Figure skating requires strength, power, and endurance. Individual competitions are held for men and women. Couples compete in pairs and ice dancing, and there are team skating competitions. Training starts very early, sometimes at age 3 years, and many world champions are in their teens. Technique and speed are important, and the degree of skating diffi culty increases as skaters reach the elite level. An elite fi gure skat- er’s training includes learning new skills, like jumping and spinning, and repeated practice of those skills. High-intensity work coupled with lower-intensity skating and training 6 days a week in two sessions per day is a usual routine. Artistry plays a critical role, and there are many subjective elements considered in scoring. Competitions at the elite level include a short program that is 2 minutes and 40 seconds and a long program that is 4 minutes (females) or 4.5 minutes (males and pairs). Learn more about the sport at the US Figure Skating website (www.usfsa.org).