Ice skating is a beautiful and graceful sport as well as being a competitive one.
Some people enjoy it for the exercise, while others learn in order to become professionals, in either figure competitions or sports like ice hockey.
This great cardio workout really works the muscles in the legs and these beginner tips will help you work the body confidently on the ice in no time.
Most people prefer to learn by taking skate lessons.
This can be done through one-on-one lessons using an instructor or through group lessons.
One-on-one training is good for those hoping to take it beyond a hobby with specialized instructions.
Group lesson usually include a variety of people of all ages, just learning the basics and is perfect to help you feel comfortable and confident on the ice.
Make sure that you buy a good pair of skates if you're going to be making it a regular part of your life.
Rental skates are fine for an occasional day at the rink.
But when you are serious about learning and keeping up the hobby, then a good pair of skates is really necessary so you have the right fit for you foot and for a good comfort.
You also want to make sure that you learn how to tie them correctly.
They need to be laced up the right way and they need to be tied comfortably, but tightly.
Your ankles are delicate and need the right support for this very physical activity.
This will also help prevent unnecessary injuries while learning because you'll be spending a lot of time on the ground, and twisting an ankle is easy if the skates are not tied properly.
It is also important to warm up your muscles before beginning.
As with any sport, your muscles need to be stretched a bit before you use them, and this is especially true when you are outdoors in the cold.
Having warm, flexible muscles will also help you skate better and prevent you from hurting yourself.
Practice walking with your skates before hitting the ice if possible.
Most rinks will have an area, usually rubberized but sometimes in carpet, where you can walk with your skates on.
This will help you get used to the feel of them on your feet, but also help you to discover your center so that you can balance yourself.
Do a few squats with them on, to help you find your center.
There are a few "don'ts" you need to know for when you are on the ice.
The most important one is, don't look down.
Many people forget this and watch their feet, forgetting to watch where they are going, which inevitably means they are going to fall.
Another one is, don't lean back.
You thrown your balance off and you'll most likely spend more time on your backside than your feet.
Keep the knees bent to keep from leaning back.
These useful ice skating tips can help any beginner feel a bit more comfortable and confident before they hit the ice.
It is always important that you have fun while you are learning.
It doesn't matter whether you are doing it for exercise or a goal in mind like ice hockey, if you don't have fun; learning will be that much harder.