Do you have to start figure skating really young to be good?

I'm 13 years old and I really want to be in figure skating. Do I even have a chance of being good? Thanks! :)|||Let's get this straight first; you're never going to the olympics, or nationals, or probably even provincials or sectionals. But that doesn't mean that you can't be the best that you can be. You will be as good as you let yourself. Don't expect to be brilliant after a week or two of lessons. It takes time and effort, and a lot of practice. Before you think about competing or being 'great', just focus on lessons. Get the basics down. Then work your way up the levels, and just persevere as long as you have a love for the sport. You will be the best that you can be :)|||There's no age limit on "being good." If you're athletic and musically gifted, you could go very far in figure skating. Johnny Weir switched from equestrian to figure skating at 12 and he's an Olympic skater. Many older skaters fall in love with figure skating and go on to complete all the tests, compete around the world, and become show-stoppers when they skate!





There are countless skaters who started in their twenties, thirties, etc. and bring the house down at the Adult qualifying competitions every year in the US. The ISI competitions are filled with older skaters who feel welcome and wanted in their program.





The only reason to not take up skating is if you're just in it for the glory. That's not a good reason to do any sport - you should skate for the love of this very unique and challenging sport.





You need to stop asking other people what you should do and ask yourself if you're willing to do the work required. It's not an easy sport to master and does quickly take over your life.|||That depends on how you define "good". Olympic good? Too late, not a chance.



Doubles good? Absolutely not too late.



It all depends on how much work you're prepared to put into it. I'm 23 and been skating for a year, and I'm working on my loop jump. Some people are further along at this mark, some aren't quite this far. It depends on the person and how hard you're prepared to work.



EDIT: And quit thumbs-downing the realistic answers, whoever is doing it.|||Olympics good = nope!



Good enough to compete, look smooth and polished on the ice, learn double jumps, and maybe even some triple jumps = of course!



It all depends on how much time and practice you put into it!

To give you an idea, I started skating June of last year (so about a year and 4 months ago) and I am now landing my axel jump (1 and a half revolution jump in the air) and starting my double toe!|||Nah!





nothings impossible if your determined and work really hard!! most young skaters skate 4-8 hours in the lower level (b4 they enter USFSA/ getting their first axel) and some skate like 20+ hours a week when they go to juvenile (landing double doubles except double axel)





so you'll might want to skate more often in the lower levels to "catchup".


you usually learn elements very quickly in the lower levels (below ISI fs 1 or basic 4)





yes, i'm 100% sure that you have a chance of being good:)


i know someone in the rink, she started when she was 14, 9 months later, she was in ISI fs 3, doing single jumps and sit spins. i haven't been in contact with her but i believe that she is working on her axel and camel and back spin (ISI fs 5)





she takes lessons twice a week (they cost about $200 for 5 half an hour private lessons. it's half the price for group lessons where i live) and skates almost everyday for 2-3 hours. so that means she practices for about 12-18 hrs a week





you sound like your very determined (which is an awesome start!!:)


so i'm sure that you will be good if you put your mind and heart to it.





oh, please get a pair of skates. it's much easier to learn to do elements with a shap blade (the skates rented from the rink are not sharp and do not provide support for jumps and have bad edges which is very essentail for jumps, spins and footwork)


Reidell and jacksons are amazing brands, i recommend you reidel 133 TS or reidell 255 TS ,or jackson artistic ladies/classique ladies (if you have wider feet). please get it fitted properly at a pro-shop and sharpen them every 30-40 hrs you skate





other stuff:


get soakers, guards, and this thing called sno-seal:)|||Olympic or national good? Definitely not. Good enough to land doubles and maybe even triples? Maybe. All you have to do is work really hard and have private lessons and stuff and good skates. I started two years ago and now I'm on the Juvenile level and almost landing triples, so if you start now you might be good enough to land doubles and maybe even triples.|||Of course you have a chance! I know somebody who started skating at 40 and they are landing doubles! I started at 12 (I'm now 15) and I'm Juvenile level. You should definitely start skating if you want to. Good luck!|||of course you do! as long as you are determined and focus and put in the effort you will be the best figure skater you choose to be