Jobs for Ice Skating with a late start?

So, If I start when I'm 15 in 2 months (seasonal ice. i hate where i live.) Is there any careers i could possibly pursue with Ice Skating? Like possibly an ice show on cruise or anything performing-wise? I'm one of those people that KNOW I'm not going to do Olympics because of my late start, but I don't know what to do with my future and I'm in love with ice skating so, why not just weigh my options? Thank you in advance!

First: Be aware that competitive skating is a good way to spend a lot of money and not likely earn it back.

But you're realistic enough to know that you won't be a serious competitor.

If you can spend enough years training to get to be a pretty-good skater, there could be professional options available to you. But a lot will depend on how good a skater you become, what kinds of non-skating skills you can bring to your career, and where you will live (what kinds of options are available in your location).

As a performer, you'd be competing for jobs against skaters who started much earlier and therefore probably look more at ease on the ice. It's too soon to rule that out as a possibility, but be aware you'll have to train hard for years to get good enough for those kinds of jobs, and there aren't a whole lot of them.

With more mid-level skills and interest in teaching and/or business and management, you might be able to coach group lessons or beginner level private lessons and maybe manage a group lesson program at a rink. Or with more business and less actual skating expertise, manage a rink.

With other kinds of expertise, you could start a business making costumes or cutting music for skaters of all levels, etc.


If you're just looking for ways to stay involved in skating as an adult, while also earning a living through other means, you can continue competing for as long as you like at whatever skill level you are able to reach. You mentioned ISI in another post -- they have lots of competitive opportunities geared toward more recreational skaters. US Figure Skating has a fairly well developed adult competitive program for a wide range of skill levels; other countries also have adult competitive opportunities, and the ISU does sponsor an international adult competition once year in Europe and more recently also one in North America.

Depending which country you're in, you may be able to become a volunteer skating official of some sort. Many federations have minimum requirements of skating achievement to become a judge or technical specialist at all; others will allow you to train to serve in those capacities, at least at lower levels. Official positions such as announcer or music coordinator or accountant don't require actual skating ability at all. But remember these are all volunteer positions.

Judging or coaching would be options depending on what level you can get to, although in most cases, these are not careers. This is dependent on where you live. (From a coaching perspective, living in the middle of nowhere and the only coach for miles can be a good thing.)

As gkelly said, shows might be a possibility, but they are probably a long shot as many of the touring companies and ice shows require a competitive background.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you haven't really skated before. If that's the case, wait until you get on the ice and have some lessons to properly assess where the sport can take you. Then you'll have a better idea of your abilities and what future opportunities the sport can give you.

I think the direction you'd want to head is more along the lines of rink management, show support, etc. However, if you're switching from another sport and already have a lot of strength and speed and coordination then you might have a better chance of doing something truly skating-ish like coaching or joining a show cast. Honestly though I have no idea, I'm just a skate mom.

What is your skill level? That will help tell you what your "possibilities" are.

This is coming from a pro.

From your posts, it sounds like you've never skated and from that perspective the first step is to actually get on the ice and find out whether or not you like/can do it!

Supposing you can do it and you love it, you then really need to consider whether you'd still feel that way if it became a job and something that you had to do, day in, day out, with all the drudgery and boredom almost every job entails. Coaching isn't all shouting, "Bring your arms in! YES! Brilliant!" as your skater does a beautiful triple loop. Most of it is standing on a freezing surface, watching people repeat the same mistakes over and over as they do their best to learn to just skate forwards and backwards properly. The most-used phrase is, "Again but this time..." It's also a very difficult way of earning a living, unless you've a successful competitive background - and even with one of those, I know champions who coach part time and have "real jobs" as it's impossible to make a living from just coaching.

And then there's show skating. Don't get me started. In my experience (which admittedly was 25 years ago) it's the fastest way I know to a serious eating disorder, body dysmorphia and low self-esteem. I hope things are different now!

There are jobs in ice rink management, but they come with the fun and games of hiding from irate members of the public when you make a decision about "their" rink and skating session that they feel is wrong.

I'm one of those strange people who absolutely adored coaching skating at the lower levels. Loved it. Really, really got my kicks from helping people to start off in the sport and progress to where they could take what I taught them about basic technique and use it to fly, ie spin, jump, dance. I especially loved teaching adults. (Still do!) But after a serious accident wrote off my career at the age of 31, I had surgery, rehab, relearned to walk and nearly 20 years off the ice. Returning to the ice taught me something important and that is that it is perfectly acceptable to NOT make the thing that brings you joy, ie skating, into the thing that has to earn you money. These days, I get to skate for the sheer enjoyment of skating and the social interaction with other adults skaters that brings. And it's wonderful.

Start skating. Don't rush to make any decisions other than to give it your best shot and do it to the best of your ability, whatever that is. And it's okay if you decide you actually prefer watching it.

dreamingangel said:

So, If I start when I'm 15 in 2 months (seasonal ice. i hate where i live.) Is there any careers i could possibly pursue with Ice Skating? Like possibly an ice show on cruise or anything performing-wise? I'm one of those people that KNOW I'm not going to do Olympics because of my late start, but I don't know what to do with my future and I'm in love with ice skating so, why not just weigh my options? Thank you in advance!

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It’s a realistic goal for you to make it to do ice shows like Disney on Ice, for example. I’ve been with Disney on Ice for a while and there are skaters of all different levels, you not necessarily need to have crazy competitive history, triple jumps and etc. Besides skating skills on DOI they really looking for your character and personality to be able to portray the roles.

That’s why even if you start at 15 there is a chance to get to do ice shows. But obviously you’ll have to skate a lot, work on basics and skating skills with a professional, learn spins and double jumps.