Cross-training for figure skating?

Question

What do you do for cross training for figure skating? Why, why is it good?

For me i mostly have artistic problems and im growing right now so im a little shaky. What would you recommend?

BTW i am a competitive ice skater so i take it pretty seriously.

Answer 1

ballet classes would probably help

all the famous skaters take it because it is so valuable

it helps with gracefulness, balance, flexibility, etc

Answer 2

I have this fantastic book on cross training called "Conditioning for Figure Skating" by Carl Poe.

http://www.amazon.com/Conditioning-Skati...

What I like about it is that it gives you routines and even charts that you can photocopy and take with you to the gym to track your progress.

He makes a good case for weight training.  I'm a huge fan of lifting weights now and have been for the past year and a half.  It made a difference in my core and back strength especially.  He covers other things in the book, but I have to say that strength training has been the most useful component to enhancing skating in my own personal experience.

The other components he covers are endurance training, flexibility, plyometrics, and jump training.

Answer 3

I'm still building up my strength. I'm a beginning figure skater, thus does not require as strenous cross-training. From my physiotherapy, I've been using the theraband [coded blue], aka resistance band, to improve the leg muscles and prevent further knee injuries.

I would recommend pilates for core muscle groups, running for stamina, and gym for different muscle group. Depending on which side you're leaning towards, ballet/gymnastics or jazz dance/hip-hop will be ideal.

Many of the sites here are useful and reliable.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=trainin...

http://www.usfigureskating.org/Magazine....

The second link is more for stretching.

You'll stabilise after growing and will be able to cope with more weights. For now, working on balance will be a good idea.

Since you are a competitive skater, I believe that your skating coach should have some contacts with off-ice conditioning coaches. Thus, going that way will be great as well.