What to practice?

Question

I am new to ice skating and I am starting lessons very soon. I can skate forwards, forward crossovers, and forward and backwards swizzles and wiggles. I go to the arena every day for about 25 minutes. What are some new things for me to practice that isn't too hard for a beginner. Tips on how to do it and links would be appreciated! Thanks!

Answer 1

Once you start lessons, you will have a whole list of things to practice!

It's great you can already do some moves, but you need to make sure you are doing them correctly - and that's what lessons are for. Practicing with incorrect technique can lead to bad habits that will need fixing down the road. It's best to "practice" moves you learned the proper technique of . . . otherwise, just have fun "trying" new things on the ice until you get proper instruction.

I would not try jumps or spins right now (well maybe a 2 foot spin). Try two foot glides, then one foot glides - both sides and backwards . . . but these may be things you can already do. See if you can go in a straight line. With crossovers, do them both directions. And how about stops (very important!). There's 2 foot snowplow, 1 foot snowplow (try both legs), and T stop, for now.

Here is a link for instruction and video of some beginner moves (I think it covers most I mentioned above)
http://sports.expertvillage.com/interviews/advanced-ice-skating.htm

What may be fun too, is trying to make all the things you already know how to do look "artistic". Do them to the music in the background during public session and turn them into showy moves. Like with swizzles, you can use your arms to make flowy swim type moves, or swoop them up and down like an opening/closing flower . . . etc etc. My point: it's one thing to be able to do a move, it's another to be able to do it well, and then it's another thing to be able to make it look good!! :)

It sounds like you're already dedicated as you're going to the rink everyday . . . good for you!! Best of luck when you start those lessons - it'll gonna be fun!!!

Answer 2

I'm sure by the time you read through all of these answers, you'll be taking lessons. By then, you should be regularly conversing with a coach. I think that'll help you figure out what you should work on everyday, as well as what to do for warm-ups and off-ice training. Otherwise, always start out with easy things-things you know how to do to warm up. If you're practicing for only about 25 minutes, then you can start with harder tricks 15 minutes into your practice. Don't go into hard stuff right away, that's a straight path to injury.
Make sure you practice your crossovers, swizzles, everything. Start with two foot spinning, get comfortable with that-tucking arms in, keeping center of balance.
You can start with jumps too, I bet you'll learn the Waltz jump in your lessons. That's the easiest jump, but still, it's a jump. Don't go all out and jump hastily. You know what'll happen. :)
Good luck, and hopefully you'll be happy with your skating.

Answer 3

Concentrate hard on getting your forward and backward crossovers as equal as you can both clockwise and anti-clockwise with your back nice and straight, head up and arms in correct positions as to perfect these essential basics is a must. You will use them forever! style is a big plus!! perhaps a forward spiral, straight line, then on an outside then inside edge of the blade making a curve shape - on both left and right legs. good luck and work hard. look at more advanced skaters you admire or that have caught your eye and ask for some tips-you'll find that most are happy to spare 5 minutes here and there (perhaps at the end of a practise session or during club group tuition times). i ice skated for 20 years-i left school at 15years old to train full time. i gave up in 1993 but skate 'in my mind' everyday especially when i hear music!

Answer 4

Once you begin lessons you will have plenty of things to practice. I would suggest just waiting until lessons begin until you start practicing new things. Good luck!

Answer 5

try backwards pushes, backwards cross overs, one foot spins, and waltz jumps
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/skating/skating3.html
Best of luck! figure skating is alot of fun and determination can get u a long way! also try and learn to stop! i could hardly skate backwards when i started ate age 12 and i couldnt stop! now im doing really well and im sure u r 2! Best of luck!