Hockey Stop - 4 Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

1. Tight Turn
2. Fall on Hip
3. Stuck on Ice
4. Vibrating Skate

1. Tight Turn

First time on ice, after rollerblading all summer, I was not able to hockey stop. The reason is simple. I put all my weight on the heel. With the ice hockey stop your weight shall be on the toe balls.

It took me a little bit of time to realearn this, but when I did, it just clicked. The correct technique came back and I never faced this problem again.

Here I show the difference between the two. This is a proper hockey stop and notice how
- only the front of the blade scrapes the ice. The heel and center blade is not touching the ice at all
- knees above toes

Here's a tight turn. Only the heel touches the ice. Although it too is a stop in a way, it's easy to fall backward, so not recommended as a primary stopping technique.

Having said that, this is what I do on rollerblades, although with rollerblades it triggers a slide stop, also called the powerstop.

2. Fall on Hip

This happened my first session on ice, but thankfully never again. Not being able to hockey stop, I tried to lean more backward. Don't do that! It does not work.

With a hockey stop your upper body actually leans forward, it's only your skates and legs that are at an angle.

3. Stuck on Ice

This happens if you have a very upright stance. Instead of shaving ice, your skates basically just hoover over the ice, mid blade. Once your skate gets stuck in a crack, your balance is off.

About cracks on the ice ... there wil always be cracks because of this guy ... hmmp.

4. Vibrating Skate

If you notice your skates shake or vibrate sometimes, what happens is actually that your blade gets stuck in the ice, makes a small jump, gets stuck again, and so on. This repeats 10 or 30 times or so.

This does not occur when I'm balanced over my toe balls. It's only when I lean a bit back that the skates vibrate.

It makes sense since the blade is rounded. When you're on your toes only a small part touches the ice, therefore less friction and you're able to shave ice. When you're mid blade, the surface area is too big and the blade digs into the ice, only to jump up again, and so repeats over and over again.

[MeroiD]

I've always found it infuriating how few YT instructors seem to be able to convey the super simple physics associated with hockey stops. Not the case here - your explanations are clear and efficient. And you're also one of the few people who mention the "eureka" element, at least to me - not digging in your heels or the mid section of the skate, but instead pushing the toes in. Simple move, makes a world of difference and is so often overlooked, with instructors instead going on and on about how you need to "lean into it", etc. Good vid, thanks!

[bensiagel]

Mistake: falling

"Ahhh, this video is for me"

[skyhockey]

I don’t know why I’m watching this I’ve played hockey for over 8 years

[taylorharper]

The weight on the toes tip is the first I have ever heard of that and now it all makes so much sense why I can’t hockey stop, because I put all my weight on my heels. I have watched and tried so many tutorials and nothing has worked until this.

[turbosnail]

Hi. My problem is the vibrating skates. Now I understand pretty much and i' ll try to correct. Thanks !

[OrdnanceTV]

Excellent video quality, very well shot with a second camera operator and I like that you diagramed the blade description too. Thank you!

[martyturner]

One of the best vid tutorials I’ve seen for the hockey stop! Covers all the typical errors and really makes it clear how to do it properly. Nicely done !

[tomhutchins]

As a new skater I've been finding the hockey stop very hard to learn. But this video makes it all make sense because it shows my problems with the stop (getting stuck in the ice and vibrating blades) being caused by my biggest problem in learning hockey: not bending my knees enough! This gives me the confidence that improving this one thing will help everything in my game. Thanks

[gpjr]

Thank you for helping me stop
The only thing I was doing wrong was that I wasn't shaving the the ice with my toes I was just shaving the ice with my whole skate thank you very much

[mrmachinehead]

I've been skating for a couple months and I usually find I can do it some days but others I just seem to tight turn so thank you! I'll be on the rink in a couple hours to try putting more weight on my toes. :)
Great video!

[arhihume]

i used to be able to hockey stop, but i stopped skating for a while and lost most of my skills. This video helped jog my memory, so thank you!

[quinnwilson]

This actually made so much sense and helped me relearn stopping and tight turns after 10 years off the ice! Just waiting for the Boston Gardens to freeze and get some time on the ice in! Thank you!

[PROLIFICCA]

Wow. I cannot really do double-legged hockey stops, so your explanation is highly valuable to me. You seem to hit the nail on the head for someone who does not get it. The problem is how to move sideways on the balls of your feet with sharp grooved blades? I need them sharp for control. I have watched many skaters do this hockey stop with sharp blades with deep grooves. It is amazing! :) Will keep trying... Thanks for another insightful post!

[MrJason]

So far this is one of the best of the videos I’ve seen about hockey stops. Thank you so much! Even coaches don’t mention this tips at all, especially with the location that you put pressure on the blade

[andrewfuhrmannscreenrepair]

I've watched dozens of videos that combined show what this video does. But this video is my favorite of all, it has everything in one! The physics, the blade placement, the only thing he doesn't talk about is when to put your weight on your outside leg and when to have the weight on your inside leg, which i learned from a guy at the rink. As a beginning skater trying to learn this, (which i still haven't done an actual hockey stop) I'm starting to get comfortable sliding on both skates.

[karloneill]

Most useful video I have seen yet regarding hockey stopping. No other videos I have seen mentioned put your weight on the balls of your feet. Tanks, look forward to trying this one out.

[fazalsheriff]

very good lessons here....I am a beginning skater and haven't skated for years; hopefully i can get back 'in the swing" of things with your Lessons....Thanks a bunch maan !!!

[ryancaskey]

I been watching videos to learn this before I attempt it again after 18 years of not ice skating. The way you had the dice showing at the end where the blade should touch completely just made it all click in my head and I was able to stop again lol. Some people just learn differently I guess lmao

[klosebroker]

Hope thats its going to go better tomorrow with ure tips, I tried it today without a tutorial and fell on my hip atleast 10 times now I cant sleep on that side anymore xD

[esmeemery]

Thanks for the advice, I used to roller skate about 15 yrs ago and now trying to get on the ice for my daughter, you can tell I used to skate but forgot more than I can remember 😂😂