How to Do Backward Stroking in Ice Skating

After you get the hang of ice skating you might want to try something different like skating backward. Start slow and soon you'll be skating backward across the ice with ease. Follow these tips to do backward stroking in ice skating.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Stand on the ice with your feet together. Look behind you before you start and make sure you have plenty of room to move.

2. Hold your arms out straight at each side. Bend your knees slightly like you are in a sitting position so you won't loose your balance. Lean forward as you start to move your left skate.

3. Take your left foot and move it in a half circle motion beside you across the ice. Your foot will end up about a foot directly behind where it started. Slide your right foot backward so your two feet meet side by side.

4. Repeat the half circle motion with your right foot and then slide your left foot backward so that it rests beside your right foot.

5. Move the left foot again in a swooping circle movement and then move the right again until both feet end up together. Repeat these steps as you move backward across the ice moving the left skate and then the right skate as you go.

6. Watch behind you as your move so that you don't crash into another skater. Speed up as you gain confidence and feel more comfortable doing the backward stroking in ice skating.

7. Add a swizzle to your back stroke by taking the foot that makes the half circle and kicking it forward and up when it completes the half circle. Then bring it back down again and repeat with the other foot.

Tips & Warnings

• Stop skating by performing a snowplough stop. Hold your arms out from your sides to keep your balance.

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