Taking the Ice for the First Time

(for the complete beginner)

As a first time skater it is important that your skating boots fit well. The boots should be a snug fit, like a well fitting glove and you should make sure that the heel of your foot is held tight by the boot. As a general rule I would suggest that you try a half size smaller than your general shoe size, this should avoid those awful blisters, which happen so easily when your boots are too large and can ruin your first skating experience.

You should also ensure that your boots are tightly laced. The lower lacing can be fairly lose but from half way up they should be a tight as possible without cutting off your blood supply, especially as the hirer boots are not usually of good quality. Once you have your boots on, I would suggest that you walk around on the rubber at the side of the rink, to get used to the feel of the weight and restraint of the boots. When you are happy with this still off ice, turn your feet to a ‘ten to two’ position with your heels touching and slowly transfer your weight from one foot to the other in a slight rocking motion, with relaxed and slightly bent knees. Also try to ensure that your upper body is upright and relaxed. Your arms could be held to the side and slightly in front.

Now it is time to take to the ice.

Firstly hold the barrier with one hand and step onto the ice sideways, this ensures that your blades will not runaway with and cause you to fall, first one foot then the other. Once you are comfortable turn your feet out into the ‘ten to two’ position that you have already practiced off-ice and again slowly transfer your weight from one foot to the other with relaxed knees as described previously, picking each foot off the ice by about an inch or so and to the count of a slow ‘one and two’. When you feel at ease with this movement it is time to try to move forward. Continue to do exactly the same but this time take each foot half a step forward so that you are placing the heel of one foot to the instep of the other, this should allow your body weight to progress and should carry you forward without having to push. As you become comfortable with this try to stand longer each foot by doubling your count. That means that you count two for each step, this should allow you to glide longer and further. Once you have mastered this and you feel completely at ease then you should try to develop the correct knee action. This means that still with your feet in the ‘ten to two’ position you bend both knee then change feet if possible with a slight push forward, then slowly rise on your skating knee to place the new skating foot down at the instep of the old skating foot and again before doing this you should bend both knees once more. The golden rule is always ‘push’ from a bent knee to a bent knee. Once more try to count slowly and with rhythm, I would suggest ‘and one, two ‘and’ one, two. ‘And’ is the time to bend both knees, ‘one’ is to the time to change feet and ‘two’ is the time to rise slowly on your skating knee which should bring your free foot into the instep of the skating foot, ready to bend and push again. Remember like most sports rhythm and timing is very important and helps tremendously with your coordination. Try to make sure that you skate equally on both legs, it is a common mistake that beginners favour one foot or the other and skate unevenly on one foot or the other. As you gain in confidence try to check that your free leg, (the one on which you are not standing) is straight and turned out and that it is your skating knee that is active.

I hope that this helps and most importantly enjoy your first experience on the ice. Have fun!

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