Ice Skating

[unicornduke]

I've been skating three times this week so far. It's awesome. I can feel how much I've improved since I started back skating after the summer. I'm faster and stronger and better at crossovers and edge work. I've actually started staying warm all over while I skate, which usually doesn't happen. Backwards skating is also decent with okay crossovers although that just needs more practice.

Transitions. 

Oh am I bad at those. 

At this point, I've just started jumping straight up and twisting my lower body around which works okay. I can't figure out any graceful or less subtle ways to turn. I suspect I need to practice both the stepping turn and the two foot turn on the ground and see if that helps.  Literally no explanation on the internet helps either because it literally is just, you turn and they show you slowly but they just are doing the same thing over and over but it hasn't connected for me. 

I considered taking lessons again but they are all figure skaters teaching the adult lessons. I think my next step is to get some basic equipment and start going to some stick and puck sessions and also keep working on those dang transitions. I know I said I was going to try and play in a league this year but it's not going to happen. I don't know if it will happen for next season but oh well, I can aim for it. My biggest concern is that the season starts at the end of September on weekends and I don't have free time until mid november. Oh well. I'll figure it out. 

Comments

[graydon]

Some skating things are annoyingly like some other things involving motion; you just have to do it, and then the spinal neurons get connected and your brain -- still with no idea how it works -- figures out which spine neuron to poke and you can do the thing. (kinda like walking, really.) This is frustrating as can be to learn how to do. I don't know if it helps to know it takes trying until it clicks, but unfortunately that's likely true.

Not hurting yourself -- taking another year to practice and get strong -- seems completely and totally sensible. My experience of women's hockey players is that they're cheerful and friendly and have great camaraderie and they all dutifully send condolence cards to the funerals because they take no prisoners whatsoever. Getting your skills up first is an excellent plan.

[unicornduke]

I figured transitions were a do-until-it-clicks thing. It's just annoying that it hasn't clicked yet. Sometimes I feel like I've got it and then ten minutes later, I definitely don't and can't replicate it so I just gotta keep doing it I guess. Bleh.

Haha, yeah on building skills, the teams around here seem pretty intense and dedicated and will probably not accept that I'm wandering in now lol. That's okay though. I've got a plan moving forward which is good and I'll get there someday.

[graydon]

Condolences on the almost-clicking!

It's a good sign, but it sure don't feel like it.