How to Ice Skate for the First Time

By the Ice Skating Near You Editorial Team · October 7, 2026 · 8 min read

Your first time on the ice comes down to three things: bend your knees, keep your weight over the middle of your feet, and march before you try to glide. Get those right and the rest builds naturally.

Below is the exact progression we recommend, from stepping onto the ice to skating your first laps without the wall. It works for kids, teens, and adults alike.

Before You Step on the Ice

A good first session starts before you leave the bench. Two things matter most: how your skates fit and how you are dressed.

• Skates should be snug. Your heel should stay put when you stand and lean forward. Loose skates are the number one reason beginners feel wobbly. Our guide on how ice skates should fit walks through sizing and lacing.
• Dress in layers you can move in. Choose flexible pants, a warm top, and gloves. See what to wear ice skating for the full list.
• Walk carefully on rubber flooring. Keep blade guards on when walking on hard surfaces if the rink allows it, and take them off right before stepping onto the ice. Walking on a guard-covered blade on ice is a fast way to fall.

If you are bringing little ones, our guide to ice skating with kids covers helmets, skate aids, and keeping the outing fun.

Stepping Onto the Ice

Hold the wall or door frame with one hand. Step on with one foot, then the other, keeping your knees soft. Do not step on with locked, straight legs.

Once both feet are on the ice, stand still for a moment. Let your body get used to the slippery surface before you try to move. Feeling a little unsteady is completely normal.

The Beginner Stance

Almost every balance problem on the ice comes back to stance. Here is the position to aim for:

1. Feet about hip-width apart, toes pointing forward or very slightly out.
2. Knees bent, as if you are about to sit in a tall chair. You should not be able to see your toes past your knees.
3. Weight over the middle of your blades, not on your heels and not tipping onto your toes.
4. Chest up and eyes forward. Look where you want to go, not down at your skates.
5. Arms out in front and slightly to the sides, like you are resting your hands on a table at waist height.

The bent knees are the secret. Straight legs put your weight high and make it easy for your feet to slide out from under you. Bent knees lower your center of gravity and let you absorb bumps.

A quick self-check: if you feel like you are about to fall backward, you are probably leaning back on your heels. Bend your knees a little more and bring your shoulders forward over your toes.

Learn to Fall and Get Up First

It sounds backward, but practicing a fall on purpose makes you far less afraid of falling by accident. Do this near the wall early in your session.

How to Fall Safely

• Bend your knees deeply and lower yourself toward the ice.
• Lean slightly to one side so you land on the side of your hip and thigh, not straight back on your tailbone.
• Keep your chin tucked so your head does not snap back.
• Try not to catch yourself with stiff, straight arms. Keep elbows soft and hands in loose fists or tucked so fingers stay clear of other skaters' blades.

How to Get Up

1. Roll onto your hands and knees.
2. Bring one foot up so the blade is flat on the ice between your hands.
3. Bring the other foot up next to it.
4. Push up slowly with your hands on your knee, keeping your knees bent, until you are back in your stance.

Get up promptly when you fall during a busy session. Sitting on the ice puts your hands in the path of other skaters. If you need a moment, get to the wall first.

Marching: Your First Steps

Marching is how you learn to move without fear. In your stance, lift one foot just an inch or two off the ice and set it back down. Then do the other foot.

Start in place, holding the wall if you need to. Once that feels steady, turn your toes slightly outward and march forward with small steps. You will notice you start moving a bit with each step.

• Keep steps small and quick, not big and lunging.
• Keep your knees bent the whole time.
• Keep your eyes up and ahead.

March along the wall for a lap or two. When you can do it with only a light touch on the wall, try marching a few steps away from it.

From Marching to Gliding

Gliding is simply marching, then pausing to let the ice carry you. March four to six steps, then bring your feet together under you, hip-width apart, and hold your stance while you coast.

Your first glides might last only a second or two. That is great progress. Each time, try to hold the glide a little longer before you start marching again.

Turning Steps Into Strides

Once gliding on two feet feels comfortable, start pushing instead of stepping. Here is how a basic forward stride works:

1. From your stance, turn one foot out slightly so the blade angles away from you.
2. Push out and slightly back with the inside edge of that blade, as if you are pushing the ice away to the side.
3. Glide on the other foot while the pushing foot lifts off the ice.
4. Bring the pushing foot back under your body and set it down.
5. Switch and push with the other foot.

A common mistake is pushing straight back with the toe. That just digs the toe into the ice. Push to the side with the whole blade instead.

Using the Wall the Right Way

The wall is a great tool for your first few minutes, but leaning on it too long slows down your progress. Use it as a safety net, not a crutch.

• Do use the wall to steady yourself while you find your stance and practice marching.
• Do keep your body upright and your feet under you when you hold it.
• Do not hang off it with your arms while your feet slide out away from the boards. That position teaches your body the wrong balance.
• Do not pull yourself along the wall hand over hand. Your legs need to do the work.

A good plan is to skate a lap holding the wall, then a lap with fingertips only, then a lap a few feet away from it. The wall will still be right there if you need it.

Stopping, the Simple Version

You should know at least one way to slow down before you build up much speed. The beginner method is the snowplow: bend your knees, push your heels out, and point your toes slightly inward so the blades scrape the ice.

It takes practice, so start at a very slow speed. Our full guide on how to stop on ice skates covers the one-foot and two-foot snowplow, the T-stop, and drills to practice them.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Nearly every new skater makes some of these. Knowing them ahead of time helps you fix them fast.

Mistake	What happens	The fix
Straight, locked knees	Feet slide out, falls backward	Bend your knees like you are sitting in a tall chair
Looking down at your feet	Head pulls body forward and off balance	Pick a spot ahead and keep your eyes on it
Leaning back	Weight on heels, feet shoot forward	Bring shoulders slightly over your toes
Big, lunging steps	Loss of balance between steps	Take small, quick marching steps
Pushing off the toe pick	Toe catches, sudden stumble	Push to the side using the inside edge of the blade
Arms flailing or pinned to sides	Less control over balance	Hold arms out front, relaxed, at waist height

Rink Etiquette for First-Timers

Public sessions are a shared space, and a few habits keep everyone safe and happy. If you are unsure how sessions run, read public skating sessions explained.

• Skate in the same direction as everyone else. Rinks typically post or announce the direction.
• Beginners usually stay near the wall, while faster skaters use the middle or outer lanes depending on the rink's rules.
• Do not stop suddenly in the middle of traffic. Move toward the wall first.
• Get up quickly after a fall and keep your fingers off the ice.
• Follow staff instructions, especially during resurfacing breaks.

A Simple Plan for Your First Session

1. Spend a few minutes at the wall finding your stance.
2. Practice one controlled fall and get back up.
3. March a lap along the wall.
4. March and glide a lap with a light touch on the wall.
5. Try short stretches away from the wall, then return.
6. Practice a slow snowplow stop.
7. Take a break off the ice when your legs feel tired. Fatigue causes a lot of falls.

Do not worry about looking graceful on day one. Everyone who skates well today once marched along the wall with bent knees, just like you.

Ready to put this into practice? Browse ice rinks by state or search the directory.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to learn to ice skate?

Most beginners can march and take short glides within their first session or two. Skating comfortably around the rink without the wall usually takes a few sessions of regular practice, and it varies a lot from person to person.

Is ice skating hard for adults to learn?

It is very learnable at any age. Adults often feel more nervous about falling than kids do, but with a good knee bend, slow progress, and a few practice sessions, most adults pick up the basics without trouble.

Should I use a skate aid or walker my first time?

Many rinks offer skate aids, and they can help nervous beginners and young kids get used to the feel of the ice. Try to lean on it less as you go so you build your own balance instead of depending on it.

Why do my ankles bend inward when I skate?

Weak or tired ankles are common at first, but floppy ankles usually point to skates that are too big or laced too loosely. Snug, properly laced skates that support the ankle make a big difference.

What is the best way to practice between sessions?

Off the ice, you can practice the athletic stance, squats, and balancing on one foot to build the muscles skating uses. On the ice, short, frequent sessions tend to work better than one long, exhausting one.