This essay, by Yip Pei Yuan Erica, 18, a student at Foon Yew High School Johor Bahru in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, is one of the Top 10 winners of The Learning Network’s “How To” Informational Writing Contest.
How to Ice Skate Without Faceplanting (or Looking Like a Panicked Penguin)
“Bend your knees, lean forward and whatever you do — don’t flail your arms like a panicked penguin,” says Coach Allysha Tan from Blue Ice Skating Rink, who has spent decades teaching people how to skate gracefully (and, more importantly, how not to faceplant). Skating is an art, a science and a test of how much humiliation you’re willing to endure. But with the right technique — and a little dignity — you can glide across the ice without becoming a viral fail video.
Balance on solid ground? Easy. Balance on frozen water? A betrayal of physics. But don’t panic — your brain already knows how to balance. The trick is convincing it that ice is not the enemy. Stay loose, bend your knees, and embrace the glide.
Your feet will lie to you. They’ll say, “Hey, standing up straight is a great idea!” But no — straight legs equal disaster. “Lower your center of gravity,” says Coach Allysha. “Think of yourself as a ninja, crouched and ready.” If you feel yourself tipping, do not flail. That will only make you look like a bird realizing mid-flight it never learned to fly. Instead, bend lower. The ice can’t trip you if you’re already close to it.
Now, it’s time to move. Push off gently while keeping your weight centered. Gently. No need to launch into orbit. Small, controlled movements are your best friend. And whatever you do — do not look down. “Your feet aren’t going anywhere without you,” says Coach Allysha. “Keep your eyes ahead, or you’ll have an awkward conversation with the ice.”
Here’s the truth: You will fall. Even Olympians fall. The difference? They get up gracefully. If you feel yourself going down, don’t fight it. Gravity will win. Instead, tuck your arms in (to avoid looking like an inflatable tube man) and aim to land on your side or butt — both have more padding than your face. And when you fall? Get up like you meant to do it. “Smile, laugh, and act like you were just testing the ice quality,” says Coach Allysha. “Confidence is everything.”
So bend your knees, take a deep breath and glide forward like you didn’t just Google “how to ice skate without dying.” And if you do fall? Well, as Coach Allysha says, “The ice is always there to catch you. Just try not to make it a habit.”