How to Skate on Synthetic Ice

Some modern ice rinks, like the one at New York's American Museum of Natural History, are surfaced with plastic panels that mimic the feel of a real ice skating surface. The panels are made from high-density plastic, similar to the material used for making milk jugs, and many provide an authentic skating experience for beginners and advanced skaters alike. To get the most from your skating session, you'll need to use some specialized techniques as you get used to this new surface.

Things You'll Need

  • Ice skates
  • Skate sharpener
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check your skate blades to see if they are sharp. Because of the higher level of friction associated with synthetic ice compared to real ice, it's critical that skates are freshly sharpened before you begin. Dull skates will simply slide across the surface and prevent you from skating properly. Take your skates to a local rink or use a handheld sharpening tool to sharpen the blades as needed before skating on synthetic ice.

    • 2

      Hold onto the rails or boards at the entrance to the rink. Carefully step out onto the ice surface and stand in place for a moment so you can get a feel for the ice.

    • 3

      With one hand on the rails or boards, place your feet into a "T" position so that the heel of one foot is touching the instep of the other foot.

    • 4

      Bend both knees as much as possible, then push off your back foot to glide forward on your front foot. Keep your weight centered over the ball of your foot to avoid tripping over the toe-pick or tumbling over forward if you're using hockey skates.

    • 5

      Repeat steps 3 and 4 to push off of the other foot.

    • 6

      Continue using this technique to work your way across the ice. Keep your knees bent to power your pushes, and keep your speed down your first few times around the rink.

    • 7

      Stop by bending both knees and pressing your skates out to the sides in a snowplow stop. During a snowplow, your toes point toward one another and your heels point out to the sides so your feet form a "V" shape. You can also stop by dragging one foot along the ice behind the other one to form a "T" shape.

    • 8

      Increase your speed by shifting your weight to the edge of each blade as you glide. You'll reduce friction by gliding only along one edge of the blade. Try leaning onto the inside edge and the outside edge until you are comfortable with both.