Skating, what am I doing wrong?

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

I just started ice skating for the first time in about nine or ten years and I went to open skate last night. Ive also been playing in various inline leagues for the last decade but nothing involving ice.

Point being, im having no problems with my right skate, I can sorta stop, obviously turn and cut on both edges. My left skate is the problem, when I try to turn left my skate sorta slides on the ice but really doesn't cut at all and stopping is the same way.

I just got them sharpened for the first time, no idea how they sharpened them but I told the guy it was my first time skating in a long time.

Whats my problem?

[hockeymom 2]

My real quick stab at answering this is you are right handed and your right side is dominant. If so, you need to "relearn" the skills on your left side.

[Remman 0]

I have the same problem with stopping. If my back skate is the left skate, it always skips across the ice and never digs in. I guess that's what I get for teaching myself.

[Alias81 0]

Apply your weight more evenly and keep both feet at the same angle, to deep and angle and the skate will dig too far and with no weight on it will just hop up and down.

[GSHL99 0]

Sounds like your left side is the weak side and you're afraid of falling so you are being timid in applying weight to the left foot. Practice the form correctly, buidling up more and more speed each time and your confidence on the left foot will improve. Best guess anyway, hard to be 100 percent when we can't actually see what you're doing.

[chk hrd 164]

I just started ice skating for the first time in about nine or ten years and I went to open skate last night. Ive also been playing in various inline leagues for the last decade but nothing involving ice.

you are trying to ice skate the same way you inline skate. On ice you need to put the weight on your toes to stop and heels to turn. It sounds like your not transferring your weight and are going into a semi turn/stop. Be more agressive and put more weight on your toes. If you fall, you fall. It just takes practice.

[Remman 0]

Would a slight heel lift assist in putting more weight on the toes to stop?

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Well, thats the problem. I feel very awkward skating because I feel like im more on my toes then ever before. And I skate 72-72-80-80 Hi-lo in inline. It feels like im gonna toe pick at any second. I'll probably get used to it with practice but it still feels like I have no edge on my left skate. My heels are all the way back in the skate and my ankles are locked in.

[hockeymom 2]

I just remembered, OTG (oldtrainerguy) had some unusual advise on a profile for someone going to ice after a long time on roller. It sounded absolutely whacky... but he has a ton of experience in roller-to-ice, so I'd trust him on it. I will try to find it... but, while we're experiencing the temporary glitches on the site you're pobably better off pming him with a link to this thread and getting his feedback.

[hockeymom 2]

Found the post from OTG:

If you're going to go back and forth from inline to ice make sure you get a large profile like a 13ft to start.

Yah I know I am going to hear all kinds of stuff about this but when inline was huge I was doing this back in Florida. I was one of the guys that helped design the Rike Chassis which mimicked the Tuuk Holder.

Anyway because most inlines dont do that and the wheel to floor contact space is much larger than any stock skate the easiest way to get going and make it a very simple transition is to go with a longer profile on the steel and a shallower hollow say 5/8 to start.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Well im converting my inline skates to the Sprung chassis. It mimmicks the ice blade pretty closely apparently. I probably just need more practice, ive been going to open skates every day for the last 4 days. I really want to get some stick time though but the only way to do that is by going to drop in. My ice skating isn't that amazing so I figure they won't let me play if I go to it.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Just got back.. started attempting to stop. When I do my right foot digs in really well but my left so jumps on the ice. How do you stop completely? I'll stop but will still be moving in the direction I turn my skates.

[DamnLocust 0]

when you say you're "still moving in the dirction you turned" do you mean that your skate is kind of pulling forward and gliding along the ice like a sharp turn, as opposed to actually cutting the ice/making snowsprays? (I always describe it as your skates controlling you, as opposed to you controlling the skates)

When your left jumps, is that the foot that you apply pressure too?

sounds like you may have too deep of a hollow. Do you feel like you're "on rails" at all, or have any difficulty turning/cutting?

It may still come down to being unfamiliar with the ice, however.

one last thing.. what do you weigh and do you know what hollow you're on?

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Im 6'1 215. No idea about my hollow, as ive never seen a sharpened blade. I told the "kid" behind the counter that it was my first time skating so I needed something basic.

When stopping, im talking turning your body, you stop going foward but you then go into the direction your skates are now pointing. Im right handed and right leg domiant. So ive just been practicing stoping with my right side out?. I put all my weight on my right foot, outside foot and when I try to put weight on my left the blade skips across the ice. I tried putting weight on my left heel but I fell on my ***. :lol:

[DamnLocust 0]

The stopping/turning thing kind of reinforces my idea that you're on too deep of a hollow. Unless you're really good, you won't be able to tell what your hollow is from just looking at it, and based on

A: most shops basic cuts are 3/8" and

B: Beginner skaters (which technically you aren't since you've been playing roller all this time. Skating on ice isn't all that different from roller, it's a just a matter of fine tuning) usually use a deeper hollow as a crutch, and you told him that you were just starting out. (then again, who knows how much this "kid" knew)

I'm thinking you're on a 3/8" which is probably too deep for you at your weight. Try bringing them to a shop and ask for 1/2" cut, and you'll find that you don't have as much bite in turns, but you will be able to stop more easily, and your skates won't "pull" you into turns as much. At 215, you can probably go a bit shallower than 1/2, but I'd say it's a good starting point.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Thanks for the info. I was gonna ask this 10 year old that was going 30 mph towards the boards and stopping on a dime but I couldn't handle the embarassment. :lol: Skated as fast as I could from the goal line to center ice, tried to stop.. my feet did but I kept going.. slid to the blue line :lol:

Its definitally different from roller. Ive got until June, then ice leagues start. Im not even gonna focus on puck handling yet, im afraid it'll be different but I need to get this stopping thing down so I don't hurt other people.

[DamnLocust 0]

If you can get to a stick and puck it may actually help. When you're playing the game that you know you know how to play, you don't worry about the skating, and it comes naturally. If you're at stick and puck or drop in, there's no pressure on you, which is helpful. Just don't be afraid to swallow a bit of pride.

I played roller for about 8 years before I ever played ice, and I just jumped right in with a group of guys who rent out a rink every week (still play with them). Never had the chance to practice skating without being in a "game" situation, and it helped to take my mind off of my skating. Basically I was just doing, without worrying about how I should be doing things. Soon enough, I was able to stop on one foot, and then the other as well.

Getting the right hollow will do wonders for you and your confidence. I often equate a good sharpening with the proper hollow to a fresh set of Rink Rats with bones swiss. It really can make that much of a difference.

[Datsyukiandeek 0]

Well on that note, heres another stupid question. How often should I get a sharpening? Since the ice doesn't get zambonoed for the two hours of open it does get pretty choppy. Is there a point when i'll notice them dulling and when does that usually happen?

All of this would be a non issue but the two guys im gonna be on a team with for ice are out of state during the school year, once they come back they can actually help me on ice. All the other guys I know that play ice are just beginers but since ive played so much inline my skating is still better in my first week.

[DamnLocust 0]

You'll eventually be able to feel when your edges are breaking down. It's usually around 4-5 icetimes, depending on quality of ice, the hollow you're using (deeper hollows dull quicker) and how hard you're skating (you're not skating as hard in open sessions as in games)

When your blades are dull, it'll feel like you're getting stuck in a rut (something you may be experiencing now with too deep of a hollow) Feels like you need to use more energy than you should to skate. You'll soon find that skating on ice is a bit more effortless than on roller...you glide whole lot more on ice. You'll also be able to see/feel imperfections on the edge and in the hollow itself (the area between the edges)