what do they mean by "professional" ice skating?

Question

I always hear that figure ice skaters quit competing Olympics and stuff to go off and compete professionally? Like Michelle Kwan or Alexei Yagudin. I thought Olympics was already professional ice skating? Or did I hear it wrong?

Answer 1

Most skaters you see competing are actually amateurs, in other words 'eligible' skaters for competitions. usually they compete in olympics, worlds (run by International Skating Union, ISU), nationals (eg US nationals), the Grand Prix series, and other competitions.

generally skaters turn professional after a period of competing in amateur competitions, like the recent olympic gold medalist, shizuka arakawa who is now professional. there are also professional competitions, like world professionals, etc. these skaters get paid to do shows also, like stars on ice.

other tours like champions on ice have mainly amateur skaters, who have won eligibile competitions over the past season. sometimes shows combine both amateur and professionals.

Answer 2

Seinor level which is amateur level is the level that people go to the olympics. Professional's are like Nancy Kerrigan, and Kristi Yamagouchi, and yes Alexi Yagoudin, but Michelle Kwan hasn't officialy retired yet, so she is still a seinor level skater. Professionals are in skating shows and are paid, for the skating that they do, the only show that has non professionals in it is Champion's on Ice, that show has skaters that are on seinor level right now. Coach's are also considered professional's because they get paid.

Answer 3

It used to mean that in amateur skating, you could not be paid, and in professional skating, you could. But this is no longer true. you can get paid in amateur skating and all that professional skating means anymore is you can't compete in the Olympics. Usually Profesional skaters perform in shows like Champions on Ice and Stars on Ice.

Answer 4

I am just guessing here...but in my experience, something you do professionally is what you get PAID for. It is my understanding that one must pay a large amount of money to compete in the Olympics, but does not get paid to compete. They will simply win a medal if they are good and go on to do endorsments. Or compete professionally. i guess competing professionally, then would be doing it for monetary prizes. Make sense?

Answer 5

Professional skating is something you do for " profession" and you get paid for, as a living. They usually skate in shows like Stars on Ice

Answer 6

You heard wrong, olympics are for amateur athletes who generally do not profit from there sport of choice by turning pro they can profit but cannot compete in the olympics, with the exception, or special excemption iven by the governing bodies of sport to hockey, curling, and basketball...

Answer 7

professional ice skating means that you have gone through basics of skating and testing and your certified for teaching or judging or both. and also there isnt such thing of competing professional,

Answer 8

professionals skate inly in shows and get paid for it. They do tours and uaully endorse products. they no longer comepete.

Answer 9

Once you become a coach and get paid, you are considered a professional.

Answer 10

If you do something professionally, that is your full time job and how you make a living!