How to Do a One-Foot Glide in Figure Skating

A one-foot glide is a figure skating technique for beginners. Many complex figure skating steps will rely on your ability to gracefully glide across the ice on one foot. Once you know how to start, stop and easily stroke across the ice, you can advance to the one-foot glide technique.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Stand on the ice with correct posture. Keep your back and neck straight. Your arms should extend straight out to the sides, at shoulder height.

2. Take a few strokes forward with alternating feet. 3 or 4 strokes are sufficient to practice a one-foot glide.

3. Place both skates on the ice and begin to glide on two feet.

4. Keep your knees slightly bent, your ankles together and your back straight while gliding.

5. Allow your weight to shift to one leg and bend the opposite knee, lifting the skate off the ice.

6. Bring your elevated skate up to your opposite ankle. You should not try to lift your leg higher than your ankle until you have successfully performed a one-foot glide several times.

7. Glide on one foot for approximately one body length, and then bring your elevated skate back down to the ice.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember your posture is an important factor in maintaining your balance while skating.
• Once you are comfortable with gliding on one foot, you can slowly raise your lifted leg until your ankle is even with your standing knee.
• Since posture and form are important aspects of figure skating, practice one-foot glides with a partner or coach who can critique your skating.
• Since injuries can occur, never practice ice skating techniques alone.

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