Are you wanting to don some skates and take to the ice rink this winter, but aren’t confident in your abilities? Worry not - everyone is welcome on our ice rink here at Woburn Sands Emporium Events! If you’re a beginner when it comes to ice skating, then this is the blog for you.
We’ve put together some of our best helpful tips for you to remember before hitting the rink, helping you to feel more confident from the get-go. Take a look at our tips below - before you know it, you’ll be a pro!
Perfect Your Posture
Balance is key when it comes to ice skating, and the most essential component for maintaining your balance is your posture.
One of the most important things to remember is to bend your knees. You don’t need to be in a full squat, but bending your knees slightly will help to keep your centre of gravity low, thus making you more stable, and will also make it easier for you to glide across the ice.
You should also lean ever so slightly forward - if you bend your knees, then you’ll likely find that you’ll naturally be doing this anyway! This will ensure your weight is balanced over your skates, making your movement more controlled and falls less likely.
Look Straight Ahead
It can be tempting to look down at your feet when you skate, but try to avoid this! This can disrupt your centre of gravity and actually make you more disorientated and wobbly. Instead, keep your gaze forward and focused.
Glide, Don’t Walk!
When it comes to actually skating on the ice, it’s all about gliding. As a beginner, you may be tempted to walk as you would on land, but this is actually more likely to make you fall and can also make the surface of the ice uneven.
Whilst it takes some getting used to, gliding is the best method for skating across the ice. To do this, follow the steps below:
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and a slight bend in your knees.
Gently push off with one foot, keeping the other foot in contact with the ice.
Bring the foot you pushed off with back onto the ice, then repeat the process with the other foot, so that this one now pushes you forwards.
Repeat all these steps, alternating between your feet - et voila!
Stopping Safely
Once you’re feeling more confident with your gliding, you also need to learn how to stop safely on the ice. The best way to do this is using what’s known as the ‘snowplough stop’ method.
To do this, you should start by gently angling your toes inwards as you're gliding to create an upside down ‘V’ shape. As you’re doing this, press the inside edges of your skates down into the ice, doing so gradually and gently to bring you to a controlled stop.
Book Your Ice Skating Session Today
So, are you feeling ready to tackle the ice? By following our top tips, we’re confident that you’ll be a skating pro in no time! Why not practise at our ice rink?
Based in Milton Keynes, we offer various ice skating sessions and tickets. Book yours today and don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions.
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