WHY NOT TRY FIGURE ICE SKATING? 

 As mentioned in my previous article, figure ice skating is so much different from ice hockey. Let me then tell you how to start from scratch.  1.  Ask our friends whether they like to ice skate. If they do, tell them to bring you to the figure ice skating rink and have fun. Else, make a visit down to the skating rink. There will surely be coaches or helpful souls around to help you with the first few rounds. 2. Start to build up your interest by visiting the figure ice skating rink more often. You could ask your friends along for companionship. However, if they are not interested to learn figure ice skating, do not force them.   3. Prepare yourself for the figure ice skating beginner course.  You do not need to purchase your figure ice skating shoes and other accessories other than your gloves at the moment.  This beginner figure ice skating course has five stages (Singapore).            

a. Pre-alpha course

2 foot gliding

Balancing of one foot gliding

Swizzling forward and backwards

Wiggling backwards           

b. Alpha course

Forward stroking

Forward crossover

Snow plow stop.           

c. Beta course                   

Backward stroking                       

Backward crossover                       

T- stop           

d. Gamma course          

Left and right outside three turn                       

 Left and right inside Mohawk turn                       

Hockey stop           

e. Delta course                  

 Left and right inside three turn                       

Inside and outside edge                       

Bunny hop                       

Shoot the duck                       

Lunge 

Take note that the above mentioned is for the beginners course, therefore, it may include some skills needed to build the foundation of an ice hockey player. However, learning it as a part of figure ice skating would not harm too.

Representing your country in participating international competition held by the International Hockey Federation, receiving cash prizes and awards?
Getting famous in the ice hockey field?

There is a chance of making your dream come through.

Here are steps to guide you through the first few stages of being one good ice hockey player!

1. Start small by learning ice skating, make it an interest or even a hobby.
Take time to balance yourself in the skating rink. After several practices, you would start to enjoy this sport. However, it is the determination that counts.

2. Attend lessons conducted by professionals to know the different ways of skating.
Enquire from your nearest ice skating center to gather more information. This includes the duration of the course and also what are you going to learn
from that course that will help you improve your skills.

3. Take cautious note that ice hockey is different from figure ice skating.
Especially when signing up for courses, take extra care that you do not sign up the figure ice skating course.

4. After getting familiarized with the different ways to skate, you got to start choosing the equipments for yourself.

5. Getting the correct equipments includes
a. good pair of gloves
b. ice hockey stick
c. comfortable skating shoes
d. and a nice jacket to top it off

These entire aside, an ice hockey player must not have the temptation to consume drugs to ensure good results. One must plan well and follow through
the lessons diligently to ensure good foundation. A professional ice hockey player does not depend only on his talent and strengths but also the mental focus of oneself to concentrate.

For more information about how to become an ice hockey professional, click here for ice hockey manual!