We're excited to encourage you to come back and keep building your skills. We created this guide, Getting to know the ice; your first month, to do just that! We're here to help you take the next steps in your skating journey. For the best results, try to skate at least one hour, 4-6+ times this month to acquire the skills in this guide. This will set you up for success in learning the skills in our next guide. Of course, all skaters learn and  progress at their own pace and results will be as individual as we are!

This guide is designed to teach you the basics of Safety on the ice, and help you get started with balance and some control on the very basic skating skills. We hope you will have a great time and decide you'd like to move on to our next guide and maybe even try some group lessons! 

Pointer for Parents

This is a great time to invite a friend! Starting your skating Journey with a friend who is also a beginner can be more than just fun, you should also consider that sharing the cost of private lessons in the future can make personalized instruction more fun and affordable!

Embarking on your first month of ice skating is an exciting journey filled with new challenges and rewarding milestones. We’re here to guide you through the foundational skills outlined in the Basic 2 level of the Learn to Skate USA curriculum,  ensuring you build a solid base for your skating skills.

Laying the Groundwork

We’ll focus on teaching you to fall and get up safely, the “Blade Basics” that you need to know and your first essential skills that introduce you to the ice.

Safety First - What to Wear: 

• Wear A Helmet:

  All skaters regardless of age should wear a helmet when learning to skate through the beginning levels of any skating program. We recommend Skaters choose one of these helmets recommended by the Consumer Products Safety Commission: ASTM F1447; Snell B-90A, B-95, N-94. Check the fine print for certifications. Make sure your helmet fits comfortably with a snug fit. Helmets should be worn low in front to protect the forehead. • Secure the chinstrap and check the adjustment often for protection during falls.

• Wear Knee Pads and elbow pads:

  You may want them for protection from falls and while learning to get back up correctly.

• Wear Gloves:  Not only for warmth but for protection too. 

What to do:

Learn how to sit down and stand up on the ice to prevent injuries.

In skating we all fall, but it’s how we get up that counts! At Edge Up Ice we take safety seriously! Please practice these techniques before getting on the ice!

1. Safe Place: Let’s start in our “safe place” position. Start by standing with your feet parallel to each other about a hips width apart and arms stretched out in front of you. Slowly push your bottom back while bending your knees and ankles.  Slowly lean slightly forward, and grab your knees. Try this a few times until you get the hang of it. 

2. Falling: Next lower yourself close to the floor and gently relax as you “fall” to the side on one bottom “cheek”. Try to avoid falling forward or backward. To protect yourself from hitting your head, try tucking your chin to your chest.Try not to use your hands to break your fall. 

3. Getting back up: To stand up, roll onto your hands and knees “like a puppy Dog”. Place one foot on the ice between your hands. Then, place your other foot on the ice between your hands, and slowly push to a standing position, with your knees slightly bent, until you find your balance.

Blade Basics:

Understanding the basics of your skate blades is crucial for developing strong skating skills. Each blade has two edges—the inside edge (the edge closest to the inside of your foot) and the outside edge (the edge closest to the outside of your foot). 

Skaters use these edges to turn, glide, and push efficiently. The hollow refers to the concave shape of the bottom of the blade, created by sharpening; a deeper hollow provides more grip but less glide, while a shallower hollow allows for more speed with less friction. 

The rocker is the slight curve along the length of the blade, which affects maneuverability—blades with a larger rocker (flatter profile) provide more stability, while those with a smaller rocker (more curved profile) allow for quicker turns. 

Finally, the toe picks, located at the front of the blade, help with jumping and stopping, but beginners should avoid using them for basic skating, as relying on them too much can lead to tripping. Understanding these blade components will help you feel more in control on the ice as you develop your skills.

Your first skating skills!

• Marching Forward: Begin by skating forward in a marching action. Bend your knees and ankles and turn out your toes slightly while marching across the ice. As you  get accustomed to the ice, gradually push harder to increase your speed as your confidence grows.

• Two-Foot Glide: Practice gliding with both feet on the ice to develop balance. After gaining some confidence in your marching, and have gained a little speed, “freeze” your feet to glide! Keep your feet parallel and your arms in front and bend your knees slightly for balance.

• Dips: Perform dips by bending your knees while keeping your upper body straight. Once you've got your glide on, let's take it down to a “Dip”. Just bend your knees to your sitting position and stretch your arms out in front of you. 

• Forward Swizzles: Start standing with both your arms and feet in a V position with your knees bent. While standing with your weight on the middle-back of your blades, lean your feet in towards each other and push out and down with your inside edges then straighten your knees and pull your toes together to create a “lemon” or “football” shape that then becomes a two foot glide. Keep repeating this action to gain speed.  

• Wall push- Backward two foot glide: Stand facing the wall with your feet parallel and knees slightly bent. Push lightly against the wall to glide slowly backwards balancing on the balls of your feet. Keep your arms stretched out in front of you at about waist level.  Try to glide backwards at least as long as you are tall.   

• Backward Wiggles:  Do a wall push backward two foot glide. While balancing on the balls of your feet, wiggle your hips against your shoulders and push backward using your inside edges while shifting your weight from foot to foot. 

• Beginning Snowplow Stop: Learn to stop by holding on to the wall pushing the inside edges of your skates outward across the top of the ice creating a small snow pile. Do this with one foot at time to practice a “one foot Snowplow stop” and with both feet at the same time to practice a two foot snowplow stop.

• Snowplow Stop: Start by doing a few forward Swizzles to gain speed. Do a two foot glide and begin your stop by standing with your weight on the middle of your blades with your knees slightly bent and pushing the inside edges of your skates outward, creating friction. This will cause you to stop. 

• Two foot hop: Start with your feet parallel and about a hips width apart. Bend your knees and ankles with your arms stretched out in front of you. Push down through your hips, knees, and ankles and by pressing into the ice,  quickly push up through your toe picks into a small hop. Bend your knees and keep your balance centered over both skates to land.

• Helicopter Spin: Start by marching in a circle with your arms out like a “helicopter” Most find it easiest to march in a counter-clockwise direction. After gaining some speed, stop marching, turn your toes slightly in towards each other and pull your arms in like a hug!

Key Tips for Success:

Developing these key tips into your skills will make it easier to progress to more advanced skills with Confidence!

• Posture: Good posture is key! Many beginners tend to lean too far back which increases the risk of slipping. Keeping your weight slightly forward over your skates will give you more control and security. Keeping proper skating posture will create correct technique and will help with balance, stability, control and overall confidence. The main elements of skating posture are:

  • Keeping your head up and looking in the direction of travel

  • Keeping your shoulders down and relaxed

  • Keeping your back straight and core engaged

  • Keeping your arms in front Keeping your knees and ankles bent

• Balance: Maintain a slight bend in your knees and keep your weight centered over your skates. Engaging your core muscles will help stabilize your movements.

• Speed Control: Start slow and focus on controlled movements. As you gain confidence, gradually increase your speed.

• Knee and Ankle Bend: Keeping your knees and ankles slightly bent enhances stability and allows for smoother gliding.

• Body Lean: Lean slightly forward from your ankles, not your waist, to maintain proper posture and balance.

At Edge Up Ice, we emphasize the importance of consistent practice and patience. The more you practice, focusing on mastering each skill before moving on to the next will lead to steady progress. We recommend skating between 4-10+ times in your first month on the ice.  Most importantly, remember that every skater progresses at their own pace, so celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem.

Embarking on this journey is a commendable step toward mastering the art of ice skating. With dedication, practice, and the support of friends and coaches, you’ll find yourself gliding with confidence and grace in no time. Enjoy the process, and happy skating!

What to wear:

• Safety Helmet

• Long sleeve wicking shirt

• Sweatshirt

• Jacket

• 2 pr. Gloves

• Long pants or leggings

• 2 pr. Thin Socks 

• Knee pads

What to Bring: 

• Water bottle

• Kleenex 

• Healthy High energy snack

• Camera or phone