by Vicky Ann Smith

Created on: January 21, 2008

Thousands of people enjoy ice skating every day all around the world and all year round. If you have never skated before, beginner lessons will provide you with the technique needed to stand and glide on the ice. Don't be afraid, everyone falls over and even national champions started as beginners.

Every ice rink offers beginner lessons from individual tutorials to group sessions; you'll start by finding the right skate for your foot, try a few on as the sizes may differ slightly to shoe sizes.

Artificial ice rinks have the benefit of a wall around the edge on which you can support yourself as you get the basic momentum and to stop you when you can't slow down. This is a safe environment for your first lessons but some parks and organizations may provide lessons on outdoor rinks during winter.

Listen to your tutor, they will advise you on basic safety and etiquette; wear a warm layer you can remove if you sweat, you'll be using a lot of energy. The first key will be learning to control the skate on the ice, small steps. You will be taught about the different edges on the blade, how they let you turn, speed up or slow down. How to stop properly will be practiced early on and recapped in most lessons.

Your whole body is involved in ice skating and holding it in subtly different positions makes basic moves such as turning corners easier; watch how the other people in your group move and follow your tutor closely. For the first few lessons you will concentrate on moving forwards, turning corners and stopping, don't worry if you feel you are not picking it up, keep practicing, it often takes time simply to gain balance on the ice.

Once the basics have been mastered and depending on how many lessons are in the beginner program you may move on to backwards skating and more advanced moves ready to impress your friends.

To find beginner classes in your area ask in the local ice rink or search on line; the U.S Figure Skating Program offers basic skills lessons all over the United States. If you feel too nervous to learn in a group opt for the individual tutoring and in a few weeks you'll be freely skating over the ice.

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