13 Tips for Adult Beginner Figure Skaters

Introduction: Taking up figure skating as an adult can feel equal parts exciting and intimidating. You might be wondering if you’ll be the only beginner over 20 at the rink, or worrying that you “should have started as a kid.” The good news? You’re definitely not alone, and it’s never too late to lace up and enjoy this amazing sport. In fact, adult skaters often bring a unique enthusiasm (and yes, patience!) to the ice. This blog post will share 13 friendly, relatable tips to help you on your skating journey – from technique and gear to mindset and etiquette – all tailored for grown-ups stepping into the rink for the first time. Let’s dive in with encouragement and a dash of humor, because falling on your butt is a lot more fun when you can laugh about it!

1. Warm Up and Stretch Before Skating

Don’t skip your warm-up – it’s a must for adult skaters. Often we rush from work or errands straight onto the ice without getting our bodies ready. Taking just 5–10 minutes to get your blood flowing can help prevent injuries and mentally prepare you for skating. Do a quick jog, some jumping jacks, or light dynamic stretches to wake up those muscles. A proper warm-up raises your body temperature and loosens your joints, so you’ll skate with better range of motion and less risk of strain. It also gives you a moment to shift your mind away from daily stresses and get in the zone for fun on the ice.

2. Invest in Proper Skates (Get Fitted)

One of the best gifts you can give your skating self is a pair of well-fitted figure skates. Rental skates at rinks are okay to start, but if you’re committed to learning, consider investing in your own boots and blades. Proper fit is crucial – skates that are too loose or too tight will hinder your progress and could cause pain. As an adult skater, you may benefit from boots with a bit more support (stiffer boots) to hold your weight and balance, but still with enough flexibility for your level. It’s highly recommended to visit a pro shop or skate technician for a professional fitting when buying skates; a good fit can prevent injuries and make a huge difference in comfort on the ice. You’ll feel more secure and confident when your equipment literally supports you in every glide.

3. Dress for Comfort and Mobility

Leave the heavy coats and stiff jeans at home – wearing the right clothing will make your skating sessions so much more enjoyable. Think light, layered, and flexible. It’s best to dress in layers you can peel off as you warm up, like a fitted long-sleeve with a zip-up jacket or hoodie on top. Many adult skaters love high-waisted athletic leggings or yoga pants for warmth and freedom of movement, rather than restrictive pants. Make sure your outfit isn’t too baggy or bulky; you need to bend, stretch, and move freely without your clothes getting in the way. And don’t forget gloves! They’ll keep your fingers toasty and also protect your hands from scrapes on the ice if you take a fall. You don’t have to look like an Olympian out there – just aim for comfortable, layered clothes that let you focus on skating (bonus if they make you feel confident and rink-ready).

4. Check Your Posture – Knees Bent & Head Up

Good skating starts with good posture. If you’ve never skated before, your instinct might be to stand up straight and stiff (or worse, lean back in fear of falling). But the ideal skating stance is more like a gentle athletic crouch. Bend your knees slightly and lean forward a bit, keeping your weight over the balls of your feet. This lower center of gravity will help you stay balanced and ready to move. In fact, bend your knees more than you think you need – as one coach famously said, there’s almost “no such thing as too much knee bend” for beginner skaters. At the same time, keep your head up and eyes forward – don’t stare down at your feet. Looking down shifts your weight over your toes (hello, toe-pick trips!) and throws off your balance. By keeping your chest up and shoulders relaxed, you’ll glide more smoothly and feel more in control. Think of it like the stance you’d use when skiing or riding a bike: knees soft, body slightly tilted forward, not rigid. With practice, this posture will start to feel natural on the ice.

5. Find Your Balance (and Don’t Cling to the Wall)

Stepping onto the ice for the first time as an adult can be like learning to walk all over again – wobbly legs are totally normal! To build your balance, practice standing and gliding on two feet at first, and shift your weight from one foot to the other to get a feel for the blades. It’s okay to use the rink’s rail or boards for a bit of support when you’re starting out; just hold it lightly rather than gripping for dear life. As you gain confidence, try to let go of the wall more and more – even if it’s just for a few seconds at a time. You won’t truly learn to balance if you’re glued to the barrier. Do your practice move, then glide onward. If you do use the boards to help with a new skill, don’t hog that spot indefinitely – do a few tries, then move along and give others a turn, checking for oncoming skaters before you push off. Little by little, you’ll notice you need the wall less, and you’ll feel proud skating more in the open rink. Remember, every skater starts wobbly – it’s all part of finding your ice legs!

6. Don’t Fear Falling – Learn to Fall Safely

Let’s talk about the elephant in the rink: falling. As an adult, the fear of falling is real – we’re not made of rubber like little kids, and we have farther to drop! But guess what? Every skater falls, even the pros, and it’s a skill you can prepare for. Learning how to fall safely will actually boost your confidence on the ice. In skating classes, they sometimes even teach falling on day one. The key is to fall small: if you feel yourself losing balance, bend your knees and try to go down to the side rather than flailing backward or forward. Aim to land on a fleshy part (side of your thigh and rear) instead of straight onto your tailbone or hands. Tuck your chin to avoid your head hitting the ice, and don’t stick your arms out ramrod-straight – that’s how wrists get sprained. Instead, try to touch down with your palms or forearms gently if needed. It sounds funny, but you can even practice gentle falls at home on a padded surface to get the motion down. Protective gear like gloves (or even knee pads and padded shorts, if you like) can take some fear out of falling by cushioning the impact. The takeaway: falling will happen, and it’s okay. Get comfortable with the idea of a tumble, learn to do it as safely as possible, then laugh it off and get back up. Bruises heal, but the regret of never trying sticks around a lot longer!

7. Master the Basics: Gliding, Stroking & Swizzles

Fancy jumps and spins can come later – as a beginner, your focus should be on mastering the fundamental movements of skating. Gliding on two feet, pushing off into forward strides (called “stroking”), and doing simple moves like swizzles (making an hourglass motion with your skates) may seem basic, but these will build your balance, strength, and control on the ice. In fact, one seasoned coach had young skaters spend entire sessions just stroking around the rink to build up their leg strength and stability on their edges. You can’t go wrong working on strong, confident forward skating – it’s the foundation for everything else. Try doing a few laps where you focus on good form: push off, glide on two feet or one foot as you’re able, and feel the edges of your blades slicing the ice. Also, incorporate swizzles in your practice (both forward and backward). Doing a couple of laps of swizzles with deep knee bends not only helps you move, but also warms up and strengthens your ankles. It might seem a bit silly, but those basic moves are secretly a workout! The more comfortable you get with basic gliding and pumping your feet, the easier it will be to learn tricks down the line. So stroke, glide, and swizzle your heart out – strong basics make a strong skater.

8. Practice Stopping (Early and Often)

If you can move on the ice, you also need to know how to stop – it’s one of the most important skills for staying safe (and avoiding unplanned body-checks with the wall!). Many beginners put off learning to stop because it can be tricky, but start practicing it as soon as you can even at slow speeds. A common first method is the snowplow stop, which is gentle and effective. To do a snowplow, skate forward slowly, then angle your toes inward (like making a pizza slice with your skates) and gently press the inside edges of your blades into the ice. You’ll feel the friction create drag and slow you down. The key is to apply gradual pressure – if you push out too hard or too suddenly, you might lose balance or do an accidental split. Start with light pressure to get a feel for it, and increase as needed to come to a halt. It takes practice to judge how much force to use, so don’t be discouraged if you skid or don’t fully stop on the first tries. Keep at it! The strength of your stops is critical to your safety – you want to be able to halt confidently to avoid collisions or simply to rest when you need to. As you improve, you can learn other stopping techniques (like T-stops or hockey stops), but the snowplow is a perfect place to start. Make “practicing stops” a regular part of your skate sessions and you’ll thank yourself later.

9. Respect Rink Etiquette and Skate Safe

When you’re new to skating, it’s easy to be so focused on your own feet that you might not notice the “rules of the road” on the ice. Rink etiquette is all about keeping everyone safe and happy, and a few basic habits will help a lot. First, always skate in the same direction as the crowd (usually counter-clockwise in public sessions) unless you’re in a lesson doing something specific. Never weave against traffic. Also, don’t camp out in one spot on the ice for too long – for example, avoid standing around in the middle of the rink or monopolizing the practice circle for 20 minutes. It’s fine to use a section of ice to work on a skill, but be mindful of others waiting or skating past. Similarly, hanging onto the boards is okay to regain balance, but don’t park yourself at the rail for half the session. Skating is a moving sport! Keep circulating so everyone has room. Always look around you before you start skating, stop, or change direction. Think of it like driving a car: check over your shoulder and look both ways to make sure no one is coming when you enter the flow. If you’re practicing going backward or doing a spin, make sure the path is clear behind you. And keep your head up – literally. Don’t stare down at the ice; instead, scan ahead so you can anticipate and avoid collisions. One more thing: be courteous. No foul language on the ice (there are often kids around) and absolutely no skating under the influence. Overall, defensive skating is the name of the game – assume others might not see you, so it’s on you to see them. By following rink etiquette, you’ll keep yourself and others safe, and everyone will have more fun out there.

10. Consider Lessons or a Coach

While it’s entirely possible to teach yourself a lot of the basics, nothing beats professional instruction to give you a strong start. Signing up for an adult learn-to-skate class or taking a few private lessons with a coach can accelerate your progress and ensure you’re learning proper technique from day one. In an adult class, the atmosphere is usually very welcoming – you’ll be with other beginners who share your excitement (and nerves), and the curriculum is tailored to adult learners. A good coach will help you fix little issues (like posture or pushing technique) that you might not realize on your own. They’ll also introduce skills in a safe, logical order so you don’t jump ahead and develop bad habits. Importantly, you can learn at your own pace – adult classes recognize that we’re not in a rush to become Olympians overnight. Some adults take longer with certain skills and that’s perfectly fine. The structured environment of a class or lesson ensures you keep challenging yourself a bit each time, which is great for steady improvement. Plus, you might make some new friends (more on that next)! Many rinks even have adult-only classes or practice sessions, which can be less intimidating than being surrounded by tiny speedsters. So if you have the opportunity, give lessons a try – think of it as investing in your new hobby and yourself.

11. Be Patient and Go at Your Own Pace

Perhaps one of the hardest parts of starting as an adult is managing your expectations. Progress might feel slow – definitely slower than how quickly kids seem to pick things up. You might see 8-year-olds zipping around or other adults who have been skating longer doing spins, and feel a twinge of discouragement. Don’t let it get to you. Your journey is your own. One skater insightfully noted that adults advance at a different pace than kids, and that’s okay – with enough practice and the right guidance, you will improve and can become a confident, graceful skater, it just takes time. Try not to play the comparison game. For every adult skater who’s landing jumps within a year, there are many more who skate once or twice a week and take things step by step. There’s no race and no deadline. Take your time, go at your own pace, and don’t bother trying to “catch up” with anyone else. One of the great advantages of learning as an adult is that you get to decide your goals – whether you want to master a simple loop around the rink or eventually learn a fancy spin, it’s up to you, not some test or competition schedule. Consistency is more important than speed of progression. Even if you feel like you’re learning slowly, stick with it and celebrate the small wins (your first time letting go of the wall, your first proper stop – these are big deals!). Patience and persistence will pay off. In a year, you’ll look back amazed at how far you’ve come, even if the day-to-day seems slow. Remember: skating is a marathon, not a sprint, and every stride forward counts.

12. Connect with Fellow Adult Skaters

Figure skating may often seem like an individual sport, but you don’t have to go it alone. In fact, one of the joys of starting as an adult is joining a whole community of like-minded skaters. Adult skaters are usually super friendly and supportive. You’ll likely start recognizing regulars at the rink – maybe the same faces at the Tuesday evening freestyle or the weekend public session. Don’t be shy about saying hi or chatting about your skating journey; chances are they have their own story of starting later in life. Skating with people who share your experience can be incredibly encouraging. As one skater quipped, adult skaters tend to be way more chill than the younger crowd, and making a few rink friends can make practice sessions much more fun and motivating. Consider seeking out adult-only skate sessions or clubs if your rink offers them – these sessions are specifically for adult skaters to practice and socialize together, often at a relaxed pace. It’s a great way to make friends (followed by coffee or brunch after skating, perhaps?) and swap tips, frustrations, and victories. Some cities even have adult figure skating clubs or Facebook groups where members arrange meet-ups or share advice. Having a support network will remind you that you’re not the only one out there learning flips at 40 or starting from scratch at 30 – we’re a growing group, and #AdultSkaters stick together. So reach out and build your skate squad! Cheering each other on makes the falls and triumphs feel that much sweeter.

13. Keep It Fun and Enjoy the Journey

Above all, remember that you started skating as an adult for the fun and joy of it. Figure skating is challenging, yes, but it should energize you, not drain you. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to perfect a skill or feeling frustrated on a tough day – when that happens, take a step back and remind yourself why you’re on the ice. You’re there because you love it (or at least find it thrilling, in that “this is scary but awesome” way!). Don’t pressure yourself with unrealistic expectations. You’re skating for you, for the personal challenge and the giddy happiness it brings. So try to enjoy the ride. Embrace the wobbles and laugh at the little slip-ups – those are the stories you’ll later tell with pride (“remember when I fell flat trying a two-foot spin? Hilarious!”). Every time you get back up, you’ve learned something. Savor each small victory, whether it’s a slightly longer glide or a slightly less shaky turn. Progress in adult skating can be a slow burn, but that means you get to experience countless “firsts” and breakthroughs, even if they’re months or years in the making. In the end, the journey of learning is what it’s all about – the joy, confidence, and freedom you gain on the ice with each practice. So keep it fun, be kind to yourself, and celebrate the fact that you’re pursuing a passion. You’re an adult figure skater – how cool is that?

Conclusion: Keep Gliding Forward

Starting figure skating as an adult is a brave and rewarding adventure. You’ll face challenges that kids might not (aching muscles, busy schedules, maybe a dash more fear), but you’ll also experience the unique pride of doing this for yourself. Every tip on this list boils down to one thing: believe in yourself and keep going. Take it one glide at a time, and don’t forget to relish the process – from the tentative first steps on the ice to the day you confidently skate a full lap without holding the wall. There will be laughter, there might be a few tears or bruises, but there will definitely be growth. Stay patient, stay positive, and lean on your fellow adult skaters for support and smiles. You’re proof that passion has no age limit. So keep lacing up those skates, keep learning and laughing, and most importantly, enjoy every moment on the ice. The rink is waiting for you – see you out there! ⛸️