Ice skating help? First timer?

Help with first time ice skating?

• (i know i have already asked this, but i want any new answers or if you answered earlier) i am going ice skating soon with this girl. i have never gone before, and she said she is ...show more

• Answer:

  1. Yes, a little. Just don't walk too fast, and you'll be fine. 2. That depends on how stupid you want to be stepping onto the ice! I've seen people stack it straightaway because they just charge onto the ice like hockey players - and of course they fall. If you just step gently on, using the sideboard for support, you should be fine. It will feel a little disconcerting to feel the blade sliding instead of gripping (like a shoe would on a normal surface when you take a step), but you will adjust, kind of slowly. Just keep control of your body, and don't make huge movements in response to slipping. If you feel like you are falling, don't panic and throw yourself forward. It is much safer to fall forward than backwards. 3. Figure skate blades are flatter than hockey blades, which are rocked. The rocked blade makes a hockey skate very unstable for a beginner, where a figure skate blade is more stable. There is a toe pick on the front of a figure blade but on rentals they're normally shaved right down to the point where they're pretty much non-existent. The key is to keep your weight over the centre of the blade, and that way, you shouldn't touch the toe-pick. Don't use it to push, either - all pushing should be done with the inside of the blade.