Cross Training Questions

What cross training do serious figure skaters do?

I was just wondering because I am a figure skater but I only took ballet to help me and I think that I really need some more training.Any tips?

Public Comments

1. Ballet and general cardio
2. Strength training is really helpful especially for your core.
3. I take ballet and the off-ice class at my rink and some skaters do gymnastics. That's the reason why Sasha Cohen is so flexible. She started gymnastics when she was a littl girl and then switched to figure skating when she was seven.
4. They do cardio, strength, and stretching. So some of them run for the cardio, or bike, or use the elliptical trainer. For strength, a lot lift weights and do other strength training exercises. For stretching, there is ballet, and general stretching. A lot of skaters combine stretching and strength via Pilates and dance. A few do yoga for focus, control, and strength/flexibility/balance. Some even do martial arts. So there are a lot of options open to you. Pick a cardio exercise you might like, and pick a strength training exercise. You can discuss with your coach which exercises she thinks might most benefit your skating, and try those.
5. Try stretching, ballet and serious cardio? They're great for you. Also, jump roping, and i'm surprised no one said this already, is a GREAT work out. It works on your legs, arms, cardio, everything! Your legs are very important to stretch, so that you have more power and control. Your arms need strenght to be able to hold themselves in the right positions. Hope this helped!
6. Weights and plyometrics. Also, running on the treadmill to build up endurance.
7. In the summer, I take this very extreme skating camp. It goes from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon. I always skate so much better after taking that camp. It's amazing! Here's my schedule: 8:00 - 10:45 Skating 10:45 - 12:00 Ballet/Hip Hop 12:00 - 1:00 Rhythm Class 1:00 - 3:00 Intense Weight Training 3:00 - 4:00 "Stroking Class" (It's really an extremely hard class where you do suicides across the ice in less than half a minute and stuff like that.) If you roughly follow this schedule for a month (in the summer), I promise you that you will have much better technique and overall body shape. Good luck!!! :)
8. Ballat and gymnastics helps a lot with flexibility and posture.