Learning to skate

[Massonite]

Hey everyone

Does anyone know a good place I can go to learn to skate? I've had a hard time learning on my own, and I tried that NCHL beginner program but they didn't spend enough time on skating and I feel that I was going to fall behind pretty quickly. I also messed up my shoulder so that didn't help either so I had to pull out of the program.

So if someone can point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[me_dennis]

The UofC has a pretty good power skating course for adults. It's good for adults who can kind of skate (or at least go forwards).

They teach you skills like edge control, stopping on both sides, cross-over turns, skating backwards. You are allowed to bring sticks and gloves too which helps with balance.

I took it a few summers ago, so I'm not sure if they offer it during the winter months, but I am sure there are other venues that offer power skating courses.

The best way to learn is to take the lessons that you learn from the power skating course, and just hitting an outdoor rink and practice for a few hours a week before your next lesson.

https://www.ucalgary.ca/ActiveLiving...-Power-Skating

[Hockeyguy15]

https://www.ucalgary.ca/ActiveLiving...-Arena/Skating

[Massonite]

That is awesome guys, thank you for the info!

[prarieboy]

Winsport has lots of lessons from beginner to power skating.

We had our kids at U of C and at Winsport. I'd lean slightly towards Winsport based on our experience. From what I've see Winsport has better programs for adult beginers.

[Wormius]

I tried the UofC adult skate lessons twice, but I wasn't completely satisfied. Too many different ability levels in each class, and it was especially frustrating practicing backwards cross-overs with lots of people bumping into each other. Wasn't crazy about the instruction, either. "Just look at how I effortlessly transition from forward to backwards skating with this mohawk move that none of you have the flexibility or balance to do, it's very basic, I can't possibly simplify it any further"..

Does carrying a hockey stick really help, or is it just get you moving around more with a sense of purpose?

[habernac]

my only advice here is to wear hockey pants. Once I had my kids doing this, they picked it up quickly because falling didn't hurt.

[Keselke]

Originally Posted by habernac

my only advice here is to wear hockey pants. Once I had my kids doing this, they picked it up quickly because falling didn't hurt.

Also, elbow pads...new skaters tend to eat it every once and awhile, and a fall on the ice with no elbow pads hurts quite a bit.

If your end game is hockey, I would also suggest wearing hockey gloves and using a stick

[JonDuke]

So glad you posted this question. I'm in the same boat and can't skate well at all. I'm wobbly and can't stop without crashing into something
I made my 4 year old son one of these and he's already way more confident on skates than I am. I can make you one too when I make my own!

[#-3]

Tie your skates up tighter.

When I take my kids to a public skate, 9/10 people who are having trouble even standing up on their skates have their laces way to loose.

[SHOGUN]

I can skate forward, turn okay, but can't stop or skate backwards, I'm definitely interested in some of the adult classes. My end goal is to play hockey in a beer league.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by habernac

my only advice here is to wear hockey pants. Once I had my kids doing this, they picked it up quickly because falling didn't hurt.

Originally Posted by Keselke

Also, elbow pads...new skaters tend to eat it every once and awhile, and a fall on the ice with no elbow pads hurts quite a bit.

If your end game is hockey, I would also suggest wearing hockey gloves and using a stick

Originally Posted by JonDuke

So glad you posted this question. I'm in the same boat and can't skate well at all. I'm wobbly and can't stop without crashing into something
I made my 4 year old son one of these and he's already way more confident on skates than I am. I can make you one too when I make my own!

I too felt the pain of learning to skate at a late age (37).

Couple of things that have been missed.

Pants, good call as are elbow pads, also could , use knee pads, but above all else wear a helmet. I can not stress this enough wear a helmet.

Once you get the basics you need to get on your skates and skate and skate.

I am in the position that my kids (8-10) are nearly better skaters than me. I guess that is a good thing, but they are hard to catch on the rink now.


Good luck, and don't give up.

PS: I would suggest you learn to skate without the crutch of a stick.

[Wormius]

I think the key is to be confident when you try to stop or transition. If you go at it kind of scared or nervous to fall, you just end up doing a turn instead of a hockey stop. I am seeing this in my son when he is at skating lessons.

I see the big skates / not tied properly too. I am not sure what parents are thinking. Are they cheap? Get proper fitting used skates then. The kid's legs are straight, but the skates are at a 45 deg angle to the ice.

Helmets on kids are another thing. If it were my rink, I would kick people off that were wearing big bike helmets. Invest $40 for a helmet with face guard, unless you want to have to decide whether you should see a dentist or doctor first when they slip and face plant on the ice.

/rant

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I think the key is to be confident when you try to stop or transition. If you go at it kind of scared or nervous to fall, you just end up doing a turn instead of a hockey stop. I am seeing this in my son when he is at skating lessons.

I see the big skates / not tied properly too. I am not sure what parents are thinking. Are they cheap? Get proper fitting used skates then. The kid's legs are straight, but the skates are at a 45 deg angle to the ice.

Helmets on kids are another thing. If it were my rink, I would kick people off that were wearing big bike helmets. Invest $40 for a helmet with face guard, unless you want to have to decide whether you should see a dentist or doctor first when they slip and face plant on the ice.

/rant

problem is many parents don't know that skates actually fit 1-2 sizes smaller. I just picked up a new pair of skates to get back into hockey and I wear a size 10-10.5 shoe but my skates are 8.5.

Ankle support is a big thing too. sure that $80 skate looks the same as the $250 skate but if you feel the stability of the ankles there will be a big difference. I don't think it's a matter of parents being too cheap, I think they just don't know! When you think about it too, why would they know if they haven't played hockey themselves.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by return to the red

problem is many parents don't know that skates actually fit 1-2 sizes smaller. I just picked up a new pair of skates to get back into hockey and I wear a size 10-10.5 shoe but my skates are 8.5.

Ankle support is a big thing too. sure that $80 skate looks the same as the $250 skate but if you feel the stability of the ankles there will be a big difference. I don't think it's a matter of parents being too cheap, I think they just don't know! When you think about it too, why would they know if they haven't played hockey themselves.

That's fair. I assumed most of the time when you go to buy skates, the sales people are usually pretty good at fitting them. I suppose there are cases when parents just go in, buy a pair of skates for the kids without having them try them on.

One thing I am curious about is (and I am looking at NHL players when I am comparing how bad I am) how fast they are able to get into and out of their skates. My skates are not overly tight, but I have to pretty much loosen the laces all the way down to the toe before I can get my foot in, and then back and tighten it all up. When NHL player do it, it looks like their feet slide right in, and then they're just cinching up one or 2 laces.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Wormius

That's fair. I assumed most of the time when you go to buy skates, the sales people are usually pretty good at fitting them. I suppose there are cases when parents just go in, buy a pair of skates for the kids without having them try them on.

One thing I am curious about is (and I am looking at NHL players when I am comparing how bad I am) how fast they are able to get into and out of their skates. My skates are overly tight, but I have to pretty much loosen the laces all the way down to the toe before I can get my foot in, and then back and tighten it all up. When NHL player do it, it looks like their feet slide right in, and then they're just cinching up one or 2 laces.

Years of tying your skates the same way, you know which laces you need to adjust and how much.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I can skate forward, turn okay, but can't stop or skate backwards, I'm definitely interested in some of the adult classes. My end goal is to play hockey in a beer league.

If you can already do those I would suggest the NCHL's Discover Hockey for you. I have been playing a couple years but am taking the Discover Hockey program as a goalie. You would be ahead of the curve and after the first 8 weeks you start playing in games vs other teams in the program.

PS Im a horrible goalie. If anyone ever wants to score their first hockey goal... I think any shot on me that doesnt hit my glove and stick is going in.

[PIMking]

I thought all you canadians knew how to skate as soon as you were born and drank maple syrup instead of milk

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by PIMking

I thought all you canadians knew how to skate as soon as you were born and drank maple syrup instead of milk

I have learned the last part is true, the first part is not. Usually they learn when they are 3-4. I know this because most 3-4 yr olds I see are better skaters than me.

[prarieboy]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

I have learned the last part is true, the first part is not. Usually they learn when they are 3-4. I know this because most 3-4 yr olds I see are better skaters than me.

Originally Posted by PIMking

I thought all you canadians knew how to skate as soon as you were born and drank maple syrup instead of milk

They banned allowing mothers to give birth to kids with skates on some years back. The added complications during delivery was deemed too expensive for public health care.
There are now however a few Private Clinics that are beginning to allow it.