Thread: Learning to skate

Originally Posted by SirJW

No no no. Don't buy online your first time. You need to try them on and get a good fit and service if you need adjustments at a later date. You should be able to find a decent pair for around $150 for your first pair...

I said try them on somewhere near you first then buy online but I guess you're right, it doesn't mean they'll have the same fit as the ones you tried on.

I got a pair of CCM 652 Tacks @ Encore sport on Ventura, maybe called something different now, but got em for $99 and paid 30 bucks to have them heat molded to my feet. With torn Lig's in both ankles that made such a difference.

Originally Posted by imamonsta

so i figured id ask this question sense i havnt seen it anywhere else in the thread

any tips on stopping, especially during play while say chasing the puck into the corner

i got back on the ice for the first time in at least 10 years and played a pick up game at bay harbor, everything came back pretty quick but i noticed that from the 10 years of playing roller and no ice i picked up alot of bad habits when it comes to stopping

The best thing to do is hire a coach to work with you at sticktime (or even a figure skating coach to work with you at public skates). You may not have to hire them for long periods of time, hopefully only 2 or 3 sessions since they're only tweaking the stopping skills of a player who already knows how to skate.

Somebody who knows what they're doing has to watch you to figure out your flaws, and you have to be able to watch them demonstrate it right. It's tempting to wish and hope that someone can type words on a message board that illustrate what you're doing wrong in your skating/stopping, but I don't think it can be done right that way (also why books on skating are futile).

Coaches typically run $60-$100/hour (group sessions are substantially less), but you knew this was an expensive sport when you started, right?

What rink(s) are closest to your home / work?

Originally Posted by beingbobbyorr

The best thing to do is hire a coach to work with you at sticktime (or even a figure skating coach to work with you at public skates). You may not have to hire them for long periods of time, hopefully only 2 or 3 sessions since they're only tweaking the stopping skills of a player who already knows how to skate.

Somebody who knows what they're doing has to watch you to figure out your flaws, and you have to be able to watch them demonstrate it right. It's tempting to wish and hope that someone can type words on a message board that illustrate what you're doing wrong in your skating/stopping, but I don't think it can be done right that way (also why books on skating are futile).

Coaches typically run $60-$100/hour (group sessions are substantially less), but you knew this was an expensive sport when you started, right?

What rink(s) are closest to your home / work?

thanks i was already debating on some lessons if that part doesnt come back to me as easily in the next few sessions i skate.
i live in the south bay so im close to TSC, Bay Harber & Ice Chalet in PV

Alright, you guys have motivated me to try and learn to ice skate. I'm going to call a few places and get some more info. I'm moving to Fountain Valley next week or so. Does anyone in the area go to public skates or do lessons during the week? I don't really get home until 6:30 or so during the week so I can't make anything before 7pm usually. Just curious.

There have been some excellent things passed along on this thread.

A few of my comments.

If you are going to learn to skate I suggest that you set yourself up to skate REGULARLY. There aren't any substitutes for regular ice time. Ideally you could grab one stick time/pick up game and one skating session per week.

Yes getting instruction on what to do right (aka don't start out with bad habits) is a fantastic idea. I am a student of Laura Stamm's so I'd advise getting her books and the video. This is particularly useful to read before you get skating session time. That's where you can experiment on your own time and begin to incorporate things you learn. MANY of the simple drills I can usually only focus on at skating session time can really improve your skating ability. They can make a huge difference on my lower body strength and the results of my skating.

As you improve it might be good to find out when some of the Bantam or Midget teams practice and get a close-up look at what they are doing.

Finally got around to going to Westminster Ice today. Had a blast, but boy were my feet cramped as hell in those rental skates. I decided I'm probably going to sign up for lessons as soon as I buy some of my own skates. I'm a little flat-footed, and I've heard it can cause foot cramping without proper skates.

Anyone here skate there? I'm probably going to sign up for beginning adult classes on Saturday mornings.

Originally Posted by Defgarden

Anyone here skate there? I'm probably going to sign up for beginning adult classes on Saturday mornings.

I've been "meaning" to sign up for a class there for the past year or so.

Originally Posted by Defgarden

Finally got around to going to Westminster Ice today. Had a blast, but boy were my feet cramped as hell in those rental skates. I decided I'm probably going to sign up for lessons as soon as I buy some of my own skates. I'm a little flat-footed, and I've heard it can cause foot cramping without proper skates.

Anyone here skate there? I'm probably going to sign up for beginning adult classes on Saturday mornings.

Have you signed up yet? Let me know what class & I'll join you if I can.

i have played roller hockey for 13 years and the reason i never tried ice is because the closest ice rink is over 2 hours away.

i recently moved to Northridge for school and really want to learn to ice skate so I can start playing some ice hockey.

One question I have is this. In roller hockey, we wear pants, but I know in ice, obviously they where the big socks and shorts. It is really necessary to switch to the shorts and socks for ice? Or i could I stick with the pants while I am still learning to skate?