A C-cut is the basic forward skating push. The blade pushes out and around in a C-shape, transferring power to the ice. Done right, it’s the most efficient way to move on skates. Done wrong, it’s the choppy step beginners do.
What you need: Full hockey gear, an ice rink.
Setup: Kid at one end of the ice. Open lane to skate.
How to run it:
- Cue: Push, Glide, Recover, Repeat.
- Push: edge of the skate pushes outward and back, tracing a C in the ice.
- Glide: the other foot glides forward as the push completes.
- Recover: the pushing foot comes back under the body.
- Repeat with the other foot. Continue across the ice.
What to watch: The push direction. Most kids will push backward (no power). The push has to be OUT to the side and back, not just back.
If they’re struggling: Slow it down. Push, hold the glide for 2 seconds, then push again. Build the rhythm.
If they’ve got it: Do C-cuts on one foot only (one foot pushes, the other stays planted as the glide).