When Joshua Snyder steps onto the ice, there is a quiet sense of purpose—an intensity softened only by the clear joy he feels when he jumps, spins, and powers across the rink. That blend of grit and passion is what carried the 17-year-old skater from the Onyx-Suburban Skating Academy to one of the biggest milestones of his young career: qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in the Junior Men event, after finishing 4th at the Midwestern Sectional Singles Final with a strong 113.96-point free skate performance.
For Josh, the achievement marks not just a competitive breakthrough, but the culmination of years of relentless training, personal growth, and a deep love for a sport he once entered simply so he “wouldn’t embarrass himself” at a public skating session.
Finding His Path on the Ice
Josh’s skating journey didn’t begin with visions of national championships. It began the same way many kids start—through a parent’s gentle nudge. His mother wanted him to feel comfortable on skates. But almost immediately, skating became something more.
“I fell in love with it as soon as I stepped on,” he recalls.
Soon, he was trying jumps in hockey skates—enough for coaches to notice. One Learn to Skate instructor went straight to his parents and said he had real potential. That one comment changed everything. Figure skates replaced hockey blades, and private lessons became part of his life.
Still, competing wasn’t initially part of the plan. But after his first event, the thrill hooked him.
“I loved the experience it brought,” he says. “I decided to take on competitions as a career goal.”
A Skater Built on Power—and Growing Artistry
Josh describes his skating style as “more about power,” though he is actively developing his artistic expression. That mix is visible in his programs, especially this season’s free skate, which he calls his favorite to date.
His favorite element? The Triple Lutz.
“The way it just flows and how it feels when I do it makes it my favorite,” he says.
The jump also played a key role at Sectionals; his opening 3Lz+2T earned positive GOE (Grade of Execution), helping build momentum early in his free skate.
The Work Behind the Results
Behind Josh’s ascent is a disciplined, tightly scheduled routine. As a high school senior, he leaves school early to train daily:
- Warm-ups: foam rolling, jump rope
- On-ice sessions: spins, skating skills, program run-throughs, jump technique, drills
- Off-ice work: CrossFit, running, conditioning
- Recovery: stretching before heading home for homework and rest
The intensity of that schedule paid off this year. One of his proudest moments came at Skate Detroit, where he delivered personal bests across both the short program and combined total.
“It really allowed me to feel confident in myself,” he says. “Even with mistakes, I can still keep going and have a strong program.”
His biggest challenge so far? The same element he now excels in: the Triple Lutz.
And his next target? The Triple Axel—a milestone jump that separates the good from the great and could elevate him on the Junior international stage.
The Breakthrough at Midwestern Sectionals
Josh’s Sectionals performance demonstrated exactly why he’s ready for Junior Nationals.
In a strong field, he delivered a dynamic program featuring:
- A clean 3Lz, earning 7.55 points with high GOE
- A solid 3Lz+2T combination
- A well-scored choreographic sequence
- Mature component scores hovering around 6.0, including a 6.25 in Skating Skills from several judges
His final free skate total of 113.96 secured 4th place overall, which officially qualified him for the 2026 U.S. Championships in the Junior Men category.
For a skater who once questioned whether he even wanted to compete, this is a milestone that represents years of belief—both his own and from everyone who helped him get here.
A Skater Who Understands Resilience
Josh points to one competition in particular as a turning point in his mentality: the 2025 Greater Chicagoland Fall Invitational. After a major mistake in the short program, he fell to 6th place. Instead of folding, he fought back—landing a clean free skate, earning a personal best, winning the segment, and climbing to 3rd overall.
Moments like that shape a competitor.
“I rely on my body to take control, rather than my mind,” he says when describing how he handles pressure. And when things don’t go his way, he resets by “seeing the best in each skate” before channeling frustration into training.
A Life Balanced on Blades and Books
Even with all the hours he spends at the rink, Josh tries to maintain balance—though it’s not always easy.
“School can take over that free time,” he admits, but Sundays often become his chance to see friends and reconnect outside of skating.
His non-skating friends remain surprised at how demanding figure skating is.
“They’re surprised that I train for so long—and that it doesn’t slow down during certain months or seasons.”
And yet, skating has given him more than it has taken.
“I think I’ve missed out on some normal teenage things,” he reflects, “but I feel skating has given me something greater.”
Inspiration and a Sense of Purpose
Josh carries himself with the humility he admires in his idols—Jason Brown and Nathan Chen.
“The way they stay humble through good and bad competitions really inspires me,” he says.
He hopes to reflect those qualities in his own career, and to be seen as more than “just a skater”—as someone with passion, flaws, strengths, and humanity.
Off the ice, that humanity shows in unexpected ways. Josh creates and donates handmade snuffle mats to local animal rescues, helping stimulate shelter animals’ minds when volunteer hours are limited.
Eyes on the Future
After he graduates from high school, Josh plans to enroll in college locally while continuing to train intensely. His long-term vision is ambitious but grounded.
“I see myself competing on the senior stage in hopes of making it to the Olympics,” he says.
And for boys entering a sport that can still feel female-dominated, he offers simple, heartfelt advice:
“Follow your dreams and your passion, no matter what anybody else tells you. You can do anything you put your mind to.”
A Junior Men National Competitor—And Just Getting Started
Josh Snyder may have started skating to avoid embarrassment on public ice, but now he’s stepping onto one of the biggest stages in U.S. figure skating. His qualification to the Junior Men event at the 2026 U.S. Championships is a testament not only to his talent but to his persistence, resilience, and love for the sport.
For Josh, this milestone isn’t the finish line—it’s the launch point for everything he hopes to achieve next.
And as he prepares for Nationals, one thing is clear: he belongs on this stage, and his journey is only beginning.
