How Long It Takes to Learn Ice Skating? All You Need to Know

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I had an anxiety attack the first time I got on the ice. Like most people, I was scared to embarrass myself or fall as I learned to skate. However, my initial experience didn’t deter me from learning and being the pro skater I am now.

Over 10 million people skate on the ice every year. These individuals skate for various reasons, like exercise, recreation, and competitive sport. You can learn ice skating at any age. It is fun, and it has many health benefits. This article answers ‘how long does it take to learn ice skating’ and offers other helpful information.

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How Long Does It Take To Learn Ice Skating?

On average, it takes a person 7-10 hours to learn the basics of ice skating, like maintaining balance, stopping, pushing off, gliding, striding, and turning. The specific timeline for each individual varies, depending on their skill and commitment.

While you can bundle your basic training into one session, it may be best to spread it over several weeks or days. Spending an hour each day or week can help with the learning process as you sleep in between training sessions.

However, you can learn ice skating in one long session if you have the time, or you need to know it quickly. Remember that people learn at different paces, so keep at it if you take longer. Don’t get frustrated. I have met no one that couldn’t learn ice skating if they kept practicing and didn’t quit.

While you can learn the basics of skating on ice in a few hours, it takes a more extended period to master ice skating and be comfortable on the ice with your skating abilities. You may need weeks of practice and structured sessions with an ice skating instructor to become confident on the ice.

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Is Ice Skating Hard To Learn?

Learning to ice skate can be challenging, but it isn’t impossible for the average person. Most people struggle with balancing, as ice skating is done on skates with thin blades. However, you may overcome this challenge with a few weeks of practice. Once you learn to balance, learning to ice skate becomes more manageable.

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An essential factor to make the process easier is commitment. You’ll need a lot of practice and repetition to learn ice skating at a quicker rate. The process can be more challenging if you don’t follow up on the ice skating and practicing.

How Long Does It Take To Learn To Skate With Lessons?

You can take a shorter time to get much better at ice skating in the long run. You may still take 7-10 hours to learn ice skating basics. However, you’ll take a much shorter time to learn the complex techniques and be comfortable with your skills. While others can struggle for months or years to be great at ice skating, it can take you weeks or a few months to become a pro if you have a coach.

If you only want to know the basics of ice skating, you can learn them by yourself. This option favors those in a hurry, and they can’t wait for group sessions with a coach. Lessons are ideal for those who want to learn ice skating and are in it for the long haul. Your coach will teach you elements in the correct order. This approach helps you have a natural flow from the last part as you learn the next level. You will progress quickly.

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Can I Teach Myself to Ice Skate?

While ice skating lessons can shorten the learning curve and stop you from developing bad habits, you can learn to ice skate by yourself. This approach is practical as you get onto the ice, learning how to move forward and getting your balance.

It can take you 7-10 hours on ice to stand up, get the basic feel for balance, and start moving forward. However, you might not learn how to get up off the ice once you fall or discover the essential, safe skating body and arm positions if you don’t have a coach.

You can teach yourself the basics of ice skating, but you may be stuck there. It is tough to progress past these basics without some lessons.

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How Do Beginners Learn To Skate on Ice?

Beginners skate on ice by discovering how to perform the basic moves, such as balance and moving forward. Most people find this phase difficult as they fear falling. A coach can show you how to minimize your falls and the best way to get up after falling. You may still learn these techniques by yourself.

Once you have some balance, you can learn to move forward. This part can be pretty straightforward once you can stand on the skates without falling. It may require more lessons and help from a professional coach before attempting complex moves, such as skating backward.

The other aspect that you’ll learn is how to stop. Learning this move can help you stop without falling. You’ll move around with no challenges and stop at the stops you want once you know how to stop. A coach can teach you the various techniques of stopping while skating on ice.

Beginners can learn to skate by themselves or with help from a coach at their local skating rinks. The latter can make your learning quicker and safer. They can also help you discover advanced techniques you might not have learned by yourself.

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Can Adults Learn to Ice Skate?

Yes, adults can learn to ice skate. While it may be true that younger ice skaters bounce back a little quicker from a fall than older ones as they learn to skate, there’s no age limit for learning how to ice skate.

While the difficulty level for adult and young learners is the same, younger people may have one crucial advantage over adults when learning how to skate on ice. Kids are less concerned about making mistakes or looking foolish than adults. This approach can reduce their learning curve. Adults are more cautious and timid to avoid looking ridiculous, which can impede their progress as they learn how to skate on ice.