What is the Best Age to Learn to Ice Skate?
There isn't an "ideal age" to learn ice skating.
I have taught children as young as age 2 and adults into their 60's!
For group lessons, rinks usually require children to be at least 3 years old. But as long as your child can walk well and is potty trained, they can begin in private lessons.
Children develop at different rates so what will work for one beginner, may not work for another. If your child has a lot of difficulty, you can always try again in a few weeks, or months.
The ability to ice skate can add to a child's overall development of motor skills.
Which is Better: Private or Group Ice Skating Lessons?
Many skaters start in group lessons as they are great introduction to skating.
However, skaters that are under the group lesson age (usually 3 or 4) or that prefer a private lesson environment begin their journey with group lessons.
There is no right or wrong way to begin ice skating. What is most important is that the choice you make fits your budget and schedule.
If a skater begins to struggle with a particular element in group lessons, or by the time they reach Basic Skills 3 or 4, private lessons are suggested as a supplement as the skills become more challenging at these levels.
Skaters that are interested in doing competitions and shows (available to skaters of ALL levels), should have a private lesson coach to properly prepare.
I teach both group and private lessons. However, if you sign-up for group lessons your coach will be assigned by the rink.
Should I Learn in Figure Skates or Hockey Skates?
I always recommend that beginners, especially young first time skaters start with figure skates.
Here's why:
- The blade on figure skates is longer and flatter than the blade on hockey skates.
- The more pronounced rocker and shorter blade on hockey skates can make it too easy for beginners (especially younger skaters) to fall forward or backward frequently, which can cause injuries as well as frustration.
- Figure skates offer more stability in learning, which promotes good posture and skating technique.
- To achieve consistent progress in hockey skates, proficiency is required at all 4 points of balance - this is difficult for someone that is just learning.
- Skaters often find it easier to learn their basic edges and other fundamentals in figure skates, and often progress faster.
- Once the correct skating techniques are learned, it is an easier transition to go from figure skates to hockey skates than it is to transition to figure skates from hockey skates.
Why Shouldn't I Wear Knee Pads or Snow Pants?
Knee pads are not recommended because they inhibit the ability of the skater to bend their knees.
Bending the knees is one of the single most critical skills to learn in skating so anything that inhibits it should be avoided. In addition, knee pads prevent a beginner from being able to push up off the ice from a fall because they slide.
The sliding issue is one reason that snow pants are not recommended either. Waterproof-style pants will slide on the ice and beginners have difficulty pushing up from a fall when this occurs.
It is also difficult for a coach to see if a skater is bending their knees properly when the skater is wearing bulking clothes such as snow pants. Fitted leggings are suggested. If you think you will get too cold, wear tights under the leggings, or multiple layers of fitted pants.
In addition, it's best not to wear waterproof or hockey gloves either. These styles of gloves may cause the skater difficulty when trying to get up from the ice or if they need to hold on to their coach.
How Often Should I Practice?
A good general rule is to practice outside of lessons, as often as you take lessons.
If you have one half-hour lesson each week, you'll want to practice for another half-hour outside of the lesson, ideally on a different day.
If you take two half-hour lessons each week, you'll want to make sure that you practice for two half-hour sessions, again on different days of the week.
You can do more of course but this is ideal for young skaters are just starting out with a limited budget.
If you have the dedication, budget, and time to spend hours of the ice every week with multiple lessons, you will progress faster and have more proficiency.
To make the most of your time on the ice, off-ice warm-ups and cooldowns are recommended before each skating session or lesson.
In addition to skating, off-ice training by a professional certified in personal training or strength and conditioning is recommended at least twice a week. Proper nutrition will also assist skaters in excelling on the ice.