Learning To Ice Skate: 4 Tips To Glide Like A Pro
Watching Olympic figure skaters deliver their programs with perfection and precision can inspire many to take the ice. It’s not until you lace up those skates and you jump on the ice before you realize the sport isn’t so easy after all. Ice skating requires balance, strength, coordination, and courage to learn. While becoming a competitive skater takes years of practice and training, it doesn’t have to take forever to learn how to glide effortlessly and skate with enough style to move around Rockefeller Center in New York City.
Properly Sized Skates
Before you can skate with ease, you need to be in skates that fit you well. Don’t be afraid to try on multiple pairs of skates to get the right fit. Usually skates can run larger than typical shoes, so go for a size or two smaller than your street shoes. Ice skates are also very strong boots with blades attached to them, so getting accustomed to the strength and stiffness of the boot before you start bending like crazy can help alleviate injuries and strain.
Stay Low
You want to stay low as much as you can to be close to the ice. Staying low means you can reduce the impact of every fall you encounter. Ice skating is all about bending the right way. You want a slight bend since it helps maintain your balance and keeps you loose. Balancing is a lot easier when you don’t have locked knees.
Baby Steps On Ice
Walking is the first step on the ice. Every other step you take on the ice is just an extension of the baby steps you take. Put your feet close together and take baby steps forward. Small steps to get you moving is what’s going to get you gliding. Eventually, your body will know how to push yourself forward and stroke with every step.
Utilize Your Hands And Arms For Balance
Ice skating is a full body experience. You must bend at the knees, straighten your back, keep your head up, and use your hands to help you balance. It’s almost as if you’re walking a tightrope and your hands are what hep you find your center. Take those baby steps and use your arms to keep yourself upright. As time goes on and you get used to the feeling of the ice underneath your blades, you’ll take bigger steps that lead to stronger strokes on the ice.
Gliding on ice is the most wonderful feeling. Going from one end to the rink to the other effortlessly and with such ease can bring peace and freedom. Ice skating can be a therapeutic way to improve your overall well-being. It can help develop your confidence, increase your courage, and strengthen your body on every level. Whether it’s your core, upper body, or your legs, your body is going to appreciate the exercise the ice gives you.
