Skate UK - Grade 3

Below is a breakdown of the requirements for progressing through the 10 stages of Skate UK

    "The primary goal at this level is to introduce the concept of extended gliding on one foot, and the ability to initiate momentum using the pressure of the edges against the ice"

    Forward one foot glide (Straight Line)
    From moving forwards, keep your knees slightly bent. Glide with two feet together to gain balance. Push onto one leg, with the free leg either extended straight to the back or lifted to the side of the skating foot by approx 3 inches from the ice. Maintain knee bend and balance to complete a glide the same distance as your height.

    Two foot jump
    From moving forward, glide on two feet to gain balance. Keep your arms out at waist level for balance and bend your knees strongly. Push into the air maintaining good posture. Bend your knees strongly to soften the landing in contact with the ice. Return to a gliding position on two feet to regain your balance.

    Forward and backward sculling
    Also known as lemons. Stand with feet in a V position, keep knees slightly bend and maintain posture. Push feet apart to approx shoulder width and pull the feet back together by bringing the toes inward until your feet are touching again. Repeat the movement using the rythm of bend, rise, bend, rise. Bend the knees when your feet go out, rise in the knees when your feet come back together. To perform sculling or lemons backwards stand with your feet in an inverted V position with your toes together. Keep your knees slightly bend and maintain your posture. Push your feet apart to approx shoulder width by applying pressure to the inside edges of both feet. Pull your feet back together by bringing your heels towards each other. Repeat the movement using the rythm of bend, rise, bend, rise. Bend in the knees when your feet go out and rise in the knees when your feet come back together.

    One foot glide on a curve, inside edge (L&R)
    From moving fowards into a two foot glide, push onto a right forward inside edge. Keeping your body weight to the inside edge and knee bent. Relax the free leg and bring the left toe to the heel of the right foot. Keep the opposite arm to skating leg leading into the curve. Maintain the curve with good posture and speed and repeat on the opposite foot on the left forward inside edge.