List of Ice Skating Skills
Figure skating consists of so many sequences, spins, and jumps, and each of those complex moves is built upon a foundation of basic ice skating skills. As with any sport, even the greatest ice skaters have had to start with learning the basics. Read on to learn about some of the most fundamental ice skating skills.
What Are the Most Important Skills in Ice Skating?
- March forward across the ice
- Sit on the ice and stand up
- Forward swizzles
- Forward crossover
- Forward two-foot glide
- Bunny hop
- Two-foot spin
- Two-foot hop in place
- Forward pivot
March Forward Across the Ice
Marching forward across the ice is one of ice skating’s core skills. It helps you learn how to be stable on ice and not fall. This skill is the absolute first thing every skater will need to learn when starting their figure skating journey. To learn how to march forward, it is important to focus your weight evenly across your foot and take small steps forward at first.
Sit on the Ice and Stand Up
Learning how to sit and stand up on ice is vital in case you ever fall while skating. Skating can be unpredictable, and falling is an inevitable part of it, especially when there are many other people on the ice, which is why knowing how to do it right can help you avoid hurting yourself. If you end up falling, standing up correctly can also help you avoid unnecessary injuries.
Forward Swizzles
Forward swizzles are a core skill that helps with body coordination on ice. It also helps with practicing how to glide on two feet. To perform this skill, you just have to separate your feet, straighten your knees and then move forward and bring your toes together in an inverted V position and make a circular motion with both feet.
Forward Crossover
A forward crossover is a skill that helps with body coordination on ice and proper posture while skating. To learn how to do this particular skill, you must first learn how to glide on two feet. That should be simple once you’ve mastered marching forward on the ice. To do a forward crossover, you have to slide on two feet and then land one skate on the outside edge while the outside foot is crossing around and in front of it.
Forward Two-Foot Glide
The forward two-foot glide is fundamental in figure skating because every other figure skating element is based on two-foot gliding. A glide is simply a push with one leg and a glide on the other. It is, however, important to remember to keep your knees bent and not keep them straight in order to avoid falling down or injuring yourself. Gliding forward on two feet provides the momentum for most complex figure skating moves.
Bunny Hop
A bunny hop is the simplest jump in figure skating, and it helps build a skater’s confidence and ease in trying other future jumps. To do a bunny hop, you will need to move in a straight line, step onto the left foot, and then jump off the ice while moving the right leg forward and up past the left leg. It should look like your legs are shaped like scissors and be performed while jumping.
Two-Foot Spin
The two-foot spin is the simplest spin and is the basis of every figure skating spin. It also helps skaters to learn coordination and to avoid head spins later on. A two-foot spin is simply a spin on two feet around yourself with your arms crossed on your chest. It is important to remain on the spot you started spinning on in order to properly ace this skill.
Backward Swizzles
Backward swizzles are a slightly more advanced core skill that builds upon forward swizzles. To do a backward swizzle, you need to start with your toes together and then use your knees to push back, making a backward V-shaped move and then bring your toes to the same position they were in originally. Though this might look like a simple reverse of a forward sizzle, it is mechanically much harder to master.
Forward Pivot
Forward pivot is a final core skill that works as a building block for future complex spins. To do a forward pivot, you will need to make a two-foot move where you stick the toe of one blade into the ice and circle around with the other foot. It might seem a bit tricky at first, but it will eventually become natural, and if not, there is always a way to ask a more experienced figure skater for help.