The Economics of Skating

[Bryan]

In terms of eligible skaters, how does the whole economic situation of skating play out? I've always wondered about all the costs of skating and how skaters can afford to pay for it.

How much does it cost for an elite skater (say, someone on the Grand Prix circuit) to hire a coach? And how much do the more famous coaches, such as Moskvina or Tarasova, charge? Do they charge more for coaching a pairs/dance team than a single skater? And how are choreographers paid for their services--is it a flat rate for each program they choreograph?

And what are some average costs for costumes? How often do skaters change their skates/blades, and how much do these go for?

What about travel expenses? Do the skating federations help subsidize some of the costs of travelling to competitions? Does this include airfare, lodging, transportation, and food?

I know many skaters get their income from the prize money they get at competitions. How much are they paid if they win a Grand Prix event, Europeans/4CC, Worlds? And of course, the bigger names do the tours and shows in the off-season, so what's the average salary there? And of course, the big names get all the endorsement offers too.

I'm wondering how some of the less-known skaters deal with all the costs of skating. Take someone like Elena Liashenko, for example. She's been on the scene for a while now, but she's never really had the spotlight. She's a solid competitor and usually finishes among the top 10 in her competitions, but she probably doesn't have the marketability to star in any shows or tours. So for her, is being an eligible skater a profession for her? Do skaters such as Liashenko stay eligible for so long because it's how they earn their living?

I'm really interested in this and am curious to hear your thoughts.

[Lee]

It's been said upper-level competitive skaters will spend $30 - $40 thousand US per year on skating expenses. This includes ice, coaching, choreography, costuming, travel, competitions, etc, etc, etc.

[habanero]

Originally posted by Lee
It's been said upper-level competitive skaters will spend $30 - $40 thousand US per year on skating expenses. This includes ice, coaching, choreography, costuming, travel, competitions, etc, etc, etc.

That's more like what you would expect for competitive Intermediates and Novices! It's easy to spend more than that.

Dance teams, and I would assume Pairs teams, going to Nationals spend about $60k +/- per year. Sometimes this is paid for by a single partner's family. In terms of after tax dollars, cost is a nightmare.

The difference between a Dance team and singles in cost is 2 sets of outfits, ice time, boots and travel (plus any extra physical therapy, ballet, etc).

[icenut84]

Originally posted by Bryan
How often do skaters change their skates/blades, and how much do these go for?

That's the only question I might be able to answer! lol. I saw an interview a while ago where Christopher Dean said that they (he and Jayne) had to have new boots every 9 months or so, and had to have their blades sharpened every 10 days. 8O I'm not sure how often they'd have to buy new blades though. The cost certainly adds up!

[SkateGuard]

It's incredibly expensive....I would believe $30k-60k for a top international skater/dance team. I have heard of intermediates paying $10-20k (but they were also on nationally ranked synch teams, which are about $500/mo. without travel expenses.)

For international competition, the USFSA pays the travel expenses for the competitors, but the skaters are responsible for the coach's expenses. Obviously if you're coached by someone like Tarasova, who has had several students at each Grand Prix event, those expenses may be divided. Also, every member of the team envelopes (the skaters selected for international competitions) gets a stipend, depending on what level the skater(s) is/are at. However, no expenses are paid at Nationals or the qualifying competitions.

There are also some cost breaks. There are some skaters who have family or friends make their costumes at reduced prices or cost. (B/A are the great example.) Lots of skaters will teach learn-to-skate classes or coach to get free ice time (or get free ice time simply by their reputation). Danny Kwan was able to fix Michelle's boots at the 2001 Worlds because Michelle skated in used, doctored skates until 1995.

However, in my low-level adult skating career, most of my budget goes to coaching. I assume that is the same for elite skaters.

Erin

[Scott]

When you talk about costs there are several factors. First you have the cost of the ice time. Then the coach or coaches. An elite skater probably pays anywhere from $80.00 to 125.00 an hour for the cost of the primary coach. From what I have seen in New England elite skaters can spend anywhere from two to three hours a day with their primary coach, then there isthe cost of what i will call assistant coaches: Jumping specialists, coreography coaches, trainers ( weight room etc). The cost to have a new program coreographed ( $5,000.00 and up ). Then there is the cost of those very expensive flimsy outfits ( $600.00 and up- some cost thousands, if you can believe it!). And Skates aint cheap. A Good set of boots and blades will put the skater back $1,000 or more ( How many sets does a skater go through in a year?). On top of all this there is the cost of entering competitions. This can be expensive beyond words. Not only is there the cost of travel ( regionals, sectionals, nationals) but the skater must pay the coaches airfare, hotel rooms, meals, and a fee for the coach's time spent putting the skaters on the ice during practices and competition. Many Coaches also charge an additional fee to cover the loss of income that they will suffer by not being able to coach their other students when they are at a competition.
On top of all this add the cost of housing, food, medical expenses etc.

This is not a cheap sport by any means. An elite skater can incure costs that easily exceed 60,000 dollars a year. Thank God that I am only a fan and not a skater. I would be bankrupt!

[loveskating]

This is at the low level, the "entry level".

Don't know now, but a few years ago, freestyle sessions in our area were anywhere from $3 to $11/hour; coaches charged minimum $25 for 25 minutes (add gas, parking); skating club membership was anywhere from $250 per quarter to $1,000 per quarter depending on the rink; I made the costumes, practice outfits but bought they were generally in the area of $125 to $250. Harlicks High Testers were total $520 with blades, and every year, new skates were required just owing to growth or to advances of the skater. Competition expenses could be up to $300 or more total just for fees and coaches pay.

Skaters take not only freestyle, but patch, ice dance and sometimes pairs. I calculated that I could spend $1,000 a week at the lowest level of competition for freestyle, patch and ice dance ice time and coaching fees...not to mention ballet lessons and conditoining.

[Louis]

I've heard that Tarasova charges $200/hr. If Cohen really gets three hours of private ice with her per day, the coaching bill for Tarasova alone would be $156,000 a year. I am sure that Tarasova also gets a percentage of Cohen's earnings. Add in Morozov's coaching fees, travel expenses, choreography, and costumes, and I bet the Cohens are paying close to $300k a year on Sasha's skating. Of course, at this point, at least that much is probably coming in through prize money and appearance fees.

This isn't all that unusual with elite skaters. I bet Robin Wagner has been making a six-figure salary from the Hugheses for quite some time since she has no other students and serves as Sarah's coach and babysitter. Sarah's sister Emily also has a private coach who (I believe)has no other full-time students.

[Leanne]

How much does it cost for an elite skater (say, someone on the Grand Prix circuit) to hire a coach?

As some have answered, there are hourly fees and cuts of prize money that can total over $100,000 per year. Some charge flat fees. Some coaches lend their time for free or at low cost to their biggest talents who may have difficulty with funding and show great promise, but have yet to make it to the level where they are winning prize money or earning appearance fees or touring.

And how are choreographers paid for their services--is it a flat rate for each program they choreograph?

Either/or. Depends on the choreographer. It can run anywhere from $500 to $10,000 and beyond for a program

And what are some average costs for costumes? How often do skaters change their skates/blades, and how much do these go for?

Costumes anywhere from $100 off the rack to $10,000 for Vera Wang.

Skates for an elite skater run from $500-$800. Blades run from $300-$600 per pair. Most high level skater go through 1 pair per year, though the busiest ones that tour and compete more often can go through 2 per year.

What about travel expenses? Do the skating federations help subsidize some of the costs of travelling to competitions? Does this include airfare, lodging, transportation, and food?

The federations pay all costs for a skater and one coach of record for international competitions. Most meals are provided by the ISU during a competitions. Someone said earlier that they do not pay for a coach. This is not true, they do pay for one coach. The skater must pay their own way for any additional coaches, choreographers, family members, etc.

For all non-ISU competitions the skater must cover all costs out of their own pockets, including all coaching costs. This can run into the $1000's of dollars for a Regionals, Sectionals, and Nationals where extensive travel is involved.

I know many skaters get their income from the prize money they get at competitions. How much are they paid if they win a Grand Prix event, Europeans/4CC, Worlds? And of course, the bigger names do the tours and shows in the off-season, so what's the average salary there? And of course, the big names get all the endorsement offers too.

It depends on the federations. Some federations take a bigger cut of the prize money than others. I'm heard the minimum fee for COI is in the $2000/night range up to $15,000/night for Michelle Kwan.

I'm wondering how some of the less-known skaters deal with all the costs of skating. Take someone like Elena Liashenko, for example. She's been on the scene for a while now, but she's never really had the spotlight. She's a solid competitor and usually finishes among the top 10 in her competitions, but she probably doesn't have the marketability to star in any shows or tours. So for her, is being an eligible skater a profession for her? Do skaters such as Liashenko stay eligible for so long because it's how they earn their living?


Many skaters do come from wealthy backgrounds.

Many federations support their skaters. The Chinese government, for example, supports all athlete development. One of the reasons Vlashenko left Lativa for Germany was the promise of funding and support from the German federation. I don't know about Elena Liashenko, specifically, for example, but it's possible that the Ukrainian federation supports her to a great extent.

Many skaters from all countries have private sponsors, either corportate or individual.

In the US, skaters can apply for funding from the USFSA Memorial Fund. Team Envelope skaters get some money, thought for anything below Team A, it's not terribly significant, and most of the Team A skaters are the ones winning big prize money and on the tours.

[Sylvia]

Here are two useful sites that are worth checking out (kudos to Jen and Dave!):

http://www.skatersupport.org/

http://swpskating.com/help.html

[rack]

The six figures the Hugheses paid Robin Wagner for coaching certainly proved to be a wise investment. As Olympic champion, Sarah has a seven figure income available to her. As far as Robin Wagner's babysitting services go, Sarah is reported to be a well mannered and academically successful young woman. In addition, because of the babysitting, Sarah was able to continue her skating while her mother was being treated for breast cancer, and could live at home and attend her local high school after becoming an elite level skater. That contrasts with the Lipinski situation, where Tara and her mother lived in Detroit while Mr. Lipinski continued to live and work in Texas (by all accounts, a strain on the family) or the Kwan sisters, who lived away from their parents weekdays and were privately tutored.

Two questions: Does anyone know how much synchronized skating costs? And could missmarysgarden tell us what gymnastics costs as a compare and contrast?

This is another one of those really interesting topics that are popping up here regularly!

[JS]

Originally posted by Bryan
In terms of eligible skaters, how does the whole economic situation of skating play out? I've always wondered about all the costs of skating and how skaters can afford to pay for it.

How much does it cost for an elite skater (say, someone on the Grand Prix circuit) to hire a coach?


There was an article in the local news paper about one dance couple that competes internationally for Azerbaigan (sp?) They are not movers and shakers but would probably be considered elite level skaters. They talk about skating expenses among other things.

Here is the link:

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=810&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=730459&om=1

"The Olympics have come at a high cost, especially for Fraser's parents. She says that her family has contributed about $230,000 towards ice time, coaches, travel and separate apartments for Lukanin and her in the past year.

Fraser says that her mother, a speech therapist, works seven days a week, 16 hours a day. Her father is retired from the state corrections department in California.

Since they do not skate for the United States, Fraser says commercial endorsements are all but out of the question. And do not expect to see them on television in Utah since they do not figure to be among the medal contenders.

They have won prize money at some events, but that take is divided among coaches and skaters. Fraser jokes that she is left with about enough cash to see a movie."


That's right --- $230,000.00. All zeros are in right places. She says her family pays most of it. How much do you need to make before taxes to pay that?

[NiceIce]

You dont have to be an "elite " skater to incur those high costs.
The average skater competing at regionals at any level will have all the entry fees, practice ice fees ,coaches fees, hotels and travel fees, costumes for short and long programs, etc., that any elite skater will experience. In fact, the average skater receives no assistance.
If the skater qualifys for Sectionals all the costs are then imposed on that one skater or team since many coaches dont have a fleet of sectional qualifiers.
In order to qualify for assistance from the USFSA Memorial fund a skater must have competed at Sectionals as a Novice, Junior, or Senior, and attained 6th place or higher. The application from the Memorial fund then arrives several months later, and if approved ,the funding
trickles in a few more months later.
I think the USFSA is stingy(oops! am I "allowed" to say that?:P ) and could do much more to support skaters, particularly dance and pair teams.

[Scott]

There is no question that more elp is needed but the fact remains that this is a sport of choice and it is up to the participants to make financial ends meet. What other sports support their participants to meet expensives?

[arena_gal]

hockey.

[peachstatesk8er]

As far as synchronized skating goes, it depends on the team. If they're a recreational team, the costs aren't bad. If they're a competitive nationally ranked team, the costs are vastly different. Basically it depends on where you are, what team it is, and how much ice time they get. The good news is that the costs are divided between a team of skaters, making each members expenses much more bearable than that of a Ladies freestyle competitor. I've heard rumors of the Haydenettes paying $500+ a month for expenses. I was on a Senior level synch team that was nationally ranked and we were paying only $90 every month but we also only practiced twice weekly and that was also 10 years ago, lol.

Editing to say that we also had expenses like airfare, hotel, travel for coach, etc. when we traveled. Those were in addition to the regular monthly fees and the costs depended on where we were going of course. Travel to Alaska and travel to Sweden were of course more $ than traveling to Canada. The Haydenettes may pay more each month in anticipation of the internationals the attend each season.

[rack]

Thank you for the information on sychronized skating costs:) .

[ClevelandDancer]

I'm an adult skater, mostly dance (testing Bronzes) and I skated on the US Nationals fourth place Masters' syncho team last season. I'll start by saying that expenses vary quite a bit even for skaters at the same level. Some skaters are much more frugal and will find ways to save money on costumes, ice time, coaching, etc., without significantly affecting their training/competition scenarios. Other skaters will find ways to exhaust all available money ;)

For synchro last season, my training ice and coaching fees were right about $1000 for the season. We skated two one-hour sessions with a single one-hour off-ice session per week from September thru the beginning of March, so about 6-7 months. Our costumes were $165 each. Team jackets were also about $160, but this is the same every year so if you skate for multiple seasons it "becomes cheaper". I had to buy a few pairs of over-the-boot tights at about $16/pair. We did six competitions, five of which required travel. I prefer not to add up the costs; even though I shared a room with 3 teammates on 3 of these trips (took my husband on the other two) and carpooled to all of them, travel was more expensive than the training expenses.

I got new skates last season, boots and blades together were about $650. My last pair of new skates were purchased in 1995, I got almost the identical thing as last time, I'm guessing I'll be due again around 2006 or 2007, we'll see. I skated two one-hour dance sessions per week in addition to my syncho. This contracted ice (cheaper than walk-on sessions) was probably about $800 for about nine months. I would take one 15-minute private lesson per week at $11. For about half the season, I would have a 15-minute lesson with my then-partner, also for $11, we'd alternate paying for it. Most of my practice clothing expenses were on tights. So, 2001-2002 expenses were about $3325 plus travel plus a few sharpenings. Of course, my new skates should be prorated over the next 5 or 6 years.

Well, I'm married and work fulltime and last season's schedule burned me out! This year, no syncho because it was too much like having a second job. I am skating one 1.5-hour session per week, contracted for about $350 for the season (9 months). I still take my one 15-minute private lesson this week, still $11 but going up to $12 in January. I don't have a partner right now, so no extra lessons there. I haven't bought a thing as far as practice clothing, I almost always wear a black practice skirt, black overtights, turtleneck and sweater; I am well stocked on all of these. So, 2002-2003 expenses will be about $830 plus a couple sharpenings. I'm making similar progress to last year with much less time investment, but I'm not competing at all. If I was, I have a couple decent competition dresses. I paid $30 for my newest from an online "clearance" sale. For the level I'm at, I think the best plan is just to have a couple pretty but fairly simple generic dresses. I've seen others at my level spend quite a bit.