Professional figure skating
- Thread starter jessie
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What do you mean by "pro figure skater"?
Competitor? (most are amateurs and spend more money on training than they earn in prize money or sponsorship, if any)
Coach?
Performing artist? (not much money there either except for a tiny percentage of very successful former competitors)
Are you familiar with how the sport is structured?
How old are you? What country do you live in? How well can you skate already?
It will be easier to answer your questions if we know what you're thinking about aiming for and what your circumstances might make possible.
If you're not a skater at all yet, see this thread in The Lutz Corner section of the forum:https://goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?62596-So-you-want-to-be-a-figure-skater
Competitor? (most are amateurs and spend more money on training than they earn in prize money or sponsorship, if any)
Coach?
Performing artist? (not much money there either except for a tiny percentage of very successful former competitors)
Are you familiar with how the sport is structured?
How old are you? What country do you live in? How well can you skate already?
It will be easier to answer your questions if we know what you're thinking about aiming for and what your circumstances might make possible.
If you're not a skater at all yet, see this thread in The Lutz Corner section of the forum:https://goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?62596-So-you-want-to-be-a-figure-skater
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- Feb 1, 2018
It is incredible how many times I try to explain to non-skating people that Olympic level figure skating competitors are not "pro."
This is a helpful link explaining the distinction. https://www.thoughtco.com/figure-skating-term-turn-pro-1282518
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I'm a former elite international competitive skater now pro.
But sorry not giving out personal info, I can though answer questions for you regarding the sport if you would like, but first I need to you tell me if you want to know about elite competitive (amateur) like you see on tv at the olympics or professional?
But sorry not giving out personal info, I can though answer questions for you regarding the sport if you would like, but first I need to you tell me if you want to know about elite competitive (amateur) like you see on tv at the olympics or professional?
I read the links above it says that an elite skater can teach lessons (for payment) but that not necessarily make them a "pro." When someone says they are a "pro," what exactly does that mean? I think it means they have done something like Disney on Ice, cruise ships, etc.
From what I can tell, SOI is sanctioned by USFS so a skater can stay an amateur doing that particular show.
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Usually if the elite skater is coaching or doing choreo on the side to pay the bills they are considered a Jr Coach or Jr Choreographer most of the time. They are not a "pro" at that point because they aren't officially retired from competing or a status equal to that. The same is true of skaters doing SOI in the recent years, many who are still competing are able to w/o being officially pro b/c of sanctions.
A pro like I am now, is a former competitive elite that is retired officially from amateur competition and works in the skating world in some way: Coaching, Choreography, show skating or all of the above.
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- Jan 31, 2018
Hello,
I really want to become a pro figure skater, and I have a lot of questions about it.
Is somebody here pro? If yes, can you let me an info, so I can contact you?
Thanks a lot
If you haven't taken lessons yet, and you're in the US with access to any rinks, check for learn to skate clinics and classes with basic levels, for starters.
From everything I've gathered the process is as follows, and I'm going from a no experience standpoint, within the USA, so some of this might not apply to you:
- Start with group classes, this is a safe and friendly environment to get started and learn the basics. If you're in the US you can probably find a Learn To Skate USA course to start with. They're pretty affordable, and you can move up at your own pace.
The one I'm taking is an 8 week program that offers 8 public skate free passes to allow you to practice during the duration of the coarse, 30 minute group lessons once a week [depending on if you sign up for 1 class or more], and badges for completing the basics levels.
(The way it works at the rink I'll be skating at is 1-6 basics for adults, then you can take preFreeskate which is the more difficult stuff, and once you've passed preFreeskate you can move up to Freeskate, which is obviously more intense than preFreeskate. They also offer pairs, ice dancing, and synchronized skating.)
You can also look into skating camps.
- Once you've gone through basics, or you think you're ready to advance, you'll look into getting a coach. I haven't quite figured out that works, but there's usually a coaching staff at rinks, and who knows, one of your group coaches may be able to do one-on-one with you. Coaching fees tend to average $20 per 20 minutes in most cases, and that's not including the fees you have to pay for ice time with your coach.
- In addition, to all of those fees, if you intend to compete, it'll be easiest if you join a club, which boy howdy, more fees but they're usually under $200 annually, and may include club ice times, freeskate testing, and competitions, and insurance, if there are any in your area. (Testing and competitions come at a fee too.)
- In addition to all the fees you'll be paying you have to keep in mind that blades have to be sharpened and eventually replaced, and eventually your boots will have to be too.
(I just learned that there's such a thing as "over-booting" last night, meaning if you drop a lot of money on a pair of skates that are too advanced for your current level they could be worn down by the time you actually need them, and then boom, that money's out the window and you gotta get a new pair that's equally as expensive.)
- Most skaters also take dance classes, ballet seems to be the most common, if you're just doing basic ballet and not in it for recital it shouldn't be too expensive, but I'm sure that depends on where you take lessons, and also where you live. Even if you're not in it for recital you still have to have the proper equipment.
- Be prepared for lots of ice time, like hours of it.
A healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and plenty of off ice training too.
- If you have a following or a demographic, for instance, on social media, you can write proposals in an attempt to get sponsors, to cover or lessen the costs of competing, and it never hurts to start with local businesses.
I could literally go on and on, it's quite a process, but I think I covered the basics. And I do not mean this to sound like some kind of sarcastic know it all, I mean it in all helpful seriousness, but I literally learned all of this just from looking around the internet, most of it, not even on this forum in particular. This forum has been super helpful though, but you'd be surprised at the amount of information is readily available on the first search page of Google. If you have a specific question and you're not sure how to ask, or you're not getting answers, just try it.
Youtube also really helps. I've take a seriously liking to Joel Minas and Eye Katie, but there's all sort of others out there too. You can find lots of tips for beginning skaters, skater life hacks, instructions on how to lace your skates, and properly take care of your equipment, you name it, it's out there!
Hope this helps. I'm no professional, but as someone who I believe has the same goal as you, I've really been trying to do my research! If you wants any links to flexibility stretching routines, or anything I mentioned, you can PM me and I'd be happy to share.
Happy Skating!
Also...always listen to Ic3Rabbit! Not sucking up, he's just got that quality, informative content! :agree:
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Thanks I'm flattered, but I'm female.
Also, not everything you said is accurate, especially if they are young enough to become elite competitive in order to have an easier shot as a pro.
I know the difference between "pro" and amateur since I'm a figure skater for many years I would really like to join skating shows and yes of course I was doing a big research all over the internet but there are still few things only a person who was/is involved in it can answer
I would really like to join skating shows and yes of course I was doing a big research all over the internet but there are still few things only a person who was/is involved in it can answer
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I know the difference between "pro" and amateur since I'm a figure skater for many years
Start contacting the Cruise Lines because they have shows on board. Another outlet would be Disney On Ice. Otherwise, there's not much unless you are or were one of the bigger names in figure skating.
http://royalcaribbeanproductions.com/about-us
https://www.feldentertainment.com/PerformerAuditions/DisneyOnIce/
I believe Disney on Ice, you have to be at least 18 before they will consider you -but you can audition/send in video's/CV / arrange audition when they are performing near you. I don't know if this is stated or not, but also generally a certain size due to costumes being shared between various casts.
And cruise lines, IIRC you need to be at least 21 yrs.
There are a lot of European shows and theme park shows around as well.
Generally my understanding is that you have to have competed at Senior level and/or best chances are with International competition experience and/or 2A and triples to have a good chance at a contract to get anything that is a 'lead' type role. Otherwise, you would just be more of a 'chorus' type skater if you pass the auditions.
The outfits are pretty standard sizes and may be modified on an as needed basis.
And cruise lines, IIRC you need to be at least 21 yrs.
There are a lot of European shows and theme park shows around as well.
Generally my understanding is that you have to have competed at Senior level and/or best chances are with International competition experience and/or 2A and triples to have a good chance at a contract to get anything that is a 'lead' type role. Otherwise, you would just be more of a 'chorus' type skater if you pass the auditions.
The outfits are pretty standard sizes and may be modified on an as needed basis.
I don't think this is a hard rule. One of our area coaches left to work on Royal Caribbean right after she graduated from high school. She basically went from her senior level competitive career right to the cruiseline.
https://www.bietakproductions.com/
That's interesting to know because 21 yrs is the age of majority in many countries (& thus drinking age) which is why it is used for age requirements for the ships.
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Very few countries have 21 as the age.
May depend on where the ships are registered to..
This is older article (from 2015) but does state general age requirements
https://www.gapyear.com/articles/90422/working-on-cruise-ships
"One factor to consider when working on cruise ships is the minimum age. Most cruise ships are reluctant to hire anyone under 21, though some 18, 19 and 20 year olds have found suitable employment. For work in areas such as bars or casinos you will certainly have to be over 21."
This is older article (from 2015) but does state general age requirements
https://www.gapyear.com/articles/90422/working-on-cruise-ships
"One factor to consider when working on cruise ships is the minimum age. Most cruise ships are reluctant to hire anyone under 21, though some 18, 19 and 20 year olds have found suitable employment. For work in areas such as bars or casinos you will certainly have to be over 21."
It's important to note that skaters aren't generally employed by the actual cruise line. They are more often employed by 3rd party production companies. Rules for servers and bartenders probably won't apply to performers.
I don't know if Disney has the HS graduation requirement and if so, how timing works. You would need to ask them directly.
The girl that I knew that had the issue wanted to work on a non-Disney cruise ship.
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