Req 2a6 — Forward Skating & Stop

This is your first performance requirement. Your counselor needs to see you skate continuously for at least 40 feet with reasonable control, then come to a complete stop using a snowplow technique. Partial stops or coasting into the boards do not count.

Skating Forward

Before you can stop effectively, you need to move forward with basic technique:

• Bend your knees. A slight bend in the knees lowers your center of gravity, improves balance, and makes every movement more stable. Standing straight up is the most common beginner mistake.
• Lean slightly forward from the ankles — not the waist — so your weight is over the balls of your feet, not your heels.
• Push with the inside edge. Each stroke pushes off to the side using the inside edge of the blade. Alternate feet, letting the free foot glide while the other pushes.

Two-Foot Snowplow Stop

The two-foot snowplow is the standard beginner stop. Both feet remain on the ice throughout.

1. Glide forward with feet parallel, about shoulder-width apart.
2. Turn both toes slightly inward (pigeon-toed) and push both heels slightly outward.
3. Apply equal pressure on both inside edges, creating a wedge shape — like a pizza slice with the point in front.
4. The friction from both inside edges scrapes the ice and slows you to a stop.
5. Increase pressure on the edges to stop faster; ease pressure to slow gradually.

One-Foot Snowplow Stop

The one-foot snowplow stops you with a single blade while the other foot remains as a glide foot.

1. Glide forward on two feet.
2. Shift your weight onto the glide foot (usually your non-dominant foot).
3. Turn the stopping foot’s toe inward and push the heel out while pressing the inside edge into the ice.
4. The dragging action of that single blade slows you to a stop.

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