Learn to Skate USA: Control Speed Safely on Ice

For Learn to Skate USA skaters, managing speed is a core skill—not just a way to avoid a fall. Practise gliding, turning and stopping in a clear space, building control gradually so you can adjust to changing speed and direction with confidence.

• 30 minutes guided instruction in a Flyers Training Center class

How does the snowplow stop control speed?

Build the wedge gradually

The snowplow stop controls speed by turning both toes slightly inward and pressing the inside edges of the blades outward to form a shallow wedge, which creates friction and slows the glide. Start from a slow glide with knees bent and weight balanced over both skates; keep your torso steady as you begin the movement.

Apply gentle, even pressure through the inside edges, increasing it gradually if you need to slow more. The blades should push outward in a controlled motion, not be forced into the ice. If the wedge feels uneven, ease off and reset your balance before trying again.

Practise before gliding faster

Practise the snowplow stop while moving slowly until you can reduce your speed smoothly and stay balanced. Use these checks as you practise:

• Knees: Keep them bent to support balance.
• Toes: Angle them slightly toward each other to shape the wedge.
• Blade edges: Press the inside edges outward gently and evenly.
• Speed: Build confidence with the stop before attempting a faster glide.

What should beginners do before trying to stop?

Before trying to stop, beginners should practise small marching steps, keep their knees flexed and work on a manageable snowplow at a slow pace. Marching steps help you get moving without committing to a sustained glide; once balanced, try a short glide and prepare to slow down with the snowplow rather than relying on the boards.

Build control in short attempts

Keep your knees bent as you move so your body stays balanced over the blades. Start the snowplow practice at a pace where you can make the stopping motion feel controlled; if it feels difficult to manage, return to marching steps and try again more slowly.

Repeat a short glide followed by a snowplow stop, then reset your posture before the next attempt. This gives you a chance to regain balance and check your knee bend instead of carrying a rushed or unstable position into another glide. Build speed only after the snowplow feels reliable; leave the more dramatic Hockey Stop for later.

How can a beginner practise stopping without the boards?

Use open ice, not the barrier.

Practise stopping on open ice by choosing a clear stretch where you can glide slowly and come to a stop without travelling toward the barrier. Keep the space ahead free of other skaters, so you can focus on controlling your speed rather than steering around obstacles.

Build a shallow snowplow.

Start with a short, slow glide, then gently turn both toes inward to make a shallow wedge. Let the inside edges of the skates create resistance; check that you are slowing before trying again. Keep your knees bent and your speed low, and repeat the glide-and-stop sequence only when the space ahead is clear.

Use class time for repetition.

Flyers Training Center classes provide a structured way to practise: each 60-minute class includes 30 minutes of guided instruction, followed by 30 minutes of free skate time to practise and grow more comfortable on the ice. Use that free-skate time for repeated, low-speed snowplow stops, rather than making the boards your routine way to stop.

• Snowplow: practise it first to control speed at low speed.
• Boards: treat them as a barrier, not your standard stopping method.

When should a beginner use a different stopping technique?

Use a different stopping technique only after the snowplow no longer gives you dependable control at low speed—and do not move on to a Hockey Stop until the snowplow is completely reliable. Keep the snowplow as your main brake while you are still learning to glide slowly; build speed only when you can use it to slow down predictably.

Choose the response that matches the problem

• Snowplow: Keep practising this first braking skill at low speed. If it does not slow your glide predictably, reduce speed and return to basic snowplow practice rather than trying a more demanding stop.
• Hockey Stop: This two-footed stop requires more control than the snowplow. Wait until you can rely on the snowplow completely before practising it.
• Turning: A gentle lean into a turn helps you maintain balance, but changing direction does not replace braking. Use a stopping technique when you need to slow down.

When a snowplow feels inconsistent, the practical next step is to make the glide slower, not to rely on a turn or attempt a Hockey Stop. Return to basic practice until the snowplow again reduces speed in a controlled, predictable way.

What is Learn to Skate USA?

Learn to Skate USA is a U.S. Figure Skating program that helps beginners build the skating foundation needed for figure skating and ice hockey. U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for figure skating in the United States, recognized by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the International Skating Union.

U.S. Figure Skating comprises nearly 640 member and collegiate clubs and over 1,000 registered Learn to Skate USA® and Aspire programs representing over 249,000 members. For a new skater, the immediate goal is not speed but control: learn to stop reliably before trying to skate faster or take on more demanding techniques.

Why stopping comes first

The snowplow stop is a practical early skill because it lets a beginner reduce speed without depending on the boards. Practise it after small marching steps and short glides, keeping the knees bent for balance; add speed only when the stop feels dependable. More dramatic techniques, such as the Hockey Stop, can wait until basic stopping is secure.

What common mistakes make stopping less safe?

Know when to slow down

Common stopping mistakes are using the boards as a default brake, gaining speed before mastering the snowplow, skating with straight knees, and attempting a Hockey Stop before the snowplow is reliable. Each leaves a beginner less prepared to control a glide on open ice.

• Relying on the boards: The boards can seem like an easy way to stop, but they do not teach a controlled braking response. Practise stopping on open ice instead of treating the barrier as your plan.
• Building speed too soon: Learn the snowplow stop before skating faster. If you accelerate first, managing the glide becomes harder before you have a dependable way to slow down.
• Locking the knees: Straight, stiff legs make balance harder while moving and stopping. Keep your knees bent so you can stay balanced and adjust your position.
• Skipping to the Hockey Stop: This two-footed stop is not a substitute for learning the snowplow. Attempt it only when the snowplow stop is completely reliable.

A safer progression is to build control before speed: use small marching steps, practise gliding, and repeat the snowplow stop until you can call on it reliably. Keep your knees bent throughout; do not let a faster glide or a more dramatic stopping technique get ahead of your basic control.

Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways

• Master the snowplow stop before increasing speed.
• Use small marching steps and bent knees to prepare for controlled glides.
• Practise braking in open ice rather than relying on the boards.
• Save the two-footed Hockey Stop until the snowplow is completely reliable.