Figure skaters, please help!?

Question

I'm already 15 but just started taking ice skating classes in January. I'm eager to get really good, but it's hard because so far I'm only in a 30 minute group class once a week, and I skate for about 2 or 3 hours after that. I'm in teen/adult 2 for the USFS basic skills program.

I was wondering how long it took you to complete basic 1-8, how long did you spend on each level? Also, how long did it take you to pass free style 1-6? How many years have you taken figure skating, how often did you skate a week, and where are you now? Please answer in detail because I want a good idea of what rate I should be moving at.

Also, how long did it take you to learn a waltz jump? All the single jumps? Spins?

Sorry it's a lot of questions, but I really want to know.

Please help me, and thank you so much! :)

Any tips would be appreciated greatly :D

Answer 1

You will probably need to take priovates. Don't rush your progress and don't compare. Your only competitor should be yourself!

Go have fun and relax!

Answer 2

I skated 13 years when I was younger, and 2 years since I re-started.  I have all single jumps (excluding axel) and all the basic spins (though my layback isn't very good), three dances passed, two freestyle tests passed, and three moves in the field tests passed.  I practice 4-5 times a week (about an hour to an hour and a half each time) & have a once a week private lesson.

My experience in basic skills was different because I did ISI (instead of USFSA) & there are fewer levels with more skills on each level.  With some levels, you can fly through them if everything comes easily to you.  Others have elements that take a little longer to master (for me, it was backwards crossovers).  I spent a while in basic skills - but then I was much younger than you and my rink was only open half a year;)  I only skated once a week then.

Really, though, don't get frustrated if you seem to be taking longer on something than everyone else is.  Everyone moves at their own pace, and it's better to get the troublesome move fixed now than having to deal with it later.  You don't want to be having to fix your 3-turn technique when you're working on double salchows:)

Jumps, hmmm.  I think I picked up the waltz jump, toe loop, and salchow, along with the half flip and half lutz pretty quickly - like a week or so for each (though I could be wrong - it was a long time ago!).  Loop took longer, probably 3 months for me.  Flip wasn't too hard - maybe 1-2 months.  Lutz was REALLY hard - about 4 months on that one, and then it wasn't always consistent.  Some people are natural jumpers and it only takes them a week or so to land a single jump, so you might be one of those people;)

Spins:  the hardest one to learn is the forward scratch.  Some people work several months on that one.  After that, the other ones just build on it, and usually don't take as long to get.  I've had a harder time with the camel than any of the other spins.  It took me a few months to get it going and to get my arms and leg working together.  With spins, you can usually get the position quickly, but you have to work a few months (or longer) on perfecting the position and centering and speed.

If you practice more, you'll pick up the elements faster, and therefore move through the levels faster.  It's best to spread out your practices, so if, for example, your lesson is on Monday, try to practice 2 or 3 other days, maybe Tues, Thurs, Sat or something like that, even if it's only 45 minutes at a time.  If you only practice once a week, you'll move at a slower pace.  Also, if can afford it, adding a private lesson to supplement your group lesson would help you learn faster too.

Good luck with your skating!  And have fun:)

Answer 3

I'm 14, I've been skating for about 3 years off and on. I quit for about an 8 month period and then started back up. It took me a few months to get through the basics, but once i did i was really happy. I have only tested freestyle 1, and i passed which is good. I skate 4 days a week for  hours and the in the morning around 6 for another hour just for more practice. When i compete it's even more, i do back to back programs to build up endurance and practice my footwork a lot to polish it. I learned my single axel 1 year and 7 months ago. I've landed it a few times but it's by far the hardest thing i've learned so far. te lutz which is supposedly harder took me 2 weeks to land consistently. the waltz jump took me the first time i learned it, it's just getting it really good and polished that takes a while. spinning takes longer. for my forward scratch spin, that took me 6 months in the least, sit spin you have to be really centered and not too low, about a 90 degree angle with your butt (from knee) camel, the camel is one of my best spins you just have to be comforatble with putting your body oer the ice. back scratch i don't have at all i cant center it on the ice and my back sit and back camel are pretty good. laybacks are really hard just because you're doing a back bend on one leg over the ice it's scary at first but it's really pretty and really fun once you've got it. spinning is one of the funnest things you can do on the ice. so far i have my scratch, back, camel, si, back sit, back camel, layback, catch foot camel, and camel-sit (combo), camel-sit-change-sit, camel-sit-layback-back-sit, camel ctach foot camel back camel, and camel back catch foot camel. spinning takes A LOT of practice because you have to be really comfortable with just letting your fears go on the ice. I work on my spins for a good 30 minutes at least a session. Moves are also REALLY REALLY important, you have to test them so you can advance to ocompete in higher levels. I warm up on my moves, it's just a preference but it works well for getting my legs warmed up.

tips: dont let fear take over you

sometimes i wish i had started at an earler age, then i could be landing doubles, and triples. but sometimes i'm glad i started so late because i'm more mature and i can do these things because i want to not because my parents want me to. i skate for me, that's all that matters

Answer 4

Hi,

I am 11, I started skating last September. I passed skate Canada levels 1-6 in only 3 months and I skate/ skated twice a week, for 45 minutes. I am now working on my camel spin and my loop/flip jump. you will get better fast, you just have to practise!

Good Luck! Stick to it. f you are determined, you will go far!

Answer 5

Basics- about 1 year

waltz jump- 20 minutes

freestlye~ 1 year

etc.

It varies from person to person, just don't try to rush through the basics. If you master those, you can breeze through the rest fairly easily

Answer 6

i'm in isi

ive been skating for around 6 years

i got my waltz jump the first day i tried (but im 5'10 and have always had a knack for jumps)

I also two footed a double flip in a week.

I skate 2-3 times a week,

now, i compete alot, and do our annual ice show every year.

im only 14 now, but in the future, i plan on doing professional shows.

spins are harder, so i recommend getting a metal spinner.

Answer 7

I have been skating since I was 7 and a half which is about 6 years ago. It took me only the 1st time around on each. I learned a waltz jump when I was 7 and a half just by watching the "big girls" and evalutating. I skate 4-5 times a week. All single jumps took me a little over a month. Good Luck Starting So Late! I Know You Can Do It!