Anyone who started ice skating at age 12-13+?

Question

Anyone who started at age 12 or 13, was it hard getting into the sport starting at a later age? Is there any tips for me just starting out at my age? Should I buy my skates a little bigger in case my feet grow (I'm a shoe size 7 1/2) or to fit my feet as they are now? How did you learn the names of all the jumps (websites...?)

Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, I started when I was 3 months from being 12, so I guess that counts.

Try buy your skates second hand, because they arent meant to be a normal size, they need to be tighter (not to say crush your feet! lol)

A good web site is www.figureskating.about.com it has good tips and stuff like that. Also try www.youtube.com and search "figure skating jumps".

Lessons are a good idea cuz if you fall doing stuff you won't be too embarrassed! You can also enter competitions.

And finally, no, I didnt find it hard to get into, I was CRAZY CRAZY CARZY about it (and still am!)! And all the work pays off cuz you can look cool at the public sessions at your local rink. In my case i'm going to look really cool cuz our class is going skating as an end of year treat!

Anyway, hope you have heaps of fun with skating!

Email me if you want any more help!

Answer 2

Ok, umm.... i started skating when I was 3. I'm 12 now and I am competing at an intermediate level. But, My coach started skating when he was 13 years old and then when he was 17 he became the national champion! Don't lose hope!!!

~kRiSsY~

Answer 3

hey!

i started when i was 14 and now iv ust turned 17, i can do all my doubles except lutz. it wasnt hard for me in particular to start at a later age cuz id done gymnastics most of my life so i had balance and stuff already. have u done other sports similar to skating? it helps a LOT compared to someone who has never stepped on the ice in their life! =]

and NO dont buy ur skates big, BAD idea. having bad-fitting skates makes skating about 50times harder plus u can injure urself from having not enough ankle support etc. buy them to fit, not too small or too big, but the place u buy ur skates from should help u with that.

and yeah i learnt some of the jumps from websites back when i was in my love-dovey phase with skating [nt that im not anymore!] i used to look it up heaps. and they also tell you how to do the jumps so can help too!! either wikipedia.org or www.sk8stuff.com help heaps with jumps and spin names.

good luck! dont worry about ur age, sometimes its easier for someone bigger and older to learn cuz theyr stronger than the lil ones!!!

=]

Answer 4

While I started taking lessons when I was 7, I quit a few times in between then and when I first started testing at age 14.

I found that you'll learn the jumps names as they're taught to you.  If you want to learn then early, though, you need to understand edges (it's all about the take-off edge and whether you use an edge take-off or a toe-pick take-off).  Check out wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure_skat...

There are also spins on that site.  If you want to see what the jumps look like on video, I have a video where I'm doing axel through double lutz.

The jumps go in order as follows:

walz jump (or axel: axel is just a watz jump with 1.5 revolutions in the air instead of the half revolution of the waltz jump), salchow (or double, triple, etc.), toe loop, loop, flip, lutz.

My video's here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mvcbY3iumcY

As for skate boots, you need to find yourself a boot fitter, and as much as it sucks, getting too large of a boot to compensate for your feet growing will not be a good idea.  It'll make it harder to skate.  If you're unsure of whether you're going to get serious about skating, I highly recommend just renting skates at the rink you'll be taking lessons at to safe on costs for a little bit.

Good luck!  Skating's a lot of fun, and you can start at any age!

Answer 5

i started at 13, im 14 now...been skating 9 mths.

the jumps are

waltz jump

salchow

toe loop

loop

flip

lutz

axel.

u just learn them =D.

u shud get skates that fit u now, thats a rule, get ur feet fitted or u could seriously damage and injure urself.

no it wasnt hard, its easier when u strt a lil older as u have more balance etc. but most ppl ( not me ) are not as flexible so stretch everday.

Answer 6

i started when i was 12, and yea it is harder, but it can bedone, dont get bigger skates, you won't have enough ankle support which is realy badat anytime,but its crucial when your justbeginnign, if your feet are a size 7 1/2 in shoes try a 5 1/2 or 6 skate, iwear size 6 shoes and wear either 3 1/2 or 4 skates, jumps you justlearn about in time, i still confuse the flip and toe loop by name, but if im on the ice my muscle memoprycomes into play i can do either

Answer 7

I started at age 11. It was a little hard. Never buy your skates bigger! You will fall hard! They should fit your feet tightly,I don't mean so thight that they hurt,but tight enough that your foot doesn't move around easily. They may be uncomfortable at first,but don't wory they will feel better. Good luck :)  You can learn the jumps from coahes or websites.

Answer 8

I started when I was 11 and I'm 13 now, so it's my third year skating. I love it and I think it's fine that your starting now. It's never to late! Don't listen to people who say your too old or it's too late, nothing is impossible if you really believe in it! lol, Good Luck! :)

Answer 9

I started at 12.  The only thing I really had a hard time with was feeling like I was always catching up to the skaters who were my age and younger, but had started earlier.  I was pretty competitive.  In that situation, you just have to make personal goals for yourself and recognize that you're skating for you and not everyone else.  The flip side is my stepdaughter also started lessons at 12.  I don't think she has any desire to compete or test -- I think she just enjoys the socializing and being part of the group.  :) Have fun with it and go at your own pace!

If you know your feet are still growing, you can probably get away with going a half-size larger.  If they haven't grown in awhile at age 12, you're probably set.  Get fitted at a skate shop and they can set you up with skates for your level and that fit you best.  They will be able to recommend if you should get a half-size up or not.  Remember, your skate size won't necessarily be your exact shoe size....skates run small and large, depending on the brand.

I learned a lot of the names of jumps and spins by just watching skating on TV, hanging out with my friends at the rink and just learning them in lessons (the internet wasn't quite as vast as it is now hahaha).  

Try:

http://figureskating.about.com/od/skatin...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure_skat...

And try youtube.com for demonstrations.

Happy skating!

Answer 10

hiya, i started skating when i was 14 :) others i know didnt start til they were in their twentys and thirtys... its never too late to start..

i did feel a little self concious at first, but you need to feel comfortable with your abilities. of course you wont be as competant as the skater who has been skating since 2 on your first day, but stick with it and you'll get better and better. the only real challenge i find is my fear of falling every now and again.. if you start something like skating when you are younger you have more fearlessness i think :)

biggest tip: dont listen to people who try to put you down, and dont ever compare yourself to others who may have been skating longer or more often than you. go at your own pace and never rush stuff. take time to learn all the basics, and practice edge work every time you practice.

definitely buy skates to fit your feet as they are now. if you buy skates to grow into they wont give you enought ankle support which can result in injuries and poor balance. they should fit tighter than an ordanery shoe. ask about it at the pro shop at your rink and if you do buy them, dont every get them from places like ***** sporting goods! they often dont know how to fit people for them. ask the experts, other coaches and skaters, and people at the pro shops. getting a good fit is essential.

as you progress you pick up on the names of things as you learn them, or hear about  them from other skaters or coaches. when i first started i only knew what an axel and a waltz jump was. now i know how to recognise all of the jumps (jumping them myself is another thing hehe..). dont worry if you dont understand what people are talking about when you first start. its like learning a language! you'll pick it up soon.

wikipedia is a really good site for explaining about jumps, spins and other 'tricks'. if you have any queries i suggest asking around at the rink to get first hand information.

good luck, hope you have fun skating! :D

xX Anna