Think how cool you’ll be – literally – when you’re cruising around the local ice rink on a hot summer’s day! It will be easier than you think. Here are 7 tips to get you on the ice.
- equipment: Forget jeans – they may seem like a good option to protect you during the fall and keep you warm, but they are a poor choice. You don’t want a stiff fabric that restricts your movements in any way. Put on warm leggings, a T-shirt, a jacket, and gloves. The most important are the sleds. If you’re starting out on a rink, you should probably rent your first couple of visits. Ask for help from an attendant if possible. The skates should feel a little narrow, so pay attention to the width.
- He walks: Keep those blade guards on and walk on the rubber mats on the floor. Get used to the feeling of walking on the blades. If you are wobbly, try to focus on one point in the distance and walk towards it. This gives your body a chance to get it right. When you feel comfortable, go out on the ice. Do a run—or two or more—just walk around the rink while holding on to the rail, and when you feel comfortable, switch to balance.
- balance: Start working on balance. Hold your arms just below shoulder level, bend your knees slightly and lean forward. You should not be able to see your toes and your shoulders should be forward and above the knees. Move forward slowly. Ultimately, speed will help you keep your balance but not quite yet.
- He falls: Yes, it will happen. If you can anticipate a fall, bend your knees and go into a squat. Now you know where you’re going to land – falling backwards is even better! When you put your hands down to break your fall, keep them in a fist. You don’t want to lose your finger to a passing skater. Now, how do you wake up? Start on your hands and knees and move to kneeling on one knee with the other foot forward between your hands. Practice standing.
- Push: You can walk and feel more confident. Now, let’s move on to the first step of that awesome sliding motion. Lean on your weak foot and push off with a diagonal push from your strong foot. Bring your strong foot forward and then repeat again.
- pull out of: Lengthen your strokes and bend your knees. Your body should move with the strokes. Both skis must be parallel and point at the same angle to go farther and faster. Try pretending to be on a fancy snowmobile.
- Stop: You will get tired of running to the railroad. Learn to stop by bending your knees, bringing your skates parallel and pushing off to the side. You both should stop and make a little “snow” on the ice.
you can do that! These simple steps will have you racing like a pro in no time, and at that point you’ll want to look like a skater too. The rink might have new skates for sale or perhaps you could save money by shopping for skates and other equipment (one of those cute mini skirts or real skate pants?) by looking at online skate dealers. You’ve just found a way to stay cool and look great!