Are you ready to hit the ice this winter for a fun skating adventure? You may look forward to visiting the rink or local frozen lake or pond, but the last thing you want to do is actually ‘hit the ice!’ With a pair of Nattork ice skates strapped to your feet and the right safety and cold-weather gear on, you still need the right ice skate tips to keep you safe and upright.
Ice Skate Beginner Tips for Balance
Balancing on thin metal blades is one of the most difficult things for beginner skaters to do. No matter what your age or ability level, learning to skate takes a lot of practice and core strength to keep up on your feet and moving forward. Confidence helps, too. These ice skate tips will help.
First, practice the most comfortable and stable stance on skates. Keep your feet shoulder width apart and lean forward very slightly with knees bent. Do not crouch on the ice, but instead keep your center of gravity over the skates. Do not lean backward.
1 – Stand on One Leg
Once you’ve mastered standing up on skates, pick one foot up at a time and balance on just one. This mimics the pose you’ll need to do to propel yourself forward across the ice. Not only do you improve your balance, but you’ll strengthen your legs, too.
2 – Put One Foot in Front of the Other
You do not want to waddle back and forth while skating. Instead, your feet will follow one behind the other in more of a straight line before pushing off to the side to create the forward motion. Practice walking the tightrope by putting your heel directly in front of the opposite toes. This helps you control your leg movements and balance better.
3 – Do Some Skater Hops
Once you get the hang of standing and stepping forward, build up your balance with tiny hops side to side. Get in the right posture position. Then, jump a tiny bit sideways and land on one foot. Then, jump back the other way to land on the other foot. When you land, bring the opposite ‘up’ foot behind the other. This is the classic speed skater style that can help people of any ability stay upright.
Ice Skate Tips for Balance Building Off the Ice
While all the above-mentioned exercises help once you’ve got your skates on, you can also do plenty of things to improve your balance and strength at home or in the gym wearing sneakers or bare feet, too. These ice skate beginner tips are also recommended for more advanced skaters who want to dance or play hockey.
- Heel and toe walking. Alternate walking with your weight on your heels or toes for a while to strengthen your feet and improve balance.
- Squats and wall sits. Anything that makes your legs, ankles, and core muscles stronger will help with ice skating.
- Ankle rolls. Even with great support in your Nattork ice skates, it’s easier and less accident-prone to have strong ankles. Rotate them gently in both directions.
When you just start out on your first pair of beginner ice skates or when the rink opens or the lake freezes over enough to head out for a new season, take the time to practice these ice skate tips. Balance practice will help you stay warm, dry, and pain-free all season long.