How to Ice Skate
Are you fond of watching figure skaters glide their way gracefully on ice? Figure skating is not as hard as most people think it is. Just like in any other sport, practice and patience are needed to master the skills of ice skating. Here are some easy steps you can follow to learn how to ice skate.
Things You’ll Need:
A good pair of ice skates
Warm clothes
A safe place to skate
Preparations
ice skates
Choose a good pair of ice skates. Ice skate rentals may be enough for starters. If you want to buy your own, be sure to get a good one. The skates should fit perfectly on you.
Dress in warm clothes. You have to be comfortable when ice skating. You wouldn’t be able to skate properly if the temperature bothers you.
Stretch. Warming up is very important before performing any activity. This will prevent you from straining your muscles.
Lace up. Make sure to secure your ice skates. Loose ice skates will make it harder for you to glide on ice. Having it too tight will be uncomfortable.
Balancing and Walking
When you get on the ice, practice balancing yourself. Stay close to the rail and use it to keep your balance.
Once you’ve gained your balance and are comfortable enough, slowly walk away from the rail.
This may feel a little awkward, but you’ve got to learn how to walk first before you learn how to glide.
Walking on ice will help you get used to how the ice feels under you.
Gliding
When you’re done with balancing and walking, gliding is the next thing you should learn to do.
Put your weight on your non dominant foot. With your stronger foot, push forward in a diagonal direction, then bring the other foot in.
Do the same thing on your other foot.
Try making longer strokes when you’re comfortable with gliding already.
Move your body with each glide you make.
Dipping
This technique will help you improve your balance.
Start off with a glide then put your feet parallel to each other.
Squat. You may either extend your arms forward or try to touch tips of your skates.
Remember to keep your arms and bottom on an equal level.
Stopping
Learning how to stop correctly when skating is very important to avoid accidents. You can use the toepick or do a snowplow stop.
The Toepick Stop
Drag one foot behind you with the tip of the skate touching the ice.
Wait till you come to a full stop.
Remember to keep your balance as your full weight will be transferred on your gliding foot.
The Snowplow Stop
With feet a few inches apart, try to scrape a small amount of ice to make a snow using the flat of your blade.
Don’t forget to bend your knees and add friction when doing this stop.
What You Should Know
Hockey skates are heavier than figure skates. The main difference between the two is that hockey skates don’t have a toepick.
Ice skates are lighter and are made of different layers to provide adequate protection to your feet.
Toepick is located at the tip of the blade. It has an edge that can be used for stopping. It can also be used to do various jumps and routines in figure skating.
Balance is essential to ice skating. You will never be able to perform all the other basic steps if you don’t know how to balance. It’s also important to learn how to relax and be comfortable on the ice. Being nervous and afraid will only get you as far as the entrance of the ice skating rink (Want to build your own skating rink, read how to make a skating rink). Practice the basic steps and keep in mind that there’s fun in falling.