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.

[@bensiagel]

Mistake: falling "Ahhh, this video is for me"

[@skyhockey2574]

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

[@farikomike524]

every day is a school day 👍

[@jcspaz4l]

Because after 20 yrs playing ice hockey and its amusing to hear someone to tell you to stop on your toes

[@stuartmarentette4208]

Cuz your taking a shit at work and don't enough time watch something you want

[@haydenpowell2555]

Lmao same bro

[@patlefofort]

There is always a chance you might learn something new.

[@Me7roiD]

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!

[@taylorharper1251]

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.

[@littlebilly6946]

I’ve been playing hockey my whole life and I can’t stop on my right foot if my life depended on it

[@billmctomney9558]

Try jumping up and turning your feet worked on my weak side

[@nyrgaming3091]

LittleBilly69 same but on my life foot 😂 I can stop fine on my right foot

[@jocelynthomas1766]

same for me but left

[@nativeuptop5291]

@@jocelynthomas1766 same dude

[@suewoo5]

It might be a dominant eye thing like when you dont wanna do a cartwheel on your weak eye side

[@tomhutchins7495]

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

[@gpjr2504]

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

[@turbosnail666]

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

[@JuJu-vl2et]

Alexandre BOYER me too

[@Beech1900pilot]

Me three. But only on one side.

[@alleng.9182]

Same

[@Yasmina.b3109]

Pon4ik i guess its the angle of the blade

[@Yasmina.b3109]

Pon4ik Ow okay

[@OrdnanceTV]

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

[@martyturner7940]

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 !

[@aria8761]

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!

[@mrmachinehead8059]

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!

[@MrJason300]

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

[@quinnwilson8040]

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!

[@karloneill6957]

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.

[@rudolfsizaks3728]

Paldies par informāciju. Ļoti palīdzēja

[@andrewmoses850]

Thank you for the very informative video. I watched more than a few and this one helped me the MOST, especially the part where you explained the rocker of the blade. I grew up playing roller hockey & skiing so this was exactly what I needed. Thank you!!

[@mlbjr]

Thank you for explaining the blade positions (toe vs heel)

[@fazalsheriff3558]

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 !!!

[@dannya1327]

that you for this, I've been looking for more of a technical breakdown and you helped me out a ton. Keep it up.

[@andrewfuhrmannscreenrepair7606]

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.

[@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!

[@HowToInlineSkate]

Thank you for the kind words. It's more difficult with sharp blades, yes. If you can do it with dull but not sharp blades, I think you may stand too tall (?)

[@esmeemery261]

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 😂😂

[@floydthebarber71]

Great explanation, key points

[@bluejohn5683]

Thank you sm this was really helpful, I have watched a lot of videos on how to hockey stop but this is def the best one. The beginner problems you stated were exactly what I was having trouble with. Thx sm

[@keithscott9774]

Awesome information, thank very much. All this time I never knew about the weight being on the front of the blade.

[@AJ-if6xi]

I have the right turn problem. I tried to correct it but found it hard. I’m going to try your tips and I’m glad I found this video👍🏽

[@denisdriller1711]

Just started skating and this vid actually helped me a lot Thanks !!!

[@ryancaskey4975]

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

[@Crunchyr1ce]

I'm definitely gonna use these tips. Great tips, thanks a lot

[@lotharPPT]

Useful video - I learnt how to stay low and in the front to avoid tight turns and vibrating skate

[@thedeucemonkey2331]

Haven't skated in over 10 yrs and this always was a problem. Thank you so much !!!!

[@elliotwilliams7421]

not sure I agree with this. For hockey stops your weight should be on the leg directly under you and not on your extended leg. In the video he is stopping on the inside of his right blade edge when it should be the outside of his left blade edge. Same for the tight turns, weight on the leg directly under you. Why? The leg under you can perform a tighter turn than your outside leg, allowing you to pivot tighter and change direction quicker. Also if you weight your outside foot and that slips or gets caught your other leg will be in line with or now behind your shoulder making any control harder due to momentum pushing your weight forward. Where as if your leg under you slips or gets caught your momentum will instantly transfer to your outer foot, making it easier to save yourself.

[@jamesbond6687]

Very well explained. four new things that I learned. ;)

[@klosebroker6173]

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

[@sebon11]

Wow, looks nice, I'll try to do it with your tips

[@patricktiglao]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing!

[@Feizz362]

thanks very helpfull

[@blablablugh]

It's satisfying to see skates on ice and hearing cutting crunchy sounds!

[@omara2248]

Great tips! Thank you

[@lukew1383]

As someone who has never played hockey, but really enjoys skating, this video is EXTREAMLEY helpful! I am a chronic skate vibrator, and I never knew how to correct it. I can't wait to try again, now that I actually know what the heck is going on!

[@sitatt]

Great tips again!! Thanks!!

[@fritz7060]

Can’t wait to go skating next Thursday!

[@michaelpreston233]

thanks for the info ! i'll practice this.

[@hakukaede]

this is amazing....i rollerblade and am recently learning to ice skate. quite different!!

[@zackattackoutdoors3671]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@corbingraystone8553]

Thank you so much

[@nicole18746]

I've been playing roller hockey all my life but decided to pick up ice hockey recently. The vibrating skate is my biggest issue. Thanks for this.

[@BrabaFUN]

Thanks for this video. It's exactly what i needed. :D

[@siebejanssens8239]

thank you ! Good vid!!

[@travelchimps6637]

amazing overview 👌👌

[@user-uo8qt7ti8l]

W VID BRU THANKS TO U I CAN FINALLY HOCKEY STOP IVE BEEN TRAINING FOR WEEKS BUT I KEPT FALLING BUT THANKS TO U I CAN DO IT NOW AND ITS SO FUN W VID BRU

[@raphaelzeichmann2560]

Thank you

[@pieterdeclercq6970]

This was really helpfull! THNX

[@twothtwoth]

Thank you.

[@zackattackoutdoors3671]

Great vid

[@spikesagal]

Thank you for explaining this! I started ice skating after having rollerbladed for many years, and can never get the hockey stop correctly. I'm pretty sure now it's because I'm using the whole blade instead of balancing on the front.

[@xwater1361]

thanks!

[@pepsy1332]

Wow thank you this video was amazingly informative ^^ defo gonna train my hockey stop next week until i get it down (:

[@elliotwilliams7421]

not sure I agree with this. For hockey stops your weight should be on the leg directly under you and not on your extended leg. In the video he is stopping on the inside of his right blade edge when it should be the outside of his left blade edge. Same for the tight turns, weight on the leg directly under you. Why? The leg under you can perform a tighter turn than your outside leg, allowing you to pivot tighter and change direction quicker. Also if you weight your outside foot and that slips or gets caught your other leg will be in line with or now behind your shoulder making any control harder due to momentum pushing your weight forward. Where as if your leg under you slips or gets caught your momentum will instantly transfer to your outer foot, making it easier to save yourself.

[@user-oz2jw8nb7d]

It helped a lot thanks:)

[@Ice-yp8dz]

U make it look so easy

[@nonoyobeezewax9527]

Damn, wish I had watched this when I tried to play 300 years ago. The only advice they gave then was "well, keep trying". I did, and was doing wrong every time. Okay, I may only be as half as bright as a hockey puck, but at least now I'll be able to stop without being embarrassed.

[@chrisrugh792]

Yes, I too put too much weight on the heels. 1:33 - perfect formation- dang!

[@chrisrugh792]

Does anyone else here try to "find" that sweet spot on their front foot before committing to a full on hockey stop- like, to everyone around you, it probably sounds as though your going to stop 30 feet (like 9 meters or so) before you are set up for a controlled and proper stop. Is this normal before getting comfortable with stopping with both skates? Chris - Atlanta.

[@shakukon-to]

thanks for showing where my weight needs to be, before I would just try the whole skate and I would get launched

[@jackhill8509]

thanks dude

[@SalmanBJJ]

I want to learn to play hockey but unfortunately I live in a desert. :’(

[@cat-myowa]

omfg same.

[@B0K1T0]

I've rollerskated in a desert once (true story :D), so at least inline hockey should be possible as well in theory ;)

[@ylvw_i]

oh my-

[@VertesaGaming]

Bruh I live in LasVegas and I play Hockey Lmao

[@P-Dubs]

@@VertesaGaming I think he lives in a Middle East desert, which is way different.

[@skellylv8200]

Lido slidotava!!🤘🏻

[@Back_To_Pray]

👍 Excellent!

[@tylerdurden3443]

Good man

[@mogulermike959]

Vibrating skate problem here too... can't wait to try to focus on leaning on the front more, although I dont think my skates were sharpened right either...

[@MrGirodog]

Such a good video , could you do a similar one for quads ? . Looked on line but not really any good ones out there Thanks

[@NikZvi]

Interesting, especially first one. Cause for parallel slide (hockey stop) on inline skates the active push of heels is the obligatory requirement. Otherwise you will not have a slide at all.

[@tommyblade8093]

Nik Zvi Inline I have inline skates now (haven't tried them on ice) but I used to tried to do hockey stop with rental skates and it never work. I asked many skaters on how to do the hockey stop and some of them said I just have turned my legs 45° and I will able to do but there are some says that I have to make tiny hop when I'm about to stop. And now this video tells me that I just have to use the front of my blades to stop without making a tiny hop but turning my legs 45°

[@tommyblade8093]

Nik Zvi Inline pls help..I've been struggling to do the hockey for a year now xD

[@stubadub2k]

@@tommyblade8093 you need to do a tiny hop to the balls of your feet

[@tommyblade8093]

@@stubadub2k eait what?

[@Eric-bm7ti]

I am playing hockey for 14 years rigth now and i have still problems with the "virbrating" skates sometimes. So for every beginner dont lose motivation if something doesnt work after a short while. ;)

[@ukaszmiler1059]

very good observation (the first one with the heel). I skate on rollerblade and I cannot stop on ich skates well. maybe IT will help.

[@theaussieninja8176]

Łukasz Miler same here but im also trying to hockey stop on oce with my weak side (I'm hoping ice skating will improve my overall skating skill)

[@mo1stgoblin]

_this is_ *godem good* -thx-

[@cyborg1zr]

Hope this helps I will try it when I’m back on the ice in 2 days , I’ve only been skating few months but only go once a week , I’ve been trying to practice my stops but just seem to dig in and I hit the board’s with my toes I will try to put my weight on my toes on Sunday hopefully it works as I’ve had a few nasty falls haha wouldn’t think my mum of 81 used to be a figure skater/ice dancer and free style skater haha I just love ice hockey so only decided to try and learn at 44 as my son wants to be an ice hockey player so I went with him and love it just want to get better at it now haha 👍🏼 thanks for the video hope it helps …

[@rollingdubaiguy6415]

Good breakdown. I too thought I'd lost my hockey stop after the summer of rollerblading. Well, I can still rollerblade in the winter here in Dubai. But we do have hockey in Dubai and the transition from inline to ice was tougher than I expected!

[@AndyDamms]

Thanks the tip on where the weight is on the blade has sorted my problem

[@ArnoldsKtm]

Riga represent!

[@TonyNguyen-it7vd]

It's funny. I figured this out today too. Coming from inline skates, I too use too much heel over toes.

[@MickCorgi]

This is beautiful. Could you tell me how deep do you sharpen the edges? (Radius of stone grinder) or is it totally flat 90 degree?

[@DonSyndrome]

Thanks! I can never do a hockey stop. I will try to use what you showed here. I think my problem is that is expose too much blade rather than just my toe. So I'm always just stuck... no semblance of skidding whatsoever. But finally someone put it in terms of physics I can understand -- I need to have less edge exposed to the ice and only toward the toe end. Great video! Very interesting. Do you have a step-by-step on how to do one for a complete beginner to hockey stops?

[@tehedx]

Happens to me too, sometimes it accidentally worked - and guess what, it was only the toe that had contact. The "off-ice" moment watching this video is where it sinks in. Now let's see if I don't fall back in my old habits again when on-ice.

[@lukerobitaille6599]

Can you make a video on a tutorial of how to stop on your back foot ? Thank you

[@briansprague6031]

I wish you can show how to do this on figure skates!

[@VidimusWolf]

Thanks, so helpful! For some reason people at the ice rink keep telling me they don't stop with the front part of the blade but the entire blade...

[@HowToInlineSkate]

Interesting. Maybe they can film it and see? Or at least study the ice marks? Before I made videos and had to force myself to analyze it, I wasn't really conscious about what I did. Just did it from muscle memory kinda.. But from tutorials I read/watched, they mentioned "knees above ball of feet" which indicate the weight should be somewhat over the front of the blades. When I do stop on front blade, it's smooth and stable. If I shift a bit back, so more of the blade touches, it tends to cause vibrations (seen on the ice as "fishbones"). Now, of course, if You can use the entire blade and NOT get those vibrations, then that IS probably the most effective stop for You.

[@VidimusWolf]

I understand why it makes more sense to use the front, it is more comfortable for me too. I just don't get the guys at my rink hahaha

[@machiavellianos]

This is a basic skating skill but I can't seem to master it although I'm a good skater. It is the first video (out of so many garbage videos explaining how to do hockey stop) that enlightens me why I can't do it.

[@Starcheyy]

*_0:16_**_ Lido's ice rink in Riga.Rly??You from Latvia,write?_*

[@zekeyeager1594]

Going to practice tomorrow with the hopes of leaning forwards solves my problem I've had for two years

[@misk4543]

Where can I find A website that sells ice skates? Thanks for taking your time to read this🤍

[@elgenfranord1651]

I culd do it first try and iv never been on the ice i am in love whit this sport

[@arkadiuszmynski8293]

cool video! I started skating 3 months ago and I think hockey stop is approachable for me but tight turn.... can't do that, can't even try without falling. Help me please :)

[@edgarskozinda7188]

Alas, no more icy winters in Kengarags anymore :)

[@kiana1244]

Can I do the hockey stop with figure skates?

[@vcryzz3034]

DUDE I have a new pair of skates and I think they re too sharp so my blade get stuck a lot in the ice and it doesn't let me slide on it. What can I do? Is there anyway to unsharp them? I need help please ask me asap. BYE

[@xyhlo5085]

Latvian I see same! ;)

[@justinwise6781]

it would be cool if you could somehow mount that camera on your skate.

[@infinitesoldier16]

Almost 15 now and been skating/playing hockey since i was like 2. First time in my life ive stopped and my skate has made that weird noise and vibration

[@andrisz2807]

was the clip on 0.16 in latvia?

[@danielcoley4617]

Works

[@codeman99-dev]

Nice video. Do wish you would have worked in a standing drill. When stopping from a near stationary position it becomes obvious were your you're body needs to be positioned.

[@jackyuehengxu3665]

I find that using the full flat part of the blade decreases the stopping distance. However, the blade does not dig into the ice as much as using the near-tip of the blade. Anyhow, the physics make sense. My technique is to use the flat part of the blade + leaning backward. The learning motion adjusts the blades' angle.

[@hahagobrr7659]

İm tryna do hockey stop but every time im fall because blade stucks and im jumping