Q&A for How to Try Ice Skating for the First Time

When starting out, you can hold onto the wall or another person. Some rinks have aids that you can push around on the ice to keep you upright. After a while, your legs will soon learn the new skill. Also, falling is a fundamental of the skating world -- it shows you're trying.

You could break a bone crossing the street or taking the garbage out. There are risks in life and sure, while donning ice skates and going on the ice increases the risks, provided you are careful, you'll be just fine. Falling over will happen, it's part of the learning process, so learn how to fall safely and you should be fine. Don't go in there with the mindset you'll break anything -- think confidently about mastering this new skill, skate cautiously, fall safely and pick yourself up each time and just keep practicing. You're going to be just fine.

There might be a cut that could require some gauze or a band-aid. The angle of an ice-skate is not like a knife, so you're not likely to get seriously hurt.

You can put your socks on and try crossing and turning on a slippery floor. (Be very careful with this though!) Gliding and balancing are much more difficult to practice without an ice skating rink.

Call your local rink and ask about lessons, either in private or as a group. You might also contact the local Parks and Recreation department.

It depends on your skill level. Ask family or friends if they'd be interested in learning to skate with you, or sign up for lessons and make new friends there!

Start by kneeling. Put your hands between your legs on the ice and slowly push yourself up into a standing position.

Anyone can get hurt ice skating, but if you're careful and you wear safety gear, you're unlikely to suffer any serious injuries.

This is a great age to start skating, you're still young and flexible. Even adults learn to skate well provided they have the interest in learning. Get someone competent to teach you, spot you and be with you for the first few weeks of learning until you gain both balance and confidence. It won't take long if you put in plenty of effort.

Go from your falling position to a kneeling one. Put one foot out, like a lunge, and push off with your hands.

It takes a lot of practice and time to be able to do spins etc, so don’t expect to be doing that on your first attempt. Take things slowly but accept small challenges such as moving away from the wall and skating not holding on to the wall. It isn’t extremely hard, you usually get the feel for the ice after a few minutes. Go around the rink holding on to the floor and fall a couple times on purpose to get over the fear of falling: it happens and it’s totally okay!

It depends on the movements you want to do. The higher levels of figure skating include movements that need you to be flexible but if you just want to skate just for recreation, then no.