Marching

Walking on the ice with each foot lifted clear in turn, forwards first and later backwards.

Also called march, march forward, marching forwards, backward marching or march forward across the ice. Other names.

basic

Not checked yet. The mechanics on this page are a first draft by a non-expert, and no coach has seen them yet. Read them as a starting point and check them with a coach. Corrections are very welcome.

shoulder to hip —on the —

four steps on flat blades, each foot lifted clear, the standing blade sliding a little under each. Negative twist means the shoulders are held back against the hips, which stores rotation before a takeoff and checks it on a landing.

You walk across the ice, picking each foot up off it in turn. Ice Skating Australia asks for eight to ten steps without help and makes lifting every foot the one condition. New Zealand’s KiwiSkate teaches marching with high knees and marching round on the spot, and assesses backward marching at its Beginner badge, with the toes turned in.

Every programme moves straight from the march to a glide. Australia asks for three to five steps into a two-foot glide of about a metre, and Learn to Skate USA’s Snowplow Sam elements open with a march followed by a two-foot glide and a dip.

Leads to

One element in the guide is built on this one.

Two-foot glideIce Skating Australia asks for three to five marching steps into its first two-foot glide, and Learn to Skate USA's youngest level writes the march and the glide as one element.

Appears in

In the USA's grades

None of the American level lists in this guide name it.