- Joined
- Apr 10, 2019
Hello all- I'm a 47 year old returning skater after 30 years away. (I found out Torvill & Dean came out of retirement to do Dancing on Ice and it reminded me of how much I used to love skating and the old 80s and 90s stars).
I'm so frustrated. I didn't expect to magically have all my skills the moment I stepped on the ice, but I just wonder what reasonable expectations are. I went skating in March, used rentals, realized they didn't fit remotely correctly, and went to a professional fitter and ordered proper skates.
After getting the skates, I had three sessions that went well or as expected. Can get around, third time started doing super basic skills (swizzles, slaloms, one foot glides, snowplow stops). That third time was the first time I fell (which I must have fallen absolutely correctly, because it literally didn't hurt at all). However I must have done something to my knee, because later that day it was twinging badly like I'd twisted it.
Through all that, I've still been struggling to balance correctly. My first few minutes on the ice are always terrible, but I get on with it and it gets a little better. I *am* out of shape and sit down to rest as often as I am on the ice.
Yesterday was my fourth session and it was like the first time all over again. Couldn't balance, lots of flailing, couldn't get a groove going. I was so worried the whole time I was going to fall. Then I got caught in a really deep rut the hockey players left and it pulled that knee and it started hurting, so I decided to leave, only fifteen minutes in.
Since getting the skates, I've been on the ice approximately three hours. Yes, I know that's not very much. I'm at the rink twice that time, sitting down the rest of the time. Even with yesterday's bust, I felt like getting on the ice as often as possible is the best thing I can do to eventually find my balance. But it's starting to feel like I'll never have it again.
I was originally thinking of doing an adult LTS skate starting June 4th, and I now think I won't be ready yet by then. (both short on stamina and poor balance). If there are any skaters here who started as an older adult (say over 35), how long did it take before you were moving comfortably and competently on the ice? I'm not giving up yet, but wish I knew how long it will take.
I'm so frustrated. I didn't expect to magically have all my skills the moment I stepped on the ice, but I just wonder what reasonable expectations are. I went skating in March, used rentals, realized they didn't fit remotely correctly, and went to a professional fitter and ordered proper skates.
After getting the skates, I had three sessions that went well or as expected. Can get around, third time started doing super basic skills (swizzles, slaloms, one foot glides, snowplow stops). That third time was the first time I fell (which I must have fallen absolutely correctly, because it literally didn't hurt at all). However I must have done something to my knee, because later that day it was twinging badly like I'd twisted it.
Through all that, I've still been struggling to balance correctly. My first few minutes on the ice are always terrible, but I get on with it and it gets a little better. I *am* out of shape and sit down to rest as often as I am on the ice.
Yesterday was my fourth session and it was like the first time all over again. Couldn't balance, lots of flailing, couldn't get a groove going. I was so worried the whole time I was going to fall. Then I got caught in a really deep rut the hockey players left and it pulled that knee and it started hurting, so I decided to leave, only fifteen minutes in.
Since getting the skates, I've been on the ice approximately three hours. Yes, I know that's not very much. I'm at the rink twice that time, sitting down the rest of the time. Even with yesterday's bust, I felt like getting on the ice as often as possible is the best thing I can do to eventually find my balance. But it's starting to feel like I'll never have it again.
I was originally thinking of doing an adult LTS skate starting June 4th, and I now think I won't be ready yet by then. (both short on stamina and poor balance). If there are any skaters here who started as an older adult (say over 35), how long did it take before you were moving comfortably and competently on the ice? I'm not giving up yet, but wish I knew how long it will take.