Ice Skating Crossovers

Crossovers are the move that turns a skater who can glide into a skater who can really travel. On ice, a crossover is a continuous forward stroke in which one skate crosses over the other, letting you build speed while following a curve. You will see them in every corner of a rink, from casual laps to figure skating warm-ups to hockey drills, because they solve a simple problem: how do you keep accelerating while you are turning? The answer is to step across, not just push outward.

This guide is written for recreational skaters who are already comfortable with the basics: gliding on two feet, stopping under control, and pushing and gliding forward. If those still feel shaky, spend more time on them first, because crossovers ask you to balance on one skate while the other one swings across in front of it. That is a big ask, but it is very learnable with patient practice. The reward is a smoother, faster, more confident lap and a much stronger feeling of control on curves.

Before you try anything here, put on a helmet and protective pads, and choose a safe, open area away from traffic. On ice that means a rink with clear space and soft boards, ideally during a quiet session. Practise near the boards at first if you like, but keep enough room that a wobble does not send you into another skater. Take your time, work both directions, and enjoy the process.

A forward crossover is a two-part stroke. The skate on the inside of the curve does most of the pushing, while the skate on the outside of the curve crosses over it and lands on the new edge. If you are circling to your left, your right skate pushes and your left skate crosses over in front. If you are circling to your right, the roles swap. The magic is that the crossing skate never stops moving forward, so you keep your momentum instead of stalling at the top of each push.

The reason crossovers create so much speed is that they let you push almost continuously. In a simple two-foot glide around a curve, you eventually run out of room to push outward. With a crossover, the outside skate can reach across, plant, and push again and again. Each push adds a little more energy, and because you are always on an edge, you carve a clean arc rather than skidding sideways. That carving is what makes the move feel smooth when it clicks.

Underneath it all is edge control and weight transfer. Your blades have two edges, inside and outside, and crossovers teach you to trust the outside edge of the crossing skate and the inside edge of the pushing skate. Your hips and shoulders stay level, your upper body faces slightly into the circle, and your weight moves from one foot to the other in a steady rhythm. Once that rhythm feels natural, crossovers stop being a trick and become a way of moving.

Start by finding a clear patch of ice and deciding which direction you will circle. For most people, circling left feels easier, so begin there. Stand with your feet parallel and your knees softly bent. Push and glide forward a few strokes to get a little speed, then set up a gentle curve by looking over your left shoulder and letting your body follow. Keep your head up, your back straight, and your arms out slightly for balance. Do not lean far; a small tilt is enough to start the turn.

Now begin the crossing action. Glide on your right skate, which is the inside skate for a leftward circle, and let your left skate lift and swing across in front of your right. Place the left skate down on the ice just ahead and slightly to the outside of your right foot, so the two skates form a narrow X. As soon as the left skate lands, shift your weight onto it and let your right skate lift and swing behind, ready to push again. Push with the right skate as it returns to the ice, then repeat the cross, glide, and push. The motion should feel like a slow, steady walk around a circle rather than a series of jumps.

Keep the steps small at first. A tiny crossover that stays under control teaches your body the pattern far better than a big, wild one. Count the rhythm in your head, cross, push, cross, push, and stay relaxed in the shoulders. After a few laps, switch to circling right and mirror everything. It will feel clumsy, and that is completely normal. Give each direction equal practice, even if one is clearly weaker, because balanced skills make you a safer and more capable skater.

For ice crossovers, your skates are the main tool. Recreational or figure-style skates with a comfortable fit and a properly sharpened blade work well. The blade should have a slight hollow so it grips the ice when you lean onto an edge, but not so much that it feels sticky. If your skates feel loose around the ankle, tighten the laces or the closures so your foot does not slide inside the boot. A snug but not painful fit lets you control the edges without gripping with your toes.

Protective gear matters here. Wear a helmet, and add knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards, especially while you are learning. Crossovers involve crossing one skate over the other, and a mistimed step can catch a blade and send you down. Pads let you fall, get up, and try again without fear, which actually speeds up your learning. Dress in layers you can move in, and avoid clothing that hangs loose around the ankles or drags on the ice.

Keep your blades clean and dry after each session, and store your skates somewhere they will not rust. If you skate outdoors, check the ice for cracks, debris, or thin patches before you start, and stay away from any area that looks unsafe. On an indoor rink, follow the rink rules and watch for other skaters. Good equipment will not replace practice, but it will make every practice session more comfortable and more productive.

The most common mistake is leaning the whole body into the circle instead of staying upright and letting the edges do the work. When you tip your shoulders and head inward, your weight drifts off the skate and you lose balance. Keep your head over your hips, your chest up, and your lean small. Think of a tall, quiet upper body with busy feet underneath. Another frequent error is crossing only the toes. If the crossing skate lands far out in front and only the tip touches, you cannot put weight on it. Place the whole blade down, close to the other skate, so you can actually stand on it.

Many skaters also rush the rhythm. They cross, then pause, then push late, which kills the flow and makes the move feel jerky. Aim for an even beat: cross, shift, push, cross, shift, push. If you find yourself stopping between strokes, slow down and make each part smaller until the sequence is smooth. Another mistake is ignoring one direction. Practising only your easy side builds a lopsided habit that is hard to fix later, so make yourself do the awkward side every session, even for just a few minutes.

Finally, watch out for stiff knees and locked ankles. Beginners often straighten up when they get nervous, which makes balancing on one skate much harder. Stay low, keep your knees soft, and let your ankles flex as you move over the blade. If you feel yourself tensing, take a lap of easy gliding, shake out your arms, and come back to the crossovers with a calmer body.

A useful tip is to practise the crossing step without any speed at all. Stand still, or glide very slowly, and simply place one skate across the other, shift your weight, and step back. Repeat that a few times on each side. This builds the foot pattern in your head and body before you add momentum. Another helpful drill is to skate a large circle using only your inside skate to push, letting the outside skate cross over gently. Keep the circle big and the pace easy, and focus on the feeling of continuous pushing rather than fast feet.

Once forward crossovers feel steady, you can explore variations. Backward crossovers use the same idea while travelling backward, and they are a great next challenge once you are comfortable going backward in general. You can also try crossovers on a tighter circle, which demands more edge control, or on a wider circle, which lets you build more speed. Some skaters like to add a small glide between crosses to smooth out the rhythm, while others chain them together for a fast, flowing corner. Both are useful, depending on what you are practising.

You can also carry the skill over to other surfaces. The balance and edge control you build on ice transfer well to inline skating, where crossovers follow a similar pattern, though the wheels behave differently from a blade. If you skate both, compare how each one feels and notice what your body has to do differently. Above all, keep sessions short and positive. A few focused minutes on crossovers, mixed with easy skating, will teach you more than a long, frustrated grind.

How long does it take to learn crossovers? It varies a lot from skater to skater. Some people get a rough version in a few sessions, while others need weeks of short practices. The key is regular, relaxed repetition rather than one long marathon. If you can already glide and stop confidently, you have the foundation, and the rest is patience.

Why do I keep catching my blade when I cross? This usually happens because the crossing skate lands too far forward or too much on its toe. Bring the step closer to the other skate, place the whole blade down, and shift your weight onto it right away. Slowing the whole movement down also helps, because you have more time to feel the blade settle before you push.

Should I learn both directions? Yes, as much as you can. Practising both ways keeps your skills balanced and makes you more comfortable in busy rink traffic, where you may need to turn either way. Start with your easier side, then give the other side a few minutes every session. It will feel awkward at first, but it improves faster than you might expect.

Do I need special skates for crossovers? No. Comfortable, well-fitting skates with a reasonable edge are enough. Focus on fit, sharpening, and ankle support rather than any particular style. And whatever you skate in, remember to wear a helmet and pads and to practise in a safe, open area away from traffic.