How To Ice Skate

Do you get fascinated seeing people, twisting, turning, lifting their bodies and performing stunts on an icy floor? Do scenes of skaters gliding on ice propel your dream of performing your own moves on ice? If yes, then a glance through this article will help your dreams come true. It is important to undergo a training regime before taking up any task. You can’t just get lured away by your fascinations and jump on the ice floor with a pair of skates. This move will help you in no way; rather will make you face disappointment, embarrassment and possible injury. Therefore, it is important for you to undergo proper training in ice skating before stepping on the ice field. If you know how to skate, it will prove simpler to learn ice skating, but if you are a beginner, then you will have to start from scratch. Here are some ice skating tips that will help you take your first step as a beginner towards your dream of skating on ice.

• The first step that should be taken before learning how to ice skate is to find a pair of good skates. Skates which you buy should fit you well. Measure both your feet before purchasing the skates as one can be bigger than the other. Make sure also to measure the width of your foot while sitting down.
• Once you chose the pair of skates, put them on and try and walk with them. Most of the skates come with rinks with rubber matting allowing you to walk. Walk around for a while till you feel the skates are meant for your feet, but don’t forget to keep the skate guard on.
• After the purchasing is over, get on the ice floor and walk around the edge of the rink taking the support of the wall. Walking by the edge of the skating rink will give you the feel of the ice. Learning how to walk will also give support to your ankles and will make you get used to the friction of the ice.
• Once you have mastered the walking part, it is the balance which you need to learn. Stand on the ice floor with your arms spread below shoulder level to learn to balance yourself. Once you find yourself comfortable in the position, bend your knees and move forward. Try not to hold anything while moving your body to this position.
• You can also improve your balance and grip on ice by practicing squats on the ice floor. Stand up straight on the floor with your legs apart at hip distance and arms in front of you. Squat slightly till you find your centre of balance repeating the movement till the time you are comfortable in doing it. Once you are comfortable enough, try and squat down further.
• It is not just balancing which is essential for ice is skating. One should also know how to take the fall. Falling while skating is natural, but how you take the fall will decide whether or not you get any injury. Bend your knees and squat into the dip position the moment you feel you are about to fall.
• Also practice how to stand up safely after a fall. To stand up safely get your weight on your hands and knees and place one foot between your hands. Repeat the action with your other foot and lift yourself up until you are on your feet again.
• The next step in learning how to ice skate is to learn the forward movement. Lean forward on your weak foot and push yourself in a diagonal position with the strong foot. Push yourself with your foot as if you are cutting into the ice. This will force your body forward. Bring the right foot back in position with the left one to repeat the process. You can become more efficient and fast if you try and give an extra flick to the toe at the end of each stroke.
• The skill of monitoring your speed and coming to a halt is also necessary to learn. To stop, place one skate behind you with the toe facing away from you dragging it until you come to a halt. This will shift your balance to a single foot; therefore you need to practice skating on one foot as well.