What does ice skating involve?
Originating in Scandinavia four millennia ago, ice skating has developed over the years into a fun yet physically demanding winter sport enjoyed by millions. Ice skaters travel over an icy surface (normally an ice rink or frozen body of water) on bladed boots. Depending on the type of competition, they may race across this length of ice, or perform complex dance moves upon it. Whilst beginners may initially struggle to stay upright on a slippery ice surface, balancing the body for successful skating is really not too difficult to master. Experienced skaters move skilfully across the ice by digging their blades into its surface so that friction, and therefore control are substantially increased. Skaters can also heighten their momentum by following curved paths across the ice, carefully manoeuvring their bodies to maintain balance and quicken speed. Popular ice skating sports Ice skating forms the basis of a number of key sporting activities, with the challenges posed by a slippery surf