Started ice skating and need help...?

i just started ice skating.. and i enjoy doing it but i kinda suck. i've been doing it for like 5 weeks now. i can pretty much just skate and go on one leg for a little amount of time. i want to learn to do jumps and spins but i am afraid of hurting myself. any ideas or something i can do to ease the nervousness? 10 points to the BEST answer.

Started ice skating and need help...?
Don't worry!! :) It all comes with time. I know that's probably not the answer you want, but it takes many hours of practice to "not suck." You've just started, so give yourself credit! The jumps and spins will come once you are more comfortable. Skaters fall all the time without really getting hurt. It just comes wtih the sport...fall, get up, do it again, fall, get up, do it again. By the time you get to jumps and spins, you will probably feel a lot more comfortable on the ice and be much less nervous when skating. Just like riding a bike. At first it's kind of scary, but after some practice, it becomes second nature and pretty easy.





If you're already taking lessons, my best tip is be sure to skate outside of your lesson. Get to the rink and practice more than just skating during your lesson. I have a lot of skaters who ONLY skate during their 45 minute group lesson. Those usually are the skaters that don't progress as quickly as the ones who take the time to work on their skills outside of lessons.





If you're not taking lessons, I'd recommend signing up for some group lessons. The group lessons will get you going on your basics and help you progress to jumps and spins. In addition, you make a whole group of friends, get to skate with different instructors and if you decide you no longer want to continue skating, the investment isn't as much as you would spend to take private lessons. If you want even more instruction, maybe supplement your group lessons with private lessons too.





Good luck! It will all come probably faster than you think! :)
Reply:Do you have a coach? If you do have a coach, ask your parents about getting more lessons with them. If you do not, see if your parents would be up for paying for group lessons or something to start.





DO NOT try to do difficult jumps and spins on your own because you will most likely just hurt yourself, and if you actually did manage to do anything, if you started taking lessons you would just have to re-learn everything anyways.





If you are nervous, take it slow, and keep skating in a way that you are comfortable. Gradually try to increase your skill set.
Reply:great to hear you're enjoying it :)





don't worry! 5 weeks isn't very long, and I'm sure u don't suck at it, you're just new to it yea? :) after 5 weeks i was luck if i could do a dip!





for now just focus on getting the basics perfected. i know people who didn't spend much time on them and now do really awful jumps and spins :P so think quality not quantity.





once you have been skating a while longer, you could try getting private lessons (assuming u aren't having them already...), then you can start thinking about jumping and spinning, tho it depends what your coach thinks ur ready for...


I've had private lessons for a few months and have only just started jumping, and am still working on perfecting edges :)





everyone falls in skating, and if you do just remember to try and relax into it... accept the fact you have fallen and get back up again :) then try the move you were doing when you fell straight after, just so you know you can and you wont be afraid to next time you step on the ice. eventually you'll actually get used to it! sounds strange, but it will happen...





just remember good things take time. stick with it and you'll be jumping in no time =D





Good Luck!
Reply:right now i have to friends whom i have just met about a week ago and thy started skating about 2 - 3 weeks ago. ask the girls at ur rink for tips suggestions and such. im sure they'll be happy to help! also, dont be scared of the ice, if u are, u won't learn anything.
Reply:Hey. Your doing great for 5 weeks! i started 5 months ago and am on loop and sit spin. So it will take a while, but every one progresses at diffrent speeds. The first jump all skaters should do is bunny hop. It involves using the toe picks, a walking motion then kick of from your picks. If you can do that, move up to the waltz jump or 3 jump as it is also called. Its just kicking thorugh one leg to the other, so you start fowards and end up backwards. You wont hurt your self, all champions have falls, ecspecially when learning. The worst thing that can happen on a bunny hop is you miss your pick, the worst think a a 3 jump is you lean to far forward when you land and fall forword and land on your arms.





First start on a two footed spin. But dont rush any think and always ask your coach b4 trying somethink new as he/she can watch.


Pratcise jumps off ice and watch clips on you tube. The biggist fear is fear itself! so go and giv it a go, whats to loose.



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