Figure/Speed Skating


Feature Writer: Timbre Beck-Murphy
Author, Timbre Beck-Murphy

This is your news source for Long and Short Track Speed Skating, Single and Pairs Figure Skating, Ice Dancing, and Synchronized Skating. Keep tabs on your favorite skaters through profiles and interviews, get results for local, national and international competitions and enjoy reviews of figure skating exhibition shows and speed skating races.

Read an original figure skating poem of inspiration.

Browse our list of Index of Skating Articles or check out articles for definitions of skating terms, organizations, and resources, including official athlete websites.

Post your questions in the discussion forum or email me.

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Sergei Prankevitch Leads the Pack, 2008 World Cup, Timbre Beck-Murphy
feature articles
Timbre Beck-Murphy

How to Ice Skate Backwards

In: How to Figure Skate

Learn these simple tricks of the trade, practiced in sequence, to begin ice skating backwards in no time. Be sure to fully understand each movement before moving on. more...

How to Lace Up Skating Boots

In: Figure/Speed Skating (general)

Lacing ice skate boots can be tricky. Follow these steps to lace your skates like a pro. more...

Should You Ice Skate Barefoot?

In: Figure/Speed Skating (general)

When you first begin taking skating lessons, discuss with your coach what kind of socks or tights - if any - you should use. more...

Figure Skating Standings & Bonuses

In: Figure/Speed Skating (general)

The ISU announced the final standings at the conclusion of this competitive figure skating season. more...

Junior Ladies Skate at 2008 Worlds

In: Women's Skating

Sofia, Bulgaria hosted the 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships February 24th-March 2nd. Here's how the ladies' competition wrapped up. more...

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Timbre Beck-Murphy

Apr 23, 2008

Skate for Fun and Fitness

Now that the elite competitive skating season is over, it’s time to focus on our own skating for physical fitness.


With summer quickly approaching, skating enthusiasts are at an advantage when it comes to wearing body-revealing clothing during warmer temperatures: Our sport makes our legs and butts tighter look hotter than the weather.

If you aren’t sure which ice skating discipline you’d like to try, these articles might be helpful: Begin Short Track Speed Skating, ISU Pairs Figure Skating Explained, ISU Ladies Figure Skating, ISU Men’s Senior Figure Skating, ISU vs. ISI Figure Skating Associations, Guides for Parents of Skaters.

Nutrition and training articles, like Cross-Training with Inline Skating, More USFSA Training Resources, USADA’s Gold Medal Game, and Figure Skating Training Program, offer tips for dropping winter weight by training like an athlete. Check back for upcoming articles explaining how to execute certain skating moves and on stretching and working out like a speed skater.

Need inspiration? Elite figure skater and speed skater bios might do the trick. Favorites in this department include: Apolo Anton Ohno, Sasha Cohen, Joannie Rochette, Evgeni Plushenko, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, Johnny Weir, Yelena Bereshnaya, and Special Olympics Skating. We even have Videos of Skaters Crashing (thanks to YouTube), and additional Olympic Skating Video Clips Online.

While the muscle strengthening and cardio endurance are great goals to have for recreational skating, the best thing about skating is having fun. Endorphins are produced after bouts of moderately fast skating just like they are after running. It’s this natural high, combined with the fun-factor, that makes skating a great choice for healthy activity throughout the year – for all ages.

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