Prep For The Olympics TV Binges At Eastern Iowa Figure Skating Competition

One thing about 2024: we were all glued to the summer Olympic Games.

Now, we're less than a year away from the next Olympics, which will be the winter Games, in Milano-Cortina from February 6th-February 22nd, 2026.

Figure skating is the most popular sport to watch in the winter Olympics, according to stats from 2021.

It can be a struggle to keep up if you don't know what a salchow is or a combination spin. But you do know that this triple axel jump you've heard about is really hard but super cool if the athlete can do it. And the costumes are pretty.

As a primer for Milano-Cortina 2026, check out a figure skating competition IRL. And luckily for you, you don't have to go very far to do just that.

5th Annual Quad Cities Victory Skate

The Figure Skating Club of the Quad Cities is back with their Quad Cities Victory Skate competition, which will be March 28th-29th at The River's Edge in downtown Davenport.

And it's free. (But I highly recommend the rink's popcorn, 10/10)

These are the competitions that your favorite Olympians start at before you see them on TV. You could see the next member of Team USA, who knows.

The divisions run the gamut, from youth and adults of multiple skill levels. There are free skate events, elements, showcase, and adaptive. It is an Excel Series competition, which gives certain skaters the ability to qualify to compete at a national level.

Events are Friday afternoon/evening from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. You'll likely run into Yours Truly at some point.

You Can Do It Too

I'm a case study that it is indeed possible to learn how to ice skate as an adult and not end up with 500 broken bones. In fact, there are several of us adults in the Figure Skating Club of the Quad Cities.

Check out the City of Davenport's Learn to Skate program. They have classes for all ages and skill levels, including teens and adults. The current session ends in May, so registration will open up sometime before then. Keep an eye on Davenport's registration portal.