Figure skating when done right looks effortless at the Winter Olympics — but those flawless performances take hours of extreme physical labor on and off the ice and thousands of dollars spent on skates, coaching and outfits.
Training with the intention of competing can cost skaters and their families between $10,000 to $20,000, if not more. The most expensive part of training: Coaching. Serious skaters need around five hours a week of coaching, at $100 to $160 an hour, as well as separate coaching from a choreographer and off-ice trainers for ballet or stretching.
Those non-skating sessions or classes can cost just as much as a main coach, said Rosie Tovi, a former professional figure skater for the U.S.A. International Figure Skating Team. “You watch the Olympics and it looks so lyrical and beautiful, but people don’t realize the athleticism involved,” she said. “You have to look like a ballerina doing it and that takes time. The amount of time is really intense.”
Also see:Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon’s ‘Hunger Games’ — he swiped free aples because he was too poor to buy food
Here’s how it adds up: Skates alone can cost up to $2,000 per pair. Blades need to be sharpened every few weeks, which costs $30 to $40 at a time. Sturdy boots are important because they protect skaters’ ankles, especially during countless jumps and twists, which means skaters can expect to replace their skates once a year, according to a breakdown of skating costs by rank of interest and commitment.
Add to that travel costs and fees for as many as six competitions a year either at the regional, sectional or national level. Traveling can cost total thousands of dollars a year for the skater, parents and coaches.
Competition outfits can cost hundreds dollars. The most expensive are often adorned with Swarovski crystals. Skaters also need someone to edit music for the song they’ll use during their actual performance, unless they do it themselves. Ice time for practices can cost about $25 an hour in New York, Tovi said, and skaters tend to spend at least four hours a day on the ice practicing.
Also see: When the Olympic Games don’t pay the bills for Team USA athletes
Do you get nervous watching figure skaters like Adam Rippon and Mirai Nagasu at the Winter Olympics? Try being the one on the ice. There’s one more cost figure skating viewers may not consider: Therapy. And that can cost up to $300 an hour.
“The pressure of holding it together is really a lot,” Tovi said. Professional figure skaters, such as two-time National Champion Gracie Gold, are being more honest about the mental hurdles it takes to compete. In November, Gold said she was taking time off from the ice. More coaches suggest skaters-in-training meet with therapists to prepare them for competition and nonstop practice.
Why the pressure? Skaters’ schedules are never-ending, and they’re expected to perform well, Tovi said. Young athletes looking to make it to make it to championships one day are training before and after school, and on weekends. Young skaters can be found on the ice as early as 5 a.m. for a couple of hours, and then back for coaching after the last school bell rings.
“It looks easier than it is,” Tovi said.
FAQs
In fact, ballet has been regarded as an essential basis for artistic sports such as figure skating, gymnastics and synchronised swimming. As well as specialised training in each discipline, the athletes are also expected to engage in ballet lessons and other types of dances in order to excel at their chosen field.
How much money do figure skaters make a year? ›
The estimate average salary for U.S. Figure Skating employees is around $76,546 per year, or the hourly rate of U.S. Figure Skating rate is $37. The highest earners in the top 75th percentile are paid over $87,155.
Who was the ballet dancer turned figure skater? ›
Katherine Healy (born January 26, 1969) is an American former principal ballerina and actress who also had a professional performing career in figure skating.
Does figure skating burn fat? ›
Weight Management
According to Harvard Medical School, ice skating helps to burn 200 calories per hour, making it a great way to burn fat and maintain a healthy weight. And as mentioned earlier, ice skating promotes balance and stronger core muscles, which will also help in reducing your waistline.
Can you make a living off figure skating? ›
Olympic figure skaters have the potential to earn significant income through a combination of competition earnings, endorsem*nts, professional shows, coaching, media appearances, and financial support from governing bodies.
What is more difficult ballet or figure skating? ›
Ballet requires far more ankle strength than skating because of pointe work. Fast reflex ability may be about the same, though distributed in different muscles, when you think about fast footwork or spins in ballet vs the triple/quad rotation jumps in figure skating.
Why isn't ballet in the Olympics? ›
While there are some big name ballet competitions out there, the vast majority of people in the ballet world do not desire to classify their kinetic artform as a sport. If ballet lacks a significant movement within their dance to lobby for Olympic recognition, then it has no chance of being adopted into the Olympics.
Who is the richest female ice skater? ›
TOP 10 Richest Figure Skaters
| 1 | Tara Lipinski Net Worth: $25M |
|---|
| 2 | Michelle Kwan Net Worth: $12M |
| 3 | Evgeni Plushenko Net Worth: $10M |
| 4 | Mao Asada Net Worth: $10M |
| 5 | Nancy Kerrigan Net Worth: $10M |
5 more rowsAs of Apr 11, 2024, the average annual pay for the Disney On Ice jobs category in the United States is $58,334 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $28.05 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,121/week or $4,861/month.
How much do Disney on ice skaters get? ›
New Skaters with Disney On Ice can expect their starting salary to be around $550 a week. That number goes up every year you work for the company and can vary depending if you go in for understudies or character work. Understudies are entitled to a bonus to their pay stub every time they go in for a show.
Gillooly allegedly pulled a gun on Tonya during a fight.
However, Harding told ABC that when she did not plead for him not to shoot, he then turned the gun on her. "He pointed the gun at me, and I turned around, and I started walkin' off, and the gun went off," she told Robach. "Nobody believed me ever for any abuse.
Who was the figure skater that broke her leg? ›
Nancy Kerrigan attack: A look back at the infamous figure skating incident 30 years later. One of the most notorious sports moments took place 30 years ago Saturday. Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was struck in the knee with a baton as she prepared to compete in the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
Who attacked Nancy K? ›
On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan, an American figure skater, was struck on the lower right thigh with a telescopic baton by assailant Shane Stant as she walked down a corridor in Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Is ice skating one of the most expensive sports? ›
It's true in nearly every sport. Coaching fees, travel expenses, and physical therapy and athletic conditioning to keep the body operating at elite levels add up. But figure skating is among the priciest, with costs running more than $35,000 a year and as much as $50,000 annually by some estimates.
Is figure skating a big sport? ›
Figure skating is one of the most popular winter Olympic sports. The sport was first introduced in the 1908 Summer Olympic Games and moved to become part of the Winter Games in 1924.
How many hours a day do figure skaters train? ›
In competitions, skaters must perform a certain set of movements. They need to perfect all the required moves for their routines. Skaters train for three to six hours every day.
How much do Disney on ice skaters get paid? ›
$70K
| Pay Type | Range | Median |
|---|
| Base Pay | $52K - $98K | $70K/yr |
Feb 10, 2024
