ROTFL re: the posture and the edge. Wouldn't it be a fall deduction? Reminds me of an old Sasha Cohen photo: toes pointed perfectly even when she fell!
OK back on topic: if you are doing the preliminary dances on time, you certainly could manage the freestyle ice! Is there division between low FS ice and high FS ice?
Do you have any adult sessions available? They can be a nice middle ground between public sessions and freestyle/dance sessions. I find at the adult sessions I attend there are skaters at all levels, but most adults (emphasis on "most") will take a look at what others are doing and adjust accordingly. If someone sees me doing Rhythm Blues down the ice, they know where and when to expect me and give me room. If I see someone using the blueline to work on edges or jumping at center ice or using a face-off circle for crossovers, I stay out of their paths. Everyone's pretty courteous, after all, we're all in this together!
Btw, I totally thought, that duck's losing an edge and then read your caption and busted out laughing! Ice dancers think alike!
I'm in the exact same spot as you: intimidated by the FS girls and terrified to get careened into by the flailing kids in hockey skates who don't even bother to skate counter-clockwise on public ice. The best place for me seems to be lunchtime ice (very uncrowded and nearly all adults). I will say this, though, that generally, FS skaters know how to stay out of people's ways and also that they are extremely good at yielding to the less experienced. Good luck. We'll muddle through!
I was petrified when I first went on practice ice... How fast is everyone???? Eeeeekkkk!!! I spent a considerable amount of time trying to get out of everyones way or standing at the barrier too scared to move! After a while you get to know peoples programs and you get used to the speed and the skaters (and they got used to me!). It made me push myself more just to try to fit in more! There were a couple of other adults there too which helped.
Now I'm too scared to skate public sessions much. I feel really restricted. I'm now the scary fast person even when doing a very slow rhythm blues with no power. 2 people fell over in shock as I was heading vaugely towards them (with lots of room to spare!) last time. I was mortified! I only do a public session now if I've just got my skates sharpened and don't want to waste time on practice ice getting used to my blades again!
I'm used to the higher level skaters - you have a chance to predict where they are headed and can usually identify what they are working on or doing an entry to. Public session beginners... I have no idea whatsoever and mostly neither do they!!
Soon after beginning lessons I venture onto public ice in a morning session. The freestyle kids had all gone to school. There were three people skating: me, and two guys. I pick the short side of the rink, close to the barriers. I look around - no one - so totter backwards, practising swizzles & glides. Totally focused on my feet. Reach the edge, turn around to check, repeat. Third time - still no one. Halfway across my ponytail moves and some very gentle hands steady me. One of the guys (the kid) saw me and dodged just in time, the other (older) guy steadied me. The kid circled back grinning when he saw I was OK. I belatedly recognise him as an olympic hopeful, then I realise the guy keeping me upright is his coach.
I know I technically have right of way but all I can nervously stammer "thank God I didn't wipe you out!", and think to myself "how ANNOYED would he be, injured by a rank beginner".
The cheeky sod offered me a coffee to apologise for scaring me. He was/is cute. If I were 20 years younger... or not still besotted with my dearly beloved...
I just started reading your blog and found this post extremely hilarious but true. Would you mind if I posted it on my blog? (I've just started a skating blog of my own) I will credit you right at the beginning and advertise your blog too lol. Here's my blog if you'd like to check http://janieskate.blogspot.com/ If you don't like this idea please just say so! Thanks for posting such amusing things :)
It's okay to link to my blog, but please don't copy the content. Your blog should be about your experiences. Use the opportunity to build your writing skills and experiment with finding your voice rather than use someone else's. Make your blog unique.
ROTFL re: the posture and the edge. Wouldn't it be a fall deduction? Reminds me of an old Sasha Cohen photo: toes pointed perfectly even when she fell!
ReplyDeleteOK back on topic: if you are doing the preliminary dances on time, you certainly could manage the freestyle ice! Is there division between low FS ice and high FS ice?
Freestyle ice scares me. I'd much rather do Public Skate and not run the risk of pissing off the good skaters by my mere presence.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any adult sessions available? They can be a nice middle ground between public sessions and freestyle/dance sessions. I find at the adult sessions I attend there are skaters at all levels, but most adults (emphasis on "most") will take a look at what others are doing and adjust accordingly. If someone sees me doing Rhythm Blues down the ice, they know where and when to expect me and give me room. If I see someone using the blueline to work on edges or jumping at center ice or using a face-off circle for crossovers, I stay out of their paths. Everyone's pretty courteous, after all, we're all in this together!
ReplyDeleteBtw, I totally thought, that duck's losing an edge and then read your caption and busted out laughing! Ice dancers think alike!
Summer adult afternoon sessions just started, so as long as I can leave work early, I'm in for it!
DeleteI'm in the exact same spot as you: intimidated by the FS girls and terrified to get careened into by the flailing kids in hockey skates who don't even bother to skate counter-clockwise on public ice. The best place for me seems to be lunchtime ice (very uncrowded and nearly all adults). I will say this, though, that generally, FS skaters know how to stay out of people's ways and also that they are extremely good at yielding to the less experienced. Good luck. We'll muddle through!
ReplyDeleteExactly where I'm at.
DeletePlus I get eyerolls from the girls when ever I'm on the ice. I.Don't.Care. They can eyeroll me all they want.
I was petrified when I first went on practice ice... How fast is everyone???? Eeeeekkkk!!! I spent a considerable amount of time trying to get out of everyones way or standing at the barrier too scared to move! After a while you get to know peoples programs and you get used to the speed and the skaters (and they got used to me!). It made me push myself more just to try to fit in more! There were a couple of other adults there too which helped.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm too scared to skate public sessions much. I feel really restricted. I'm now the scary fast person even when doing a very slow rhythm blues with no power. 2 people fell over in shock as I was heading vaugely towards them (with lots of room to spare!) last time. I was mortified! I only do a public session now if I've just got my skates sharpened and don't want to waste time on practice ice getting used to my blades again!
I'm used to the higher level skaters - you have a chance to predict where they are headed and can usually identify what they are working on or doing an entry to. Public session beginners... I have no idea whatsoever and mostly neither do they!!
Soon after beginning lessons I venture onto public ice in a morning session. The freestyle kids had all gone to school. There were three people skating: me, and two guys. I pick the short side of the rink, close to the barriers. I look around - no one - so totter backwards, practising swizzles & glides. Totally focused on my feet. Reach the edge, turn around to check, repeat. Third time - still no one. Halfway across my ponytail moves and some very gentle hands steady me. One of the guys (the kid) saw me and dodged just in time, the other (older) guy steadied me. The kid circled back grinning when he saw I was OK. I belatedly recognise him as an olympic hopeful, then I realise the guy keeping me upright is his coach.
ReplyDeleteI know I technically have right of way but all I can nervously stammer "thank God I didn't wipe you out!", and think to myself "how ANNOYED would he be, injured by a rank beginner".
The cheeky sod offered me a coffee to apologise for scaring me. He was/is cute. If I were 20 years younger... or not still besotted with my dearly beloved...
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI just started reading your blog and found this post extremely hilarious but true. Would you mind if I posted it on my blog? (I've just started a skating blog of my own) I will credit you right at the beginning and advertise your blog too lol.
Here's my blog if you'd like to check http://janieskate.blogspot.com/
If you don't like this idea please just say so!
Thanks for posting such amusing things :)
It's okay to link to my blog, but please don't copy the content. Your blog should be about your experiences. Use the opportunity to build your writing skills and experiment with finding your voice rather than use someone else's. Make your blog unique.
DeleteOkay, thanks for letting me know!
Delete