� Some Sites I like � I'm reading |
Learning to Glide I still can't skate properly, but I'm getting better. I've learned the longer I listen to Penny (coachish), the more complicated the sport/activity gets. So, yesterday I learned a whole lot about figure skating, dancing, and proper maintenance, though I didn't get to do a lot of laps. First thing I learned, after lamenting my lack of thick socks, was that pantyhose is (strangely enough) one of the best materials to skate in. Well, I didn't have full hose, more like those old-lady knee highs, but nylon allows you to move your foot more, sense the edges so you can turn better, keeps your feet warm but also protected from the wear and tear of your skates. My skates are bad in general, too tight for my feet and too long, but I managed to improve them slightly by lining the big seam at the tongue with moleskin. I was still worried that they would eat up my feet, but they didn't so I'm going to keep using the nylons. After a few warm-up laps, Penny grabbed me to teach me figure 8s in hopes I could learn to glide a little more. I watched her do it, then tried to do it myself and failed utterly. I can't seem to get the hang of gliding unless I have some speed up, so doing slow circles is still very hard. After trying another circle or two, Penny gave up and pulled me into the practice ring to work on scissoring. We worked on that until my back hurt and I watched her lecture about the glide waltz to a couple of newbies that were beyond me. I would have tried it, but I never knew how complicated skating steps could be! So, I darted back into the practice rink and worked on my scissors until I felt that I had that down. Then I headed back out onto the main floor and Penny showed me what I couldn't understand, how to switch feet and propel while gliding. I worked on that in the center of the floor for a little while, but I just couldn't get it. Towards the end of the session, I think I worked something out, but mostly I could only glide through the left turns of the rink. Trying to hold my right leg steady while pushing my left messed up my mind a bit, though I do need to know how. Good news though is that I'm getting better at stopping with the toestop, though I did fall on my butt due to leaning backwards while trying to glide. No injuries though, got plenty of padding as I told everyone there. Besides, I'm young. My big worry is crashing into one of the older ladies and breaking her hip. Multiperson collisions are never good, but when you're older it gets worse and I know I'm a big road hazard right now. But I survived, though I don't think I got those 350 calories an hour I wanted to, but I am learning. I've decided if I can stick with this for three months I'll upgrade my skates so my toes stop going numb. I'm hoping I can go that long, had a good argument about not going that day, but I know I'll feel proud if I do. Besides, I'm not the worst skater ever, I just need to figure out this gliding thing! Daphne |