Handmade in Canada | The Balance Board Competitive Dancers Train On
Gifts for Figure Skaters: What They'll Actually Use (2026)
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Time to read 11 min
The best gifts for figure skaters are the ones that get used at the rink, in the skate bag or on the bedroom floor between sessions. For most skaters that means practical things at the small end (soakers, gloves, a proper water bottle), recovery and competition-day gear in the middle, and one real off-ice training tool at the top if the skater is serious about the sport.
This guide is sorted by budget and by what the skater actually needs: training off the ice, recovery, the competition bag, or just something that makes the early mornings easier. It's written for the parents, grandparents and friends doing the buying, who may not know a lutz from a loop and don't need to. Each section says who an item suits, who it doesn't, and what to check before you pay.
Three Questions Before You Buy Anything
Recreational or competitive? A skater in a weekly learn-to-skate class wants fun, skating-themed things and warm hands. A competitive skater who's on the ice several mornings a week wants things that make training, recovery and competition days easier. The calendar is the tell: early ice times, off-ice classes and weekend competitions mean a competitive skater with a bag and a schedule to match.
What does the coach want practised at home? Many coaches give skaters off-ice work: jumps on the floor, spins on a spinner, balance and core exercises. Ask the parent or coach what's on the list before you buy anything for training. It's the easiest way to get a gift that's used every week instead of once.
Does it need a size or a fitting? Skates, blades and competition dresses are fitted items. Boots are usually fitted by a skate technician, and blades are chosen with the coach. Unless you're paying for an appointment rather than the item itself, leave these to the skater's family. Everything in this guide can be bought without a tape measure.
Spinning boards are small enough to carry to the rink or keep by the bed.
Quick Picks by Budget
If you only read one section, read this one. The table matches a budget to what tends to get used, and the sections below explain each pick.
| Budget | Best picks | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stocking stuffers | Soakers, thin skating gloves, hair supplies, a massage ball, hand warmers | Every skater, any level |
| Mid-range | A skate bag with separate compartments, a warm jacket for the rink, a foam roller, a blade-sharpening voucher from their pro shop | Skaters on the ice more than once a week |
| Training gift | A spinning board or spring balance board for off-ice rotation and balance work | Competitive skaters working on spins and jumps |
| Experience | A private lesson or extra ice time (arranged with the coach), tickets to a show or competition | Skaters who have the gear already |
A note on the training gifts: boards are handmade to order and ship from Ontario in 3 to 9 business days, so order early in the season or give a gift card if the holidays are close.
Stocking Stuffers Skaters Actually Use
Soakers. These are the soft, absorbent blade covers skaters put on after a session so the blades dry without rusting. They wear out, get lost and go missing at competitions. A fresh pair, or a pair in a colour they don't have yet, is never wasted. Don't confuse them with skate guards, the hard covers skaters walk in. Guards are useful too, but some skaters are particular about the type and fit.
Thin skating gloves. Rinks are cold, and many skaters prefer thin gloves that keep hands warm without making them clumsy. Like soakers, they disappear. Buy two pairs.
Hair supplies. Competition hair takes a surprising amount of equipment: clips, pins, elastics, gel, a hairnet. For a competitive skater, a small refill kit in a zip pouch is genuinely useful. For a younger skater, a set of hair accessories in their club colours goes down well.
A massage ball. A small, firm ball for rolling out feet and calves after hours in stiff boots. Cheap, light and used more than you'd expect.
Hand warmers and lip balm. Unexciting and appreciated, particularly by skaters on early-morning ice.
Spinning boards are a flat rotation disc with no springs.
For a skater who trains seriously, though, the gift that changes the most is the one that lets them practise rotation and balance off the ice. That's where the training gifts come in.
The Perfect Training Gift
For a competitive skater, the Double Spinning Balancer is three tools in one: a spring balance board, a spinning board for rotation drills, and a flat base for two-foot work.
See the Double Spinning Balancer →Training Gifts for Off-Ice Work
Every competitive skater does off-ice training. Spins, jump rotations, landing positions and core work all get practised on the floor, because ice time is expensive and limited. The right off-ice tool turns the bedroom or the basement into a training space.
A spinning board. A flat rotation disc that lets a skater practise spinning on the floor: holding a centred position, spotting, and coming out of a turn cleanly. It's light enough to take to the rink for off-ice warm-ups. Bellenae's spinning boards come in 10" and 12". The 10" suits younger skaters and smaller feet; the 12" suits older skaters and larger feet. A spinning board is for rotation only. It doesn't train balance on a moving surface.
A spring balance board. A platform on springs that moves under the skater's feet, so they have to keep making small corrections to stay level. That's the same ankle and core control a skater uses on an edge and in a landing. The Bellenae Balancer is a spring balance board for both feet, with two platforms and three professional-grade springs. The Bellenae Mini is the single-foot version, closer to a landing position.
The Double Spinning Balancer. This one combines both. Locked, it's a double-foot spring balance board. Unlocked, it adds rotation, so a skater can work on turns and spin positions on an unstable surface. Flipped, it becomes a flat raised base with a non-slip mat for two-foot drills. It's designed for intermediate to advanced athletes, including figure skaters training rotational control off the ice. It's the most complete of the three and the right pick for a skater who's already competing.
Who a board is not for: a beginner who's still learning to stop, or a skater whose coach hasn't given them off-ice work. For them, a spinning board is plenty, or nothing at all until they ask.
We wrote a full guide to balance board training for figure skaters, with the drills coaches tend to use.
Single-foot work on a spring board is close to a landing position.
Recovery Gifts
Skating is hard on feet, ankles, knees and hips. Long sessions in rigid boots, repeated jump landings and early starts all add up. Recovery gifts are practical and they show you understand what the sport costs.
A foam roller. For calves, quads and hips after training. A medium-density roller suits most skaters. Very firm ones can be uncomfortable for younger athletes.
Resistance bands. Physios and off-ice coaches often use them for hip and ankle work. If the skater is getting a Bellenae board, resistance bands can be added to the order and attached to the board for strength work.
A warm, comfortable layer for after. A heavy hoodie or a long, insulated coat for the walk from the rink to the car. Skaters cool down fast once they step off the ice.
Ankle strength comes up with almost every skater, and our guide to ankle strengthening exercises for athletes is a good place to start for parents who want to understand what their skater is working on. As always, a skater with pain or an injury should follow their physio, not a gift guide.
Resistance bands attach to the board for strength work.
Competition-Day Gifts
Competition days are long. Warm-up, waiting, performing, waiting for results. The skater needs to stay warm, calm and organised.
A good skate bag. Look for separate compartments, so wet blades and soakers aren't next to the competition dress, and a sturdy handle or wheels for a heavy load. A bag with a ventilated pocket helps boots dry.
A garment bag for the dress. Competition dresses are delicate and expensive. A breathable garment bag keeps them clean and uncreased in transit.
A warm-up jacket. Many clubs have their own. If not, a fitted, warm jacket that's easy to take off quickly before stepping on the ice is useful.
Headphones. Plenty of skaters warm up off-ice to their own music and use it to stay calm before a skate. Check that the competition allows them in warm-up areas.
A good water bottle with their name on it. Bottles get mixed up in changing rooms. A named one doesn't.
Gifts by Age and Level
Young skaters, roughly 5 to 9. Keep it fun and warm. Bright soakers, a named water bottle, mittens they can skate in, a skating-themed book. If they're keen and their coach suggests it, a 10" spinning board is a good first off-ice tool, because it's small, light and easy to use on a hard floor. Supervise the first few sessions.
Pre-teens in a club program. This is often when skating gets serious: more ice time, first competitions, off-ice classes. A proper skate bag, a garment bag for the first competition dress and a foam roller all earn their place. If they've been given off-ice work, the Bellenae Mini or a spinning board fits a smaller budget than a full double board.
Competitive teens. They usually know exactly what they want, so ask. Recovery gear, competition-day kit and a serious off-ice tool are the safe categories. The Double Spinning Balancer suits a teen working on spin positions and jump rotations, because it trains balance and rotation on one board.
Adult skaters. Adult skating is a growing community, and adult skaters tend to appreciate the same practical gifts. A massage ball, a good bag and lessons are always welcome.
Boards come in a range of mat colours, which makes them easy to personalise.
Experiences and Bigger Gifts
For a skater who has most of the gear, an experience can mean more than another item.
A private lesson or extra ice time. Ice time and lessons cost real money, and an extra session is welcome. Arrange it with the coach so it fits the plan.
Tickets to a show or a competition. Watching elite skaters live is inspiring, and a day out together is the kind of gift a younger skater remembers.
A summer camp or seminar. Some families put holiday money toward a summer training camp. If you're considering it, ask the coach which camps they recommend for the skater's level. Our list of top figure skating programs in Canada is a starting point for families looking at bigger programs.
A photo book of their season. Competition photos, test day, the first clean axel. It costs little and tends to be kept for years.
For Figure Skaters
The Bellenae Balancer is a spring balance board for both feet. Three professional-grade springs give a skater a moving surface to work on edge control and landings at home.
See the Bellenae Balancer →The Short Version
Buy for the skater in front of you. A recreational skater wants warm hands, fun things and something with their name on it. A competitive skater wants things that make training, recovery and competition days easier, and one serious off-ice tool if their coach gives them work to do at home.
At the small end, soakers, thin gloves, hair supplies and a massage ball all get used. In the middle, a proper skate bag, a warm layer for the rink and a foam roller are safe bets. At the top, a spinning board, a spring balance board or the Double Spinning Balancer gives a serious skater somewhere to train rotation and balance between sessions. Leave fitted items, like boots, blades and dresses, to the family and the coach.
Handcrafted in Canada by five sisters who danced their entire lives. Every Bellenae board is made to order, so if the holidays are close, a Bellenae gift card arrives by email and lets the skater choose the board that fits their training.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good gifts for figure skaters?
Good gifts for figure skaters are things they use at the rink, in the skate bag or for off-ice training. Small gifts include soakers, thin skating gloves, hair supplies and a massage ball. Mid-range gifts include a skate bag with separate compartments, a warm jacket for the rink and a foam roller. For a competitive skater, an off-ice training tool such as a spinning board or a spring balance board gets used every week.
What do you get a figure skater for Christmas?
Start by asking whether the skater is recreational or competitive, and what the coach wants them to practise at home. Stocking stuffers can be soakers, gloves and hair supplies. A bigger present can be a skate bag, a lesson arranged with the coach or an off-ice training board. Bellenae boards are handmade to order and ship from Ontario in 3 to 9 business days, so order early or give a gift card.
Is a balance board good for figure skaters?
For a skater who trains regularly, a balance board is a useful off-ice tool. A spring balance board moves under the feet, so the skater keeps making small corrections, which works on the ankle and core control used on edges and landings. A spinning board trains rotation. The Double Spinning Balancer combines both. A beginner without off-ice work from a coach doesn't need one yet.
What off-ice training equipment do figure skaters use?
Common off-ice tools include spinners or spinning boards for rotation, balance boards for ankle and core control, resistance bands for strength work, foam rollers for recovery and jump ropes for conditioning. The right mix depends on the skater's level and the coach's plan, so it's worth asking the coach before buying anything for training.
What is a good gift for a figure skater who has everything?
An experience or something personal. A private lesson or extra ice time arranged with the coach, tickets to a skating show, or a photo book of their season often mean more than more gear. If they want a training board, a Bellenae gift card is delivered by email and lets them choose the board that fits their training.
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