Q&A for How to Ice Skate Backwards

Of course they do, as everyone skates with socks.

Method 1 is the easiest and is usually the first skating technique used when learning to skate backwards.

Backwards swizzles are pretty similar to forward ones, just as backwards skating is similar to forwards skating. It's as simple as learning to do things in reverse. To do a backwards swizzle, start with your feet straight up as if you're standing. Then, slightly bend your knees. In one quick motion, point your toes to each other and push backwards. Make sure your body isn't too far forward, or you'll fall. Then, after you have gained speed by pushing backwards, moves your heels towards each other and push inwards. Then, repeat the motion of moving your toes towards each other and pushing outwards, and so forth.

Yes. Once you have done your crossover, take the foot that was crossed over and move it to the side to prevent falling down/tripping.

To start in a clockwise direction, you must have your arms up like you're holding a giant cookie (don't be a pretzel). Push off on the right leg on the outside edge following a circular pattern. Bring your left foot up and over the right foot and place it down on the inside edge of the ice. Immediately push off and under using the right foot. Then place the right next to the left and push off straight away into the next crossover.

Yes! However, you will need to be more conscious of your weight distribution and on which set of wheels (inside or outside) you are pushing off of. Trying these techniques on a smooth surface or roller skating rink will make skating backwards a lot easier and safer.

There's always a possibility of tripping over your own feet when attempting this. If you fall down, just get back up and try again.

Before learning the 1-foot glide backwards, I suggest learning how to do one forward first. You will also need to be comfortable with going backwards first. When you lift up your foot in the 1-foot glide backwards, make sure that your balance is centered over your left hip and you aren't dropping your right hip, because if you continue skating, it is bad to get in the habit of dropping your right hip in jumps (makes it harder to get around the jump) and spins. Also, when you get more comfortable with skating, try going faster. Speed is the key, just like riding a bike. If you are going too slow and run out of speed, you will fall down (mainly when on one foot).

It depends on how easily you can learn and how good you are in skates. With lots of practice, you can learn how to skate backwards in just a few weeks!