How do you ice skate?

Question

Can someone help me? I totally suck at ice skating!!! I get so scared when I get on the ice, and I just can keep myself away from the wall!! Someone please tell me how to get the fear away and teach me how to skate!! please!!!!!

Answer 1

learning to skate can be scary, and learning to move on that slippery surface balanced on thin blades takes a while.

if you are just starting out skating stick close to the rail, but try not to hold onto it all the time. angle the front of your skates out a little and push off one of them, then bring both feet together and repeat with the other foot. make sure you keep your arms up at shoulder height for balance. take small steps to start with then lengthen them as you get more confident, or try scooter steps - just pushing with one foot like you're riding a scooter until you feel confident enough to push with both.

setting goals can be a good idea. for example "i am going to skate 1/4 of the way around the rink without touching the rail". once you achieve this goal then make it a little harder, and keep going until you can move around the entire edge of the rink once without touching the rail.

if you do fall, dont worry and dont be discoraged, everyone falls :) it can be a sign youre learning. if you do fall make sure you dont put your hands out behind you as this can injure your arms. try to land on your butt or thigh muscles and roll when you fall. you will probably slide a bit so that will lessen the fall a little.

also when you go skating make sure you dress warmly: try sweat pants or jeans (thought jeans can get heavy and dont dry fast if they get wet, and they can be hard to move in), a warm jumper, thin socks or tights, and gloves (very handy incase your hands come in contact with the ice!). make sure your skates are tight, but not so much that they hurt and cut off circulation! you should be able to wiggle your toes up and down, and your foot shouldnt slip about in the skate. if they do then try a smaller size skate - skates are often smaller than normal street shoes.

im no expert when it comes to skating, ive only been skating 8 months or so, so it might be a good idea to sign up for group lessons at the rink. it doesnt matter what age you start and theyre really fun :)

I hope this helps
Happy Skating!

Answer 2

First make sure your skates fit you correctly. Your heel should be all the way to the back of the boot without slipping - and there should be enough room in the front to just wiggle your toes. If your skates are too loose, you'll have a hard time balancing as your foot won't be supported (not safe) . . . if you skates are too tight, you'll circulation will get cut off and it will get too painful to skate.

Do this on and off the ice when you do the mat marching below: Keep your knees bent at all times to keep your skates under you. Keep your arms/hands out at 10:10 or 2:50 (like clockhands) for balance and keeping your upper body still. Keep your chin up and don't look down on the ice. Good posture will help a lot - and of course it will look better :)

Find a spot on the rubber mat and practice little marching steps. It will get you used to movement (picking up your feet) in skates but off the ice. When you are ready to skate, go to the doorway and put one hand on the rail. Take a step onto the ice with one foot, steady yourself, and then place the other foot on the ice. Now march like you did on the mats - keep holding on to the rail or let go! March in place til you feel comfortable, then march forward in little steps. Don't rush - take your time - you don't need to go fast. Hopefully this little exercise will give you "just enough" confidence to be able to let go of the rail!

Taking group classes would speed up the learning process. In the meantime, you can look at figure skating technique websites to get an idea of how it's done. Here's one website with videos ttp://www.usma.edu/dpe/courses/IceSkating/FlashSite/01index.htm

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Try small marching steps when you are first beginning. Try just taking a few small steps away from the wall and then marching. Eventually you will become more comfortable being further away from the wall. Once you master that you can begin trying to stroke with the outside of one blade and gliding on the other foot, and then repeating this. Most rinks offer group lessons where you can sign up for the lessons and go learn how to skate. I would inquire your local rink about them if you are interested. Good luck!

Answer 4

Skating is just like walking. So, pretty much walk in the skates except make your strides longer and move your skate sort of outwards when you stride.

The easiest way to get away from the wall is to just get out there and fall down. Falling down isn't bad. You've got the ice there anyways... :) I intentionally fall down with friends--it's loads of fun! I only fall down when I think I'm going to fall down... You need to be comfortable with skating. Get comfortable with the fact that falling won't hurt. Have confidence when you skate...just pretend you know what you're doing.

Have fun, and good luck!

Answer 5

With caution my dear....extreme caution..... Funny thing is - I never learned to roller skate -but ice skating was a breeze, You have to remember what you are skating 'on'. You also have to decide if you want to skate or allow 'fear' to prevent you from the experience. Get someone to give you lessons to start off - you'll get the hang of it.

Answer 6

Ask the owner or a worker at the rink if they have lessons. If you take lessons and are still scared, ice skating isn't the sport for you. You should give it a month or two though.

Answer 7

Try roller blading first for practice, basic movements are more or less the same.

Basically you just keep pushing off in a diagonal direction backwards and outwards with your skate...if that makes sense

Answer 8

It all comes with practice......you have to be on the ice as much as you can then you will get used to it and will be braver.You have to try to skate without touching the wall......try not to skate with big speed.....then try to go to the center.......As much as you skate your feet and body will get used to it.When you feel comfortable enough you can start taking your leg slightly up so that you can move on one leg......You can try to do "eights" with legs but everything should be done gradually......don't push yourself

Answer 9

!. be very awara of your surrondings
just go for it and try it. You never learn stuff untill your fall. i was like that at frist but then when i took lessons and became a advance skater doing all these jumps you have to fall sometime.

take some lesssons at your nearest skating rink. you be in basic one if you live in the us. good luck

Answer 10

well u kinda hafta just do it. make sure ur skates are tight, its easier when their tighter.