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If you want to learn how to ice skate either for your own enjoyment or because you are considering trying figure skating, speed skating, or ice hockey, then this page will help guide you through the basics.
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Ice Skating Tips
- Focus more on proper fitting ice skates then the type of ice skates.
- Learning how to fall is essential for every skater.
- Skating forward involves pushing off and gliding.
- There are several different ways you can stop on the ice.
- Once you learn the basics, you can move to more advanced moves.
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Introduction
- When the temperature drops and the snow begins to fall, most of us like to burrow under a blanket on the couch. However, your exercise routine doesn't have to disappear with the leaves. Ice skating is a wonderful way to keep in shape and get outdoors in the winter (or in the summer if you happen to live near an indoor rink). It doesn't matter if you are young or simply young-at-heart. Many people are discovering the joy of skating for the first time as adults.RedOrbit: More Adults Turning to Ice Skating (January 10, 2005) There is no better time to start learning the basics. Who knows, you may decide to keep at it and try your hand (or skates) at figure skating, speed skating, or ice hockey.
What You'll Need
- In order to ice skate, you will need a pair of skates and some warm clothing. However, before you rush out and purchase a brand new pair, you should consider renting or buying them used. As you progress as a skater, your needs will change and require you to purchase different skates.U.S. Figure Skating:Buying the Right Figure Skates for Your Child
Proper Clothing
- Your clothing will depend on where you are planning on skating. Indoor arenas will be between 50 and 60°F.U.S. Figure Skating: Information for Skaters Expect outdoors to be much colder.
- Wear layers.Figure Skater's Website: Clothing Guidelines You may need to discard a layer if you get warm.
- Wear clothing that is comfortable and allow you to move.U.S. Figure Skating: Information for Skaters
- Don't wear thick or bulky socks because they may interfere with the support of your skates.Special Olympics: Figure Skating Quick Start Guide
- Gloves or mittens are a must.Figure Skater's Website: Clothing Guidelines Not only will they keep your hands warm, but they will offer some protection when you fall.
- A helmet is a good idea for any beginning skater and essential for children.U.S. Figure Skating: Information for Skaters
Hockey or Figure Skates
- As a beginner, it will not matter if you are wearing hockey or figure skates.Everglides: Ice Skates The basics can be learned on either skate. Think of it like learning to ride a bike. You can learn how to ride on any bike, but as you advance you will need to purchase more advanced equipment. The same is true with skating.
- Figure skates have a longer and heavier blade with a toe pick at the top.About.com: Difference Between a Hockey Skate and a Figure Skate The boot is usually leather with a heel. Figure skates are more expensive than hockey skates and cannot be worn to play hockey.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Questions and Answers - 1.2 Should I Buy Figure Skates or Hockey Skates?
- YouTube Video: Figure Skating Freestyle Hockey Dance (Time: 3:57)
Ensuring the Proper Fit for Your Skates
Proper Posture
- To begin, you will need the proper posture. Without it, you will find it difficult to maintain your balance. Although it can be tempting, don't lean forward because it will make you fall forward.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.1 First Time Out Good posture requires the following:
- Chin up.MSN Encarta: Ice Skating
- Body upright.MSN Encarta: Ice Skating
- Knees slightly bent.MSN Encarta: Ice Skating
- Chest out.Everglides: Learn How to Skate
- Hips over your heels.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.1 First Time Out
- Hands and arms to your side, slightly out.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.1 First Time Out
- Weight over the instep, not toes or heels.Everglides: Learn How to Skate
- If you have hockey skates, you will need to keep your weight further to the front of these blades because they lack the tail of figure skates (making it easier to slip if you lean too far back).Everglides: Learn How to Skate
How to Fall
- When falling, either planned or unplanned, it is important to try to land on the muscles of your thighs, shoulders and arms.
- Bend your knees and squat into a dip position.About.com: Falling and Getting Up on Ice Skates
- Tuck your chin in.Special Olympics: Figure Skating Quick Start Guide
- Roll off to one side, leaning forward.About.com: Falling and Getting Up on Ice Skates
- Avoid hitting your tailbone, knees and elbows.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.2 Falling and Protective Equipment
How to Stand Up
- After falling, your next step is to learn how to get up. Of course, trying to stand up on ice is not always easy. There are two ways of doing it:
- Roll over onto your side.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.1 First Time Out
- Assume a kneeling position with your hands and knees flat on the ice.Special Olympics: Figure Skating Quick Start Guide
- Bring one foot and place it between your hands.About.com: Falling and Getting Up on Ice Skates
- Raise your body up slightly and place your other foot next to the first one. Remain in the crouch position.Special Olympics: Figure Skating Quick Start Guide
- Slowly straighten your knees until you are standing up.Special Olympics: Figure Skating Quick Start Guide
- Another method you can use to get up is very similar to the first:
- Assume a kneeling position with your hands and knees flat on the ice.Special Olympics: Figure Skating Quick Start Guide
- Bring one foot and place it between your hands.About.com: Falling and Getting Up on Ice Skates
- Place your hands on your knee.About.com: Falling and Getting Up on Ice Skates
- Push down on your knee and stand up.YouTube Video: How to Ice Skate: How to Stand Up on Ice (Time: 1:02)
Skating Forward
- The move that allows a skater to move across the ice is called stroking. A stroke involves pushing forward and gliding.MSN Encarta: Ice Skating It is essential in all types of skating, be it for figure skating or hockey. Here is how you push off.
- Start with both feet facing forward, shoulder width apart.YouTube Video: Skating Forward in Ice Hockey (Time: 1:09)
- Place one foot slightly behind the other.
- Your arms can be straight out to the side or relaxed at your sides.DPE Ice Skating: Forward Stroke Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.5 Stroking
- Angle your back foot so the toe is pointing out.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.5 Stroking
- Transfer your weight to your front foot.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.5 Stroking
- Push with the side or edge of the blade of your back foot.DPE Ice Skating: Forward Stroke
- Glide over the ice. Glides are one or two foot movements across the ice.Special Olympics: Figure Skating Quick Start Guide
- Bring your feet together and repeat.
Stopping
- Once you have learned how to move forward, you will need to learn how to stop. There are several different ways you can stop. The three most popular are the snowplow stop, hockey stop and the t-stop.
Snowplow (Snow Plough) Stop
- A snowplow stop can be done with one or two feet. It is one of the easier stops to learn.About.com: Snowplow Stop
- Bend your knees slightly.Everglides: Learn How to Skate
- Point your toes toward each other while pushing your heels out so your feet make a "V" shape.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.3.1 Snowplow Stops
- Pressure should be applied evenly on the inside edges of the blades.DPE Ice Skating: Snow Plow Stop
Hockey Stop
- The hockey stop is also called the parallel stop. It is impressive, but not as easy as other stops.Everglides: Learn How to Skate In order to complete it, you will need to turn your skates 90° very quickly.About.com: Hockey Stop Here's how you do it.
- Start by gliding on two feet and bending your knees.DPE Ice Skating: Hockey Stop
- Bring your feet together.
- Rise up slightly with your knees.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.3.2 Hockey Stops
- Turn your feet and hips in a 90° angle.Everglides: Learn How to Skate
- Use your upper body to counterbalance and keep your shoulders parallel with the ice.Robby Glantz International Power Skating: Forward Stop
- MonkeySee: Ice Hockey Stops (Time: 2:33)
T-Stop
- The t-stop is a two-footed stop during which one foot is placed at an angle behind the other. It is difficult, especially for beginners, to do a good t-stop. Here's how to do it:
- Glide forward on one skate.About.com: T-Stop
- Lift your other foot about an inch off the ice.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.3.3 T-Stops
- Bring the other skate (known as the braking skate) toward the heel while turning it so it is at an angle.DPE Ice Skating: T Stop
- Place the braking skate down behind the gliding skate by shifting our weight back onto it.Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.3.3 T-Stops Be careful not to touch blades.
- The more you lean back, the quicker your stop will be.Everglides: Learn How to Skate
Three-Turn
- A three-turn (3-turn) is a one-footed turn from forward to backward (or vice versa) which makes the shape of a three on the ice.Figure Skating Journal Glossary: Turns and Glides To learn more, check out the following links:
- Jimmy Young Ice Dance Tips: Outside 3 Turn
- Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.8 Forward 3-turns | Basic Skating - 2.9 Backward 3-turns
Intermediate Moves
- Once you learn the basics, you will naturally want to learn more advanced moves. Here are a few to get you started:
Mohawk Turn
- A Mohawk turn is a two-footed turn from forward to backward (or vice versa) where each foot is on the same edge of the blade.Figure Skating Journal Glossary: Turns and Glides To learn more, check out the following links:
- Jimmy Young Ice Dance Tips: Mohawks
- Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.10 Mohawks
Crossovers
- A crossover is a move that starts on the outside edge when the free foot passes in front of the other foot and is placed on the inside edge.Special Olympics: Figure Skating Glossary It may be either forward or backward. To learn more, check out the following links:
- Recreational Figure Skating FAQ: Basic Skating - 2.7 Forwards and Backwards Cross-overs
- DPE Ice Skating: Stops & Crossovers
- Expert Village: Crossover Skating in Ice Hockey (Time: 1:03)
- YouTube Video: How to Ice Skate: How to Do a Backward Crossover on Ice Skates (Time: 2:52) | How To Do Backwards Crossovers (Time: 3:40)
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