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Is Ballet or Figure Skating Harder?

Is ballet or figure skating harder? The truth is, both sports have a varying degree of difficulty, so it’s not easy to tell right off the bat which one is harder. The good news is I’ve put together this guide to help you understand which is harder and why. So, read on!

Is ballet or figure skating harder? Ballet and figure skating are interesting sporting activities with tons of health and social benefits. They help keep the body fit while having fun at the same time. In addition, they’re social sports, meaning you can interact with people from all walks of life.

However, deciding which sport to go with can be a hassle since they have varying levels of hardness. Overall, figure skating is hard to learn than ballet but easier to master after some time. On the flipside, ballet is easy to learn but hard to master.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot more to consider before arriving at a conclusion, and I’ve covered it all in the rest of this guide. This is why I urge you to read on till the end to understand why and when figure skating or ballet is hard.

Is Ballet or Figure Skating Harder? Comparison Table

Element of ComparisonBalletFigure Skating
1. Technique and Skills RequirementGrand jete, En Pointe, Pirouettes, Fouette, Grand AdagePush, glide, turn, stop, spin, spirals, and jumps
2. Physical EnduranceNeed strong ankle muscles, glutes, and coreStronger all body muscles (core, glutes, leg, and feet muscles)
3. Activity VenueDry groundFigure skating ice rink
4. Diet RequirementBalanced dietBalanced diet
5. Duration it takes to be a Pro10,000 hours or nine years of practice8-10 years
6. Need for Practice/TrainingRegular weekly practice sessionsRegular weekly practice sessions
7. Equipment Needed and CostPointe shoes, leotards, tights, skirts, and tutus.  Figure skates, Hip pads, padded shorts, Blade guards, and knee pads  
8. Body Shape/typeFlexible Well proportioned CoordinatedFlexible Well proportioned Coordinated

Ballet Vs Figure Skating | the Ultimate Comparison

Both ballet and figure skating have tons of benefits, and there’s no doubting it. However, deciding which sport to go with can be a hassle for beginners.

The good news is I’ve put together this comprehensive comparison to highlight which one is harder and why. So let’s get to it!

1. Technique and Skills Requirement

Figure skating is harder than ballet because one needs to learn a new way of movement. What’s more, you don’t only need to learn to skate on ice, but also master it.

On average, it takes four to eight weeks to learn the basics of ice skating. However, mastering the sport takes longer.

More importantly, you want to learn to balance on figure skates, push and glide, stop, and make quick turns.

Honestly, this creates a huge barrier to entry for figure skating, unlike ballet which doesn’t require any of this.

Once you’ve learned the basics of figure skating, upgrading to advanced skills such as back skating, spins, and jumps should be a walk in the park.

Unlike ballet, this is easy to learn at the onset but takes longer to master.

The typical ballet skills are Grand jete, En Pointe, Pirouettes, Fouette, and Grand Adage.

They’re also considered among the most challenging to perform. But, with constant practice, you should be able to pull this off.

2. Physical Endurance

Both Figure skating and ballet require physical endurance. However, it’s the degree that differs. Figure skating requires one to learn a new way of movement on ice.

So, you’ll have to endure the muscle pain before the body muscles are used to it. Core, glutes, legs, and feet muscles are often the most affected.

The same muscles are used in ballet. However, much of the physical endurance is felt on the foot muscles, especially the ankles.

3. Activity Venue

Figure skating is done on ice, while ballet is done on dry ground. Therefore, getting used to moving on the cold figure skating rinks can be a hassle.

What’s more? Figure skating rinks are slippery and wet and can be a little uncomfortable, especially for beginners.

Your learning curve can be steep because of the constant loss of balance when learning how to ice skate.

However, ballet is done on dry ground, and all you need to get started is stability and walking skills. You should be ready for ballet between the ages of 4 and 5.

4. Diet Requirement

Figure skating and ballet require healthy eating habits. Your diet should always be balanced. You should also take the right portions according to your macros.

However, you require more energy and effort to perform figure skating drills considering the jumps, spins, and back skating.

This means you’ll need more carbs and proteins. Cabs provide enough energy for the body while proteins help build muscles required for figure skating.

5. Duration it takes to be a Pro

Both ballet and figure skating require a significant amount of time to be professional. However, it takes much longer to master ballet because pulling off ballet skills can be demanding.

On average, you need up to 10,000 hours of practice to be good at ballet. This is equal to 8-10 years of unending training.

6. Need for Practice/Training

Whether you’re into ballet or figure skating, improvements and acquiring the pro status come with time. Figure skating mastery calls for constant on-ice and off-ice practice sessions.

While off the ice, you’ll need to work on your core strength, balance, flexibility, and coordination. The same is true for ballet. However, ballet requires more practice and training time to master the difficult skills.

7. Equipment Needed and Cost

You need warm clothing, Figure skates, Hip pads, padded shorts, Blade guards, and knee pads for figure skating.

On the other hand, you need Pointe shoes, leotards, tights, skirts, and tutus. Overall, it may be costlier to acquire figure skating equipment than ballet equipment.

Is Ballet or Figure Skating Harder? Wrapping Up

Ballet and figure skating are exciting sporting activities with tons of health and social benefits. However, choosing the best one for you can be a hassle because of the varying degree of hardness.

Overall, figure skating is harder to learn at the onset because you have to skate on ice. But, on the contrary, it gets better with time once you have the basics.

Ballet is easy to learn at the onset because it doesn’t require special skills. However, it can be a little harder than figure skating as you progress to more advanced stuff. That’s it! Hope you found this guide helpful!

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Navick Ogutu
Navick Ogutu

Navick is a full-time freelance writer, blogger, and internet marketer. By day, he creates content for multiple sites including inlineskaterstars.com. Over the weekend, he goes out skating with friends.

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