"[size=0px]Public sessions aren't really the right place for higher level skaters to have lessons." I would agree but the reality is the session was very quiet and I think rinks are desperate to survive any way they can - however those higher level skaters probably have season tickets so there's no incremental revenue from them. Oberstdorf has very strict rules about not jumping and spinning in public sessions - rules that are largely ignored by lower level skaters, so I imagine they exist to stop higher level skaters from doing it (though to be fair, they have patch all day every as they have 3 pads and very little hockey. All skating is unsafe to a degree, just bugs me that [/size][size=0px]elite level skater[/size][size=0px] who already dominate patch sessions (of which there are a lot) seem to think it's OK to train on a public session, and the coaches are happy to go along with it.[/size][size=0px]
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[size=0px]I guess you've tried physiotherapy and off ice training. My lower back still gets sore but since I started lifting heavy weights (well, they feel heavy to me!) in moves like the deadlift, I have had fewer serious issues. I'm coming up to 59. Swimming has been helpful to me, too - supported in the water, cardio, muscular endurance and joint mobility.[/size]