Welcome to Virtual Ice Skating Coach! We will teach you basic skating skills, promote all skating entertainment, and recommend the best gear to buy so you can get started on the right foot!
We found a need within the community for accessible and affordable skating resources. Whether you are on wheels or blades, our goal is to provide an inclusive, affordable, and entertaining variety of skating resources to direct skaters of all disciplines, ages, and levels. Not only does skating provide physical and mental exercise, but it also provides a coping skill that will continue to benefit you throughout your life.
Disclaimer: Before starting any exercise program always consult with a physician regarding limitations. Beginning skaters should always wear a helmet and gloves. If skating on a pond/lake be sure it's frozen and safe for use. Skating involves risks no matter your level or surface. Skaters/parents assume all risks, children should be supervised at all times.
Hey I'm a 17 year old girl who loves skating and would like to purchase my very own shoes. I'm a amateur, I've skated a few times in my life (every 3 years for a few hours) so I'm not a total beginner, but level is not serious. Not for hockey use, I would like to practice figure skating on my own. I'm tired of renting them every time I go ice skating somewhere. I have a 90€ budget. Do you have any recommendation for a amateur like me ?
Hi! Glad to hear you want to pursue skating further. If you are planning on jumping and spinning I would go with a higher grade boot like a Reidell or Jackson Ultima; but to keep within your budget try finding a professional skate shop selling them used. Also have them fit you for the skate rather than buying online, Jacksons have a different toe box you might find you like the other skates more. Skates normally fit a half size to a size smaller than your shoe. Hope this helps! Happy Skating!
Just with practice for flexibility. Sink down and try to flex your foot up. It also helps to bend your knees. Don’t bend at your waist. If you have new boots and still having trouble with this, skip the top eye hook when tying them to break them in. You can also practice off ice in your boots with hard guards.
Yes, Polyglide feels different, but glides likes ice! Their newer product is improved from when this video was created. Another way to practice at home is to get some pair of artistic inline figure skates. I skate in the Jackson Ultima Elles with the Matrix atom blade, it is rockered and feels like ice. You can do almost all moves that you can do on ice with those skates, and you can mount any figure skating boot to the wheels if you have an older pair lying around that you want to upcycle too!
I wasn't really expecting that this video was only for kids because it wasn't in the title haha. Can I ask, for adult skaters, especially for people who are a little heavier, should we buy boots with a support rating above our skill level to support our weight? I was using a beginner boot with not much support to learn basic jumps, you know, just small hops and two-foot jumps for fun, not really as part of any lesson. And the jumping caused a stress fracture for me. I was thinking, could buying higher support rating boots have prevented the injury? Would more expensive boots help prevent future injuries? Or is it just that, y'know, stress fractures happen in high impact sports and changing boots wouldn't have changed the outcome? Would appreciate your opinion on this! Thanks!
Hi, Yes, stress fractures can happen for a variety of reasons in all impact sports. And yes, it is generally is advisable to go up in boot strength a bit to prevent this, but you need to be very careful not to overboot, which can also cause serious problems. We always recommend being fitted by someone who specializes in fitting figure skates, not just hockey skates. If you tell me what area you live in I might be able to recommend someone. BTW we are in the process of putting together a series of videos specifically for adult skaters and will be sure to include boot fitting for adults. I started as an adult skater many decades ago so I totally understand.
I'm having the hardest time skating on my polyglide ice. I can't even do a swizzle without using a lot of effort. Gliding and beginner spins are almost impossible right now. I've had my polyglide for a week so probably needs a lot more breaking in. Probably skated about 6 hours on it so far. Trying not to feel discouraged but not ready to give up yet!
Keep skating on it and it will get better. PolyGlide is made of self-lubricating materials that will get better and feel more like real ice the more you use it. Good luck and keep up updated!
Hello, I’m 18 and have just got back into skating. I did skating lessons from ages 3-12 and getting back into it I have been told I am above entry level already. However, the skates I have are a low end brand and aren’t very good, what would you recommend? My feet are slightly wider than normal.
You'll need to be fitted properly by an expert. I would go to a place that specializes in figure skates not some hockey only store. Since your feet are done growing, fit and proper ankle support are key.
Hello i am a 23 years old guy. I wanna start ice skating and really dive into this activity and learn all the moves . Should i buy figure skates or hockey skates . Thank you
What you perhaps forgot to mention Sandy with regard to the differences between Hockey & Figure Skate blades, is the height of some Hockey blades versus Figure Skates, especially when it comes to children's sizes. I've been witness to many public sessions where kids are utilizing Hockey rental skates that have as much as a one inch height difference on the ice when compared to figure blades, with their ankles tied up so tightly that it becomes almost impossible for them to balance correctly and maintain a solid forward motion.
The height difference of skates usually does not make a difference with this. Usually new and open skaters make the mistake of getting skates too large which can cause the ankle to sink inward. Your skates should be half size smaller than your regular shoe size. Some skaters have different arches that can also cause a forced inside edge, this can be fixed with an insert. Check with your skate technician if you are having issues with this.
I thought skates with double runners aren't being sold anymore. Anyway, I used to have skates similar to the Softec ones, but they were plastic like Rollerblades.
For older beginners, we recommend these. Sort by price (low to high), anything in the top three rows. Jackson is better for a narrow foot or heel. (full disclosure we get a small commission) shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1103629&u=2737685&m=75822&urllink=skates%2Eguru%2Fproducts%2Fice%2Dskates%2Ftype%2Dof%2Dice%2Dskates%2Frecreational%2Dice%2Dskates%2F%3Forderby%3Dprice&afftrack=
Hey I’m 12-13 and I want to get started in figure skating but, I want to get skates but I have a limited budget.... any suggestions for good support but cost effective?
Sort by price (low to high), anything in the top three rows. Jackson is better for a narrow foot or heel. shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1103629&u=2737685&m=75822&urllink=skates%2Eguru%2Fproducts%2Fice%2Dskates%2Ftype%2Dof%2Dice%2Dskates%2Frecreational%2Dice%2Dskates%2F%3Forderby%3Dprice&afftrack=
Hi Monica! Thank you for your input, we have a few hockey vs figure skating in the editing process, subscribe to be notified when they are up on the channel! Happy Skating! :)
Thank you for this! Taking my daughter ice skating for her 3rd birthday, and I wanted her to get a pair for her as her present but didn’t know which kind. I had mine professionally fitted but I started when I was 10-11 so I am clueless about toddler skates haha!
