10 Things to Know Before Your First Adult Figure Skating Test
Adult or standard track, membership, signing up, when you're ready, a mock test, test day and what a retry means for your first adult figure skating test.
Figure skating guides for adult skaters
Gear, jumps, scoring and getting started, explained without the jargon.
Just getting started?
Getting started
How to start figure skating as an adult
Finding a rink and a class, what to wear, renting skates at first, and what your first few months on the ice look like.
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What to buy
Ice skating gear for adult beginners
What you need for your first few weeks, what to add once you buy skates, and what can wait.
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Finding a coach
How to choose a skating coach
Where to find a coach, what to look for in a trial lesson, and what to ask about fees before you start.
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Competition and scoring
Figure Skating Scoring Explained: How the IJS (International Judging System) Works
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Jumps and spins
Every Figure Skating Jump Explained: How to Tell a Lutz from a Salchow
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Olympics
Every Figure Skating Event at the Olympics, Explained
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Gear and equipment
Figure Skate Guards vs Soakers: What Each One Is For
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Gear and equipment
The Ultimate Blade Guide for Adult Figure Skaters
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Competition and scoring
What Is a Good Figure Skating Score? A Quick Reference Guide
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More how-tos, by topic
First steps
8 guides
- Your First Skating Lesson Checklist
- How to Fit Figure Skates (and Break Them In)
- How to Fall Safely on Ice (and Get Back Up)
- Your First 30 Days of Figure Skating
- Understanding Ice Time and Session Types
- Skating Etiquette and Rink Rules
- How to Choose a Figure Skating Coach
- 9 Ways Adult Skaters Keep the Cost of Skating Down
Skills and technique
6 guides
Competing
4 guides
Skates and gear care
7 guides
All guides
35guides
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9 Signs Your Figure Skates Need Sharpening, a Repair or Replacing
Slipping edges, skidding stops, nicks, rust, loose screws, creased ankles and pain that won't settle: when to see a sharpener, a skate shop or buy new.
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12 Figure Skating Rules That Surprise People Watching at Home
Falls cost more each time, lyrics are allowed, props aren't, late jumps earn a bonus and backflips are legal again: the ISU rules viewers ask about most.
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10 Things That Make a Cold Rink Easier to Skate In
Thin layers, the right socks, gloves, boot covers, leg warmers and a proper warm-up: how adult skaters stay warm enough to skate well at a cold rink.
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Figure Skating Competition Makeup: What Adult Skaters Wear and How to Make It Last
Makeup is optional at a figure skating competition, and adult skaters wear anything from mascara and lipstick to lashes and glitter. This guide covers the products that hold up in a cold rink and how to fit makeup into a...
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Adult Figure Skating Competitions in 2027: Dates, Levels and How to Enter
The biggest U.S. dates for adult figure skaters in 2027 are the three adult sectionals in March, with the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships to follow on April 7 to 10 in Rochester, Michigan. This guide has every date we...
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Gifts for Your Figure Skating Coach: What to Give and How Much to Spend
A card with a real note is the gift that matters most to a figure skating coach. This guide covers what else works, what people usually spend on group and private coaches, and what to skip.
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What to Wear Ice Skating: A Guide for Adult Beginners
Wear warm, stretchy layers you can move in, one pair of thin socks that come up above the boot, and gloves every time you skate. A helmet is a good idea while you're learning, and the jeans can stay at...
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How to Do a Salchow Jump: A Guide for Adult Skaters
The Salchow is a one-rotation edge jump and, for many skaters, the first full turn in the air after the waltz jump. Here's how the entry, takeoff and landing work, and how adults usually learn it.
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Coming Back to Figure Skating as an Adult
Skated as a kid and thinking about going back? What changes while you're away, why a skate fitting comes first, how to ease back in, and how tests and adult competitions work now.
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New vs Used Figure Skates: How to Choose and What to Check
Used figure skates can save you money if the boots still support you, the blades have life left and the pair fits your feet. Here's how to check.
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How to Start Figure Skating as an Adult
You can start figure skating as an adult at any age, and the easiest way in is a group class with rental skates. We cover finding a rink, what to wear, when to buy your own skates and what the...
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What You're Actually Watching When Olympic Skaters Spin
A viewer's guide to figure skating spins: the three positions, the named variations, flying spins and changes of foot, and how levels and GOE turn a spin into points.
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Spin Levels Demystified: An Adult Skater's Guide to ISU Spin Rules
A spin's level, from Base to Level 4, depends on how many valid features it includes, and the judges' GOE then rewards or marks down the quality. We walk through the 2026-27 features, the rules that trip skaters up and...
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What Is a Good Figure Skating Score? A Quick Reference Guide
A good figure skating score depends on the discipline and the segment, and for senior men a total above 300 is gold medal territory. We give typical ranges for each Olympic discipline, with some of the 2026 Olympic scores for...
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Every Figure Skating Jump Explained: How to Tell a Lutz from a Salchow
There are six figure skating jumps, and you can tell them apart by the takeoff edge and whether the toe pick helps.
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Every Figure Skating Event at the Olympics, Explained
Men's and women's singles, pairs, ice dance and the team event make up the five figure skating events at the Olympics. This guide covers how each one works and is scored, and how each played out at Milano Cortina 2026.
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How Do Figure Skaters Decide Where to Put Jumps? Jump Placement Strategy Explained
Skaters and coaches place their jumps to earn the most points, and the 10% second-half bonus is the biggest reason. We explain the bonus window, the Zayak rule, how fatigue and nerves shape the order, and how a free skate...
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Ice Skating Tips for Adult Beginners
Practical tips for your first months of figure skating lessons: how to plan a practice session, what to work on between lessons, the posture basics to keep checking, and how to stay patient.
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Figure Skate Guards vs Soakers: What Each One Is For
Hard guards protect your edges while you walk, and soakers go on once your blades are dry, for the bag. Never store skates in hard guards, and take the soakers off at home so the blades can finish drying.
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Ice Skating Gear for Adult Beginners: What to Buy First
What to wear and bring for your first sessions, which padding is worth having, when to buy your own skates, and what can wait.
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10 Figure Skating Mistakes Adult Skaters Make (and How to Fix Them)
Ten habits that hold adult skaters back, from looking down and skating with straight knees to never practicing between lessons, with a plain fix for each and a link to the guide that goes deeper.
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10 Things to Know Before You Go Ice Skating
Going ice skating for the first time? Ten things worth knowing before a public session, from picking and lacing rental skates to falling, stopping and sharing the ice.
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Learn to Ice Skate: The Complete, Beginner-Friendly Guide to Lessons and Progress
Most beginners find a basic forward glide within a few sessions, while stopping and turning take a few more weeks. We go through how lessons are usually structured, which skates to use and how to choose between group and private...
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Adult Ice Skating Lessons: What to Expect, How to Progress, and the Gear You Need
What to expect in your first adult ice skating lesson, the gear you actually need, how to get past the fear of falling, and how adult learn-to-skate levels map your progress.
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Best Figure Skates for Adult Beginners: Boots, Blades, and Stiffness Guide
Fit matters more than brand for your first figure skates, so we explain stiffness and compare picks from five brands.
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Figure Skating Scoring Explained: How the IJS (International Judging System) Works
We explain how a figure skating score adds up, from each element's base value and GOE to the three program components.
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Ice Skating Terms Explained (Like You're Not at the Olympics)
A plain-English glossary of the figure skating words you hear when you watch competitions: programs, jumps, spins, pairs and ice dance moves, scoring terms and the marks on a protocol.
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Skate Care 101: How to Look After Your Figure Skates
Dry your blades after every session, put soakers on for the bag, and let everything dry at home away from heat. Every so often check the screws, edges, laces and boots, and know when to hand your skates to a...
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Understanding Rockers: The Curve That Changes Everything
The rocker is the curve along the bottom of your blade, and most freestyle blades use a 7-foot or 8-foot one. We compare how each one feels on the ice, and how the Pattern 99 differs from the Gold Seal.
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The Ultimate Off-Ice Skate Spinner Showdown
Board spinners like the Spinboard and the EDEA spinner feel the most like real ice, while a fixed platform such as Jerry's Metal Spinner is better for speed and posture. We compare the main types, from foot disks to elite...
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The Ultimate Blade Guide for Adult Figure Skaters
Most adults do well on a stock blade for basic skills and an intermediate blade such as the Coronation Ace or MK Professional once they start single jumps. We explain rocker, toe pick and hollow, compare the main brands and...
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The Ultimate Boot Guide for Adult Figure Skaters
The right boots for an adult are the ones that fit your foot and suit your level, rather than the stiffest pair on the wall. We cover stiffness ratings, common fit problems, heat molding and break-in, and the buying mistakes...
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Figure Skating Terms Every Adult Beginner Should Know
This glossary explains the figure skating words adult beginners hear first, from jumps and spins to edges, turns, test levels and scoring, with a line on how you'll hear each one at the rink.
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Figure Skating Equipment Terminology: A Beginner's Glossary
A plain-English glossary of figure skating gear: the parts of the boot and blade, fit and break-in words, blade specs like rocker and hollow, mounting and sharpening, and what goes in your skating bag.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to start figure skating as an adult?
No. Adults start figure skating at every age, from their 20s to their 70s and beyond. Many rinks offer dedicated adult skating classes, and the adult skating community is one of the most welcoming you'll find. Your body can still learn new skills, build strength, and develop coordination at any age. The best time to start is now.
What equipment do I need to start figure skating?
To get started, all you really need is a pair of figure skates and comfortable athletic clothing. Most rinks offer rental skates, so you don't need to buy your own right away. Once you're committed, investing in properly fitted boots and blades makes a huge difference in comfort and progression. We recommend getting fitted at a pro shop rather than buying online for your first pair.
How often should I practice to see progress?
Most adult skaters see noticeable improvement with 2-3 sessions per week. Consistency matters more than marathon sessions: 30 to 45 minutes of focused practice beats hours of unfocused skating. Many coaches recommend supplementing ice time with off-ice exercises for flexibility, strength, and jump technique. Listen to your body and build up gradually.
Can adults compete in figure skating?
Yes. There is a thriving adult competitive skating scene. U.S. Figure Skating holds three adult sectional championships and the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships every year, with singles events from adult pre-bronze up to the masters levels. ISI (Ice Sports Industry) also offers competitions with a welcoming atmosphere for newer skaters. Competing is entirely optional, but many adult skaters find it incredibly motivating and fun.
How do I find adult skating lessons near me?
Start by calling your local ice rink and asking about their Learn to Skate program. Most offer group classes just for adults. You can also search the Learn to Skate USA directory or check with your regional U.S. Figure Skating club. Many coaches offer private lessons for adults too. Reach out; coaches like working with motivated adult students.
What's the difference between ISI and USFS skating levels?
ISI (Ice Sports Industry) and USFS (U.S. Figure Skating) are two different organizations with their own testing and level structures. ISI levels go from Pre-Alpha through Delta and then Freestyle 1-10, and tend to be more recreational-focused. U.S. Figure Skating's standard tests now run from Pre-Preliminary to Gold, and adults have their own test track from Adult Pre-Bronze up. Its competitions still use levels from Pre-Preliminary to Senior. Many adult skaters test through both systems. Our terminology guides break down each system in detail.
I'm afraid of falling. Is figure skating safe?
Falling is a normal part of learning to skate, and most falls result in nothing more than a bruise. Wearing protective gear like wrist guards, knee pads, and a helmet (especially when starting out) can give you confidence and reduce injury risk. Learning how to fall safely is one of the first things a good coach will teach you. The ice is more forgiving than you'd think, and the fear fades quickly as you build confidence.
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