One way to spread body weight across the surface of ice is to:

• A. Lie down and slide on your stomach
• B. Stand upright
• C. Crawl on hands and knees
• D. Run

Answer: (A)

Spreading your weight over a larger surface area lowers the pressure you put on the ice, which helps prevent further cracking or breaking through. When you lie down and slide on your stomach, your torso, arms, and legs contact a broad area of ice, distributing weight far more than standing on two feet or running. Standing upright concentrates most of your weight on a small contact patch (your feet), increasing pressure and risk. Crawling on hands and knees increases contact area compared to standing, but not as much as lying flat, so it’s not as effective at reducing pressure. Running adds dynamic impact and concentrates load, making a breakthrough more likely. So, lying down and sliding on your stomach best spreads the weight and reduces the chance of ice failure.