Learn to skate in under 3 minutes

Hi, I'm Rebecca from Campus & Community Recreation at the University of Alberta. Today we will teach you some tips on how to

skate

. First, your

skate

s should fit you. They should be one size smaller than your shoe size. Loosen the laces all the way to the toe. Pull out the tongue of the skate and put your foot in. The heel should fit snugly and the toes should barely touch the end of the skate. Start tightening the laces from the tip and work your way up. If you are using figure skates, be sure to tighten around each hook.

Now your ankle should feel nice and comfortable. When you stand up and bend your knees, your toe should no longer touch the end of the skate. The skate should be comfortable and not too tight or painful. Another important equipment is the helmet. Make sure it fits your head comfortably with the chin strap fitted firmly under your chin. Before getting on the ice Walk on the plastic or rubber surface. Make sure you feel comfortable and balanced. Step carefully on the ice. Bend your knees, extend your arms. Walk carefully over the area and in a controlled manner. Once you feel balanced doing this, turn your toes a little and have the baby move forward.

If you are going to fall, relax your body and accept the fall. Bend your knees, extend your arms to the sides and slowly push yourself onto your butt. Turn on your knees. Raise one knee. Place both hands on your knee. And push as hard as you can to get up. Once up, bend both knees and place both arms high. Once you feel comfortable taking small steps, try pushing and gliding. Bend your knees, turn your toes outward slightly. Raise your arms and lean forward slightly. Push your leg back and diagonally. Then, bring your leg back to the starting position.

Once you feel comfortable, push a little harder and slide a little further. The last tip is to stop. As you skate, bring your feet together. Bend your knees and slide. Slide your foot forward and diagonally. You should be applying so much pressure that you are making snow. Those are the basics. Now have fun!