Figure skating is one of the hardest sports there is. It takes years of practice to become a professional. Figure skating is one of the sports that require lots of practice and concentration.

Figure skating jumps are the most difficult in the sport. There is a time effect, body position, and the law of gravity to consider. Every second that a skater prepares to do the jump, they must be in a perfect position at the beginning, middle and end. If the skater is an inch apart from that perfect position, the skater will fall. Every movement that the skater does, must be in perfect sync to be well performed.

The second to the most difficult are the spins. All spins must be concentrated at the same spot on the ice. There must be no traveling at no time, or else the skater will be deducted. Depending on the position of the spin, it is harder to keep it in place. Also, it is difficult to keep the law of physics, when after fifteen rotations to stay focus and not feel dizzy after all the spinning.

The last most difficult is keeping their breath within the program. That it is short or the long program. You must work at keeping your stamina. As a matter of fact, before each skater can start practicing, they must warm up their whole body.
First, before they put their skates, they must warm up the body with stretches. Then when on the ice, they must feel the ice and in order to do that, they skate around the ice from slow to a very fast pace until they reached their limits. Following that, they will do a series of basic movement at a slow pace to a faster pace. Then, they will start doing basics jumps and spins to acquire a deep concentration. Slowly, they will start jumping and spinning to their level of difficulty.

Figure skating is a dangerous sport but yet a graceful one. I challenge anyone to put on a pair of skates and to jump or spin like they do or even just try to do a simple skating movement like an arabesque. Actually, just try to keep your balance when you skate. It is harder than you think. It takes years of practice to become a professional, just like any other sport.

Learn more about this author, Izzie Woods.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Why figure skating should or shouldn't be considered a sport?
We want to hear your view. Write now!