Axel guides
Skating guides
Practical figure skating guides on learning skills, planning practice and caring for your blades.
37 guides · 3 topics · Updated
Latest guides
Skills
How Do Adult Beginners Start a Two-Foot Spin?
Understand the foundations of a beginner two-foot spin, common balance problems and how to practise safely with a coach.
Blades and care
Skate Guards vs Soakers: Which Do Figure Skaters Need?
Learn when to use hard skate guards and soft soakers, how to dry your blades and what to avoid when travelling or storing skates.
Training
What Should You Do When Figure Skating Progress Stalls?
Practical ways to reassess a skating plateau, choose useful practice goals and ask for coaching feedback without rushing harder skills.
Skills
How Do You Learn Two-Foot Turns on Ice Skates?
Understand stationary and moving two-foot turns, beginner progressions, common scraping problems and when to seek coaching.
Blade sharpening and care
Fitting, sharpening, rust prevention and everyday care for figure skates.
Blades and care
Skate Guards vs Soakers: Which Do Figure Skaters Need?
Learn when to use hard skate guards and soft soakers, how to dry your blades and what to avoid when travelling or storing skates.
Blades and care
How to Lace Figure Skates Without Numb Feet
Learn where figure-skate laces should be snug, when pressure signals a fit problem, and how to check comfort before skating.
Blades and care
How to Break In New Figure Skates Without Skating Through Pain
A practical guide to settling into new figure-skate boots, recognising fit problems and knowing when to revisit your skate fitter.
Blades and care
Choosing Your First Figure Skates as an Adult Beginner
A practical first-skate fitting checklist covering boot size, support, blades, used skates and advice from a qualified fitter.
Blades and care
How Can You Tell If Figure Skate Blades Are Mounted Incorrectly?
Learn which skating problems may suggest blade alignment trouble, what else to check, and when to ask a figure-skate technician.
Blades and care
How Do You Prevent Rust on Figure-Skate Blades?
Learn why figure-skate blades rust, how to dry and store them, and when marks or damage need a specialist's attention.
Blades and care
What Radius of Hollow Should You Choose for Figure Skates?
Understand figure-skate sharpening hollows, grip versus glide, and how to choose a setting with a specialist.
Blades and care
How Do You Know When Figure Skates Need Sharpening?
Spot the signs of dull figure-skate blades, understand sharpening intervals and know what to ask a figure-skate sharpener.
Skill progression
How beginner skills work, what to learn next and when a skill is ready.
Skills
How Do Adult Beginners Start a Two-Foot Spin?
Understand the foundations of a beginner two-foot spin, common balance problems and how to practise safely with a coach.
Skills
How Do You Learn Two-Foot Turns on Ice Skates?
Understand stationary and moving two-foot turns, beginner progressions, common scraping problems and when to seek coaching.
Skills
How to Learn Backward Crossovers in Figure Skating
Build backward crossovers from safe backward glides, circle pumps and edge control, with practical fixes for common problems.
Skills
What Should You Practise After Forward Swizzles?
A practical next-step guide for adult skaters after forward swizzles, including stopping, glides, balance and backward basics.
Skills
How to Learn Three-Turns in Figure Skating
Understand forward three-turns, their entry and exit edges, beginner prerequisites and common reasons the turn gets stuck.
Skills
How to Hold a One-Foot Glide on Figure Skates
Learn why one-foot glides wobble or curve, how to practise weight transfer safely, and what beginner skating programmes expect.
Skills
Figure Skating Levels Explained: Beginner Skills to First Jumps
How beginner programmes, edges, turns and introductory jumps fit together, and why Axel's stages and tiers are not official skating grades.
Skills
Figure Skating Skills Checklist for Beginners: Where to Begin
Three early skills from Axel's Ice Confidence tier, how to practise them with an instructor and why this checklist differs from official skating levels.
Skills
How to Do Forward Crossovers in Figure Skating
Understand the crossover step, required edge control, both rink directions and common mistakes before practising with a coach.
Skills
How to Fall and Get Up Safely on Ice Skates
Beginner ice-skating fall recovery, what to ask your instructor and when to stop rather than trying to skate through injury.
Skills
How to Snowplow Stop on Ice Skates
A beginner-friendly explanation of the snowplough stop, how to practise it safely and how to recognise common errors.
Skills
How to Start Figure Skating as an Adult
Your first adult figure skating lessons, what to bring to the rink and how to build safe, realistic habits in the first month.
Skills
How Can Adult Beginners Learn to Skate Backwards Confidently?
A gradual approach to backward skating for adults, from safe positioning and wiggles to glides, stops and supported practice.
Skills
How Can You Tell Inside and Outside Edges Apart in Figure Skating?
Learn which side of the blade is an inside or outside edge, decode edge names and practise controlled curves on the ice.
Skills
How Do You Know When a Figure Skating Skill Is Mastered?
Tell the difference between landing a skill once and performing it reliably, with practical checks for skating progress.
Skills
What Figure Skating Skills Should Beginners Learn First?
A sensible order for beginner skating skills, from safe stopping and gliding to edges, crossovers and turns.
Training and session logging
Planning practice, reviewing video and keeping useful session notes.
Training
What Should You Do When Figure Skating Progress Stalls?
Practical ways to reassess a skating plateau, choose useful practice goals and ask for coaching feedback without rushing harder skills.
Training
How Do You Review Figure Skating Practice Videos?
A practical, evidence-aware way to compare skating attempts, notice changes and prepare focused questions for your coach.
Training
Why Do Figure Skating Spins Make You Dizzy?
Understand dizziness after figure-skating spins, how to practise conservatively, and when symptoms need medical attention.
Training
Group or Private Figure Skating Lessons for Adults: Which Should You Choose?
Compare adult group classes and private figure skating lessons, including costs, feedback, scheduling and when to switch.
Training
How to Practise Figure Skating on Crowded Public Ice
Plan safe, useful figure skating practice at busy public sessions without blocking traffic or attempting unsuitable skills.
Training
Returning to Figure Skating After Years Away
A practical return-to-ice plan for former skaters: check old equipment, reassess skills, rebuild sessions and choose a suitable class.
Training
Can You Film Your Figure Skating Practice at a Public Rink?
How to record skating practice respectfully: rink permission, safe camera placement, other skaters' privacy and useful footage.
Training
How Do You Enter Your First Adult Figure Skating Competition?
A practical first adult figure skating competition checklist covering eligibility, event rules, preparation and competition day.
Training
What Off-Ice Training Helps Adult Figure Skating Beginners?
Practical off-ice training for adult skaters with limited rink time: balance, strength, mobility, warm-ups and sensible recovery.
Training
Best Figure Skating Apps for Beginners: Learning vs Tracking
An openly Axel-authored comparison of official skating references, skills tracking and video review apps, checked in October 2026.
Training
How Often Should Adult Beginners Practise Figure Skating?
Plan a realistic skating routine around work, lessons and recovery without relying on an invented weekly-hours target.
Training
What Should You Write in a Figure Skating Practice Log?
A simple skating journal template for session minutes, skill attempts, useful feedback and next-session goals.
Training
How Should You Structure a Figure Skating Practice Session?
Build a practical on-ice practice plan with warm-up, focused skills, review and recovery, without wasting rink time.