What did you achieve this week

[WednesdayMarch]

Sorry to hear that; hope that things work out so you can start again at some point.  Is dance an option to tide you over - perhaps more leeway to be kind to your body than in skating?

Skating is what makes me, well, me. I'm a bit lost right now.

I'm now going to hospital on Fridays instead of the ice rink, which isn't quite the same, but will hopefully aid in getting me back on the ice. It turns out that while I thought I was rusting up. I'm actually hyper mobile, which causes a fair number of problems. No idea what is wrong with my balance, though. I've been summoned by the GP, so hopefully we'll get to the bottom of it.

[transmissionoftheflame]

I get what you mean about skating.  I feel the same.  Fingers crossed.  Hyper mobile presume part of the mitigation would be getting physically stronger to protect the joints.

[WednesdayMarch]

I get what you mean about skating.  I feel the same.  Fingers crossed.  Hyper mobile presume part of the mitigation would be getting physically stronger to protect the joints.

Exactly that. It's actually quite fun. Weird that physio is the highlight of my week!

[transmissionoftheflame]

Kind of weird but working towards a goal is satisfying, especially if there's a chance it could get you back on the ice in better shape.  It's why I do strength training 2-3 times per week, which I would otherwise find rather dull.

[WednesdayMarch]

Yeah. Trouble is, I only really enjoy skating. Still, I'm doing it. My physio team are lovely.

[transmissionoftheflame]

More backwards looking over outside shoulder, also trying to switch which side I am looking over backwards, and backwards two-foot slalom making sure to get both edges parallel and really commit to being over the skate.  Most rec level skaters 2-foot slalom (including mine until recently) looks pretty half-hearted to me, with the inside foot (the one on an outside edge) not really following the other foot fully.  Also straight line barrel roll to turn to backwards on one side is weaker than the other - I am not over the skate fully.  Just never ending little things that are tiny adjustments but feel huge and make a huge different to how smooth and comfortable and confident one is.

[transmissionoftheflame]

"Achievements" in recent weeks:
1) Skated a fair bit and enjoyed most of it
2) Fell out with the management at my regular ice rink (long, depressing story) so need to go to other rinks or give up ice completely (I don't really like ice rinks)
3) Forward and backward two foot slalom keeping my skates under me and edges parallel.  Harder than it looks/sounds.  Need more knee bend, lean, hip movement.

[transmissionoftheflame]

Not done any ice, not missing the atmosphere


Moved my frames back a bit to where they should probably have been all along and feel immensely more over my skates - biggest step forward in years.


Discovered that when trying to go up onto two wheels (toe and toe or heel and toe) I get much better stability from starting and finishing with more of a bent knee.  I know this won't be of interest to ice skaters, but the general point is that one can make improvements by skating mindfully, experimenting and trying to really feel what you are doing.  If one side is worse than the other, what is the difference.  Try to pinpoint it.  Enjoy the process.

[WednesdayMarch]

Not done any ice, not missing the atmosphere


Moved my frames back a bit to where they should probably have been all along and feel immensely more over my skates - biggest step forward in years.


Discovered that when trying to go up onto two wheels (toe and toe or heel and toe) I get much better stability from starting and finishing with more of a bent knee.  I know this won't be of interest to ice skaters, but the general point is that one can make improvements by skating mindfully, experimenting and trying to really feel what you are doing.  If one side is worse than the other, what is the difference.  Try to pinpoint it.  Enjoy the process.

Interesting. What frames do you have?

I haven't done any ice or wheels. I'm not even planning on skating at the rink at the Eden Project when it opens for this season. I think my heart was broken by someone's behaviour towards me earlier this year and I just don't want to have anything to do with it, or at least anyone who is part of that group. Plus I'm still unwell and currently have Covid...

BUT... I will be heading up to Hampshire as soon as I'm physically able and might take my skates with me and try for a quiet skate at Gosport. It was always a happy place for me and would be nice to test out my balance. The physio thinks my balance is amazing, so it's still a mystery as to why I've been so wobbly.

[transmissionoftheflame]

Sorry to hear you are unwell.  Best wishes for a recovery - and definitely don't skate at a rink where you don't feel welcome!


My frames are Seba Deluxe V2 - rockered inline slalom frames, with 80mm wheels.  The rocker is banana so front and back wheels are raised I think 2-3mm so similar to a hockey skate on ice I guess.  There are a few different holes for bolts in the bottom of the boot so you can move them front to back and left to right.  I used to create a rocker with different sized wheels on a flat frame - the advantage of a rockered frame is you can rotate all the wheels to even out the wear (though pleasingly mine seem to wear quite evenly which hopefully means I am doing something right).


I am sure your underlying balance is good - you are a skater.

[transmissionoftheflame]

This week's main "achievements":


Skated a good few hours
Found a Sunday morning public session near me - a dozen people in total, small rink but still really quiet - took advantage to work on looking over my outside shoulder


Somehow the lack of coaching on public sessions, and the general lack of "figure skaters", in roller rinks makes them a lot more welcoming.  Ice figure skating is an amazing sport, but it comes at a price, IMO.