FIGURE
SKATING FOR THE ADULT BEGINNER
By Lisa Maliga
© 2001 - 2005 by Lisa Maliga
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helpful figure skating tips aimed at adult figure skaters, especially those
returning to the ice or just discovering the joy of skating! Find out how to
get smoother, softer skating feet! This is the literary home of Lisa Maliga,
owner of EverythingShea.com.
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<p><a href="http://www.lisamaliga.com"><strong>Lisa’s Library of Writing</strong></a> ~ At Lisa's Library of Writing you'll get helpful figure skating tips aimed at adult figure skaters, especially those returning to the ice or just discovering the joy of skating! Find out how to get smoother, softer skating feet! This is the literary home of Lisa Maliga, owner of EverythingShea.com.</p>
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Lisa’s Library of Writing ~ At Lisa's Library of Writing you'll get helpful figure skating tips aimed at adult figure skaters, especially those returning to the ice or just discovering the joy of skating! Find out how to get smoother, softer skating feet! This is the literary home of Lisa Maliga, owner of EverythingShea.com. This is the literary home of Lisa Maliga, owner of EverythingShea.com
Whether
you want to skate recreationally or compete nationally, you’re not alone.
Adults from Maine to California are flocking to ice rinks, many of these new
facilities housing two and three sheets of ice. Adults from 18 to 80+ are lacing
up figure skates in greater numbers than ever before. The United Skates Figure
Skating Association estimates that there are more than 30,000 registered adult
members.
What better way to burn off calories, strengthen your legs, increase your stamina
and enjoy yourself while doing this? If you were fortunate enough to have skated
as a child, what better way to rekindle some happy memories? If your children
already skate, or want to, why not accompany them to the rink and find out just
how much fun it is? Factor in a pair of skates that fit right, all types of
different music to skate to, comfortable yet fashionable attire and you’ll
not only feel great, you’ll look great!
What does a beginning adult skater need?
Less than ten dollars will start you off on your first trip to the ice rink.
Rates run from three to eight dollars for a public session. Skate rentals average
three dollars. Call your nearest rink for public session times. Weekend and
evening sessions are usually crowded, weekday sessions less so [except during
the busy summer season]. Friday and Saturday nights are notoriously crowded
with the teenagers.
Here’s a checklist for the first-timer, whether you’ve never set
blade on ice or it’s been a few years.
1. Wear comfortable jeans or pants, not too tight or baggy. Warm-up suits are
fine. After all, this is a sport! Leggings and sweats are suitable as are tights
and a skating dress/skirt.
2. Your shirt can be long or short-sleeved, but please keep in mind the rink’s
temperature might be on the cold side. Note: The average indoor rink’s
temperature is 40 to 60 degrees. A light jacket, windbreaker, sweater or warm-up
jacket is advisable. Remember, you can always remove articles of clothing.
3. Gloves or mittens. They don’t have to be designed for mountaineering!
A pair of wool or acrylic type is best. Many pro shops sell a one-size-fits-all
but these usually run from four to eight bucks and don’t last very long.
They’re also not too warm. A trip to a discount store will usually allow
you to get a nice, long-lasting pair. Gardening gloves can [and have] been worn!
4. Don’t forget to bring some tissues or a handkerchief. Even if you’re
skating in the summertime, your nose will still run.
5. If you’re really nervous about skating, you can always buy hip, knee,
elbow and wrist pads or guards at most of the rink’s pro shops. These
can also be purchased at discount and sporting goods stores. Bicycle or hockey
helmets can be worn if you’re afraid of a head injury. Whatever padding
you choose to wear is entirely up to your discretion as it’s all about
being stress-free and well protected on the ice.
6. Comfortable socks, please! No ultra-thick socks are needed. Conversely, don’t
go overboard and buy the finest silk socks if you’re going to wear rental
skates! Keep in mind that MANY people before you have put their feet into those
rental skates!
Selecting a pair of rental skates that FIT!
Here’s the one item you REALLY NEED to skate properly. If your skates
don’t fit correctly, you’re unlikely to want to continue skating.
So, here are some steadfast rules to follow to help you get the skates you need.
Allow yourself enough time to select the right pair. DON’T RUSH! Give
yourself enough time to put your skates on. Getting your feet into properly
fitting skates will make a huge difference.
Skating Fact - Skate sizes don’t always match shoe sizes!
For example, if you’re a lady with a size 9 street shoe, you might wear
a size 9 skate, but you might also wear a size 7 ½, 8, 8 ½ or
9 ½. Oftentimes the employees behind the skate rental counter can be
very helpful, but sometimes they’re not.
Rules
for a good fit:
Your heel must be snug against the back of the skate. There should be enough
room to ever so slightly wiggle your toes up and down. Skates must be well fitting.
Too tight, you’ll know it. Skating without circulation isn’t the
way to increase your skills as a skater. If the skates are too loose, go down
per half size.
Lacing
them:
Skates need to be laced correctly and fully to work properly. Rental skates
are not a fashion trend; they must be laced up all the way! The tongues must
be straight, no lopsided tongues showing off your socks. The laces should be
tight, but again, not so firm that you can’t feel your feet. Of course
they must be laced and not loosely either. Pay close attention to lacing them
now, so you don’t have to leave the ice later to fix them.
Those extra long laces baffle most beginners. Especially when they do lace them correctly, they have at least a foot of extra lace. DO NOT WRAP THIS AROUND YOUR ANKLE AREA! This can cause the laces to slip, plus it creates unnecessary strain on the boot itself. Once you lace your skates, firmly, but not constricting your circulation, wrap the extra length back down around the top two hooks. This is a neater looking method that all figure skaters do. Watch how more experienced skaters’ lace their boots, although some methods are a little different.
A warning
about blades:
The blades on most rental skates are DULL, DULL, DULL! This is something you
must know because many skaters are upset by this once on the ice. The reason
skate blades aren’t sharp is due to the fact that it causes fewer accidents.
Another reason is to encourage you to buy a pair of skates from the ice rink’s
pro shop!
If you’re wearing your own skates:
Whether it’s been five months, five years or fifty years, it’s always
nice to have your own pair of figure skates. Maybe you had to dust them off
a little bit. Perhaps the blades were a tad on the rusty side. The leather might
be somewhat cracked. As long as they still fit, you’re usually better
off than if you have to wear rentals! If you do discover your skates have rusty
blades, please get them sharpened! Not only is it unsafe for you to skate in
them, but also the rink management and the other skaters won’t be pleased
to see brown streaks all over the surface.
Should the leather be so cracked, and the boot so weak that it flops over when
you stand it on its’ blade, you might be better off in rentals.
Now that you have your own skates, you hopefully have a pair of plastic blade
guards. If not, invest eight to ten dollars in a pair. These are so important
to protect your blades. But don’t forget to take them off when you step
onto the ice. Wearing blade guards on the ice is an instant invitation to fall.
But everyone eventually does it at least once! Even top-ranked skaters and coaches!
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