Off topic - just for fun

Awesome pictures. I'm the original clutz when it comes to ice skating so I'm always amazed that anyone can do it so well.

Lucille

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I'm with you!

C

Coward (Cheryl) - take some lessons if you really want to learn. And wear knee pads and wrist guards. The kids look good - just like being at a rink for a change.

ellice

You can call me Coward if you like. I tried several times to ice skate and found I was hopeless so I quit while I was ahead.

I was on roller skates when I was three and did fine, but ice skates were a disaster. Maybe that's because there were no ponds to learn on in Brooklyn ! lol

Lucille

I wasn't calling you a coward, Lucille - it was aimed at Cheryl. I'm the reverse. I learned to roller skate as a kid in LI, and remember my great aunt taking me skating in Forest Hills - but it comes and goes for me. Ice skates - once I got over being afraid - work just fine. Though I wish I could be the skater that DH is. I missed out - the adolescence in Florida - not a lot of ice back in the late 60s, 70s. The big thing for adults honestly is having skates that fit properly (not like shoes) and aren't broken down, wearing some knee pads, and having a teacher that will actually show you the basics, including how to get up when you fall! When my friend and I decided to learn to play hockey, we actually found an instructor and took a semi-private lesson set together. Plus the hockey clinic all one summer, and playing. Back then I honestly would skate about 10-15 hours a wekk on average. It helped. I still don't think of myself as a "good" skater - on the scale that my peers (of more advanced refs) put, OTOH - it still amazes me that I can skate backwards for real - at speed, and on one foot either way. It's the little tihngs.

My brother still cracks up. When I'd been playing for a couple of years, and already reffin' - he actually thought I was kidding. Had to bring a hockey bag full of gear down there, with pictures - and him asking DH (then DBF) if it was true! My favorite - the first summer that I was really into it - I did a bunch of mini-camps/clinics with the boys - like Cheryl's son, and the next age group. Coach made me start with the littler guys - like

10-12 year old. But after a couple of weeks I was doing checking clinic and stick-handling/puck control camp with the Bantams and Midgets (13-17 year olds), and occasionally one of the high school girls that played on my women's team would come. One evening - coming off the ice after working out with the big kids (including getting clocked by accident) - we're walking into the lobby - the guys going one way, and me to a ladies room (no locker room available), and I pulled off my helmet. I hear a bunch of moms "Oh - You're a girl!" - they were asking when the rest were getting off the ice, and I was the one to answer. They were totally shocked - pretty funny. Of course, I was half my current size then, but still.

Skating is fun - for me becaues it's not the impact on my bad ankle/foot - it's much better than trying to run. And you do fell kind of light - if it's all working. All the bruises - well, that's another story.

ellice

Hmmm, friend was telling me tonight about a 7-yo who has already suffered two major concussions from falls while figure skating. They can't figure out why, but she always lands with her left temple hitting the ice. Either she is missing the reflex to try to catch herself, she has some kind of vision problem, or a major balance problem they think. She is just mad because the doctor is making her sit out for a month this time. I guess figure skaters can't wear helmets because it messes up their balance for spins and jumps--although in her case I don't think it could make matters worse!

DD announced she wants to go skating again. She can walk on skates wonderfully, but is scared to go on the ice. We'll see....

I have tried and I've gotten better with time. I found out one of the local rinks has an adult learn to skate. Times aren't announced yet, but, if they work, I'm signing up... C

OW! poor kid. I heard a stat somewhere that figure skaters were more likely to injure themselves than other skaters and the injuries were worse in general.

Bring her here! DD would love to skate with her!

Cheryl

Very ouch. Does sound like a balance issue - might be one of the inner ears or something. Hopefully nothing terrible.

Good for her sitting out. I think she ought to be able to wear a helmet for a while at least - probably more the looking goofy thing. Speed skaters all wear helmets here.

Cute. Little ones - seems like once they're on the ice forget about being afraid. And they're like little Gumbies - bouncing back up after they hit the ice. Not like us big clutzes. I'm always more worried about the first big step.

ellice

That's the best thing. I know a lot of adults that took up figure skating - well after age 30, 35. I keep threatening DH with Ice Dancing - but I don't think that's happening.

We like to go to Adult public skate - usually 1 night a week - no kids to dodge, and a good time to just practice.

Good luck, ellice

Hmmm. Maybe you could try it's either organizing the house with me or Ice Dancing? organizing being the lesser or two evils...LOL

Donna in Virginia

Maybe I should come help and then you two could come help me!

C

LOL. Funnily enough, when I joined the new Rescue Sauad (new to me) there was someone in uni looking familiar at the meeting. Turns out it's a gal that I knew from skating years ago. We refer to her as "figure skater Sue"

- she hung out with a bunch of us hockey types, and helped coach a guys team in the same tier with us of HNA. Too funny - she's an EMT. Evidently while I was out in the hall waiting to be voted in, she told someone "I know her - she plays hockey" . She still figure skates, and we were reminiscing about this very nice looking guy in our age group that was an ice-dancer (not a gay guy).

I think the basics of house organizing - or at least some cleaning and 1st pass will happen in the next 2 weeks before the builders day on Mar 6. Then it'll be all guns blazing.

But, we could go to Adult skate, or at least some public session during the week if the local ever had some. I'll check it out.

Ellice

Ice Dancing, skating or organizing? We make DH do skating lessons - he's really good at it. Plus strong enough to "help out" . In the old days, I spent many hours skating backwards being chased around the rink (practicing D-moves).

We're taking my skates in for some alterations. I cannot wear the left one at all - the insert in the toe cap has to be cut down a bit. And making arrangements to get a new pair made when the CCM rep is in (using all the contacts with manager of pro shop at CAPS new practice facility, and team equipment guys).

ellice