How to Stop When Ice Skating

Skating can be a lot of fun, unless you can't stop. Stopping is one of the most important skating techniques you can learn because it gives you full control over the ice. You should be able to stop at all speeds going forward or backward. Follow these tips to stop when ice skating.

Instructions

    • 1

      Practice while you are standing still. Stand with your two feet together and bend your knees slightly. Practice scraping the ice next to your left leg as you push your skate outward across the ice. Then do the same with your right leg.

    • 2

      Push yourself forward and begin skating across the ice. Turn your body slightly and push your left leg forward on a slant. Scrape your skate into the ice, causing you to slow down and stop.

    • 3

      Repeat with the right leg, always scraping the ice with your outer blade as you stop. Give extra practice to your weaker leg because you will find it harder to scrape that leg into the ice.

    • 4

      Stop the hockey way after speeding up as you skate across the ice. When you are moving at a steady pace, turn your whole body abruptly, scraping your blades into the ice. You should stop suddenly.

    • 5

      Keep your legs wide apart when you stop the hockey way so that you don't lose your balance. Make sure your weight is on the outer skate, which will keep you upright. Let your body go in the opposite direction of your skates as you stop.

    • 6

      Try the V-stop, which is often used in figure skating. Skate across the ice and bend your knees toward each other as you scrape your outer blades into the ice. You will stop slowly in a V formation.