Is speed important in figure skating and ice hockey?

Advice on skating, hockey and figure skating and age requirements?

• My 2 1/2 year old daughter is OBSESSED with skating right now and expresses a 'want to skating'. She wants to 'play hockey' and 'skate like a princess'. She watches hockey on Saturdays and actually sits and pays attention and when they score, cheers, etc. She will sit and watch figure skating as well and likes when they jump and do lifts. We live in Ontario. I have never known anyone that plays hockey, skates or figure skates, but she is really expressive and cries for us to buy skates when she sees them in a store. I am curious as to how old they have to be to join/play, cost of equipment and how I should go about getting her into this. She has been asking and making comments about it for about 2 months now and I would like to give her the chance to make up her mind about it by letting her try. What should I do to get her into it and what other advice should I know? I'm terrified of ice and broke both arms on ice as a child and won't skate at all so this is kind of interesting to have a child this interested in it. Thanks for all answers.

• Answer:

  Well if she wants to do it, she is at a good age. I know a lot of kids that age who have decided to start skating. If you find a rink around take her for a community skate/open skate and let her try it out. As far as what kind of skates, since she is open to both ask her which she would rather try. Figure skates are usually what people use to start off their child because they have more ankle support and a toe pick, but their isn't anything wrong with starting out with hockey skates. Figure skating equipment for starters is very cheap. Skates can be as little as $20. Hockey equipment I'm sure is similar, there is just more of it. Obviously, the better she gets the more it'll cost if she commits to it. For figure skating, enroll her in Learn To Skate programs if a rink nearby has one. Those are perfect for starters, even for her age. As for hockey, I know of Learn To Play program, but they require that the child knows how to skate and suggest the learn to skate program while using hockey skates. There is a lot of different age levels for hockey leagues so that shouldn't be a problem. I guess that is all you need to know, so good luck with everything!