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Live Blogs Getting Your Edge Back: A Skating Liveblog
TheGirlWithPointyEars2010-12-10 14:41:57

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NOTE: I am transferring my posts from the old Liveblog system. I will put the day I posted as the heading on subsequent entries. My first post is reproduced below.

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After my posting today in the IJAM Ice Skating thread, I thought I'd start a skating live blog about my progress. Me: I'm a mid-20's, 4'4" figure skater, who hasn't taken lessons in maybe 10-15 years. However, my local rink has public skating nearly every day and it's usually nearly empty, and I am intent on taking full advantage of it. I'm usually a horribly terrible athlete, but I love skating, and have slimmed down a lot this year by running so I'm a lot healthier and stronger and have a lot more endurance. Here are some back-posts from my IJAM thread (and yes, I was a little... overenthusiastic in the first post. Bare with me, I was excited): Sept 13: My local public ice rink had their first public skating today. Not only that, the sessions are free. I haven't had lessons in maybe 15 years, but I love skating, and I'm giddy as a schoolgirl. This topic may be, but does not have to, be combined with the topic on hot chocolate. I. LOVE. ICE. SKATING. Oct 8: Well, alright! I guess I'm not the only one here. That is interesting. I checked out some skating books to figure out some new stuff and brush up on technique, and they definitely do seem to help. As I said, I haven't taken actual lessons in maybe 15 years, so I could use it! I'm trying forwards-backwards one-foot turns (what it calls three-turns), and I was interested to realize that (as the book said) you really are more stable on an edge rather than a flat in that sort of situation. Nice! I agree ice skating is much funner than roller skating. Inline skating is nice, but I've never gotten the trick of, well, stopping quickly when you're going fast. I can't seem to do any kind of hockey stop on rollerblades (maybe I need to practice more?), the brake pad is only on one foot, and it's hard to use anyway. Plus pavement is much rougher than ice. Oh, and Longfellow, trust me I sympathize. From the, ah, other direction. There are some things you just can't get in kids sizes. Oct 9: I took figure skating lessons for years when I was a kid and I hadn't learned this, and it still isn't the easiest thing to do (I still can't quite seem to get some of the variations - backwards to forwards, particularly). It does feel pretty cool to get it right, though. Oct 18: ...and not quite so cool when you don't make it and fall down like an idiot. I think I'm going to have a pretty awful bruise or two after today's session. Ouch. But I still stand by the first post, and I am getting better. Next up: Maybe trying a spin? I've already looked up how to do a certain kind, theoretically. Although I predict more bruises while attempting this. A lot more bruises. Today: Back from the rink. I was able to do the spin I was trying for... ah, sort of. Rather awkwardly and not for very many rotations. And the speed was Not Impressive. But at least I didn't go splat on the ice. More than once. And I am getting better. Practice, right? There was also this apparent preteen who came in later in the session and completely showed me up. She was GOOD. Heh. ... Ah, Maybe I should make this a liveblog? —- And so I did. Will continue posting my progress. And whether I've broken a bone, cut myself with my skate, or become sore and black and blue from bruises. Do stay tuned, hilarity will surely ensue.

Comments

DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969
Jan 1st 2011 at 6:39:56 PM
Skating must burn a lot of calories. I wonder how much.

My trainer's still in 'processing', I need to suck it up and ride outside. Or just tell them to take it as a return and get something else.
  • I'm just struck by griping "Wish I could go out to exercise, like you" but...wait a minute. XD
TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969
Jan 2nd 2011 at 9:24:41 AM
Hmm, not sure how many calories I burn... I rarely feel like I'm using a ton of energy when I skate unless I'm really pushing myself in a sort of 'racing' mode. Then again, there are all those small muscle adjustments for balance. And I do usually get noticably warmer after I've been skating for a few minutes. But to me, looking at certain people flailing around on the sides desperately trying to keep their balance looks a lot more tiring :p

I can definitely understand not wanting to ride outside in snow and ice. And though I walked in the woods yesterday, the rink is indoors... there are some outdoor rinks in my area, but not too many, given the unpredictability of the weather and much more limited season. It would be much more aesthetically pleasing to skate outside, though, yes!
DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969
Jan 2nd 2011 at 4:24:26 PM
Heh, I wish I had a velodrome I could go to. I don't think there's too many left in the United States.
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