Learning to ice skate for the first time (..after age 40 it isn't easy!)

[ScoobMaster]

My son is in his second year of junior hockey and is doing very well. I decided that I don't just want to sit and watch him skate all the time and resolved to learn to skate. My wife obliged by buying me hockey skates for Christmas and I signed up for beginner skating lessons so I can at least recreational skate with him. I just did lesson one tonight and took to the ice with determination. I ended the night with three falls (only one hard) and just a few bruises. I was not pretty to watch, but my wobbly out of balance 40+ year old self managed to move around the ice from point A to point B and stop when I wanted to. I will call that a small victory for week one!

I have a new found respect for seasoned skaters. I also learned that I am out of shape, bruise easier, and am more "breakable" than when I was in my 20s. At least I listened to my boss (who just got over a lengthy recovery period from a concussion from a skating fall) and got a helmet. I don't care if I look like an "old dork on ice" for a while until I get better - during my one hard fall my helmeted head hit the ice and that sold me on it until I am more balanced on my feet.

Anyway - it was fun and I look forward to next week. I am confident that with more ice time and practice I will get much better. Any pointers for a "noob on ice"?

 

[Michael]

Don't fall is my pro tip.



For the most part, it is a matter of getting your inner ear adjusted with balancing on your skates. Once you have that done, you'll stay on your feet without effort. That comes with practice and time on the ice.

(of course, i started skating at about 4 years old, maybe younger, and can still skate my mid-40's body all over the ice with some conficence and skill).

Michael

 

[Dominato3r]

Usually for beginners they give you a plastic chair to hold so you can balance yourself, I remember that helped me a lot.

 

[lupi]

only went once or twice, in general I recall balance being easier than roller skates....while on clean ice. once the surface started getting some nice grooves in it, which doesn't take too long on a general open skate situation...you blade catches one and its a kiss you ass goodbye situation.

 

[rommelrommel]

A lot of it is learning to fall too, esp if you're going to play even rec hockey.

 

[drebo]

I've been a couple times, and the only thing I remember is being dead freaking tired afterward. Ice skating is a lot of work.

Or maybe I was just doing it wrong.

 

[D1gger]

Growing up on the Canadian prairies, I think I could skate before I could walk. We actually had a rink in our back yard every winter.

I would not like to try to learn now, I'm sure it's a bitch.

 

[SamQuint]

I wear kneepads and wrist guards. I actually broke one of my wrists while skating. I fell backwards and of course instinct tells you to put your arms out to catch yourself and all my weight landed on my left hand and the wrist broke. Had to get a a nice metal bracket put in.

So get some wrist guards or learn to fall without putting your arms out.

 

[uclaLabrat]

as an ungainly hockey player myself, keep your knees bent at all times. The deeper the bend generally, the easier it is to keep your balance. Your weight should be centered on the balls of your feet. It's also easier to keep from falling if you overcorrect leaning forward than it is backward.

So stand like you normally would, with your knees slightly bent. Then, bend your knees some more. You should have a good solid stance. Keep your back straight, leaning slightly forward.

Also, when you take your strides, your arms should ideally go straight front to back, not side to side...that will throw off your balance a lot.

 

[Drako]

You'll break your coccyx!

 

[ScoobMaster]

as an ungainly hockey player myself, keep your knees bent at all times. The deeper the bend generally, the easier it is to keep your balance. Your weight should be centered on the balls of your feet. It's also easier to keep from falling if you overcorrect leaning forward than it is backward.

So stand like you normally would, with your knees slightly bent. Then, bend your knees some more. You should have a good solid stance. Keep your back straight, leaning slightly forward.

Also, when you take your strides, your arms should ideally go straight front to back, not side to side...that will throw off your balance a lot.

Thanks for the tips. Sounds exactly like what I remember my son's hockey coach telling him when he was learning. The one hard fall I took was when I made the rookie mistake of standing up straight and leaning backward slightly. I need to work on getting the stride correct. It looks so easy watching someone do it, yet feels so unnatural attempting it while on the ice. What surprised me the most was how much the skate blades DON'T move laterally on the ice. They dig right in and it is like you are on train rails.

 

[ScoobMaster]

grrr.... double post