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Closer to winter, there are fewer and fewer opportunities for outdoor sports. This is a good reason to master new types of physical activity. For example, get up on skates to surprise everyone with graceful figure steps for the New Year holidays. Here are some tips for beginners from professional athletes.
Choosing the right skates
Buy skates that fit perfectly on your foot. To accurately adjust the size, focus on the insole. It should be half a centimeter longer than the foot. Right in the store, put on your skates, lace up your shoes to the very top and walk energetically in different directions. The ankle should be fixed so that the shoes become an extension of the foot. In any case, do not take skates a size larger. This typical mistake is fraught with injuries.
We do a warm-up
Before you go out on the ice, warm up your muscles properly. A standard set of exercises for morning gymnastics is exactly what you need. Alternately stretch the muscles of the whole body, starting with the neck, ending with the feet. Training on the ice will help to develop flexibility, endurance and coordination. Of course, if they are held systematically. It is best to start with two classes a week lasting half an hour. After a while, the duration and frequency can be gradually increased.
Looking for the perfect balance
Imagine that your shoulders and thighs form a square. When sliding on the ice, you should not violate its geometry in any case. Put your hands to the sides — it’s easier to maintain balance this way. Push the socks apart by about 45 degrees. Try to make a push with the inner edge of the skate blade. At the same time, smoothly transfer your body weight from one leg to the other. The two most common mistakes are to keep your knees straight and walk on the ice instead of sliding.
Learning to slow down
If you feel that you are losing your balance, slow down as soon as possible. The easiest way to do this is with the heel. While in motion, bring your feet parallel to each other and pull the toe of your foot towards you. A more complex technique that can be mastered over time is braking with the letter T. You push one leg forward, and with the blade of the second leg you make a transverse movement. At the same time, the sliding leg can be both in front and behind — as it is more convenient for you.
Learning to fall
So that collisions with ice are not so traumatic, master the correct fall technique. When you feel that you are being carried away, press your chin tightly to your chest and put one hand forward. Try to make the main blow fall on the hand, and not on the elbow. The consequences of such an injury can be extremely serious. Falling on your back is no less dangerous. To avoid them, keep the body tilted forward while riding. For safety in the first stages, it is advisable to use a helmet and knee pads.
We hope that our practical recommendations will be useful to you and you will easily master the basics of skating. Don’t be afraid to try new and unexpected things — maybe you will discover new talents in yourself.