How to Ice Skate

Ice-skating is not only a competitive sport, but can also be a fun activity. The pros make it look so easy, but not everyone is fortunate enough to be a natural at ice-skating. For the majority of us learning how to ice skate takes lots of practice, patience, and determination.

1. Get use to the feel of your ice skates.

Adjusting to the feel of the blades is important because it will affect your overall balance. Practice standing and balancing on your ice skates. Make sure that in addition to standing up that you also sit down and squat in your skates to make sure that they are comfortable in every position.

2. Try walking and getting on the ice. The majority of skating rinks have rubber matting you can walk on as you practice walking and balancing. When you are ready hold on to the wall while you walk around the edges of the ice skating rink to help you get use to the feel and friction of the ice.


3. Try skating a little faster once you find a good balance. To help with your ice-skating position keep your knees bent and your ice skates shoulder width apart as you skate. If you feel like you might fall put your arms out to either side of you to help to maintain your balance. The more comfortable you get on the ice, the faster you can skate. Practice, practice, practice.


4. Learn how to fall correctly. This will keep you from being injured when you actually do fall. To practice falling start off low to the ground in a squat position and first break your fall with your bottom and then break the fall with your hands so you wont injure your wrists. To have the safest fall push your arms out as you fall. To prevent your hands from being ran over by other skaters pull them in quickly after you fall.


5. Practice slowing down and stopping on your ice skates. You need to be in control of your speed at all times and know how to slow down and stop as needed. To slow down and stop put a little bit of pressure on the ice by slightly bending your knees inward and pushing out with your feet. Keep practicing until you become good at stopping.


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