JimFigure skaters spend hours perfecting jumps, spins, and routines.

As they move up in age, level, and competition, skaters need something to give them an edge against the competition.

Understandably, young skating athletes and their trainers have high hopes.

Sports performance training is arguably one of the best ways to maximize potential and take the athlete to the next level. 

Sports performance training is a multifaceted approach that helps an athlete reach their desired goals.

It combines multiple exercises and activities to sharpen the athlete’s physical and mental performance. 

Trainers and athletes use any tools at their disposal, which explains the rise of sports performance training with synthetic ice for figure skaters.

Synthetic ice tiles, rinks, and training products can be the game-changers you’ve been searching for.

Synthetic Ice? Tell Me More!

 

If you’re an avid skater, you may have come across some social media accounts of figure skaters, coaches, or influencers skating in their garages, living rooms, or backyards on what looks like miniature ice rinks.

Those ice rinks are made with synthetic ice, a versatile material that has unlocked new avenues in skating.

Synthetic ice consists of tiles or panels made of high-density polyethylene material designed to resemble actual ice.

These tiles withstand the inside and outside edges of ice skates. So yes, you can easily skate, glide, spin, and jump on them. 

The panels come in different sizes and shapes, connecting like puzzles to cover a flat surface, large or small. 

Get a few to practice in your garage or enough to outfit an entire backyard rink. 

A common and valid concern is your skating experience.

Is it the same as natural ice?

The technology behind synthetic ice, particularly infused synthetic, has sought to close the gap between natural and synthetic ice.

Ice skating on a natural rink has some degree of friction.

While synthetic ice has more friction, an infused rink reduces this significantly.

Some high-quality tiles have a coefficient of friction of less than 10%.

Synthetic ice has quickly become an excellent recreational skating product, training tool, and convenient way to maximize your time on the ice. 

Benefits of Sports Performance Training on Synthetic Ice

Investing in a rink, even one of our starter kits, can significantly improve your performance.

Accessibility is perhaps the biggest challenge for a figure skater, as you need to be near a rink for multiple training days. 

A synthetic ice rink - at home or a local sports complex - closes the gap, allowing for year-round training indoors or outdoors.

With synthetic ice, you can train in a controlled, comfortable environment, providing consistent conditions and results.

Sports performance training can be expensive, as investing in gym memberships, trainers, and performance gear adds up.

A synthetic ice rink can last for years, with a solid core, and double-sided construction that makes it usable on both sides. 

Investing in a skill-specific tool like an ice rink or slideboard increases the long-term cost-effectiveness of what could be an expensive sport. 

With the right rink specific to your needs, there is no limit on the skills, techniques, or physical attributes you want to improve. 

A Mental Game

The psychological toll of figure skating cannot be understated.

Training on synthetic ice builds your mental performance in new ways.

You can build confidence and mental resilience throughout the year, especially when you work on your weaknesses. 

You can also build adaptability by training in outdoor and indoor environments on your synthetic ice rink.

This builds your mental flexibility, which can prove invaluable during competitions or when faced with unfamiliar rinks. 

Essential Figure Skating Skills Enhanced by Synthetic Ice

Synthetic ice can help improve figure skating skills across multiple disciplines. 

For instance, improving your edge work is one of the best ways to become a better figure skater.

With a synthetic ice rink at home or a training facility, you get a consistent, predictable surface to perfect inside and outside edges.

Over time, you’ll feel the slight changes and nuance in your edges, boosting your control. 

If landing your spins is a challenge, you can leverage a synthetic ice kit to help you increase your speed while maintaining your control.

Your coach can guide you through your rotations while polishing any lapses in your technique. 

Having trouble landing your toe loop? Feeling like a klutz with the Lutz? Work out the kinks on a synthetic ice rink.

You get time to focus on the jump while minimizing energy. You can break down your take-off, rotation, and landing. 

Synthetic ice can also help you fine-tune your choreography.

You don’t need to visit the ice rink to practice time, expressions, and precise movements. 

Improving Sports Performance Training with Synthetic Ice

 

Figure skating, after all, is a sport.

It requires physical strength, speed, dexterity, and stamina. 

While you can improve the specific skills necessary for figure skating, a synthetic ice rink can help improve your overall sports performance.

Here are some ways you can integrate your own rink with training:

1. Cross-training: Strap on your skates and hit the ice to perform movements geared to improving your strength and preventing injuries. We’re talking squats, lunges, and core exercises.
2. Invest in a synthetic ice slideboard to include low-impact, side-to-side strength, and conditioning, Slideboards help strengthen your lower body and core. 
3. Video analysis is growing in popularity in the sports performance space. Set up your phone or camera on a tripod and record your routine. Coaches can provide technical feedback, understand strengths and weaknesses, and track progress.
4. Figure skating requires coordination. Set up cones on the rink to practice drills that improve coordination, balance, and timing.

Synthetic ice is ideal for constant and consistent training, accountability, and growth. 

Conclusion

Sports performance training is all about improving the finer details. 

You and your coaches should create a detailed plan that includes weekly physical training, conditioning, and performance improvement.

Much of the work will involve time on the ice, so a synthetic ice rink can be an added tool to increase the frequency and efficiency of figure skating training. 

Ready to get your own synthetic ice rink? Try our starter kit or slideboards, or invest in more durable panels for a larger rink.