Plenty of people learn to skate as adults: newcomers to Canada, parents who want to keep up with their kids, people who never got the chance as children. Adults learn differently from children (more cautious, more analytical) but they learn just as well. Here is a realistic plan for your first few weeks.
Pick the right ice
Start with a quiet session. An adult public skate, a weekday lunchtime session or the first session of the morning is far less intimidating than a crowded Sunday afternoon. Adult-only sessions also mean fewer small children darting in front of you. On this site, sessions reserved for adults carry a label; sessions marked 55+ or for older adults are usually calm too, if you are in that age group.
Gear up
- Skates that fit. Rentals are fine to start, but a snug pair of your own makes a big difference once you are hooked. See our guide to fitting and sharpening skates.
- A helmet. Adults fall too, and backward falls are the risky ones. A CSA-certified hockey helmet is the safest choice, and nobody on the ice will give it a second look.
- Gloves, and if you are worried, wrist guards and knee pads under your pants. They are cheap confidence.
Week 1: standing, falling and getting up
Spend your first session near the boards. The goals are modest:
- Find your stance. Feet hip-width apart, knees bent, weight over the middle of your feet, hands slightly in front of you, eyes up. Stiff, straight legs are the main reason beginners fall backward.
- Fall on purpose. From your stance, bend your knees further and sit down to one side. Then roll onto your hands and knees, place one foot flat between your hands, then the other, and push up. Do it three or four times. Once you know you can fall and get up, the ice becomes a lot less scary.
- March. Take small steps in place, then small steps forward, toes slightly turned out.
Week 2: the first glide
- From your marching steps, push one foot gently out to the side and back, and let the other skate glide for a moment. Bring the pushing foot back under you. Switch sides.
- Keep the pushes short and the knees bent. Long, strong strides come later.
- Practise gliding on two feet: a few steps, then hold still and ride.
Week 3: stopping
Being able to stop is what lets you leave the boards with confidence. Start with the snowplow stop:
- While gliding slowly on two feet, push your heels out and point your toes slightly in, bending your knees.
- Press the inside edges of the blades into the ice. You will hear a scraping sound and feel yourself slow down.
- Practise at walking speed first, then a little faster.
Hockey stops and turns can wait. The snowplow is enough to skate safely in a public session.
Week 4 and beyond: away from the boards
- Do full laps with the crowd, staying on the outside and moving to the boards when you need a break.
- Try gentle curves: lean slightly into the turn and let your skates follow.
- When you feel ready, try a few strokes on one foot at a time, and backward wiggles (small "lemon" shapes with both feet) near the boards.
Tips that make the difference
- Go regularly. Two short sessions a week beat one long session a month. Your body needs repetition to build balance.
- Stop before you are exhausted. Tired legs make sloppy skating and more falls.
- Do not compare yourself to the kids. Children have a lower centre of gravity and less fear of falling. You have patience and the ability to understand what you are doing; use it.
- Consider lessons. Many cities offer adult learn-to-skate programs. A few lessons can fix habits that are hard to unlearn later.
What next?
Once you are comfortable, the ice opens up: longer public skates, family outings, or, if you catch the hockey bug, a stick and puck session to learn to handle a puck, and eventually a beginner-friendly shinny game. Our article on the different kinds of drop-in ice time explains where to go next.
Rules, fees and equipment requirements vary from one arena to another. Before you go, check the session details on the arena's official page, linked from every arena on this site.