Drills and warmup exercises on ice help athletes improve their figure skating moves. There are also ways to boost your skills when you’re not on the rink. Balance and strong leg muscles give you the foundation to perfect a range of moves. The guide below shares a few ways to work on these skills at home.

How to Improve Balance & Strength for Ice Skating

1. Focus on One Leg at a Time

Advanced figure skating often involves shifting your weight to one leg. To practice the move, tighten your abs and place your weight on one foot, bending the other knee at a right angle by your side. Stay in the pose for as long as you can, then swap legs, repeating up to eight times.

To improve your stability, you need leg strength. Do single-leg deadlifts, holding dumbbells and extending one leg behind you until you crouch low. Repeat 10 times, then switch sides, aiming for three sets of 10 repetitions each.

2. Do Squats

Squats boost lower body strength. With your feet set slightly wider than your hips, squat until your thighs are parallel to the ground, then return to a standing position.

Your back and chest should remain upright and flat throughout the motion. For more intensive muscle focus, hold a weight at chest height.

3. Practice Skating Hops

As you get better at balancing, start working hops into your routine. These take a lot of coordination and core strength, so practice them at home before you try them on ice.

Start by bending at the knees and hips so your torso is parallel to the floor, with the right foot in front of the left. Shift your body weight forward onto the right foot, push away from the floor, and hop forward, rotating your arms counterclockwise to maintain balance. You should aim to land on the ball of your foot. 

If you’re ready to take your figure skating skills to the next level, turn to World Championship Program in Palatine, IL. They teach skaters of all ages and skill levels to perform in singles, pairs, ice dancing, and synchronized events. They also offer in-home programs for your convenience. Call (872) 221-3557 to learn more about training and lessons.