Ice skating
Tuesday 4 December 2007
It’s good exercise and lots of fun and now that winter is here you can also skate outdoors!
Dancing stars
Ice skating has become really popular over the past couple of years and there are now loads of outdoor as well as indoor ice rinks all over the country.
Outdoor skating is also a really good thing to do with friends or family. If you want to go with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or even on a first date – it can also be quite romantic gliding about under the stars, surrounded by fairy lights and pine trees. OK so you might end up falling over a lot but that can also be a good excuse to hold hands!
Check out the list outdoor ice rinks all over the country. It’s worth booking well in advance as tickets sell out fast during December and January.
Remember to wrap up warm - hats, gloves and scarves but not too warm as you’ll soon work up a sweat. Also make sure you don’t wear wide trousers or that your scarf isn't too long as these can get caught up in your skates - and other peoples.
Also take thick socks with you to wear with your hire skates. The skates are quite stiff and can sometimes give you blisters. Plus lots of people have worn them before so it's worth protecting your feet! Always ensure you get the right size skate, otherwise it could be really difficult to get your balance. If they don’t fit just go back to the counter and ask for a different size.
Falling over!
If it’s your first time on the ice or if you're more clumsy than graceful, don't worry, there are many professional stewards at the rink to help you out if you fall.
For those who are lacking a bit of confidence there's always some professional ice skating lessons that will teach you how to gain more control on ice. You never know you might soon be showing off you spins and twirls!
At any skating rink there will always be a few show offs who whoosh past you. Most of the time stewards will stop them if they are causing people to be alarmed. The best thing to do is keep calm and if you keep falling over – get up and try again.
Expect to get quite wet! Most skating rinks have a café where you can warm up afterwards and also dry off!
Icy sports
Xtreme skating
If you get really (really) good, or perhaps you're already into your skating or snowboarding, then the next stage could be Xtreme Skating.
The first ever World Xtreme Skating Championships took place in 2006 in Russia. Watch the event. Usually called 'Xtreme' ice skating the sport takes ice skating to a new level by introducing urban in-line skating techniques to the ice rink. Skaters perform tricks and jumps on the ice that would usually be seen in a traditional skate park.
Check the skills!
Some paks have now started emerging that
have specially designed ramps, half pipes and other equipment made from synthetic ice.
Figure skating
Ice skating is also associated with many Olympic level sports.
A sport to show off spins, jumps and other footwork, Figure skating is a major event at the Winter Olympics. The current leader of the medal table are the USA with 44 medals, followed by Russa at 20. Great Britain are 5th with 15 medals.
Ice Hockey
Similar to Hockey, this sport is played on ice, making it dangerous and fast. Canada are currently the Olympics champions, with 16 medals.
Skating Trust
If you get really hooked you can always join an Ice Skating club! There's load of them all over the country.
Perhaps you think you could be the next ice skating star? The National Ice Skating Association (NISA) have just announced that a grant of up to £100 a month could soon be available to improve your skating skills. Check the website for more details.
