In general when trying to stop on the ice, you’ll want to lean a little backwards, while your stopping balde pushes into the ice at an angle where it doesn’t grip. This angle will be depending on how sharp your baldes are, but generally speaking it’s a very low angle. You can practice by trying to scrape up little snow piles with your blades. I’ve already explained the last two pictures, the other two are: 1. The Snowplow! Probably the first stop you’ll learn, let aside the mighty butt-stop. Go in in a straight line and dip your feet towards one another, toes fist. Lean back and watch the stopping magic work. Over time you’ll probably notice one foot being the “main stopper”, but goal here is, to use both feet equally and plowing some snow. 2. The two footed sideweep. Ugh. A very elegant way to stop, very energetic. A bit of cramp to get a grasp on at first (at least for me it was). Very similar to the sideturned half-snowplow, you go in in a half-circle, but this time you use both feet to stop. You want your blades be as parallel as possible for this one and you end up standing nice and straight with closed feet. Phew, that’s alot of text this time! Sorry for that, but stops are the single most important thing you’ll learn in ice/figure skating. They prevent crushes and help you regulate your speed when skating. Have fun & be safe!











