I honestly don't understand the toxicity towards beginners, especially when most of it comes from people who don't even skate. How do they expect you to improve if they wanna be assholes about it? I'm glad you decided to persevere regardless. It clearly paid off when you got 1st place, and I feel it's only going to get better with how often you'll be competing. It shows a clear investment in this sport, and the dedication is so inspiring 💜
I see this in ballet as well! Its really mind boggling, not so much that people can come to these judgments, that's just their own insecurities and fears talking, nothing new, but the fact that people feel so confident to share things they'd never have the gall to say in person, and if they did say something like that in person, Sofia has two blades on her feet so they'd be quite silly to tempt her 😂
Because people like them are either the ones who are never ever tried anything which requires practicing, patience, and willpower, and determination, improving themselves day by day month by month
It also comes from people who had the privilege to start these activities at a young enough age that by the time they’re an adult they can do these skills. You’re not better than anyone because your parents had the idea, funds and then commitment to take you to these extra curricular activities.
Hey Sofia! Just some advice for when you’re becoming a higher skater (I believe you will since you have so much dedication!), it’s best to wear tight fitted sweaters (though they may not provide much warmth!). If you’re looking for something warm, try to wear something WITHOUT a hood! A hood can throw you off balance while rotating! (And it sucks :( sometimes loose sweaters can too. (The sides) That’s all! (I haven’t watched till the end yet while writing this btw, but hope you land your flip soon!!)
i love watching you! i wish i could start figure skating too but since i’m battling anorexia, my doctor won’t let me do any sports anytime soon. i hope i’ll be healthy one day and be able to start. for now i’m watching you and i love experiencing your firsts with you! you seem so sweet and i always root for you! keep going girly, you’re such an inspiration 🩷
You’re very brave for doing this. Watching you though it looks like maybe you lack some confidence in your skills. Girl, you got this! Look at you getting 1st place! Throw your body in the air don’t be afraid of the ice. Don’t slow down, you lose your momentum and it makes you look less graceful like you are hesitating. You are putting in all this work do not second guess yourself because falling gracefully is better than holding yourself back. ❤
i started figure october last year and it's so inspiring to see your progress! i'm really looking forward to more uploads and good luck with your competitions! :D
I figure skate too and you are so right about it taking dedication. This video shows just how much you improved over the years and how dedicated you are. Good job Sofia!
I needed some motivation for ballet today and I was so delighted to see you had posted, I found your 2 year progress video months ago and it honestly helped me so much to feel inspired to dedicate myself to my growth in my hobbies/disciplines and seeing this installment in your journey is so so much fun and uplifting, I'm so proud of you and inspired by you for your persistence and for your vulnerability in sharing your journey ❤⛸️❄
Your progression. is so inspiring to me because right now some of my things like my scratch spin are so bad but seeing your progress lets me know that I will improve over time. My goal for this year is get all my single jumps minus my axel
Your journey has helped me with my progress!! You are so resistant and you appreciate your skills - something I have been struggling with since I had switched to a higher level group lessons - I keep comparing myself with others... Thanks to you I understand that everyone has their own speed of progress and I am more patient with my skating. Thank you for showing your struggles, it is very inspiring :)
When I first started skating, I could not even move. But I have been now skating for around 6 months and I'm going into basic 4 now! You are such an inspiration to me
Hi I was wondering how old are you I’m 11 turning 12 going to basic 2 do u think I am too old (i stopped skating for 3-4 months because of a family problem)
@@Henryeditsandmore I’m not really comfortable sharing my age but no you are not to old at all to be at that level or skating! I had to stop skating for a few months now because I sprained my ankle doing forward crossovers 🙄 but no you are perfectly fine where you are rn! Anyone at any age can skate you can never be to old to skate!
tysm!! that’s the great thing abt the excel national festival, at the beginning levels anyone can go & have the opportunity to compete at a national event!!
I almost cried watching this video. This is so inspirational; not just on skating but on how well you can do if you push yourself! Thank you! You’ve got a fan in me!
That is amazing! I've been back in figure skating after a 4 year hiatus for 4 months now, and I'm progressing a lot faster than expected through both the USFS and ISI tracks. Watching your videos last year motivated me to start looking into getting back in figure skating, so thank you! I hope I can make it to Nationals someday myself.
I started figure skating half way through the season in January-April 2022. I then skated half of the 22-23 season dues to medical problems. I am now on my first full season and I have all of my jumps and spins such as scratch, sit, camel, pancake and broken leg. I am incredibly happy with my progress because I’ve only been skating for 2 years. My favorite jump is my axel and my favorite spin is my combo of illusion/pancake/backspin. This is my first season of competitive skating and I have enjoyed it so much.
i loved watching the competition part :) It felt like for the first time you did not just focus on getting the jumps and spins right, but also enjoyed yourself.
Girl you are one of my biggest inspiration! I also just started ice skating late but I found so much joy in it! Your progress gives me so much encouragement in my own skating journey 🎉 I hope you make more skating vlogs
btw something that helped me have really strong legs and knees (and provided much needed confidence when edge nerves hit), was using grounded meditation with balancing exercises. Always being able to be calm and confident in jumps, and then to have the power behind my legs ready to go, it really helped me feel strong and fearless.
You're so amazing and a huge inspiration as someone who loves figure skating and wants to pursue it, tho there are no ice rinks in the place where i live...congratulations on making it to the nationals and i wish you all the best for the future! Its never too late to start figure skating, and even make it this far, just like you've said! thank you so much for everything, Sofia!! :)
I absolutely love this video and I love seeing your progress!! You give me so much hope for myself and I really would love to see your competition content!!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵
knowing that it takes time to actually move on to intermediate makes me feel so much better, I always thought that i had to much weight so i was progressing slowly (im loosing weight now pushing myself in exercising)but knowing it actually takes years to move on to a higher level makes me so self confident that it will take time and that it doesnt just happen in 6months it taakes time (also differs from person to person) love ur videos, helps motivate me to go on the ice ❄ ❄
I remember I watched your 2 year progress video in January 2024 being so excited to start skating. I just got my salchow and wind up to 1 foot spin yesterday! Love your vids
i started when i was around 7 years old but only got to a basic level before stopping. Now I've been skating for around two years and am nearly an adult and have progressed a lot. I have felt discouraged many times but watching channels like yours have helped keep me on the ice, as well as an amazing coach. It's so funny how similar my experience was to yours lol, i also bought boots that were way too advanced for my level, i got jackson debut despite my skate tech saying that they were for national level XD. I'm really hoping that once i graduate high school I can go to a uni that is close to a rink so i can practice more in my free time, and eventually i hope to reach your level. It's also nice to see even older skaters at the rink, some are at a lower level than me but it's so nice to see their persistence and courage, it's really something to look up to.
Hello Sofia, as you are doing perfoming arts, that is include lots of people around you when you are at a competition or any particular event cause as you improve you attract more and more people from time to time, i think it is crucial the more you are get used to the skating moves choreography etc.,the more you practice in a way imagining you are in the situation already in front of the audience, so in short the more professional you become the more you must strenghten your state of mind not just your skating skills. I have looked at your practice sessions and when you performed in front of audience, it felt like you don't dare expressing yourself completely yet when you perform compare to when you just practice cause in that case your moves seems elegant and completely free and the rotations seems faster too, i think now you are on the level that you could focus to those are elements too which i mentioned 😇❤️ Be more brave when you perform, and never give up❤️(that advice of mine "be more breave" should be used on me too because of my singing videos😅🤦😂🤷)
i've been watching your videos for a long time and its so amazing to see your progress! tip: you should learn your pancake spin to help with your sit spin! :)
I know that there are a lot of people out there who think that skating is easy, and so I am going to say my reasoning for why it ISNT. #1- You do realize it has taken her YEARS to get to this level, right? This is just the beginning of where Olympians start. #2- You may think that ice skating is just like sliding across the wooden floor on your house with socks, but in reality you are getting way too fast and the ice is super slippery. Plus, you are on 1/8 of an inch. #3- HAVE YOU SEEN OLYMPIC SKATERS #4- It takes a lot of confidence. When i first started, I couldnt even ice skate because i was so scared and anxious. #5- it takes a LOT more strength then you may think, lifting yourself and heavy boots off of ice just to jump is super hard. Sorry for the long comment and intruding the section, but i just wanted to put it out there that it is so much harder then we realize and we should all give this amazing woman appreciation.
I started figure skating like 3 months ago and you inspire me so much!! I hope that one day I can do all that you have achieved! Do you have any tips on how not to get dizzy while spinning? I am getting dizzy so fast.. Maybe age lol, I'm 27, almost 28😂😂
@@gwynethjones3154 It depends, a child doing doubles might not need more supportive skates but an adult beginner who’s taller and heavier will. So yes, it is about anatomy and ankle strength.
I was literally there I would’ve watched you if I knew what level you were in! I’ll probably see you at excel nationals next year I’ll be in preliminary plus excel
12:46 LMFAOO to whoever u are in the background idk you but trust me I feel u on a spiritual level 😭 Anyways girl I love your videos as always you are a huge inspiration to me too, I’ve been on and off with skatinf since I was about 14-ish, had to stop/continue/stop several times since for multiple reasons. But now I’m 19 and am super committed, u give me hope 🤌💕 also congratulations on graduating soon. Trust me it’s an amazing feeling. I’m a college freshman now. 😄😁
The thing that baffles me is that I have all my single jumps besides axel (only just started working on axel, my first axel on the harness was two days ago on Memorial Day (Monday)) but I cant even do a sit spin at all. Can someone give me tips for sit spins? Like even though im not low i also just cant like spin in the sit spin position. Like even if my sit is super high for a sit spin I either like spin on my full blade and hit my heel or ill just go straight to the toe pick. Ive also like rocked back and forth from the rocker to toe pick and toe pick to rocker. And with getting low like when I get as low as i should be i cant hold it and just fall on my butt like i think im just too weak or something but please give me tips! I also need tips for backspin.
Your backspin is practically learning how to spin all over again so keep going and stand up REALLY TALL, 🤓 and for the sit spin, I think you need to really strengthen and focus on keeping your ankle straight and sit into the ball of your foot. 😁😁😁 Hope this helps! 🌷❤️
I struggled with my 2 foot spin until my coach taught me the hockey glide into a two foot spin entry and when your pumping try having the foot that is moving be on a inside edge
I’m still working on them but my coach said to try and start with your feet in the shape of a T and of course bring your arms togethor to practice speed, hope this helps!
Practice beside the wall first then start practicing next to the wall just in case then you can start trying to move a going faster while doing it, hope this helps!
Same 😅! I just try to mentally prepare myself but that doesn’t always work. You can try wearing padding or also try to mentally prepare yourself 😂 (by saying, this is new, I’m still learning, etc.) Hope this helps!! ❤
Same, if your worried about a skill practice while holding the wall if you can then try away from the wall and if it a something like cross overs try while moving eventually, hope this helps!
Ahhh i’m so happy for you!! I’ve been watching your videos for a long time now but I’m really worried about my own progress it feels really slow and im getting really frustrated. I started 6 months ago and im working on salchow, i can do one foot spins from a proper entry and stuff but theres people progressing way faster than me online and i dont feel like an actual figure skater. Do you have any advice? 🫶🏻
hiii & thank you so so much!!! ❤️ i get tons of mean comments about how my progress is “slow” or that I should be doing way more considering i’ve been skating for “so long” , but the truth is, every skater is different. so many factors go into how fast or slow a skater makes progress. some skaters may be able to go to the rink more than others. some may take more private lessons than others. some may do more off ice training. some may already have a background in dance / gymnastics / other sports which makes learning figure skating easier since they already have those muscles built up. some may not be able to afford extra lessons, or are busy balancing school/work outside of skating. i know skaters who have been skating for a year and are already working on doubles. i also know skaters who have been skating for twice as long as me and are still doing single jumps. the best thing to remember is that every skaters progress is unique. never compare your progress to someone else’s (easier said than done) , as long as you are doing better now than you were before, that’s all that matters!! there’s no right or wrong way to make progress❤️
Hiii 👋 I don't have advice regarding technique- but comparison is the thief of joy! I know that progress can seem like it's at a lull, but if you look really hard there are things getting better every time you skate. Don't worry about people online either because everybody progresses at a different rate and it doesn't make you any less of a figure skater!! As long as you love and participate in ice skating- you're a figure skater ❤❤❤ Be proud of how far you've come because honestly jumps at six months is super impressive- I'm three months in and can't even do crossovers yet haha so seriously, keep doing what you're doing!! Don't try to rush your learning, just focus on improving little bits each time and eventually you'll get where you want to be, I promise 🤞 sending you lots of love and luck on your figure skating journey 🥰🥰
I was an elite competitive figure skater for fourteen years. I started at the age of seven and tested up to Junior level before knee injury made me have to end my career. I was about to take my senior moves and free skate test when this happened. I grew up and trained in the northeast of the country next to, with & by world and Olympic coaches and choreographers. I’m a transplant to SC and I’m curious where this rink is at. I looked it up on google and looks like maybe Raleigh NC? Im sorry but I don’t know how you qualify to do a “nationals” competition when you haven’t even reached intermediate yet. I do applaud your effort, it’s not easy to start skating at your age. Keep up the hard work and enjoy what you’re doing.
hi! I mentioned in the video how the national competition works. :) there’s national competitive opportunities for all levels of skating, not just higher levels! you can look up “excel nationals” or click the link in the description for more info about national opportunities for skaters of all levels!❤️
