How To: Ice skate

Looking to take up a new sport? How about ice skating? Ice skating is great for the legs and body, and great fun! Follow this advice and you will soon be gliding like a champion.

You Will Need:
• An ice rink
• Padded pants
• Ice skates
• Patience

(Warning: Skate only in areas that have been approved as ice-skating rinks.)

Step 1: Practice falling
Practice falling with your skates on. Tuck in your arms, land on your rear, get up on your hands and knees, and place your feet underneath you one at a time. (*Tip: Practice falls onto the ground before entering the rink.)

Step 2: Learn how to stop
Practice stopping techniques while standing still. Drag one foot behind the other at a 45-degree angle, and shift your weight to the back skate to stop.

Step 3: Stand and relax
Once you're on the ice, stand with your feet six inches apart, toes straight ahead, knees slightly bent, arms out at your sides, eyes forward, and your weight evenly distributed between your skates.

Step 4: Glide
Turn your right foot to the two o'clock position and your left foot to the ten o'clock position. Keep your weight evenly distributed and glide, keeping both skates on the ice.

Step 5: Shift your weight
Shift your weight from one skate to the other once you feel more confident.

Step 6: Practice the one-foot glide
Lift the skate opposite to the one your weight is on slightly off the ground. Keep practicing this technique and you will soon master the beginning steps of ice skating.

FACT: Figure skating was officially a summer Olympic sport in 1908.