Walking on skates

[FSWer]

Ok. I must admit I do find it a little hard walking on skates (with Gaurds of course). But I have seen skaters walking with skates on as if the skates themselves are actually shoes. They don't ever woble or at least have to take tiny steps. I on the other hand have to keep my balance more every few inches. I don't walk as fast. Is there a curtan way to walk with skates that's different from walking with shoes? Or is it all just practice,and I'm just a Novice? Thanks.

[sk8joyful]

Ok. I must admit I do find it a little hard walking on skates (with Gaurds of course).
But I have seen skaters walking with skates on as if the skates themselves are actually shoes.
Is there a curtan way to walk with skates that's different from walking with shoes? Or is it all just practice, and I'm just a Novice? Thanks.

I continue a Beginner-skater (mostly as I can't practice as often as I want); and yet I have & can run... ;) in my skates (no less without my guards, a few times), same as I do in my sneakers. - So yes, I'd say it just comes down to you more practicing this skill, in case you need to. - Enjoy your skating... :)

[Clarice]

I kind of turn my toes out a little bit and "duck walk" in my skates. Or, if I"m not wearing my guards, I tip-toe on my toe picks so I'm not stepping on my edges.

[dance2sk8]

I guess I am one of those that walk like they are shoes. I've never really had an issue unless I am too tired and don't pick my feet up enough and snag my toe pick into the flooring. LOL! :lol:

[FSWer]

I guess I am one of those that walk like they are shoes. I've never really had an issue unless I am too tired and don't pick my feet up enough and snag my toe pick into the flooring. LOL! :lol:

Dance2sk8 has more of the idea to what I've seen. Yes. Do you just need pratice to walk as well as say...one of the Freestylers you see at the Rink (in which case you can walk in the same way as you do shoes)? Or do you have to add a Duck walk? BTW. to what Sk8joyful said. Is it really possible to RUN in skates?

[sk8rdad59]

Dance2sk8 has more of the idea to what I've seen. Yes. Do you just need pratice to walk as well as say...one of the Freestylers you see at the Rink (in which case you can walk in the same way as you do shoes)? Or do you have to add a Duck walk? BTW. to what Sk8joyful said. Is it really possible to RUN in skates?

Most definitely, DS has done this when getting his music from the dressing room, full speed across the ice a leap through the door and sprint to the dressing room without a pause. :P

[Skittl1321]

Dance2sk8 has more of the idea to what I've seen. Yes. Do you just need pratice to walk as well as say...one of the Freestylers you see at the Rink (in which case you can walk in the same way as you do shoes)? Or do you have to add a Duck walk? BTW. to what Sk8joyful said. Is it really possible to RUN in skates?

It's definetly possible to run in skates. I see kids do it all the time, and if I'm in a huge hurry, I do it. (But I'd rather not, as running makes it tougher to see if there are obstacles to step on (such as coins or bobby pins- I don't usually wear guards!)

Walking just takes practice, but I don't find walking in skates to be any different from walking in shoes. It's just a matter of finding your balance and being used to it. My rink is at a mall so it's not unusual for skaters to put guards on and walk over to the food court for a snack.

I've seen teens DRIVE in skates (with guards), and I just can't imagine this. I guess it's possible, but it is EXTREMELY unsafe. In perfect conditions, I'm sure it wouldn't be any fuss except adjusting your seat to account for having longer legs. But one car swerves in front of you, and I just don't think you have the control of normal shoes. Bad idea, IMO

[Query]

Practice!

[So what else is new?]

When I see people wobbling around on or off the ice, 95% of the time the laces are too loose, or the boots too big.

If your foot can move at all relative to the boot, something is wrong.

Way more impressive is people who can do tap dances and jigs on the ice.

[dance2sk8]

Dance2sk8 has more of the idea to what I've seen. Yes. Do you just need pratice to walk as well as say...one of the Freestylers you see at the Rink (in which case you can walk in the same way as you do shoes)? Or do you have to add a Duck walk? BTW. to what Sk8joyful said. Is it really possible to RUN in skates?

I run to the rink at the end of the building if i am running LATE!

I walk like dancers do, with me feet pointed out. Not a lot, but like I do when I walk in shoes. I agree with some people here, your boots better be tight enough and tied correctly. Anything loose, you are in trouble. Best way to injure yourself is walking around in loosely tied skates.

[londonicechamp]

Hi FSWer

I do walk in my skates, without any guards on. I just walk like a person wearing normal shoes as my laces of the skates are tightly laced up properly.

I did see kids running in skates, and once saw my coach running with skates to my private lesson, as she was really running late, so yes, it is possible to run in your skates. :D

londonicechamp

[Skittl1321]

Best way to injure yourself is walking around in loosely tied skates.

Oh, come on! Surely there is a "better" way to injure yourself :evil:


/just kidding!

[dance2sk8]

Oh, come on! Surely there is a "better" way to injure yourself :evil:


/just kidding!

Like me doing off-ice waltz jumps and spraining my ankle??? ;)

[sk8joyful]

BTW. to what Sk8joyful said. Is it really possible to RUN in skates?

Hi there,
Yes, as you can see from 4 other skaters here, YES!, many us can RUN in our skates :)

Also, as another skater said, it's much easier to trip over your toe-picks walking...,
because the flooring has a nasty habit, of reaching-up to GRAB one of your picks,
another reason for wearing your guards.
Aside which you don't want to get your blades nicked, as then you can't skate as safely.

So while I've tripped over my picks walking... In my skates, honestly I can run in them just fine. Easy!

[FSWer]

Hi there,
Yes, as you can see from 4 other skaters here, YES!, many us can RUN in our skates :)

Also, as another skater said, it's much easier to trip over your toe-picks walking...,
because the flooring has a nasty habit, of reaching-up to GRAB one of your picks,
another reason for wearing your guards.
Aside which you don't want to get your blades nicked, as then you can't skate as safely.

So while I've tripped over my picks walking... In my skates, honestly I can run in them just fine. Easy!

Say,how is it possible to run in skates? How canyou get the speed you have in shoes?

[Skittl1321]

FSWer you run in skates just like you run in shoes- pick your feet up higher and move faster. But if you don't have great balance walking, you shouldn't try running. (Just like someone who doesn't walk well in shoes- like some women in high heels- shouldn't try running in them.)

I would guess that most people can run faster in tennis shoes/sneakers than ice skates- because the shoes are made to run in, but I think I could run quicker in ice skates than in high heels, because my feet are more comfortable in them, and I'm not very comfortable in most high heels. This is assuming I'm on rubber ice rink mats.

[FSWer]

FSWer you run in skates just like you run in shoes- pick your feet up higher and move faster. But if you don't have great balance walking, you shouldn't try running. (Just like someone who doesn't walk well in shoes- like some women in high heels- shouldn't try running in them.)

I would guess that most people can run faster in tennis shoes/sneakers than ice skates- because the shoes are made to run in, but I think I could run quicker in ice skates than in high heels, because my feet are more comfortable in them, and I'm not very comfortable in most high heels. This is assuming I'm on rubber ice rink mats.

LOL,true. But then how can you run and balance on skates at the same time?

[Skittl1321]

I had very good balance walking before I ever tried running. So the balance was already there- I just took it to the next level.

Running in my skates is sure easier than doing a lutz!

[Query]

Just like skating, walking and running comfortably in skates is an exercise in dynamic balance - i.e., if you stop and hold a pose, on one foot, that is very tough, but if you keep walking or running by pushing outwards to continually shift your balance from the outside edge to the inside edge before switching to the other foot, as your feet roll forwards, that is almost the same motion as when you walk or run in normal shoes or bare feet.

I think it is much, much easier to walk and run in skates than in downhill ski boots, because such boots are so high you can't easily roll your foot backwards and forwards.

Yet good skiers can, and climb mountains in them too. How is that possible?

[sk8joyful]

I think it is much, much easier to walk and run in skates
than in downhill ski boots, because such boots are so high
you can't easily roll your foot backwards and forwards.

Yet good skiers can, and climb mountains in them too. How is that possible?

ok, I can speak to some of this too, as all us kids got our start as snow-skiers, no less at age one ;)
but
never did we have those high stiff boots. Instead, we wore more like a low, light, flexible pair of hiking boots; which may have helped develop strong, agile ankles as young children, as we climbed back up the hills (never heard of no ski-lift) for our legs did the lifting. - I think, childhood-Sking, Gymnastics, & sprinting all served well, as preparation for participating in our beautiful figure-skating sport. - What do you think? ;)


Just like skating, walking and running comfortably in skates is an exercise in dynamic balance - i.e., if you stop and hold a pose, on one foot, that is very tough,

Toughness I think also depends on the training. For instance, work-related I had to pass some sort of test recently; & both male & female therapists could not believe how fast I raced thru some of those tests, saying: We have people 1/3 your age, taking 3x as long as you, and they still peeter-out before the test is done. And then, we can't hold our balance on one leg, with our eyes open; yet you stood there, with your eyes shut for over 70 seconds, how do you manage that?? - and I said: "well, I'm an iceskater ;) so of course, I have agility, balance, flexability, & gaining in strength". - and they said "no wonder, you go girl!" :mrgreen:


but if you keep walking or running by pushing outwards to continually shift your balance from the outside edge to the inside edge before switching to the other foot, as your feet roll forwards, that is almost the same motion as when you walk or run in normal shoes or bare feet.

Body managed to learn all that?? - Imagine!, lol - isn't it just amazing, how after some practice you can do all this _naturally_ :D

[caffn8me]

I can walk and run in skates with and without blade guards but only since I repositioned my blades. It the blades aren't in the right place laterally they tend to make you supinate or pronate too much. This will affect your skating too but it may be more noticeable to you off ice when walking.

Sarah

[jazzpants]

My former primary coach not only can walk with skates and blade guards on, he can DRIVE his car with said skates and blade guards on!!! :bow: :bow: :bow: (He said it was a necessary acquired skill from having to move his car around the 1 and 2 hour parking spots during his lesson times. :lol: )

[caffn8me]

My former primary coach not only can walk with skates and blade guards on, he can DRIVE his car with said skates and blade guards on!!! :bow: :bow: :bow: (He said it was a necessary acquired skill from having to move his car around the 1 and 2 hour parking spots during his lesson times. :lol: )I haven't tried that yet but reckon I could drive mine too - it's quite an 'agricultural' vehicle with rather large pedals!

Sarah

[celticprincess]

Oh you get used to walking on skates in time. Prior to competition one year, my coach had me do a few off ice jumps while in my skates. That worked surprisingly well:-) Recently, I've mastered going up and down two flights of stairs in my skates. The bathroom in my new rink is convienently located upstairs:?? Don't ask me why.

[FSWer]

Oh you get used to walking on skates in time. Prior to competition one year, my coach had me do a few off ice jumps while in my skates. That worked surprisingly well:-) Recently, I've mastered going up and down two flights of stairs in my skates. The bathroom in my new rink is convienently located upstairs:?? Don't ask me why.

How do you walk upstairs in skates? I have also found my skates to wobble side to side while walking. Are you supposed to walk with your skates like your gliding in on ice? BTW. I've always found it hard to believe,and have always said that before you go skating you should go to the bathroom. Because I always think that once you have skates on,your NOT going to make it to a Restroom.

[Skittl1321]

How do you walk upstairs in skates? I have also found my skates to wobble side to side while walking. Are you supposed to walk with your skates like your gliding in on ice? BTW. I've always found it hard to believe,and have always said that before you go skating you should go to the bathroom. Because I always think that once you have skates on,your NOT going to make it to a Restroom.

The rink I first skated at as a kid had skate rental, restrooms, and lockers downstairs from the rink. You HAD to walk up stairs.

When I first started skating I would walk with my feet turned sideways (the opposite of gliding on the ice), so that the whole skate fit on the stair, and place each foot onto the stair (rather than 1 foot per stair like I normally do.) Now i'm comfortable enough to walk pretty normally, even on stairs.

Every rink I've been at has had mats that lead into the bathroom, so you can go to the restroom with your skates on. But it is much easier to just go before you put the skates on!

[FSWer]

The rink I first skated at as a kid had skate rental, restrooms, and lockers downstairs from the rink. You HAD to walk up stairs.

When I first started skating I would walk with my feet turned sideways (the opposite of gliding on the ice), so that the whole skate fit on the stair, and place each foot onto the stair (rather than 1 foot per stair like I normally do.) Now i'm comfortable enough to walk pretty normally, even on stairs.

Every rink I've been at has had mats that lead into the bathroom, so you can go to the restroom with your skates on. But it is much easier to just go before you put the skates on!

LOL,ok. First can someone please explain how a bathroom upstairs is convenent? Also for gliding,a skater at my Rink told me that to glide in you start with your feet out and then bring them in. Which I found is an easy way to remember it. But what is ment by the opposite of that? Can you explain how walking in skates is?

[TreSk8sAZ]

LOL,ok. First can someone please explain how a bathroom upstairs is convenent?

She was joking.

Can you explain how walking in skates is?

I walk in skates exactly the way as I walk in shoes. Don't try to skate while walking because your weight will not be centered over the skate blade and it will make you feel like you are falling to one side or the other.

[FSWer]

She was joking.



I walk in skates exactly the way as I walk in shoes. Don't try to skate while walking because your weight will not be centered over the skate blade and it will make you feel like you are falling to one side or the other.

YOU!!! YOU...have more of the idea to what is happening when I walk. BTW. how do you find your natual balance OFF-ICE to walk with skates like you do shoes without and before you start to feel like falling?

[Clarice]

I think we'd have to actually see you try to walk in skates, FSWer, before we can really answer your questions. Most of us seem to find our balance pretty easily, so if it's giving you trouble, we'd need to see exactly what's going wrong before we can make suggestions. You'll probably have better luck if you ask somebody at your rink, who can watch you and demonstrate for you.

[Query]

I honestly wouldn't feel safe driving in skates.

I bet the police and judge would consider any accident your fault.

If I ran a rink, I'd make it really easy for coaches to teach there, including parking. Doing otherwise is stupid!

[sk8joyful]

Say, how is it possible to run in skates?
How can you get the speed you have in shoes?

Dana,

I used to be a sprinter (barefoot or shoes), but
I don't 'sprint' in my skates, as that is not their purpose, know what I mean ;) - so the speed is accordingly slower.
Also,
since you keep asking, let me add that (whether, or not, you run in skates); it's more important that you are SAFE :!:
Running in skates, isn't nearly as important, (nor does it help you much) with
your "on-ice skills". Play around with them, practice there, and always have fun!... ok ;)
.

[sk8joyful]

How do you walk upstairs in skates?

I have also found my skates to wobble side to side while walking.

I always think that once you have skates on, your NOT going to make it to a Restroom.

Dana,
Once you learn to lace your skates correctly, the wobble will go away.

Our 3 bathrooms are ice-level, so using the restroom is also as
easy, as walking or running in them upstairs.
I go upstairs sideways, crossover ;) style; and increase my speed as I feel ready.

PLEASE do not try that, until you can habitually lace-up correctly, & can easily walk in them without support, iow free-hand.

[Query]

I agree - if your skates wobble when you walk, they are way too loose - lacing and/or fit.

It is a complete waste of time trying to learn to skate that way - the inability to control what the blade and feet do will completely dominate all your efforts. You will instantly be a much better skater when you learn to get them tight. If you have problems tightening them, try using waxed laces or lace hooks.

It should not be possible for any motion to occur within the boot below the ankle at all. Ever. No matter what you do.

[FSWer]

I agree - if your skates wobble when you walk, they are way too loose - lacing and/or fit.

It is a complete waste of time trying to learn to skate that way - the inability to control what the blade and feet do will completely dominate all your efforts. You will instantly be a much better skater when you learn to get them tight. If you have problems tightening them, try using waxed laces or lace hooks.

It should not be possible for any motion to occur within the boot below the ankle at all. Ever. No matter what you do.

I mean when your blades wobble left to right.

[Query]

I mean when your blades wobble left to right.

If there is room for your feet to move inside the boot from left to right (and back, I assume), something is wrong, with the way the boot fits, and/or the way you lace it.

If you mean that the blades can move relative to the boot, the screws have come loose, or the screw hole(s) have been stripped. See a good boot person (e.g., at a pro shop). They can fix that fast, and it will get worse the more you skate. Most good skaters could figure this out too.

While you are there, they can check the fit of your boots, and the way you lace them.

Please see someone quickly. Most boot people won't charge much if anything just to look. Or lots of good skaters would be happy to help you figure this out for free.

It's not just a waste of time and money to try to learn to skate that way. You are risking both major injury (like broken ankle or leg), and long term chronic medical problems. You are wearing out your boots faster too.