Ice skating , HELP Ive not been ice skating for about 15 years, I was really c#ap. Going again , Tips pls

Do not worry, if you were really cr#p at it you might have forgotten evetyhing you know and be really good now

Stick to the edges at first, go slow.

Avoid kids or people hurtling about - alhtough they tend to do this in the middle of the rink.

If anyone suggests doing a ''Snake'' when u all hold hands & skate along, don't. Especially if u r at the end, u have no control, & u can be certain the other person will kindly let go of ur hand so u hurtle, screaming into the crash barrier.

Give people doing spins or skating backwards a seriously wide berth!

Make sure ur hire skates fit snug, if loose they will rub practically all the skin away on ur ankles.

You r bound to have someone say that if u fall, keep ur hand in a fist so people do not skate over ur fingers - I've never seen this happen but l suppose there is always a first time!

It is a great workout, next day ur thighs & bum will be painful.

*edit*
Oh, just remembered! The safest way to stop is to keep one foot going straight & move either ur left or right behind it & gently put the blade on the ice. l think it is called a T-Stop.

Stopping with ur feet in a V shape should be left to professionals, it is a far more violent way of stopping & u can end up flat on ur face if not careful.

Whenever l go ice skating, l always stick around the edges because that way you'd have something to hold on to when you first go out on the rink but after a while you kinda get into the hang of it and you may not have to hold onto the edges much! It is so much fun though! Oh and wear something warm! You probably already knew that though :)

Have fun Skating!

Do not try & let ur confidence go down seeing as that will make u fall more.
My tips r to stick to the sides & if u want come off every few minutes & that. Its good having someone to help u do not try & go in a massive line u will just end up slinging someone to the other side of the rink!
Yeah been there done that unfortunately.. Do not think you're rubbish if u fall even professionals fall but NEVER go to the middle because u have no one & u will end up crawling back to the side & u may get hurt.

Good luck & have fun!

l would suggest sticking to the sides at first & just trying to use the barrier as a guide for where you're going. Make sure ur knees r slightly bent & you're leaning forward ever so slightly. Make little outward pushes with ur blades, the common mistake is never letting the blades come off the ice & ''walking'' on the ice. Just little pushes, & once u think you've mastered that try letting go of the barrier first with one hand, then with two. Trust yourself, trust ur feet, & u will glide :)

Another important thing is being mentally prepared - think of the ice as ur friend, not ur enemy. It is hard but do not be afraid of falling - it is part of learning how to do it. And most of all, have fun! :D

Take it nice, slow & steady. If u feel nervous, take a deep breath, then exhale slowly, lips slightly open. ''Hug the rails'' & take baby steps. Do not look down at the ice-keep ur head up & look forward

Keep ur knees slightly bent & if u feel you're going to fall, put ur feet together & both hands on ur bent knees-sometimes u can stop from falling that way.

If u fall, do not put ur hand out to ''break the fall''-you could fracture ur wrist. Tuck in immediately-you would not want someone behind u to possibly trip over you.