Watch the smoothest skaters at the rink and you’ll see them carve the corners by stepping one foot over the other. That’s a crossover, and it’s how skaters keep speed through turns instead of slowing down. It’s also the foundation for a lot of more advanced skating.
Before you start
You should be able to skate forward comfortably, glide on one foot for a few seconds and stop with confidence. At the rink, you’ll mostly be crossing over to the left (counter-clockwise), so start there.
Step 1: Practice the stance
Lean into the circle slightly from your ankles — not just your upper body. Bend your knees and turn your shoulders and head into the turn, looking where you want to go. Your inside arm goes slightly back, your outside arm slightly forward.
Step 2: Stepping drill (standing still)
- Standing still on a non-rolling surface, lift your right (outside) foot.
- Step it over and in front of your left foot, setting it down on the other side.
- Lift the left foot from behind and step it back to the left.
- Repeat slowly until it feels natural.
Step 3: Walk it on skates
Do the same stepping motion while rolling very slowly around a circle — think of it as walking sideways around the curve. Don’t worry about pushing yet. Just get comfortable picking up your feet and placing them.
Step 4: Add the push
A real crossover uses two pushes:
- Outside foot push: Your right foot pushes out to the side, then lifts and crosses in front of your left.
- Inside foot push (the “underpush”): As your right foot lands, your left foot pushes out underneath you to the side, then lifts and comes back to the inside.
That underpush is where most of the speed comes from. Keep your knees bent the whole time so you have power for both pushes.
Step 5: Link them together
Cross, underpush, cross, underpush. Keep a steady rhythm and stay low. Start with one or two crossovers per corner, then link them all the way around.
Common mistakes
- Standing too tall: No knee bend means no power. Sit lower.
- Leaning only from the shoulders: Lean from your ankles so your wheels hold the curve.
- Lifting your feet too high: Keep steps low and close to the floor.
- Looking down: Look into the curve where you want to go.
- Catching wheels: If your skates clip each other, cross a little farther in front and keep the stride compact.
Don’t forget the other direction
Once you can cross over to the left, practice clockwise crossovers too. It will feel awkward at first, but it builds balance and makes you a much more complete skater.
Where crossovers take you
Crossovers are the gateway to backward crossovers, speed skating, derby footwork and dance moves. Master them and you’ll start looking — and feeling — like a real rink skater.
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