First Timers (Part 2)

I was looking back on what I wrote in My "First Timers" post back in January, and I realized that didn't really go into detail on how to skate- a little stupid of me in retrospect, seeing as how one generally needs to know how to skate in order to do it....

My first reccomendation, as stupid as it may seem, is this; once you get your skates on nice and tight, walk around in them for a minute or two before you get on the ice. Especially if you're a little bit aprehensive, it can help to get used to the feel of the blade and the weight of the boot before you get on the ice.

My second reccomendation probably seems even more stupid (and maybe bordering on humiliating) than the first. I want you to find an open area in the lobby, or wherever it is you put your skates on, and fall down.

That's right. Fall down. On your butt. In a public place.
On purpose.

Because if you don't do it now, while you're still on dry land and what not, it's going to seem a lot scarier once you step out onto the ice. Again, this is especially important if you have any trepidation about skating for the first time.

Now to get back up....
The easiest way to go about this is to get on your hands and knees, swing one knee in front (like what people do when they propose), put your hands on that knee, and push up. Easy enough!
Beware some pit-falls, though. Don't try to get up while still sitting on your backside. If you do, you'll end up sliding back and doing some sort of spastic crab walk. The other main caveat is when you are on one knee and you go to stand up. You don't want to put your hands on the ice if you can help it. The higher up you can get your hands, the easier it will be to push off them and stand up. I've seen people doubled over and not quite able to get up because their hands were still on the ice. Not the most dignified position ever.

Once you get on the ice for real, the best thing to do (at least for starters) is to march around. You can visualize yourself walking down the street, pretend you're a brave soldier off to battle, whatever strikes your fancy. Make sure you keep your arms out and your head up. As the old adage goes, you'll go wherever you're looking, so it's best not to look down.

I hope this helped a little bit more, and happy skating!=D

The Axel

It isn't everything.

Sure, for many in this sport it's a right of passage of sorts, the point at which you can consider yourself a real and legitimate skater. But there are plenty of amazing skaters who don't have their axel, and many others who have their axel but aren't very good at actually skating.
In my opinion, skating should be mainly about the artistry- you want the audience to feel an emotional connection. Sure, if your name is Patrick Chan, maybe you can throw a triple axel into  your program and still tell a story with it, but no one sheds a tear because of a beautiful jump. They do when they feel the emotions that the skater is experiences and wants to convey.
I was talking with one of my friends about her program this morning, and she said that one of the goals she had with her program was to make the audience cry. She had an amazing program with dramatic choreography and beautiful edges. And one jump. But her program has to be one of my favorites of all time.

So maybe the axel is an integral part of skating, but in spite of what some people might tell you, it's not everything.

On Falling

I was lucky enough to watch Pandora's Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice live last night. There was some amazing skating with amazing spins, enormous jumps, and of course the requisite back flip. But because the show is meant for a TV audience, after everyone had performed their numbers, they had to go back and do retakes of jumps that hadn't worked so well, or to get the right camera angle on a move. Nancy Kerrigan was one of the performers to have to re-skate her jumps, having fallen on both of them in her program. The first one was a double axel. She tried it, sank down on the landing, and fell onto the ice. Getting up, she made some comment about it being way past her bedtime. No big deal. Then she tried it again. And fell. And tried again. And fell. On the third one, though, something was different. She fell hard, and stood up cradling her wrist. Skated around listlessly for a few seconds. Glided over to one of the camera men. You could hear her whimper a little from the pain, see the frustration on her face. Someone from the crowd shouted, "Go, Nancy!” Everyone joined in, shouting, "Nancy! Nancy! Nancy!" over and over. She skated out onto center ice. Tried it again. She fell, but this time, she had the crowd behind her. They kept screaming her name, wildly cheering her on as if their shouts would somehow make the jump easier. She tried again. And landed it.

You wouldn't believe how loud the crowd was after that. We'd all shared a little part in helping her land that jump, all seen a glimpse of the effort that it takes to land a jump. We'd seen past her as a performer, and saw emotion that was all too human. For me as a skater, it was humbling to know that even some of the best skaters in the world have off days or fall down sometimes. Maybe they're not so different from us, after all.

And that double flip? She nailed it on the second try.
=D

 

First Timers

        Over the past few years of working at my local ice rink, I've noticed a thing or two about what happens to people when they skate for the first time. Formerly coordinated adults become clumsy and stiff, clinging onto the walls for dear life. Teenagers become speed demons, competing with their friends for who can be the most obnoxious. And normally composed childeren turn into terrified crying machines. Rightfully so, too. How often do you have something as reliable as a solid surface to stand on taken away? Almost never. So stepping onto the ice for the first time can be nerve wracking to say the least. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here are a few tips to make sure your first time on the ice is as smooth as, well, ice.

Skates
         Make sure they fit properly. They should be snug without being constricting, and there should be enough room at the end to wiggle your toes. Tie them up all the way, too. It's hard enough to balance on a skinny blade for the first time without the added challenge of no anke support. Oh, and double knot them, because they're almost guaranteed to come untied at some point. Stay away from the velcro ones if you can- most rental skates are at least a few years old, and the velcro will almost definitely be past its prime.

Socks
        Please wear them. I occasionally work behind the skate counter, and although we try to spray all of them with Lysol, some invariably get missed. Socks will also help to prevent painful blisters. Make sure they are long enough to go higher than the boots- that will definitely help in the blisters department.

Walkers
        Don't even get me started on them.... Although they may teach children how to do funky dance moves, (from sliding off of their toepicks because they're leaning into the walker for dear life) it does not teach them how to skate. Also, once they get used to the walkers, they become reluctant to try to skate on their own. And the simple act of getting out of the way of the walker so that they can skate by themselves requires them to either turn around in a tight circle or skate backwards- both fairly advances skills. Finally, when they fall, they can get trapped by the walkers, which obviously makes it quite difficult to get up. A few weeks back, there was a young boy at the rink who had a walker pole literally stuck between the boot and the blade of his skates. Whenever he tried to stand up again, his ankle would twist in painful-looking ways and he would have to sit down again. So please, hold their hands or help them to skate by themselves, but don't use the walkers.

Helmets
        Leave your dignity in the car and bring a helmet to the rink. Especially for the little ones. Some rinks will rent you helmets, but it's easier just to bring your own. Make sure it's properly adjusted, too. A helmet that falls off the second you fall does no good.

Gloves
        Highly recommended. Makes falling so much less unpleasant. Not to mention that they keep your hands warm. News Flash- you're going to an ice rink. Emphasis on the word "ice."

The Basics
        March. That's all there is to it. Okay, maybe it's a little more challenging in practice, but still....
Bent knees, arms out to the side, head up. Pick your knees straight up. Try not to flail around or have your arms to high, as it will knock you off balance. If you do fall, go onto all fours before you try to get up, otherwise you'll be sliding around like an idiot for a good few minutes. Just trust me on this one....
       
Good luck and happy skating!
=D