How to Stop on Ice Skates: 4 Methods From Easiest to Advanced

Here is something nobody tells you before your first skate session: going is easy. Stopping is the hard part.

Within your first few minutes on the ice you will figure out how to move forward. The panic sets in when you realize you are heading toward the boards and have no idea how to slow down. Most first-timer falls happen not from trying to skate, but from trying to stop.

The good news is that stopping on ice skates is a learnable skill, and the basic version takes about 10 minutes to get the hang of. Here are the four main stopping methods, ranked from easiest to most advanced.

Method 1: The Snowplow Stop (Start Here)

The snowplow is the standard beginner stop and the one you should learn first. It works at slow to moderate speeds and is reliable enough to use for your entire first season.

How to do it:

1. Skate forward at a comfortable, slow speed
2. Point both toes inward so your feet form a slight V shape
3. Simultaneously push both heels outward
4. Press down on the inside edges of both blades
5. The friction from both inside edges dragging against the ice will slow you down

What it feels like: Like pushing a small pile of snow in front of you with both feet at once — hence the name.

Common mistakes:

• Bending forward too much at the waist. Stay upright, knees bent, weight centered.
• Not pressing the inside edges down firmly enough. You need actual edge-to-ice pressure to create friction.
• Trying it at too high a speed before you have the mechanics down. Learn it slowly first.

Practice drill: Skate toward the boards at a slow walk-pace and practice stopping before you reach them. Gradually increase your starting speed as it becomes natural.

Method 2: The Glide Stop (Two-Foot Drag)

This one is less a formal technique and more an emergency brake for complete beginners. It works, but you will graduate past it quickly.

How to do it:

1. Let one skate glide straight
2. Turn the other foot perpendicular (sideways) to your direction of travel
3. Let the flat of that blade drag lightly across the ice
4. The drag creates friction and slows you down

This is not graceful. It puts wear on your blade edges and does not stop you quickly. But it is instinctive and it works when you panic. Once you have the snowplow down, retire this method.

Method 3: The T-Stop

The T-stop is the step up from the snowplow. It looks cleaner, works at higher speeds, and is the preferred stop for recreational skaters who have a few sessions under their belt.

How to do it:

1. Glide forward on your dominant foot (whichever feels more natural)
2. Pick up your other foot and place it behind you perpendicular to your direction of travel, forming a T shape
3. Gradually lower the back blade onto the ice at a slight angle
4. Let the outside edge of the back blade drag against the ice
5. Increase pressure gradually to slow down — do not slam the blade down

The key detail: The back blade drags on its outside edge, not the flat of the blade. This is what makes it controllable rather than a jarring sudden stop.

Common mistakes:

• Slamming the back foot down too hard. This throws off your balance and can send you forward.
• Placing the back foot too close to the front foot. Give yourself enough distance for the T shape to work.
• Looking down to check your feet. Eyes forward — trust your feet to find position.

Practice drill: Start from a slow glide and work on the foot placement without worrying about stopping speed. Just get comfortable positioning the back foot in a T before adding edge pressure.

Method 4: The Hockey Stop

The hockey stop is the one that looks impressive. Two parallel skids, a spray of ice, a clean stop from speed. It is what you are working toward.

It also takes the most practice and is genuinely difficult to learn without a coach or a lot of ice time. Do not expect to nail this in your first few sessions.

How to do it:

1. Skate forward at moderate speed — you need some momentum for this to work
2. Rotate both hips quickly in the same direction (say, to the right)
3. Both feet turn sideways simultaneously, perpendicular to your direction of travel
4. Bend your knees sharply and dig both inside edges into the ice
5. Your upper body stays facing forward while your lower body pivots

What makes it work: The simultaneous edge dig from both blades at once creates rapid deceleration. The upper-lower body separation is what keeps you balanced through the stop.

Common mistakes:

• Rotating your whole body instead of just your hips and legs. Your shoulders should stay square to where you were going.
• Not bending your knees enough. Low center of gravity is everything in a hockey stop.
• Trying it at too slow a speed. The hockey stop actually works better with momentum — too slow and the skids do not engage properly.

Practice drill: Start by practicing the hip rotation while standing still — just pivot your feet side to side to get comfortable with the movement. Then try it at very slow speed. Build up gradually. This one takes weeks to be consistent.

Which Stop Should You Use?

There is no shame in using the snowplow for a long time. Most recreational skaters use it indefinitely and skate happily for years. The T-stop and hockey stop are worth learning because they work better at speed, but the snowplow is reliable and safe for 90% of public skate situations.

One More Option: The Boards

Not a formal technique, but completely legitimate for beginners. Reach out and grab the boards to stop. Use it freely while you are learning the real methods. The boards are there for exactly this reason.

Ready to Practice?

Find a public skate session near you with the Ice Skating Index and put in the ice time. Stopping clicks faster than you expect once you are actually on the ice.

Published by Ice Skating Index - your guide to everything on the ice.