With the holidays quickly approaching, I’ve put together some ice skating tips for beginners. I have been teaching skating for the past four years. After teaching my fair share of beginning or fundamentals classes, these are some of my essential tips.
1. Prep before skating
Prep before getting on the ice is just as important as the skating itself. I recommend wearing long socks to protect your feet from the rental skates. Then, lacing or buckling the skates for a snug fit will provide you with the maximum ankle support. Additionally, I suggest wearing gloves not only for warmth, but also to protect your hands if you fall. Lastly, get comfortable walking around with the skates off the ice and standing up from the ground with them.
2. Balancing on the ice
Stepping on the ice for the first time or after a long time can sometimes make you a bit nervous. The best way to get moving once you step on the ice is to take marching steps. If you feel like you’re losing your balance the best thing to do is bend your knees and place your hands on them to regain control. I like to call your arms your steering wheel, meaning you tend to go where your arms go. Therefore, the best place to put them is in front of you to prevent you from falling back and keep you going straight ahead. And although it may be scary, try to look straight ahead and keep your head up instead of looking at your feet.
3. Practice makes perfect
It is perfectly normal to fall when you’re skating. It happens to everyone from beginners to professionals. At the end of the day, it’s how you improve. With practice you will learn from your mistakes. Then, ice skating will become second nature to you like when you swim or ride a bike.
Hopefully, you found these ice skating tips for beginners helpful and you enjoy the upcoming holiday festivities!
