practice and the advice of a more experienced companion.

WRONG HELP

I note that some books on skating advise the beginner to take a chair
to the ice and learn on this till confidence is gained. Now confidence
is never gained by leaning on anything or depending on any person.
Start in to win by having confidence in yourself. This applies to your
life work as well as to skating.

When you have mastered your legs somewhat, and can move fairly well
forward, it will be quite time for you to learn some other way of
getting experience and fun from the sport.

Begin the variation by trying to cut a forward circle. To begin, you
strike out on the left foot, with the body leaning toward the left,
the center of the proposed circle. When the weight of the body is on
the outside edge, the line described by the skate runner will be a
curve directed outward. As soon as you find that you can continue on
that stroke no longer bring the right foot quickly forward and down.
This last must be a short stroke of only sufficient duration to give
you time for another outer-edge stroke with your left foot. At first
you will make a very large circle, but gradually you will be able to
contract the dimensions. When you have mastered the left-foot circle,
try it on the right foot, and practice until you are able to go either
way with equal speed.

The backward circle, when learned, is easier than the forward ring,
for the push stroke is made with the toe. When going backward great
force can be given to the toe-push stroke by slightly lifting the