Ice Skating Lessons: How to Ice Skate

It looks hard from the stands, but ice skating is all about practice. With a little balance, power and a few expert tips, you, too, might become a champion glider! Find out all about ice skating lessons, here!

There are so many winter sports to choose from that it can be hard to know where to begin! But if you’re looking for a sport that provides power and coordination, look no further than ice skating. Whether you want to become an ice hockey player or try a new family activity, there are ways to really glide! Share your tips with other soon-to-be skaters on your favorite family app.

Whether you’re older than 3 or a full-grown adult, you can start lessons or ice skating for beginners any time! Just be aware that children's coordination skills for figure skating and hockey improves around 5 or 6. Anyone can begin to learn skating by going down to the local rink and getting in some practice.

But if you or your child want to take lessons, the costs will range depending on a number of factors. A private ice skating lesson could cost around $20-$50 for a 20-30 minute lesson minutes. This fee will probably include the skate rental, though any additional practice time will cost more money. You could also look for group lessons, which will be more economical, and more fun for younger skaters.

The most important thing when it comes to getting on the ice is the right ice skates. Fortunately, there are only two kinds available: figure skating and hockey skates.

Once you have your skates, you’re in luck as there’s not much else to worry about. All you need to make sure is that you wear fitted clothes that won’t impede forward movement. It’s also a good idea to wear layers so you can change into something cooler as you warm up. You’ll also need gloves so that you can keep your hands warm as you glide!

Ice skating might seem tricky when you’re a beginner. These tips for getting on the rink that will make learning a little easier. Share your own tips with other skaters on FamilyApp!

• Do a Warm-Up – Skating often takes place in a cold arena and that means you’ll need to warm up your muscles beforehand. Start with some simple stretches in a warm space before you hit the ice.
• Look Up! – It’s common to look down at your skates to focus on where they’re going at the ice skating rink. But, the way you look is where you’ll go, so focus on what’s ahead and point in that direction.
• Lean Forward – As a beginner, your first instinct might be leaning back to stay as far away from the ice as possible! However, it’s leaning forward with your knees bent that will allow you to keep your balance while skating.
• Buy the Right Skates – The key to succeeding at any sport is having the gear that makes you feel your best. While rental skates will probably be fine, ensure if you invest that your ice skating boots offer good support.

For the newcomer, it can seem ambitious enough to just get out on the ice skating arena. But, if you really want to skate like the pros, there are ways to bump up your skate style.

• Strengthen Your Arms – How fast you can go is all about strength. Whether you weight train or lift soup cans at home, you should focus on your arms with additional training to your skating lessons. Since ice skating makes you go forward, how fast you can go will determine the strength of your stride!
• Develop Leg Power – Being fast on the ice is about more than just being strong. In order to move fast, you’ll have to develop power! Try jumping rope or doing squats for your leg muscles to capitalize on ice skating benefits. Share your own leg exercises with others on your favorite family app!
• Push Yourself, Literally – Moving fast may be about developing your athletic ability. However, how hard you push with your feet is going to determine how fast you go. Be sure to focus on how hard you push forward and how that movement helps you gain speed.

When you’re in the crowd looking down on the ice, it can seem like skating is easy enough. And, while you can do it, there are things you should keep in mind before you head to the ice! Do you have any tips for learning ice skating? Share them with other newcomers to the sport in our comments! With a little effort and the right approach, you might just be a speed skater soon.