I am choosing between two types of skating, please help!?

Question

Okay, so I am torn between artistic roller skating and figure skating. I like both sports, but I'm thinking what lessons I should take. What would be better for a 16-year-old? I want to do show skating, like the ones on Disney on Ice or Gold Skate. If I will take up figure skating, I could only practice hard when on weekends and summertime, because the rink is far. If I take up roller skating, I don't know anyone who could teach me except for my self-study books. What do you guys think? Which will be better for me?

Answer 1

I would suggest going with which ever one you feel more passionate about, I personally would go with figure skating, but the choice has to be up to you. Good luck!

Answer 2

I don't really know much about artistic roller skating, which leads me to believe there are many more opportunities on the ice.  Due to figure skating being more popular, there are more coaches, competitions, programs and traveling shows, if that is what you're interested in.  For example, if you think about it, there aren't any artistic roller skating shows on network TV, but there are figure skating shows.  

It's always best to have a coach because if you're trying to teach yourself, it isn't always easy to figure out what you're doing wrong or what needs improvement.  Believe me -- my lessons are pretty hit or miss right now and it's hard to know what I'm doing wrong and what I need to fix.

At 16, you can start with either sport -- you're never too old!  :)  Contact the rink you plan on skating at and they should be able to set you up with their skating club or contacts for coaching/group lessons.....or at least refer you to someone.  Check online and you may even be able to find that information on the internet.  Try usfsa.org and go to the clubs section.  There you can search for your nearest skating clubs.  See if they have a basic skills program, which is a quick way to get started, get your basics down and not as expensive as private lessons.  From there, you'll meet other skaters and also meet and "test out" coaches, which can help you choose one when you want to go on to private lessons.

In my opinion, I think skating on ice is a lot prettier and graceful than roller skating.  I apologize to any artistic roller skaters out there, but it just seems very "clunky" to me and doesn't flow as well.  I did skate with a girl who did both -- she started off with roller and tried to transition to ice.  She did okay....the landings on her jumps on ice weren't very light or pretty because there is a difference in technique between the two sports.  I got the impression she didn't have quite as many successes with ice as she did on wheels, so I think she decided to stick to the roller.

And when you're not able to be at the rink, research some good off-ice training you can do.  Weight training, yoga, pilates....there are plenty of exercies and other things you can do to improve your skating.

Good luck in your decision!

Answer 3

I honestly think you should choose the one you enjoy the most!  It is not all about which one you can practice the most, but which one you enjoy spending time doing and want to excel the most with.  

I do have to tell you that Disney on Ice looks primarily for professional skaters with consistent moves and a flashy style.  That may be something to think about if you are just getting started.  I honestly know nothing about roller skating or the competitiveness of it.  Nor have I heard of Gold Skate.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Well taking it from me, a figure skater, figure skating!!!!!!!!!! There's so much you can do with it.

Answer 5

try figure skating. its sooooo much fun. u csn do all kinds of stuff on ice that u cant do on roller skates like jump in the air while spinning and land on 1 foot and spin. u cant do that on roller skates. also some people have this thing that helps u with ur jumps. u get straped to it and some one will lift u in the air so u wont fall. its soooo much fun!!

Answer 6

I, too, would have to say go with the one you enjoy the most.  I used to roller skate on my own as a kid and loved it . . . and it wasn't until I was an adult that I "discovered" ice skating and then loved that.  

Why didn't I go back to my "roots" as a roller skater?  Well, by the time I started "ice" skating, I must admit to being exposed to "ice" skating way more than roller skating (the popularity of it as pinksk8ergal mentioned).  It was winter and I got caught up with wanting to do what the "stars" on tv did . . . everyone viewed it as a "glamorous" sport!  And there were other adults just like me which made it even more appealing.  I've always loved to dance . . . and I knew I could find a way to bring my dance skills on to the ice.  I somehow connected roller skating only to the roller jam style (which I still like) - but never to "artistic roller skating" which "is" figure skating because I had no idea that world existed.  And by the time I did, I was already lovin' the ice!  

Here are some things to consider:

Instruction and coaches can be found at nearly all ice rinks.

Not all roller rinks support artistic roller skating - so they may or may not have coaches for artistic skating.  You really need trained eyes to oversee your learning and progress.  

Ice rinks are colder - which is great during warm weather!

Roller rinks are warm and you'll never deal with freezing.  

They say roller skating is half as expensive as ice skating . . . if money is a factor.  

It's easier to go from roller to ice, than the other way around . . . if you should decide to go from one to the other.  I have a few competitive roller friends who have made a pretty successful switch to "ice" skating.  Though technique may be a bit different, many of the roller moves are the same (jumps, spins, turns) - it's a matter of being able to do them on a blade (unlike if you were just learning it without ever doing it before).  They look "stronger" (sometimes it looks "forced) on the ice because it comes from having to muscle it in rollers.  I find that even though you can see how their roller technique lingers in their ice skating technique, the jumps and spins are quite powerful.  Remember Tara Lipinski made it after a successful background in roller skating.  

  

What's common amongst all the roller skaters I know who now ice skate is they all deal with some kind of chronic pain -  hip/back and knees especially.  With quads, your foot is planted on the ground . . . so while your upper body is moving or leaning, the foot is still planted on the ground - can you imagine the stress it can cause on the ankles and knees?  An ice skate blade leans "with" the body as it moves, so it's much kinder to the body.  Also, muscle memory from roller skating can sometimes hinder proper ice skating technique.  Again, remember Tara Lipinski . . . even though she can do a double axel, it looked sort of funky.  And now you don't even hear about her skating at all anymore - I believe due to bad hips.  In that sense, "ice" skating is less hard on the body.  

Have you looked into artistic INLINE skating?  This seems to be even more similar to figure skating on ice than quad skating . . . you might look into that as well!  These are skates that are figure skating boots but with an inline frame/wheels (rockered like a blade). Although, I don't know about the availability of lessons for that.

http://www.skatetrix.ch/PS_DEFI/Pic_Skat...      

http://www.skatelog.com/artistic/inline-...

http://www.picskate.com/

http://www.skatejournal.com/inlgallery.h...

http://www.skatingtheater.com/

Gold Skate is a competition - though very show-like.  I don't know a whole lot about the roller skating competition curcuit, but with "ice" skating, there are opportunities to skate in show-like comps.  Out here, "Showcase" is a competition that was actually "stolen" from the Gold Skate concept (I believe) . . . we have it yearly - complete with spotlights, glitz, and an audience ready to be entertained by many levels and categories of skating - my favorite of comps.  And there are other rinks that have their yearly "show-like" comps as well that everyone looks forward to.  Disney on Ice is an actual show that you have to audition for . . . in which a skater may or may not get through depending on what they are looking for.  

Sorry this was super long - just had to say a few things :)  Best of luck whichever you decide.

Answer 7

ARTISTIC ROLLERSKATING IS STUPID. no offence. i have never herd of a famous artistic skating in my freaking life. figure skating on the other hand is hard work you will NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRR get to disney on ice or anything like that if you start out when your 16? most people start when there like 2. soo i dunno

Answer 8

figure skating.

Answer 9

I think that you should look into your local roller derby....

;)

Answer 10

i like jam skating  better its easyer to learn

Answer 11

figure skating. you won't find to many people that have the same intrestes as you if u roller skate. plus there is more to do with fgure skates....

Answer 12

You should definitely keep ice skating. There are many many more opportunities in that area. Figure skating is very popular too, so if you keep working at it, even if you can only practice on the weekends, you can still learn a lot. In time, if you really just want to entertain and have fun, you can audition for a part in Disney on Ice or something like that. Even if you're 16, it's not at all to late or anything.

And also, you can compete in artistic competitions if you ice skate. You can also make it nationally if you do good in those competitions...you can make it to the National Showcase Artistic Figure Skating Championships:

http://www.usfigureskating.org/Programs....

Well...I hope you the best! ^_^