Is it realistic for me to shoot for doubles as an end-goal?

[hanfan26]

I'm 20 and starting lessons this month (the 25th!) and I'm so excited. I've loved skating but I've never had the opportunity to learn until recently. Of course I want to learn the basics and build a strong foundation, but do you think it's possible for me to eventually learn doubles (& single axel)? This, in my head, is kind of the end goal and I fully realize that it will take some time. Also, I'm in pretty decent shape and I've had some experience with similar spinning in another sport (twirling). Thank you for reading and I hope you have a nice day. 


[mod note: topic moved.  no harm, no foul - rookie mistake.]

[FigureSpins]

Welcome, welcome.

Most coaches today are teaching the basics with the end-goal of having a skater able to do an axel or doubles.  A lot depends on your ability/condition (sounds okay) and time/money/ice availability. 

However, you can't just focus on jumps. 
Edges are the foundation of this sport.  Jumps with poor edges and uncontrolled landings are not looked upon kindly. 
Stroking, crossovers, etc. are what set up all our moves and allow us to flow across the ice successfully.
Spins are critical to succeeding.  We use a lot of spins as training drills as well as demonstrations of control, skills and speed. 
Turns and transitions (spirals, spreadeagles, etc.) are key to making a program succeed with audiences and judging panels.

So, don't focus on one goal too early.  Skating is like building a sandcastle: a solid foundation lets you build higher.


I've always wanted to know how spins work in Twirling.  My mom was a Twirler back in the day and she taught me the basics of twirling a baton, but I never asked her about the spins.  What part of the foot do you use?  Are there special shoes?  What do you do with your shoulders?  Do you spot?  (The latter is a major difference between ballet and figure skating - we'd get whiplash if we spotted on spins - the speed of a perfect spin is just too fast to allow that, physically.

[hanfan26]

In twirling we spun on the ball of our foot, and we did have special shoes. We mostly performed on gym floors, which are really slippery so we wore really thin sneaker-like shoes with a ribbed sole. I'm not sure if that's typical for all teams, but they were really comfortable. As for shoulders, personally I guess I pulled my arms and shoulders in briefly to spin, but not too much because I had to catch the baton at the end.

[Jf12]

Statistically, it is unlikely, but it doesn't mean it isn't possible.  It will however be a great goal to keep you motivated!  I think also once you get more into it, you will create other goals that you don't know about now.

[riley876]

Do you have the time and money to:

- Spend 3000+ hours on ice working it out by yourself
- Or spend 1500+ hours on ice AND the money to pay for private coaching

AND the time and discipline for serious amounts of off-ice training

AND the ability to skate during the times of day when you can get sane (i.e. non-public) ice time.

AND the money to pay for the equipment and sharpenings and travel to rinks and everything else
incidental

AND the persistence in the face of a seemingly brick wall of no progress for months or years at a time

AND are physically capable (i.e. no lingering injuries, sicknesses or deformities to mess you up)

AND the drive to essentially throw away your social life for this.

AND the interpersonal skills to maintain a productive relationship with a coach.

If so to all of these, then I'd say yes.

[nicklaszlo]

I think Riley overstates things a bit.  If you're just working on doubles, you don't need to spend lots of time on skating skills, spins, choreography, program run throughs, etc. 

Some of the adult skaters who have all their doubles and also compete very successfully at the senior level work non-skating jobs 50+ hours/week.  These people may have no social life, but it's not because of skating.

[Bill_S]

I was about 56 when I did my first double in lesson. It was a double Sal. I had started skating again when I turned 50, but had never had lessons before that. I was a pond skater when I was young and in my 20s.

So, when I hear of someone only 20 wondering if they can learn doubles, I say HECK YES. If you work at it, you can easily do it.

[skategeek]

Age is really only one piece of the puzzle, and not an especially big one, I think.  Motivation, inherent ability, and confidence are also important.  There's lots of things that I can't do right now, but it's not because I'm 47.  It's because I'm a big chicken.  I think it would have been just as true if I had started 20 years ago.   

[axelwylie]

Yes it is possible! I landed my first Axel at age 30 and double sal at age 38. If you want it bad enough, you can make it happen.

[rd350]

Of course it's possible.  And you are very young and sound like you're in good shape.  Time, practice and definitely a good foundation of the basics will help.

[hanfan26]

Thank you all so much for your wonderful feedback! I really do appreciate it hearing from more experienced skaters and not just my family about such topics.