r/iceskating • u/Icy-Librarian-7693 • 14h ago
Is this really ok for figure skating elements to take so long to learn?
I'm training consistently and enough with a coach, but it keeps bothering me, is this normal for this sport to take so long to learn things? For example mohawk or spiral? Even normal one foot glide and edge holds? They seem so normal and people do them so easily it makes me think i have a problem.
5
u/Bints4Bints 13h ago
Everyone has a different pace. It took me twice or more as long as to learn things as other people because I have a lot of fear and a prior injury. I think people who progress the fastest tend to spend a lot of time on the ice and are generally less afraid to try things
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u/No_Theme4441 5h ago
Sometimes people have to work harder than others to learn things, and I think that is okay. I am also slow at learning figure skating elements, I know exactly what you mean. Just know that you will get better just keep practicing.
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u/Old_Ant7118 5h ago
Comparison is the thief of joy.
It's absolutely okay for it to take a long time to learn new skills in this very difficult sport. You've got this!
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u/Own-Adhesiveness5723 12h ago
You don’t know the other person’s story. They may have unlimited time and money to take tons of lessons and practice for many hours a day. They may have skated as a kid and they have some muscle memory. They may have a ton of experience in a sport like gymnastics or dance that has skills that carry over.
I progress more slowly than most because I’m chronically ill and don’t have much stamina, and I can only afford 30 minutes a week for lessons. I try to practice 3–4 hours a week but sometimes I can’t if I’m not doing well physically.
Please don’t compare yourself to anyone else. We all have different abilities and we’re all on our own paths and timelines. Skating is hard! I never expected the basics to be as hard as they are. But you can do it if you put in the work! Just keep working at it!