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PARADISE ON ICE: Safety Gear for Skaters

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Welcome to the virtual rink for figure skaters!

This is a Paradise on Ice satellite page with information about books about the world of figure skating.

On this page, you'll find heaps of information to help keep you safe while you're skating.

Skating injuries happen from time-to-time, as do injuries in many other sports. For adults who have to go to work, drive cars, care for kids, etc, etc, an injury can be hugely inconvenient, as well as painful and frustrating. For peace of mind, many adults wear wrist guards and knee guards. Some wear guards on their elbows. Others wear padding to protect their hips or coxis (as do many champion skaters when they're practicing jumps). You'll find suggestions here for all sorts of padding and protection against falls on the ice, as well as some ideas for keeping the tiny tots safe on the ice as well.

Contents at a Glance

WRIST PROTECTION

* Paradise on Ice (home page): The main portal for Paradise on Ice: the virtual rink for figure skaters. Follow the link (marked *) to go to the main Paradise on Ice home page, where you'll find lots of information and products for figure skaters.

You Might Also Like:

* Paradise on Ice: How to Skate: A site full of tips, hints, books, DVDs and other resources to help you learn how to skate.
* Paradise on Ice: On-Ice Training Gear: In between lessons, you'll want to maximize your practice time. This link will take you to the Paradise on Ice 'On-Ice Training Gear' page. There you'll find tips and products to help you improve the quality of your on-ice practice.
* Paradise on Ice: Off-Ice Training for Skaters: You're less likely to be injured if you do off-ice training between your skating sessions. This link will take you to the Paradise on Ice 'Off-Ice Training for Skaters' page. There you'll find resources and products to help you improve your off-ice training.

Sadly skating accidents sometimes do happen...

... so it's just as well to be prepared...

Good training will minimize risks, as will protective gear such as wrist guards and hip pads.

WRIST PROTECTION

Wrist guards can save you from breaking your wrist if you accidentally fall on your hands (which is not the best way to fall! See the 'How to Skate' page for advice on falling safely).

Wrist guards come in lots of varieties. There are glove styles with reinforced plastic guards that run across both the top and bottom of the wrist, and lighter ones that don't cover the hand. Work out what will be best for you.

Gloves with Reinforced Wrist Guards

These super-reinforced gloves probably offer the best wrist protection in case of an unexpected fall.

Lightweight Wrist Guards

HIP & BUTT PROTECTION

Many champion skaters put on padding to protect their hips and butts (particularly the tailbone or coxis) when they're practicing jumps. Other skaters might also feel more comfortable wearing such protective gear, especially if they have had some bad experiences in the past...

Discrete Protection for Hips & Butts

These funny-looking garments may have been intended for "aesthetic" purposes rather than figure skating, but they can also offer some discrete protection against skating falls. They probably won't protect you as much as the bulkier hip & bum pads designed for skaters practicing double and triple jumps, but they might be quite sufficient if all you're wanting is some extra protection against unexpected falls.

These ones are specifically designed for figure skaters:

Clear Clouds hip pads.: Lightweight gel pads to protect skaters on the ice.

Tailbone Protection

Specially to protect the coccyx, and some of them are streamlined enough not to be too obtrusive while you're skating.

Clear Clouds tailbone protection pads.: Lightweight gel pads to protect skaters on the ice.

Bulky Protection for Hips & Butts

This gear is really designed for sports like snow-boarding, skiing and kite-boarding, so it's probably a bit bulky if you want to start doing figure skating spins or jumps. However, for those who really need to protect their hips and butts and don't mind about the bulk, these products should do the trick.

KNEE PADS

Knee pads not only save your knees if you happen to fall forwards onto them, but they also make it much more comfy if you want to do tricks like spinning-lunges or knee-spins on the ice.

When choosing knee pads, consider whether you want to wear them over or under your skating trousers/tights. If you want to wear them underneath, they'll need to be quite streamlined. If you don't mind wearing them over the top, it doesn't matter so much if they're bulky.

Unlike rollerbladers, you want to choose knee pads that are soft. Don't get the hard plastic ones. Not only do they restrict your movement, but they might skid across the ice and tip you further off-balance if you fall on them.

Knee pads designed specifically for figure skaters:

Clear Clouds gel pads for skaters: Lightweight gel pads to protect skaters on the ice.

HELMETS

There are some rinks in the world that require every skater to wear a helmet. At many others, nobody wears helmets. For most, it's just a matter of personal choice and comfort. Mild concussion is a reasonably common skating injury, and helmets can protect against that. On the other hand, they get in the way if you're trying to do spins or jumps.

For tiny tots whose skulls are still soft, helmets should be compulsory! Likewise, please wear a helmet if you're playing hockey!

If you want to wear a helmet, these ones designed for skateboarders are pretty cool!

SAFETY GEAR FOR TODDLERS

Keeping tiny tots safe is so important. Go to the Paradise on Ice page about teaching ice skating to toddlers for advice about how to keep your little ones safe on the ice.

* Paradise on Ice: Toddlers: On this page, you'll find information to help get your tiny tots skating, and to help keep them safe on the ice.

Here are some of the things you'll find on the Paradise on Ice: Toddlers page.

About Paradise on Ice

For lots of other figure skating information and heaps of resources, follow the link (marked *) back to the Paradise on Ice home page.

* Paradise on Ice (home): Paradise on Ice: the virtual rink for figure skaters.

Feedback

I'm trying to make this the best portal for skating stuff on the web. Please let me know if there are any other skating items or sites that should be added to this page. Suggestions and comments are always welcome!

Reply

catbehaviors May 18, 2011 @ 1:36 pm | delete

Awesome lens and tips! I've never gotten hurt ice skating, but sprained my knee a couple days ago while hurdling, so I know first hand that you should stay protected! :D
*blessed by a SquidAngel*