How to Ice Skate: Basic Techniques, What to Wear & More

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All the info you need to lace your skates and glide on the ice

Co-authored by Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: December 22, 2024 Fact Checked

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How to Ice Skate for the First Time

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What to Wear

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So, you’re thinking about learning how to ice skate—how exciting! Maybe a group of friends wants to go to the rink for the holidays, or perhaps you just always wanted to learn. No matter the case, we’ve got your back! In this article, we’ll teach you the basics of ice skating and give you step-by-step instructions on how to get started. Plus, we even threw in some bonus content on what to wear. No matter your age, with our help, you’ll be gliding on that ice in no time.

How to Ice Skate as a Beginner

Lace up your skates tight.
Stand up straight with your knees slightly bent.
Put your feet in a “V” position with your toes out and heels in.
Push one foot back to glide, alternating feet as you move.
Stop by pushing your feet apart or sticking one foot out sideways.

Section 1 of 2:

Learning How to Ice Skate for the First Time

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1
Warm up first. The ice rink is cold, so it’s important to get your blood pumping and warm up your muscles before skating to prevent injury. Focus on dynamic movements and stretches to get your joints and muscles ready for activity. Here’s what you can do:^{[1]
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- Jog in place for 1 minute.
- Roll your neck from side to side.
- Move your ankles around in a circle.
- Twist your torso from side to side.
- Grab your foot and pull your heel back to your buttocks.
- Kick your legs forward and from side to side.
- Do jumping jacks.
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Lace your skates up tight. Before you get on the ice, it’s important to ensure your skates are on properly. A tightly laced skate helps protect your foot and ankle from injury, so tighten the laces until the shoe is snug over your foot.^{[2]
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- Check the tightness of your skates with your fingers. If you can fit your fingers under the laces, it’s too loose.
- The perfect skate for you isn’t too big or too small. There should be enough room to wiggle your toes.
- Try putting on your skates and walking around off the ice to get used to them on a surface with more grip.
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3
Look straight ahead with your knees bent to maintain your balance. Now that you know the basics, it’s time to start moving! Stand tall with your knees slightly bent and your head up. Keep your upper body over your feet. Hold your hands out in front of you, and point your toes in the direction you want to go.^{[3]
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- Think of it like stacking your hips, shoulders, and head on top of your feet.
- Looking down can throw you off balance, so always keep your chin and eyes up (especially when starting out).
- This position is preparing you to move forward. Plus, holding your body over your skates is a great way to practice and keep your balance.^{[4]
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Step or march to move forward. Skate forward by stepping or marching one foot at a time. Angle your toes slightly out, and make little movements. Push on your skate each time you bring a foot down to propel yourself forward.^{[5]
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- Lean forward slightly to give yourself more momentum and keep your balance.
- Hold onto the rink’s barrier for help if you need it.^{[6]
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Put your feet in a “V” shape and push outwards to glide. Gliding is a form of marching that can help you move faster on the ice. Place your feet in a “V” position with your toes angled outward and your heels in. Take small steps, alternating between sliding one foot forward and back.^{[7]
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- Push harder and faster as you get the hang of the movement to move quicker on the ice.
Stroking is the same as gliding, except you’re extending the motion. Start with your feet in the “V” position. Then, push off with one foot, extending the foot you pushed with out behind you. Bring the extended foot back down and repeat on the other side.^{[8]
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Bring your toes out and in to swizzle. Swizzles are a fun and creative way to get around the ice. Start with your feet in a “V” position. Bend your knees and ankles and press inward. Let your feet move forward and separate with the motion. Straighten your knees and bring your toes together. Repeat this to create a “scissoring” effect with your feet going in and out.^{[9]
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- Keep practicing swizzles until you feel completely comfortable with the move. Eventually, you can start lifting your skates off the ice in alternating patterns as you skate.
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Use your upper body to turn. Turning while on the ice isn’t as hard as it looks! Simply move your head and shoulders ever so slightly in the direction you want to go, and let your feet follow. So, if you want to go right, angle your upper body to the right.
- This isn’t to say your feet won’t move at all while turning. Essentially, the direction your toes are pointed is the direction you’ll end up going.^{[10]
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Before you start moving fast, make sure you know how to stop your skates. Stand with your feet together and push your feet apart, or stick one skate out sideways. This will help stop your momentum and slow you down.^{[11]
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Practice falling. Falling is part of the sport—even the pros fall every now and then! In other words, falling is inevitable. So, get used to this feeling by allowing yourself to fall. When falling, practice these techniques to help prevent injury:^{[12]
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- If you anticipate needing to fall, bend your knees and squat into a dip position.
- Fall sideways, leaning forward, and place your hands on your lap. As soon as you fall, roll over onto your hands and knees.
- One at a time, place your feet between your hands. Then, gently push yourself back up.
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Practice frequently. We know it sounds cliché, but practice makes perfect! The more you get on the ice, the easier skating will become. Just remember, even the pros had to start somewhere, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
- Ice skating can 100% be self-taught! There are hundreds of online tutorials out there to learn from. Plus, the more you get on the ice and learn for yourself, the better you’ll be.
- If you’re really serious about skating, sign up for ice skating lessons or hire a professional or coach to help guide you. Search for lessons or ice skating instructors near you by going to your local rink or searching “ice skating lessons near me” online.

Section 2 of 2:

What to Wear on the Ice

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1
Opt for lighter clothes that are tight-fitting. When ice skating, wear clothes that are easy to move in and aren’t heavy or bulky. Skating is exercise, so your body will get warmer once you move around, preventing you from getting cold on the ice. Go for a fitted top with leotards, tights, or leggings.^{[13]
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- Go with layers that are easy to take on and off. For example, you may start off with a fitter sweater, light insulated coat, or vest, but you can easily take it off to reveal a tight, long-sleeve shirt underneath.
- If you're skating in an outdoor rink, wear similar attire. However, you may want to choose slightly thicker fabrics or add layers. For example, wear a light tank top under a form-fitted sweater.
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Wear socks or tights to protect your feet and ankles. To keep your feet warm, wear either skating tights or microfiber socks. It's important your feet are exposed to as little moisture as possible to keep warm. Use either tights or microfiber cloths when skating.^{[14]
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- Opt for tall and thin socks that go above your ankle and skate.
- Additionally, wearing layers on your feet can help prevent blisters.
- Avoid wearing cotton or fluffy socks, as these can cause blisters and don’t breathe as easily.
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Keep your hands warm with gloves. If your hands get cold easily, don’t skip on wearing gloves! They don’t have to be anything fancy, just something to keep your hands warm. If you get too hot during your skate, you can simply take them off.^{[15]
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- Consider bringing a backup pair of gloves with you. If you fall and touch the ice with your hands, your gloves will get wet, and once they’re wet, your hands will get cold.
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Wear skates that fit properly. Skates should be fitted for comfort and are available in most shoe sizes. When purchasing ice skates, it’s best to have your foot fitted by a professional. So, head to the ice rink or your local skate shop if you’re serious about getting into the sport.^{[16]
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- A skate that is too small can cause blisters and be more difficult to skate in.
- A skate that is too large won’t support your ankle properly and can cause injuries.
- You can rent ice skates when you first start ice skating. This allows you to explore different brands and sizes to figure out what works for you.
- Ensure that the blades on your skates are sharpened before stepping on the ice, as dull blades won’t be as smooth to skate in.
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Think about wearing a helmet for safety. If this is your first time skating or stepping on the ice in a while, wearing a helmet might be a good idea. While this isn’t necessary skating attire, it can prevent injury if you fall on the ice.^{[17]
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- Avoid wearing anything under your helmet.

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When I first got on the ice, I had an anxiety attack. What would help?

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Try going with a friend or family member who is confident with ice skating and can help you along.

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Will you forget ice skating if you haven't done it for a long time or will you remember everything?

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If you haven't skated in a while, it can take a while to get back into it, but over time, your muscle memory will kick in, if nothing else. It can be tricky at first, but you'll find that you'll get the action happening with greater ease than your first time skating. The more you've skated in the past, the more you'll most likely remember - If you have lots of experience with it, the faster it will come back.

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How do I turn on the ice?

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You stop slowly, then twist your body to the direction you want to go. Push off with your leading skate in the direction you want to go, then glide there.

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Tips

If you're renting skates at a rink, ask for a pair with freshly sharpened blades for the smoothest glide.

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When you fall, try to land on your bottom. If you do fall forward, don't put your hands out to catch your fall, or you could break your wrists.

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The best time to skate is when the ice is fresh and smooth after the ice has been resurfaced.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Don't be afraid of falling! Falling isn't a big deal -- you just slip on the ice and get back up. Figure skaters fall all the time, and the less confidence you have, the worse you skate (and the less you want to skate again)! It's okay to fall and mess up, especially when you're learning.
Make sure that your skates are tied properly. Hold onto the wall when you need to, but don't hold on forever because that will become a habit if you keep doing it. The main thing to remember is to push your feet into an outwards position.
As a national champion, I fell twice in my first 10 minutes on the ice today. Falling doesn’t mean you’re bad. It means you’re trying! Just learn to fall safely.
Wearing snow pants when you first start skating can provide some cushion so it doesn't hurt when you fall.
If you feel like you’re going to fall, put your hands on your knees. It helps me!
Wear 2-3 pairs of socks to prevent getting blisters on your feet.

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