When we think of ice skating as a sport, figure skating comes to mind.  

The grace, technical skills, and agility are appealing. 

Freestyle ice skating is a dynamic and creative form of skating that combines elements of figure skating with the freedom and expression of street-style sports.  

What Is Freestyle Ice Skating Anyway? 

It’s a high-octane skill that can be fun and exhilarating.  

Unlike conventional figure skating, which focuses on technical precision and choreographed routines, freestyle skating emphasizes individuality, improvisation, and trick-based performances. 

Freestyle skaters often incorporate moves from other disciplines like breakdancing, inline skating, and even parkour to their ice routines. 

Freestyle skating also allows for more personal expression, athleticism, and creativity through coming up with new tricks and techniques.   

Skaters also develop their unique style and signature tricks.

It’s a style geared toward individuals who aren’t attracted to the rigid, technical style of figure skating.  

Lace Up Your Skates

Freestyle ice skaters typically use specialized skates that differ from traditional figure skates or even hockey skates. 

These skates often feature a flatter blade profile, providing more stability for landing tricks and executing slides. 

Most freestylers prefer T-blades, a plastic and metal combo that had a short stint in the NHL. 

The boots are usually more flexible and lighter, similar to hockey skates, allowing for a greater range of motion and quicker movements. 

You can freestyle in recreational ice skates but there may be limitations to speed, certain ice skating tricks, and durability.  

Some freestyle skaters even modify their skates with custom frames or rockers to enhance their performance capabilities. 

If you’re reading this, you’re ready to dive into the world of freestyle skating. 

Or perhaps you’re already a freestyler and want to add some cool moves to your next routine. 

Here are 5 popular freestyle ice skating tricks to take your skating to the next level.  

1. Try the Grapevine 

Slide and slither your way across the ice with the Grapevine.  

It’s a move that every freestyler should have in their arsenal.  

The Grapevine is a glide that weaves your feet in and out, creating a mesmerizing pattern on the ice. 

To perform the Grapevine: 

• Start by skating forward with your feet shoulder-width apart.  
• Cross your right foot in front of your left, placing it on the outside edge. 
• Step your left foot to the left, onto its inside edge.  
• Now cross your right foot behind your left, onto its inside edge.  
• Step your left foot out to the left again, this time on its outside edge.  
• Continue this pattern, alternating crossing in front and behind, while maintaining a smooth, continuous motion.  

As you get comfortable, try increasing your speed and adding upper body movements for style.

Start slowly and on a clear patch of ice to avoid collisions.

Keep your knees slightly bent for better balance and control.  

Focus on smooth, controlled movements rather than speed when first learning.

Keep practicing and use cones to help you develop more control.  

2. Launch The Axel 

 

The Axel is a common figure skating jump that is used in other disciplines like dancing or freestyle skating.  

Why not add an Axel to your freestyle arsenal? 

To perform an Axel, you must be aware of your skate’s inside and outside edges.

These are the sides of the blades that face toward or away from the body.  

One of the more difficult jumps in figure skating, you may need to break it into multiple moves, and then put them all together.  

The video below explains how you can structure your Axel.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xilS51vJTSE 

To perform the Axel: 

• Pick up some speed then glide on a left outside edge. 
• Step onto the right forward outside edge, bending your knee deeply.  
• Swing your left leg forward and up, initiating the jump. Push off the ice with your right foot, launching yourself into the air.  
• Pull your arms and legs in tight to your body to rotate quickly.  
• Complete one and a half rotations in the air.  
• Land on the right back outside edge, with your left leg extended behind you, sticking the landing. 

The Axel is considered one of the most difficult single jumps in skating. 

It’s recommended you have some basics down like the twizzle, spins, and jumps like the loop to give you a deeper understanding of what’s required.  

3. Try the Barrel Roll (aka The Triangle) 

An amazing, dynamic, three-dimensional trick, the Barrel Roll or Triangle is performed with the skater rotating horizontally while moving forward, creating a spiral-like motion on the ice.  

As you’re skating forward, initiate the trick by leaning your upper body to one side (let's say left).  

As you lean, lift your right foot off the ice and swing it over your left leg.   

Continue the rotation of your body, bringing your right foot down on the other side of your left. 

Your body should now be leaning to the right, with your left foot lifted.  

Complete the rotation by swinging your left foot over your right, returning to the starting position.  

The entire motion should be smooth and continuous, forming a "barrel" or triangular shape with your body's movement. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E40w1Iylpwo 

The Barrel Roll can take time to master, so be patient.  

It requires good balance, body awareness, and control on the ice. 

Over time, you’ll be able to perform multiple rolls in succession, change direction mid-move, or incorporate many of the other movements on this list into your own routine.   

4. Perform a Toe Spin 

 

The toe spin is the most versatile move freestylers use in routines.

They can be done in many ways and combined with other moves to bring out a skater’s creativity and flair. 

Freestyle skates do not have a toe pick, which is typical on figure skating blades.

But as the name implies, you’ll be going up on the front of the blade (your toes) to perform different spins.  

To perform a Toe Spin: 

• Start by gliding forward on two feet. 
• Shift your weight onto your spinning foot (usually the non-dominant foot).  
• Plant the toe pick area of your spinning foot into the ice.  
• Push off with your free foot to generate rotation.  
• Pull your arms and free leg in close to your body to increase spin speed.  
• Keep your upper body straight and your head spotting to maintain balance.  
• As you slow down, extend your arms and free leg to gracefully exit the spin. 

You can perform a backward toe spin by gliding backward and planting your toe pick behind you.

As you build confidence, add some spice by sitting, arching your back, or extending your free leg parallel to the ground.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElmoWziKB7M 

Toe spins require excellent balance but are arguably one of the easier moves to learn as a freestyle skater.  

Start with slow, controlled rotations before attempting faster spins. 

Take your time with it. Gradually build up the number of rotations to avoid losing balance unexpectedly. 

5. Launch a Butterfly Jump 

 

An intermediate move for freestylers (and figure skaters), this jump requires you to have agility, explosiveness, and balance.  

• Start by skating backward with good speed. Push off the ice with your strong leg, initiating a small hop.  
• Dip your torso and spread the arms apart to form a “U” shape with your body. This builds the momentum you need for the jump. 
• Explode off the ice, quickly bringing both legs up and out to the sides. Extend your arms outward for balance and added flair. At the peak of the jump, your body should form an "X" shape in the air.  
• Land on the same foot you took off from. 
• Quickly bring your legs back together before landing. 

Here’s a helpful tutorial: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDPCN0nnqp0 

The video above recommends getting the basic moves off the ice first, before attempting it with your skates.  

You should also have enough space on the rink to avoid hurting yourself or others.  

Be patient but add your own artistry and flair to the move. 

Other Useful Tips and Tricks 

Practice these five moves as often as possible to master them, then add them to your routine. 

Based on your skill level, wear proper safety gear, including a helmet, knee pads, and wrist guards, especially when learning new tricks. 

Regularly cross-train off the ice to improve strength, flexibility, and overall fitness, which will translate to better performance on the ice. 

Conclusion

Freestyle skating is growing in popularity.  

You can enjoy it at your local rink or even on your own synthetic ice rink at home. 

If you’re new to the discipline, add these moves for more creativity and flair. 

It will take some time to get some of these moves down, especially the Axel.  

But you’ll progress with patience and consistency. 

While you’re at it, prioritize safety until you build your skills. 

The freestyle skating community is also welcoming, so you can find like-minded people to help you on your journey.  

So lace them up, step onto the ice, and let your new moves take over.