The Competition Is Over—Now What? How to Make the Most of the Figure Skating Off-Season
The end of competition season doesn't mean the end of progress. For most developing figure skaters, the off-season is an opportunity to recover, get stronger, explore new skills, and rediscover what makes skating fun.
The Competitive Season Is Winding Down
The final events of the National Qualifying Series have wrapped up, marking an important transition in the skating calendar.
For the skaters who have advanced to Sectionals and Finals, there is still plenty of work ahead. And there are local and regional competitions on the calendar into early November.
But for the majority of developing figure skaters, the competitive season is coming to an end.
So what happens now?
The answer isn't nothing.
In fact, the months between competition seasons can be some of the most productive of the entire year.
The difference is that training can start to serve a different purpose.
Instead of asking, “How do I get ready for my next competition?” skaters can start asking:
“What can I build now that will make me a better skater next season?”
The Off-Season Is Not the “Do Nothing” Season
It's tempting to think of the off-season as a time to take a complete break from training.
And sometimes, a break is exactly what an athlete needs.
After months of practices, competitions, travel, and the mental pressure of performing, physical and mental recovery are important. Taking some time to rest doesn't mean losing motivation or falling behind.
But once a skater is ready to return to training, the off-season provides something that the competition season often doesn't:
room to work on the things that don't have an immediate deadline.
During competition season, training naturally has to prioritize consistency and performance. You need to be able to execute the skills you already have when it counts.
During the off-season, there is more freedom to build.
That might mean spending more time on skating skills. It might mean experimenting with a new element. It might mean rebuilding technique that has become inconsistent. And it can absolutely mean spending more time off the ice.
Build the Body That Can Build the Skater
One of the biggest opportunities of the off-season is developing physical strength.
Strength training is part of an athlete's development throughout the year, but the emphasis can change depending on where you are in the training cycle.
During competition season, athletes have to balance strength work with skating demands, recovery, travel, and the need to perform at their best. Significant increases in training load can also create muscle soreness and fatigue that aren't particularly helpful when a skater is trying to perform consistently.
The off-season gives athletes more room to progressively build strength and physical capacity.
This is the time to work on the foundation:
Core strength and control
Leg and hip strength
Single-leg stability
Balance and coordination
Landing control
Mobility and flexibility
General conditioning and endurance
Why does that matter for skating?
Because the body has to be strong enough to support the technique you're asking it to perform.
A stronger core can help a skater control rotation.
Stronger legs can contribute to more powerful takeoffs and more stable landings.
Better hip and ankle stability can help with alignment and control.
Improved physical conditioning can help a skater maintain quality throughout a long training session or demanding program.
The goal isn't simply to become “stronger.”
The goal is to build the physical foundation that allows skating technique to become stronger, too.
This Is the Time to Try Something New
The off-season also creates room for exploration.
Maybe there is a skating skill you've always wanted to work on but haven't had time to prioritize.
Maybe you want to improve your spins.
Maybe you want to learn more challenging skating skills and turns.
Maybe you've been curious about choreography, ice dance, or another discipline.
Or maybe there is simply a skill that has always seemed just outside your reach.
When you're not preparing for a competition that is only a few weeks away, you have more freedom to experiment.
That doesn't mean every experiment will work.
And that's okay.
The off-season is a much better time to struggle through something new, make adjustments, and gradually build a skill than when you're trying to make your competition program as consistent as possible.
And Yes—You Can Be Creative, Too
Not all off-season development happens in a training plan.
This is also the time to remember that skating is an art.
Holiday performances and other exhibition opportunities give skaters a chance to explore music, movement, character, and choreography without the constraints of a competitive program.
You can skate with a friend.
Put together a group.
Try something funny.
Try something completely different from your competition style.
Or simply skate to music you love.
Those experiences aren't a distraction from serious skating.
They can actually help remind skaters why they fell in love with the sport in the first place.
Use the Off-Season to Prepare for Next Season
It's also never too early to start thinking about where you want to go next.
That doesn't necessarily mean choosing your next competition schedule or having your entire program planned immediately.
It can start with reflection.
What went well this season?
Which skills became more consistent?
What did you enjoy?
What are you proud of?
What was difficult?
Were there elements that repeatedly caused problems?
Did you struggle with endurance, confidence, consistency, or recovery?
What do you want to learn?
This is where those “maybe someday” skills can become actual goals.
What kind of skater do you want to be next season?
Maybe the goal is a new jump.
Maybe it's stronger skating skills.
Maybe it's greater confidence performing.
Maybe it's simply becoming a more well-rounded athlete.
The off-season gives you time to build toward those goals before the next competition calendar begins.
Make Off-Ice Training Part of the Plan
At Skate VIDA, we believe development doesn't stop when you leave the ice.
Our off-ice offerings are designed to complement skating training by giving athletes opportunities to work on the physical qualities that support their skating.
That might mean strength and conditioning, movement, coordination, flexibility, or other aspects of athletic development.
And the off-season is an especially valuable time to make those sessions part of a consistent routine.
Instead of trying to add everything at once during competition season, athletes can gradually establish good habits, build strength, and learn how their bodies respond to training.
The goal isn't to make off-ice training another thing to “survive.”
It should become part of the process of becoming a stronger skater.
Don't Forget to Recover
There is one more piece of off-season training that sometimes gets overlooked:
Rest.
Recovery isn't the opposite of training. It's part of training.
After a demanding competitive season, athletes may need time to recover physically and mentally. A good off-season isn't necessarily about doing more.
It's about doing the right things at the right time.
That might mean:
Taking a few days away from skating
Reducing training volume temporarily
Addressing nagging aches or weaknesses
Getting adequate sleep
Spending time away from the rink
Coming back with renewed motivation
A skater who finishes the season exhausted doesn't necessarily need a harder schedule.
Sometimes they need the chance to breathe.
The Off-Season Is Where the Next Season Begins
For most developing skaters, the end of the competition season is not the end of their progress.
It's a change in focus.
The pressure of the next competition can temporarily move into the background, creating room to work on the things that are harder to prioritize when every practice is connected to an upcoming event.
Recover.
Get stronger.
Build better technique.
Explore new skills.
Try something creative.
Spend time with your skating community.
And start imagining what's next.
The strongest next season isn't built in the weeks immediately before the first competition.
It's built during the months when there isn't a competition on the calendar yet.
So if your competitive season is winding down, don't ask:
“What am I supposed to do now?”
Ask:
“What do I want to be able to do next season that I can't do yet?”
Then start building toward it.
Skating is Life. And the off-season is part of the journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Figure Skating Off-Season Training:
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The figure skating off-season is an opportunity to recover from the competitive season while building the physical and technical foundation for the next one. Depending on the skater, this may include strength training, off-ice conditioning, skating skills, technique work, learning new elements, creative skating, and exploring new training opportunities.
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Recovery is an important part of the off-season. After a demanding competitive season, some skaters may benefit from time away from the ice or a temporary reduction in training volume. Once an athlete is ready to resume training, the off-season provides an opportunity to gradually rebuild without the immediate pressure of an upcoming competition.
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Strength training helps develop the physical foundation needed for skating. Core strength, leg and hip strength, balance, stability, and landing control can all support better execution of skating skills and jumps. The off-season can provide additional room to progressively build strength while balancing recovery and skating demands.
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Off-ice training complements time on the ice by developing physical qualities that support skating. Depending on the athlete's needs, it may include strength and conditioning, core work, mobility, flexibility, balance, coordination, and other forms of athletic development.
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Yes. Because there is often less immediate competition pressure, the off-season can be an excellent time to explore new skills, refine technique, and work through challenges that may take time to develop. Skaters can also explore creative opportunities such as choreography, exhibitions, and holiday programs.