So you want to be a figure skater....
If so, this will give you a general idea of how your journey might happen--from your first wish to go out on the ice, to becoming the skater you dream to be.
You see figure skating on TV. You think, "Wow, that looks like fun!".
You go to an ice rink with friends, maybe to a party being held there, and skate for the first time. You hang on to the barrier a lot, and your rental skates don't fit quite right, but somehow you know this is an activity you want to pursue.
You sign up for Basic Skills group lessons at the rink. You learn that there are different levels from Basic 1 to Basic 8, and that your instructor will move you up to the next level as you master the skills for your current level. You pass a couple of levels, and you learn to skate forwards pretty comfortably, and backwards a little, and how to stop.
The skating club at your rink puts on an ice show. Students in your lessons are invited to participate in a group number, and you sign up and work to learn the routine. On the evening of the show you get ready and put on your costume. You have a little stage fright, but you're excited to be out there, and when the audience applauds it feels great!
You continue with the group lessons,and begin to learn things called crossovers, 3-turns, and Mohawks, and even introductory jumps and spins. Somewhere between Basic 4 and Basic 8, you decide this is the sport for you. You see members of the figure skating club working on advanced skating moves, and this inspires you to want to learn more yourself. You aspire to move up to the next level of group lessons--Freeskate 1-6. You want to take more lessons and practice what you've learned more often. You ask your group lesson coach for advice about buying your very own figure skates and joining the figure skating club.
You learn that membership in the skating club gives you access to what's known as "freestyle" sessions, where you can practice your skating. The cost of admission to these sessions may be included in your membership dues, or they may be paid for separately. You learn that your skating club membership also includes membership to the national organization, "U.S. Figure Skating", and a subscription to the magazine, "Skating". You find out that most people who join the skating club also contract with a coach for private lessons, and the cost for this varies, depending on the coach. You decide to go for it! You buy your own skates, join the figure skating club, and ask your favorite coach from group lessons if they are available to give you a half-hour private lesson once a week, in addition to your group lesson.
You're proud to pass Basic 8 in the group lessons, and move up to the Freeskate groups. You begin to learn simple jumps and spins. You work with your private coach on the things that are difficult for you. You go to the rink to practice several times a week.
You learn about something called "Moves in the Field", which include the basic footwork and turns used in skating, and "Freestyle", which includes the jumps and spins and other fancy moves. You learn that there is a formal test structure made up of these two components. Your coach helps you prepare for your first test.
You go to your first U.S Figure Skating test session. You're glad your coach is there with you to give you moral support and instruction. There are three judges there who will evaluate your performance. You know you'll need to pass the Moves in the Field test in your level before you can take the corresponding Freestyle test. Despite your nerves, you go through all the moves without major errors. In a little while, you learn that your have passed your Pre-Preliminary Moves test. Your Freestyle test goes well too. You've passed the Pre-Preliminary level! Now you'll look forward to moving on through the levels of Preliminary, Pre-Juvenile, Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and Senior!!
You learn that there is a local competition to be held in your area. Your coach works with you to develop a skating program set to music. You go and compete against other skaters at your test level. Though you don't win this time, you have a great time performing your best in front of a crowd.
You continue to practice your skating. You test, compete at nearby competitions, and perform in your club ice shows. It's fun being a skater!! Eventually you are invited to teach the group lessons where you once started, and you hope to learn to be a good coach. You want to teach others how great it is to skate!!
And for most of us, that's the general progression of things. But for a lucky few who have the unique combination of talent and luck and dedication and monetary resources and family support, they may continue to the peak of the sport! If you should happen to be one of those gifted individuals, it might be something like this....
You practice your skating several hours a day now, with multiple lessons with your coach each week, and ballet once a week. You've passed your Junior test, and you've been winning your local competitions. You place highly in one which is rated as a "qualifying competition". This entitles you to a spot in the Regional competiton for your area, which will be held in a city only a few hours away. You know that the top skaters at the 9 Regional competions move on to one of the 3 Sectional competitions, and from there on to the National and World competitions. You compete at Regionals and come in 4th. That's good enough to advance to the Sectional competition. It's great competing at such a high level, even though you don't place high enough at Sectionals to advance to Nationals this year.
You've passed your Senior test this year, and you compete at Regionals again. You place high enough to qualify for Sectionals. You've been working hard perfecting your new program, and at Sectionals you skate well enough to advance to Nationals! Though you don't place quite high enough there to qualify for Worlds, you still do very well. You look forward to working on your program for next year. It'll be an Olympic year, so you hope you can place in the top 3 at next year's Nationals and represent your country in the Olympics, as well as in the World Championships.
It's the Olympic year, and you made it!! A spot to compete in the Olympics!! You'll give it your best shot in this unique opportunity. After the Olympics, there's also this year's Worlds to look forward to, then perhaps you'll tour with an ice show for a while. You're a skating star!!
