via CBS Money Watch by THERESA AGOVINO
Coaching, at about $8,000 a month, claimed the biggest part Elise's skating budget. Elite coaches can demand between $120 and $150 an hour.
About $1,200 a month was devoted to renting rink space. A trip to Detroit for a competition last year ran up $4,000 in expenses, including bringing a coach. Boots and blades can cost $1,200 a pair, and skaters typically goes through at least two sets a season. A sponsor pays for Elise's footwear.
Costumes are custom-made to blend with the performance's music and choreography. Two such creations are required a season, costing between $2,000 and $5,000. That jumps to between $10,000 and $15,000 when girls reach more senior levels. "If you consider the amount of material on these dresses, these dress makers are really ripping us off," said Freezer. "It's a niche market."
The complete story here > Olympic skating dreams? Better have a bank account