Saatva x Jackson Ultima: Supporting U.S. Figure Skating on and off the Ice
The 2025 Saatva Skate America concluded this past weekend at the historic Herb Brooks Arena inAt the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Saatva partnered with Jackson Ultima to create a dedicated Recovery Lounge for fans, coaches, and officials—a comfortable restorative space designed to support both physical recovery and mental reset during one of the most demanding weeks of the season. As the Official Mattress Partner of U.S. Figure Skating, Saatva furnished the lounge with its Luna Swivel Chairs, offering competitors a moment of calm between fittings and performances.
The space quickly became more than a place to sit. Athletes lingered, conversations unfolded, and recovery took on a more intentional rhythm. In speaking with the Jackson Ultima team—longtime champions of athlete safety, performance, and customization—it became clear that both brands share a common philosophy: elite performance is built through consistency, quality, and thoughtful design that supports the body over time. For Jackson Ultima, that philosophy has guided six decades of skate innovation. For Saatva, it has shaped over fifteen years of crafting sleep solutions rooted in comfort, support, and recovery.
That shared mindset naturally led to a deeper conversation. During the Championships, Saatva sat down with past American competitive pair skater Mark Ladwig— U.S. Olympic athlete, multi-time U.S. Championship medalist, Jackson Ultima athlete, and now skate technician —to discuss how the right equipment, paired with proper rest, helps skaters perform at their highest level and sustain long, healthy careers. Ladwig’s perspective, shaped by competition at the sport’s highest level and years working closely with today’s elite skaters, offers a powerful reminder that what happens off the ice is just as critical as what happens on it.
Below, Ladwig reflects on legacy, performance, customization, recovery, and why investing in the foundations—whether skates or sleep—can make all the difference.
You competed at the highest level of the sport. When performance margins are razor-thin, what does an elite skater look for in their skates?
Mark Ladwig: Figure skating really is about living on the edge — literally. You’re balancing on a blade that’s essentially a knife under your foot, so support by your boot and blade for consistency is everything. When you lean into any edge, you need to feel the boot respond immediately and reliably. That feedback gives you confidence for every move.
At Jackson Ultima, the goal has always been to create skates that are consistent, supportive, and comfortable — because those three things allow skaters to perform without distraction. When the equipment is right, you don’t think about it. You trust it.
That’s something I really connect with when I think about Saatva as well. Whether it’s a skate or a mattress, you’re putting your full body weight into it. Support and comfort working together aren’t luxuries — they’re essential.
How did wearing Jackson Ultima skates support your confidence and consistency during moments like U.S. Figure Skating Championships and World Championships?
Ladwig: The people behind the brand matter just as much as the product itself. Jackson Ultima represents hundreds of years of combined skating knowledge — and when you lace up, you’re benefiting from all of that experience.
As an athlete, that gave me tremendous confidence. I knew the skates were designed intentionally for performance, safety, and longevity. Today, as a technician working with elite skaters, I see that same care extended to national champions and world-class athletes. The equipment becomes a partner in your performance.
Elite skating isn’t just about training — it’s about recovery. How did rest and sleep factor into extending your career?
Ladwig: Rest is everything. Without it, you’re not sharp, focused, or ready to compete. Sleep is where the body resets — physically and mentally.
For me, sleep was also deeply tied to visualization. At night, once I was fully relaxed and supported in bed, I would mentally run through my program — landing jumps, hearing the crowd, feeling confident. That mental training happened because I felt calm, safe, and supported in my sleep environment.
Your bed becomes a sanctuary. It’s where recovery happens, but it’s also where preparation continues.
How are conversations around athlete wellness and recovery evolving within the figure skating community today?
Ladwig: The sport has become much more holistic, and that’s a positive shift. When I competed, my wife had just given birth three months before the Olympic Winter Games. Managing training, family, and recovery required real support — and today, that kind of support is being normalized.
Athletes perform best when their routines feel familiar and grounded. That’s why I always encourage skaters to bring pieces of home with them — a pillow, familiar bedding — anything that helps maintain consistency on the road. Sleep hygiene isn’t optional at this level; it’s foundational.
What advice would you give young skaters about taking care of their bodies off the ice?
Ladwig: The habits you build as an athlete stay with you for life. Recovery isn’t just about bouncing back after competition — it’s about sustainability.
I always tell young skaters to pay attention to the quiet moments: warming down properly, cooling down after intense sessions, and getting enough sleep. If you’re constantly pushing without recovery, burnout or injury isn’t far behind.
Progress is incremental. It’s not linear, and that’s okay. Sleep, rest, and recovery are what allow you to stay in the sport long enough to truly grow.
Do you see parallels between choosing the right skates and creating the right sleep environment?
Ladwig: Absolutely. Both are about injury prevention, precision, and longevity.
In skating, timing is measured in fractions of a second. If you’re fatigued or unfocused, mistakes happen — and mistakes can lead to injury. The same is true if your equipment isn’t properly maintained or fitted.
Sleep hygiene plays a similar role. If you’re not well-rested, reaction time slows, judgment slips, and risk increases. Preparation off the ice directly affects performance on it.
Jackson Ultima is celebrating its 60th anniversary, while Saatva recently marked 15 years. What does legacy mean in this context?
Ladwig: Legacy is about intention. Jackson was founded by a world champion of figure skating who wanted to build better skates for athletes — and that athlete-first mindset has stayed consistent for six decades.
Legacy isn’t measured by accolades alone. I didn’t finish at the top, but I delivered the skate of my life—and that mattered more than any ranking. It was about executing everything I had trained for, exactly when it counted, on the world stage.
Brands like Jackson Ultima and Saatva understand that success isn’t one moment — it’s the result of thousands of well-supported ones.
Why do partnerships like Jackson Ultima and Saatva matter for the future of figure skating?
Ladwig: Figure skating may look like an individual sport, but it’s a team effort. Equipment, recovery, wellness — all of it works together to support the athlete.
When brands invest in athlete well-being — not just results — they help build sustainable careers and a healthier skating community. That’s the future of the sport, and it’s something I’m proud to be part of.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Saatva and Jackson Ultima
