#either way I might add a little something about my ocs that are figure skaters in the reblogs but I didn't think it'd fit the post

[raindrops-on-concrete]

I've been a hobby figure skater for almost 15 years now and it always bothered me that the only figure skating representation we have in media is one of three types:

1. the sports anime type, like Yuri! On Ice in which a professional skater has a certain goal in mind and they are training to achieve that goal. This also comes in the form of skater had a bad injury and is now working towards getting back to their level or finding their love for skating again or smth (I think Spinning Out had a plot similar to this, but I haven't see much of it, so I might be wrong)

2. the one showing the bad sides of figure skating like the movie I, Tonya or Tillie Waldens Spinning. These are about bad experiences with coaches, high expectations, toxic competitiveness etc. (Although both of the examples I named are biographical, so I can't blame them for being the way they are, and I also genuinely love both of them)

3. the figure skater/hockey player romance?? idk this one, I've never read it, but I think there's a popular book about it and it's literally the only thing wattpad has to offer about figure skating (yes, I looked on wattpad, I was desperate to find something, okay?) either way, I don't care much for it bc I'm not a big hockey fan

so, anyway, none of these three types is how I experience figure skating. to me, it was always about learning new things and about this feeling of spinning faster, jumping higher and moving faster than you ever could on solid ground. and it was always a type of performing art to me. figure skating is a kind of tool for me to express myself and to interpret a song. and I also love it so so much and always have a lot of fun being on the ice.

professional figure skating is none of these things. professional figure skating is not a performing art, it's mainly about having the most rotations in a jump. it's only when professional skaters retire from competitions and start doing shows that they start performing. so while media that focuses on that aspect of figure skating is very fun and I enjoy it, it's not an experience I relate to.

as I've also said, figure skating is my hobby and there's always been a lot of joy in it and I've never had any bad experiences with coaches, so any media that centers around the darker sides of figure skating, while very enjoyable, is something I can't relate to either. I do believe it's important to portray that side tho since exploitation is an issue in professional skating and in clubs that are more focused on training kids that wanna become professional skaters, the environment can be quite toxic and competitive.

I think the only figure skating I've seen in media that I could see myself in was Barbie And The Magic Of Pegasus. in this one, figure skating isn't the main focus, it's just something Annika, the protagonist, likes to do for fun. also her level of skating is comparable to mine. (I think she does an axel at some point in the movie).

when your average YA protagonist needs a hobby, it's usually something like painting or music (but specifically only things like guitar, piano or the violin) or they play football or basketball or they do ballet if you're feeling fancy. just casually having a character be a figure skater would be so fun! they don't have to worry about triple jumps and going to nationals. you can just have them complaining about how they still can't do more than three rotations on a sit spin or that they landed an axel at the end of last season but haven't been able to do another one since then. or you could write about two characters connecting over their shared love for figure skating, whether it be romantic or platonic. so many fun possibilities!!