stretch your arms above your head - but make sure to DROP your shoulders away from your ears! 
  •  Lean backward as far as you can without pain.
  • Grab your left wrist with your right hand, and lean to the right as far as you can without pain.
  • Grab your right wrist with your left hand, and lean to the left as far as you can without pain.
  • Hold each stretch for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Release and repeat 3 or 4 times. 
Figure skater stretch spine arms

#6 & 7 Arms stretch

You use your upper body more than you think when figure skating.  So, it needs to stretch too!

Stretch your triceps

  • Bring one of your elbows across your body, towards your opposite shoulder.
  • Use your other hand to bring your elbow closer to your shoulder.
  • Hold for 20 to 30 seconds
  • Release, switch arms and repeat 3 or 4 times. 

Triceps and Shoulder Stretch

  • Stand straight up, feet slightly spread apart under the hips
  • Bring your right arm overhead and drop your forearm with your palm between your shoulder blades
  • Your left hand grabs your elbow and pulls gently
  • Keep your bicep close to your ear
  • Hold for 20 to 30 seconds
  • Release, switch arms and repeat 3 or 4 times. 
Figure skater stretch arms
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Off-ice training - 6 flexibility stretching routine for figure skaters

The previous exercises are essential whatever your level, before and after practice.
But at a certain point in your figure skating, you may want to get more flexible to improve some of your skills.

In that case you need to work on a flexibility stretching routine outside the rink.

It should be part of a more complete off-ice training routine that includes:

  • Balance
  • Flexibility
  • Explosiveness
  • Endurance
  • Grace and artistry
  • Mental strength
  • Rest

You can find my complete suggestions on my article about off-ice training.

Classic flexibility exercises

Many exercises can be done to improve flexibility using only your body weight

  • Seated toe-touch stretches
  • Cobra stretches
  • Standing toe touch stretches
  • Hip Flexor stretches
  • Butterfly stretches
  • Half splits and splits

You can also practice some of your figure skating attitudes while firmly on the ground.
This should be done at least once a week.

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Flexibility training equipment

And if you want to reach even further, check out these off-ice training equipment pieces for flexibility:

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The figure skate blades (styles, profiles, tips to choose, brands)

Last updated on April 24, 2021

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.

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Table of Contents
Anatomy of the figure skate blade 
Criteria to choose your blades - overview
The different blade styles
The blade profile: rocker, spin rocker and sweet spot
Toe rakes
The Tail length & Lift angle (or heel lift)
The blade's material
Mount, Sharpen and Maintain blades
Extra FAQs

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:

Figure skate blade parts anatomy

  • 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 
best Figure skate blades

#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.

#7 Brand recognition

The most famous and popular blades for advanced skaters are MK and John Wilson.
Other brands include Paramount SK8s, Jackson, Riedell, Edea...
Learn more about them in my article about figure skating brands.

Some of the popular models for intermediate to advanced skaters are:

  • Pattern 99 blades (John Wilson)
  • Gold Seal blades (John Wilson)
  • Coronation ace blades (John Wilson)
  • MK dance blades (MK)
  • Phantom Blades (MK)
  • Gold Star blades (MK)
figure skate blade brands

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

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The different blade styles

The Blade styles - shape over the width

When looking at the blade profiles over their width, you may notice 4 different shapes.
Most blades run parallel, but the other adjustments create certain advantages for skaters in competitions.

Figure skate blade styles parallel parabolic tapered
  • Parallel
    Both edges run parallel
    Pros - Easy to sharpen
  • Parabolic
    Symmetrical design, but thinner in the middle
    Pros - helps to center the weight, reduces slippage on the ice (by increasing bite angle). 
  • Tapered
    The blade is thinner at the tail end
    Pros - less friction, increased speed
  • Side honed
    Edges run parallel but on the vertical side, some material has been removed. It means that the blade is lighter and has deeper edges
    Pros - channel water and ice away from the blade

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.

Figure skate blade stanchion height

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.

Figure skate blade chassis classic revolution
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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.

figure skate blade rocker 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.

Figure skate blade sweet spot spinning

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.

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Toe rakes

The toe rake (also called Toe Pick or Teeth) is the most well-known part of the blade.
Who does not remember the first time the hockey player puts on figure skates in the movie "The cutting edge" also known as the Toe Pick scene? (by the way, see my ice skating movie list) 

What are they used for?

  • For take-off on toe jumps - the picks grip onto the ice to give a stable takeoff
  • For landing on all jumps - they provide a pivot point to control the impact

Beginner skaters often have smaller toe picks to avoid tripping on them, while more advanced figure skates will have bigger toe picks for better jump performance.

What many don't know is that all blades have different profiles of toe rakes.

Figure skate blade toe rake cross cuss vs straight cut

Straight-cut toe rake

  • As written in the name, the spikes are cut straight, perpendicular to the blade
  • Most common on beginner ice skates
  • Pros - dig into the ice quickly and deep, firm grip - good for height on jumps
  • Cons - deep means less momentum

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.

Figure skate blade heel 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.

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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.
Figure skate blade mounting

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.

hollow radius figure skate sharpening

Care and Maintenance

Protect your blades

First of all, you need to protect your blades at all times when they are not on the ice.
They are a big investment, and the smallest damage can completely throw off your skating.

  • When walking with your skates on off the ice, always wear plastic skate guards. And make sure to clean them regularly. Learn more about skate guards in this article.
  • After practice once you have removed your skates and dried out the blade, do not place them without protection in your bag. Make sure to add soakers on so that the blades are protected, and the remaining moisture is absorbed.

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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:

Figure skate blade Towel live on edge pink purple
Personalize and get the Figure skate blade Towel
Star Figure Skating Towel blade black frozen blue
Personalize and get the blade towel
Ice skate towel figure skates Black rainbow pink
Personalize and get the blade towel

See my collection of absorbent blade towels for figure skaters


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.

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20+ best figure skating brands (2022) – boots, blades, accessories

Last updated on January 20, 2022

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.

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Table of Contents
Best figure skating brands - selection criteria
BOOTS - Best figure skate brands
BLADES - Top figure skate brands
CLOTHES & COSTUMES - Good figure skating brands
ACCESSORIES - Best ice skating brands

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
Figure skate brands logos

Major Boots and Blades brands

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.

Brand Figure skating feet shape

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.
Evgenia Medvedeva 2018

Evgenia Medvedeva 2018 by David W. Carmichael, CC BY 3.0 

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

  • Boots
  • Blades
  • Training clothes and costumes
  • Accessories
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Ice skating pillow - Pink Born to ice skate
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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

Jackson Ultima

  • Origin
    Created by Don Jackson, the 1962 World Figure skating champion, in partnership with his brother. It was purchased by Tournament Sports Marketing Inc in 1986.
    Headquarter in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada - website
  • Products
    Jackson manufactures both boots and blades for all levels of ice skaters - from absolute beginners to Olympians.
    Stock and custom boots
  • Shape specificity
    Overall design particularities: wide toe-box and narrower heel - they come in different widths
  • Specific Technologies
    Heat moldable technology to customize figure skates to the feet - they are dedicated to enhance fit and comfort
  • Famous customers
    Famous figure skaters wearing Jackson skates: Nathan Chen, Kaetlyn Osmond, Alina Zagitova, Adam Rippon, Guillaume Cizeron... See the list of Jackson Athletes here
Jackson Ultima logo

Riedell

  • Origin
    Founded in 1945 by Paul and Sophie Riedell. Paul is a member of the ice and roller skating Hall of Fame.
    Family business run by the grandsons of Riedell
    Headquarter in Red Wing, Minnesota, USA - website
  • Products
    Ice skates and Roller skates - for figure skates, they manufacture both boots and blades for all levels of ice skaters - from absolute beginners to Olympians.
    Stock and custom boots
  • Shape specificity
    Rather narrow skates with tight toebox (best with tapered toes)
  • Specific Technologies
    A proprietary manufacturing process for high quality products.
  • Famous customers
    Famous figure skaters wearing Riedell skates: Alexa Linden, Johnny Weir, Vincent Zhou, Amy Lin... See the #TeamRiedell skaters
Riedell logo

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
Edea logo

RISPORT

  • Origin
    Founded in 1970s in Italy, it was acquired in 1995 by the Rossignol group.
    Imported from Europe - Headquarter in Montebelluna, Italy - website
  • Products
    Boots only - from entry to competitive level
  • Shape specificity
    Like Italian shoes, tend to be narrower. Gradual lift in the arch, comfortable for flat feet
  • Specific Technologies
    Light boots with microfiber, recognized for the durability of the skates
    Rebound and flexibility of the tongue.
  • Famous customers
    Figure skaters wearing Risport include Shoma Uno, Wenjing Sui, Alexandra Trusova... See their "band of heroes".
Risport logo

Graf

  • Origin
    The family-owned company GRAF SKATES AG was founded in 1921 creating sport shoes and venturing into hockey skates and figure skates in 1937.
    Headquarter in KREUZLINGEN, Switzerland - website
  • Products
    Boots only - well-padded products with customization
  • Shape specificity
    They have wide toe bow, high arch and narrow heel. If, like me, you have a very high arch on your feet, this will be one of the best options.
  • Specific Technologies
    Ultralight outsole
    Special model for ice dancers with lower backstripe (to point your toes, I love it!)
  • Famous customers
    Figure skaters wearing Graf (except me LOL) - Ashley Wagner, Javier Fernandez, Viveca Lindfors, Carolina Kostner, Evgeny Plushenko, Oksana Baiul.
Graf logo

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
Harlick logo

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
SP-Teri logo

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...

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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)

Figure skate blade parts anatomy

  • 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
MK blades logo

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
John Wilson logo

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
Paramount logo

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
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CLOTHES & COSTUMES - Good figure skating brands

Best figure skating tights brands

For competition (and sometimes for practice), figure skaters wear tights. They can be footed, footless or over-the-boot.
The most famous brands of tights are Mondor and Capezio.
Learn more on how to choose your figure skating tights in my article.

Mondor Classic - over the boot

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
  • ...

Get it on Amazon

Get it on Amazon

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.

See colors and designs

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ACCESSORIES - Best ice skating brands

Best figure skating bags brands

Right now, the most popular brands of figure skating bags are Zuca Sport (with the wheel system) and TransPack backpack (with the ventilated pockets for the skates).
But figure skate manufacturers also have bags such as Idea, Jackson and Riedell.
See my article to help you choose the best ice skating bag for you.

See the many designs on Amazon

Get it on Amazon (various colors)

Best blade guards' brands

The choice is way more limited concerning skate guards.
One of the popular brands right now is Rockerz in the US because they are fully customizable (with combinations of colors) and arrive already sized.
See my article on skate guards to better understand the differences.

Get them on Amazon

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

Get them on Amazon

Get them on Amazon

Best blade towels

A towel to dry out your blades must be soft and very absorbent, and preferably quick to dry. See my article about choosing blade towels
Most fabric are boring.
If you are looking for personalized towel with nice designs, check out my IceSkatingPassion collection on Zazzle. I have found that this fabric is really great and efficient:

Figure skate blade Towel live on edge pink purple
Personalize and get the Figure skate blade Towel
Star Figure Skating Towel blade black frozen blue
Personalize and get the blade towel
Ice skate towel figure skates Black rainbow pink
Personalize and get the blade towel

See my collection of absorbent blade towels for figure skaters

Figure skating protective gear brands

When looking at protective gear, brands are not always specific to figure skating.
You can use protections that are also made for cycling, volleyball, basketball and many other sports.
However note that Chloe Noel does make pads to protect the hips and tailbone of figure skaters, and Jerry's Skating World some clothing pieces, such as padded shorts...
Learn more about ice skating protective clothes and protective pads in this article.

See the 2 colors or padded shorts / Read reviews

Get hip pads on Amazon

Other figure skating accessories

There are no famous specific brands for

  • Boot covers
  • Figure skating gloves

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...
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20 best figure skating instagram (and Tik Tok) to follow

Last updated on April 24, 2021

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.

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Table of Contents
Official figure skating governing bodies accounts
Famous figure skaters on Instagram and Tik Tok 
Best for figure skating tips
Synchronized skating teams Instagram accounts
Figure skating brands on Instagram
Popular hashtags for figure skating

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!

ISU figure skating instagram account
Follow on INstagram

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...
US figure skating instagram account
Follow on INstagram

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
Skate Canada figure skating instagram account
Follow on INstagram

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
British ice skating instagram account
Follow on INstagram
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Necklace Figure skating girl red silver
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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

Evgenia Medvedeva

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Evgenia Medvedevа (@jmedvedevaj)

Mirai Nagasu

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mirai Nagasu (@mirainagasu)

Nathan Chen

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nathan Chen (@nathanwchen)

Papadakis / Cizeron (ice dance)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by royal couple💋 (@papadakis.cizeron)

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
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Ice skate Necklace figure skater red silver
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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

Coach Hamish

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Coach Hamish #teamcoachhamish (@coachhamish)

Coach Michelle Hong

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Coach Michelle Hong (@coachmichellehong)

Off-ice figure skating training 

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

Ice dynamics

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ice Dynamics - Kat Arbour (@ice_dynamics)

Balanced skaters

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BALANCED SKATERS (@balancedskaters)

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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:

Marigold ice Unity

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marigold IceUnity (@marigoldiceunity)

The Haydenettes - Hayden synchro

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hayden Synchronized Skating (@haydensynchro)

Nexxice Senior

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NEXXICE Senior (@nexxicesr)


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

Jackson Ultima skates

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jackson Ultima Skates (@jackson.ultima)

Riedell skates

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Riedell Skates (@iskateriedell)

Edea

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Edea Skates (@edeaskates)

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!

Figure skating passion

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @iceskating.passion

ChloeNoel

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @chloenoel_skatewear


Popular hashtags for figure skating

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

#figureskating

#figureskater

#iceskating

#iceskater

#figureskatinglife

#synchronizedskating

#icedance

#icedancing

#icedancer

#iceskating⛸

#figureskatingcoach

#figureskatingquote

#adultskater

#adultsskatetoo

#adultfigureskating

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50+ Ice Skating Gift ideas (for figure skaters)

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Figure skate sharpening (how, when, where…)

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Figure skating training clothes (5 looks + tips) – what to wear?

Last updated on April 25, 2021

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.

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Table of Contents
General tips to choose figure skating training clothes
Figure skating clothes - 5 style suggestions
Accessories - gloves, neck warmer, leg warmer, boot covers
Figure skating off-ice training clothes
Figure training 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
figure skating clothes training what to wear tips

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.

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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.

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#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)

Tights: Mondor classic footless

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#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

Get the leggings / read reviews

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#4 Dancer look

Ice dancer and skaters with an interest in ballet dancing can enjoy a more traditional look. This was my favorite look when I was a competitive skater. I find the wrap top particularly comfortable.

  • Heavy weight tights (avoid competition tights, as they are thin and will tear very easily - learn more about tights)
  • Plain color leotard (no sleeves, long sleeves or half sleeves)
  • Muslin wrap skirt
  • Wrap top with long sleeves

Tight: Mondor classic footless

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#5 Competition style dress

Some enjoy the feeling of wearing a figure skating dress, even if only in training. 

  • Heavy weight tights (avoid competition tights, as they are thin and will tear very easily - learn more about tights)
  • Figure skating dress - Don't choose a dress with too many design elements. Keep it simple.
  • Wrap top with long sleeves

Tight: Mondor classic footless - see colors


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Protective gear look

Like ballet dancer, figure skaters pay attention to their looks.
However, it should not be to the detriment of being protected.
When practicing new jumps or skills, where the skater is at risk of falling, protective gear should be added to the look even if it does not look pretty.
Learn more on my article about figure skating protective gear.

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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
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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.

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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

Turtle neck leotard

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Feet 

You can complete your look around the skates with

  • Boot covers to protect your ice skates from any damages - learn more
  • Leg warmers (around the ankles, or going up the legs - this is a discussion to have with the coach and something to try. It can hinder the movement when legs have to be very close to each other. However, it can keep the ankles warm...

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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.

See the colors Forcefield headgear / read reviews

Read reviews / Get them on Amazon

Headbands for exercices - see colors


Figure skating off-ice training clothes

When training outside the ice (see all my tips about off-ice training) , you can have more choices of clothes.
You can show your passion for ice skating even if you are not on the ice anymore!

Leggings

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>> See my collection of figure skating leggings <<

T-shirts and tank-tops to personalize

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>> See my collection of figure skating t-shirts and tank tops <<


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.

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Men leggings - see colors

Tops

Tops that are close to the body - here you can find some colors. Make sure to choose a material that is breathable.

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Jacket

For the jacket, again, there is very few for men, exclusive to figure skating.

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

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9 tips for figure skating moms and dads (competition level)

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