Find out helpful tips and benefits of ice skating and why we recommend doing this sport. Many people like to spend their free time ice skating in winter. Although each skating rink has a skate rental shop, it's best to get your own. Here are some reasons that prove that it's worth owning your own skates and not renting them:
- Since only you will use the skates, the risk of developing fungal diseases is minimal.
- It is not necessary to use the hygiene socks or plastic bags offered in most rentals.
- Your skates will fit perfectly as you match them to your size.
- If you go to the skating rink often, then the sum of the rental runs into a decent amount.
We'll talk more about how to conduct ice skating training, but now let's figure out the choice of skates and start with their types.
What types of skates are there?
If you look closely at the skates of hockey players, figure skaters and skaters, they all differ from each other. Moreover, there are differences even in the design of the boot, and not only in the blade. To the three main types of skates, which we have already mentioned, walking and children's skates are often added. Now we will consider all these types and choose the best option for a beginner.
Hockey skates
Hockey skates are designed to provide maximum protection for the legs, because this is a rather aggressive sport, and it is very easy to get injured in it. To protect your foot from club or puck bumps, you have to sacrifice comfort. The ice hockey skates are made of tough synthetic materials, and the toe box is specially reinforced with a plastic insert.
At the same time, the leg is securely fixed, and the foot and ankle are protected. In addition to a high degree of protection, hockey skates must provide their owners with maximum maneuverability and high speed. For this, the blade is made in the shape of an arc and there are no teeth on it, so that even with a sharp turn it does not catch on the ice. The minimum contact area of the blade with ice gives high maneuverability, but at the same time it is much more difficult to maintain balance.
If you choose skates not only for simple skating on them, but are going to play hockey, then a lot depends on which sites this will take place on. Professional footwear is designed for temperatures not lower than minus five, and in extreme frosts, boots can crack. If you will often conduct ice skating training in open areas, then you should pay attention to the semi-professional or even amateur collections. They are designed for frost down to minus 20. Note that hockey skates are not the best choice for beginners and can only be recommended for purchase to those who already know how to skate.
Figure skates
These skates have a straight and long blade, which increases the contact area with the ice and makes it easier for you to stand on them. Thanks to the teeth located on the front of the blade, you can stand on tiptoe and perform complex figure skating movements. However, beginners can cling to the ice with their prongs, leading to a fall. But in all other respects, it is a great choice for a beginner.
Boots are most often made of natural or artificial leather. The ankle is well locked into the boot and you will be protected from injury. However, it is worth remembering that the shoes are quite thin and in extreme frosts, the foot may freeze. This can be avoided by using thermososks. We recommend purchasing skates made of genuine leather, as they absorb moisture better.
Walking skates
Outwardly, skates of this type may look like hockey, roller or curly skates. At the same time, their boot is the most insulated of all types. It should also be noted that if they look like hockey, then the arc on the blade is not so pronounced. When walking skates are close in shape to curly skates, the teeth on the blade will be small or completely absent.
Since skates are designed for walking. They are as comfortable as possible, but they are not so good at protecting against injury. In addition, the soft material of the boot limits your ability to perform figure skating elements. Since beginners do not need this at all, they can safely choose walking skates.
Children's ice skates
To make it easier for the child to maintain balance, the blade of these skates is wide and stable. They are suitable for a child between the ages of 4 and 5. Note that there are models with a sliding blade, which provides a stock of three or even five sizes. It is quite obvious that a child who has not previously skated should purchase this particular sports shoe.
How to choose skates?
There are two important points that you should definitely pay attention to when choosing skates, and now we will talk about this in more detail.
- Lacing. With the correct lacing, you will be able to securely lock your foot in the boot. If we talk about the laces themselves, then it is worth using ordinary, cotton laces. In severe frost, the laces made of synthetic materials are constantly untied. The more often the lace holes are located, the more secure the leg can be.
- Sharpening. Newly bought skates are often not sharpened. You should not try to sharpen them yourself, since this procedure is performed on special equipment. It should be said that there are two types of sharpening. The first is called "under the groove" and allows you to achieve maximum maneuverability. You can ride on the edge of the blade and it will, as it were, bite into the ice. The second type of sharpening is a "flat stone", which is designed to increase stability. Beginners should sharpen skates in the second way, and then you can sharpen them.
Here are some more tips for choosing skates:
- To try on skates, take with you the socks that you plan to use while skating.
- Your child should buy skates two sizes larger.
- Be sure to fully lace up your boot when trying on.
- Be sure to walk and squat in your skates to understand how comfortable they are for you.
How to conduct ice skating training for beginners?
Ice skating is fun, but if you don't do it right, you will constantly get bruises and possibly more serious injuries. You should start skating training by learning the skill of transferring body weight from one leg to the other. It is equally important to overcome fear in yourself, as this feeling will only slow down your learning.
There are several effective exercises that you can use to learn how to stand on your skates. The simplest among them is alternating walking on heels, toes, "goose" step, on the outside of the foot, on the left, and then on the right side.
This exercise should precede your skating workouts and you can walk in the above described ways at any time convenient for you. The more often you do this, the faster you will be able to master skating.
The second exercise will be a little more difficult, but also more effective. Put your hands behind your back and put them in a "lock", press them to the body. Then it is necessary to connect the feet and knee joints, assuming that they are glued together. Begin to slowly bend your knee joints while tilting your torso forward at a 45-degree angle. After that, begin to squat slowly, being careful. To keep the feet and knees connected. Find a position in which you are comfortable to be for about ten minutes.
For the next exercise, you need to stay in the same starting position. Take your left leg back and forth to the side and return to the starting position. Perform similar movements with the other leg. It is very important to keep your foot within your stride length. During the movement, the knee joint should bend slightly, but you should not feel strong tension. The foot should drop to the ground smoothly to the toe.
When you decide to go out on the ice for skating training, the body should always be tilted slightly forward. You need to direct your gaze a few meters in front of you, but in no case look at the ground. Try to master the gait of a skater, which will allow you to skate more confidently. You have to force yourself to stop running on the ice and start sliding on it. When this happens, your skating training will become more effective. You also need to master the turns on the ice. Remember that they are always to the left. First, tilt your torso slightly to the left and start shifting your weight onto your eponymous leg. At the same time, it is placed on the outside of the skate blade.
Then the leg is raised and placed in front of the right and as a result they cross. We recommend that you quickly get rid of the habit of jumping while turning. An equally important aspect of your skating training should be your ability to brake. In practice, this is quite simple and all you need to do is push the inside of the skate against the ice while helping yourself with the back of the blade.
But skating backwards is a rather complicated element of skating movement from a technical point of view. At first, you just need to push off the board or bench and roll backwards by inertia. This will allow you to feel the movement from your back on skates.
The next step in training this element is as follows: stand on skates with your back straight, placing one foot in front of the other half a shoe apart. Bend your knees slightly and with your dominant leg at an angle, start pushing off. Moreover, the repulsive movements should be arched. With enough diligence and desire, you can master the technique of ice skating quickly enough.
Check out 12 exercises for teaching ice skating. From them you can build your workout:
