What you wear on the ice is important for comfort, body temperature, and athletic movement–biofeedback. Practice wear is a good investment because it can often double for casual wear. There are three distinct types of apparel for use on the ice:
Practice Wear
It is just as important to feel good and look good during practice as it is during testing and competition. There is an entire industry that makes practice wear for both men and women that have an athletic look and is made from fabric that will stretch along with your body. Many of these fabrics have ‘breathing,’ or ‘wicking’ qualities that helps control body temperature—making your practices more comfortable.
• Dress for practice in layers. The harder you practice, the more your body temperature rises and you can easily remove a layer for comfort. At the end of your practice, during your cool down period, you can conveniently add back layers for warmth.
• Stiff fabrics, such as jeans, restrict your movement and send a message through your skin to your muscles to stiffen up. Stretch fabrics function as an extension of you skin and through biofeedback tells your muscles to remain loose and flexible improving your body movement.
• It is totally appropriate and often times more comfortable for adult women to practice in stretch pants, and especially when learning new elements. Having said that it is also uplifting to practice in a body suit, leotard, or stretch top with a flowing dance skirt, too.
• Men’s practice wear should also be flexible and worn in layers. Underneath looser stretch practice pants, a layer of tight fitting spandex biker shorts or even full length running tights is recommended for support and biofeedback, too.
• For all woman a really good sports bra is an integral part of your performance on the ice. After years of searching for a sports bra that provided the best support for figure skating, Title Nine, provided the best solution with a “Barbell Rating System” and a “Bra Fit calulator.”
• Gloves are optional. Obviously, they keep the hands warm and help take the sting out of a fall.
• Socks – No Socks! At least no thick and heavy socks. For woman, the best thing to wear on your feet is either opaque tights, or very thin knee-high socks. For men, thin men’s hose socks are the best. Contrary to popular thought, even for the beginning or recreational skater, it is important to be able to feel the interior of your boot with your feet for additional control. Thick socks will block this sensations and they won’t keep your feet any warmer than thin hose.
Safety
Wear
• Wrist guards are highly recommend for the
beginning skater because in the case of most falls, your
hands and wrist are going to be the first thing to
encounter the ice. These are optional and will not at all
interfere with your learning process, or enjoyment. Wrist
guards may be purchased at any major sporting good store
near you.
• Helmets are optional. Never use a helmet that has already
suffered a crash. I recommend Ribcap for stylish and
comfortable head protective wear.
• Knee Pads will provide an extra level of protection,
especially if you have any prior conditions with your
knees.
• Additional padding most often seen worn by skaters
practicing repetitive higher-level jumps, are also
available for adults. While a little cumbersome to wear,
they provide a lot of cushion when falling.
Test
Wear
• When testing Figures or Moves in the Field, it is
recommended that Adults wear attire that does not distract
from your test. Fitted enough to show your lines, but loose
enough for comfort, testing Figures or Moves In the Field
is best in a solid dark color to show off your line and are
usually less embellished. Recently, women have been allowed
to test in pants. Please check with your coach and judges
for their preference. However, if you are testing Moves in
the Field on the same day, or back to back, with a
Freestyle test, it is perfectly acceptable to wear a
freestyle dress for your Figures and Moves in the Field
test, too.
• Up until recently, wearing gloves were not permitted
during testing or competing. However, that has changed.
Please check with your coach and judges with regard to
their preference.
• Note: When you are testing, there is a protocol for
approaching the Judges before and possibly after you test
(if asked to do a re-skate.) Please consult with your coach
about how to approach the Judges. Before testing make sure
that you remove any visible scuff marks from your boots; it
is a sign of respect to the Judges to test in clean boots.
Please stop by your rink's skate shop and ask about boot
polish.
Competition
Wear
• This is the time to knock your self out with ‘bling!’
Have fun, re-live your childhood, and go for broke! There
is absolutely no limit in the number of rhinestones that
you wear so have a blast ‘be-jewelling!”
• For beginning skaters who are anxious to enter the world
of Adult Competitions, we recommend that you first visit a
few competitions to see what the other adults are wearing.
There are many companies that sell Adult Figure Skating
apparel. There is a wide range of great competition
dresses: from a simple off the rack dress (very
inexpensive) to custom made outfits (ranging anywhere from
$300 - $2500.) Ask around at your and you will be sure to
find a seamstress who comes highly recommended. This is a
good question for the skating moms and dads, and while you
are chatting with them you can invite them out on the ice,
too!
