A few figure skating questions...?

Yes, you taught yourself all of that, but unfortunately, you've most likely taught yourself wrong. Skaters teaching themselves do it the way that it feels right, and usually that way is the wrong way. When a coach teaches you, they make you do it the way that feels wrong and unnatural positioning, because it's the right way.

Ask your coach if you're a good enough skater to be moved up a few levels. You'll have to show her that you can do all the basics in the levels below what you want to be moved to. Also show her your jumps/spins, she'll probably immediately start telling you about forty things you did wrong.

I seriously doubt you've taught yourself edges and crossovers, and you have to have really good, deep edges before moving on to jumps and spins. I'm thinking you're on the wrong edge, or a straight edge, when you do jumps, and your spins travel badly because you weren't taught a proper scratch spin. Your coach will know what level you should be at. Just because you can almost do a loop doesn't mean you're in US Figure Skating Freeskate 4. You need to pass 3 first, which has advanced three turns (waltz eights), crossovers in a figure8 pattern, and advanced swing rolls and backward three turns. It takes a long time and practice to get smooth, advanced, powerful three turns, and be able to do them in a waltz eight pattern.

(USFS levels. I don't know what your rink goes by.)

Axel? No, I don't think so. First, you have to re-learn your jumps, which will be harder because you might have taught yourself the wrong way. Never ever try an axel on your own, you could easily break your wrist, spine, or tailbone and be sidelined from skating for months- or forever.

I know basics are boring, but you have to stick with them. Yes, 3 turns are easy for you. But can you do one moving at high speed, and not leave a skid or toepick trail? And then can you immediately do a jump after three-turning (such as a toe loop, which is entered from a right inside turn?) I've moved up to jumps such as toe loops and when I public skate I always spend a lot of time working on right inside three-turns because I couldn't enter one at high speed during the lesson. Can you hold the backward edge after three-turning? I don't mean for two seconds. I mean, you three turn, then extend your free leg waay behind you, and hold it until you dwindle to a stop. That's a real three turn. Basic skills are the foundation of jumps and spins, and you can not just skip them.

"..so far they're only teaching me the basics.." Well, did you really think you'd start doing flying spins and axels right away without learning what edges are, how to use edges, and how to use three turns into a jump entrance? If you go into a competition and do a few single jumps and a camel spin, and they're great, but you have really really bad edges and turns and connecting moves, you'll be in last place. That's what basics are for- teaching you the foundation of skating.

My point here is that when something in skating is easy, work on it harder. Do it with more speed, and hold the edge longer, and if a spin is easy, do it faster and get more revolutions. If a jump is easy, make it higher and longer. Yup, a left outside three turn is easy for me. So I work on extending my legs, doing it with more speed, and looking at my tracks after doing one to see if I left any forbidden toepick trails. I want to impress my instructor with a nice smooth extended three turn, not do an ordinary three turn.

And, yes, your height and weight is fine. You should gain a little bit of weight as you start working harder in skating, but it's muscle weight because muscle weighs more than flesh or fat. Work on flexibility and leg strength.

I think you'll be a really really good skater (and I'm being honest when I say that), since you can jump already. Being able to jump, whether or not it's the right way to jump, is good after three months of skating. But you have got to stick with the basics for now, the harder you work on them the quicker you'll advance to jumps and spins. Good luck! :)

You are definately not too tall or heavy for skating :)

I'm 15, 5"8 and weigh 106 lbs.

(Don't listen to the people who say you are too old to start skating, its nonsense.)

I started when i was 13, and I turn 16 in June and I've landed, Waltz, Cherry, Salchow, Loop, Flip, Lutz and working on Axel and doubles. That took me 3 years. My spins are awful.

3 months to get to the level you are at now is AMAZING!!

The way you are going, you should be able to land, or at leats be attempting an axel by the end of the year.

Practise Waltz-Loops (once you have that down) and Waltz-twizzles and waltz-backspin.

This will help you a lot with your axel even if you're not up to jumping it yet.

Also practice off ice as well as that is very helpful.

I like your determination, and I say go for it! I would love to be as good as you when i was 13 (I was learning backwards! :P ) You obvious have talent, so as long as you're dedicated I don't see why you couldn't get to competitions.

Keep up the good skating :D

You can never be too old, too tall or too heavy to skate!

I think you are making great progress. I've been skating longer than you, and I'm still working on my single salchow.

I think an Axel is a good next goal to work towards. Just remember that it can take a while to learn (I know loads of people who have taken over a year to land it). Just keep working on it with your coach and you will get it eventually.

Actually you have an ideal build for a skater generally you want to be slightly shorter but will it impair your jumps? No it won't in the slightest. You are making serious progress for having just starting 3 months ago. And your weight? not too heavy at all. Axel by the end of the year? I wouldn't go that far i didn't start doing my axel until my third year of skating, and I haven't landed it yet i generally takes at least a year to land it.

Sounds you are doing fine. Stick with your lessons and master those basics. If your haven't already,consider getting a private coach. Also, practice, practice, practice! Start working on the backspin; that will help with your loop. Once you have a solid loop, you can start warm-ups for the Axel. Waltz jump-loop combinations and loop jumps landing in a backspin are things that you can practice.

Competing is a lot of fun and something you can do for the rest of your life. Go for it!

1. A spinner is a metal or plastic device that lets people practice their spins off ice. You shouldn't get on because they're fairly expensive and it will probably either mess up your skating, not help, or you won't end up using it. 2. Well jump roping is a very good exercise to warm up before you skate. Otherwise, to help with your skating there's a LOT you can do. You might want to take part in any aerobic activity to improve fitness and stamina, and most rinks have off-ice classes you can take, for example mine has "power hour"-improves strength, stamina, form, flexibility, etc, skating ballet- ballet geared towards skaters improves posture, form, and isolated muscle strength, not to mention flexibility! we also have jumping classes- plyometrics and off ice jumps help improve strength and form to improve height and rotation while jumping. 3. You can buy polyester boot covers that fit over the boot of your skate to protect it from scratches and discoloration. I used to use them, but they get kind of annoying. It's all your opinion, if you like them or not. 4. There are PLENTY of websites that sell figure skating stuff, you can just search "figure skating" or "figure skating supplies" or "figure skating dresses" or whatever you need and it might come up. I think these places mail them to you, probably by ups.

Personally i think thirteen is a little to old to start figure skating.

But good on you its better then starting when your even older.

I think your goals are pretty realistic if you practice really hard.

And since you do have a passion for it try skate more then once or twice a week.

Maybe three or four times.

I also recommend lots of stretching especially if you want to figure skate.

I do think you are a little tall but ohwell, just find a taller partner XD