How to Learn to Iceskate
- 1). Lace your skates so they are snug on your feet and support your ankles. If you tie them too tightly, your feet will go numb, and if the skates are too loose you will not have total control over your movements.
- 2). Move onto the ice, away from the wall. If you fall, you don't want to hit any barriers. Work on the sculling technique first. Stand with your toes pointing out and your heels facing each other, about six inches apart. Keep your knees slightly bent but your ankles strong. Lean forward a bit so your skates move out, away from each other. When your legs are nearly straight, turn your toes and your heels out, so you look pigeon-toed. Continue shifting your body weight forward and back to move. Your skates should glide forward. Once your feet are back to the original starting position, repeat the moves until you are comfortable gliding with the sculling technique.
- 3). Place your right foot's heel against the center of your left foot. Angle your left foot at 45 degrees. Lean slightly forward and bend both knees. Push off with your left foot and glide on the right foot. Slowly bring your left foot next to your right and place it on the ice. You will glide on both feet. Keep your knees relaxed and push off at a 45-degree angle with your right foot so you glide on your left foot. Repeat the steps until you are comfortable gliding and pushing off with both feet.
- 4). Turn the corners using the crossover technique. Get in motion and stay in motion by stroking and gliding. Lean in toward the direction you want to turn. Cross your outside leg in front of your inside leg and transfer your weight to the front leg. Push off with your left leg so you glide on your right. This should get you turning. Repeat the movements until you make the turn. After getting comfortable doing it one way, go the other way and practice doing it with the opposite legs, so if you started making left turns, practice making right turns.
- 5). Practice these techniques until you are comfortable and confident in your forward skating. For backward skating, use the same techniques, just propel yourself backward.
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