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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be scared to go ice skating?

60 replies

Babababababybel23 · 21/12/2017 18:32

I don't know why. We want to do something Christmassy this year so we have decided to take dss. We can't all do it as someone needs to look after 3 month old dd. Dh said he wont do it in case he hurts his back. I have never been before and the thought of it is terrifying me. I don't want to leave dss on his own though

OP posts:

TeenTimesTwo · 21/12/2017 18:36

Hire a penguin/polar bear. They are a bit small for adults (they need Emperor Penguins really), but they are fine for a while (unless you are very tall).

PurplePillowCase · 21/12/2017 18:39

get the right fitting skates.
tie them really really tight.
small steps with the skates in a slight v shape.

have fun!

Lucisky · 21/12/2017 18:43

My impression of ice skating? Stinky boots that may still be warm from someone else's feet. Trying to stand up on blades. Really (and I mean really) hard falls on the ice, while other better skaters merrily skim around giving you pitying looks.
Can you tell I hated ice skating?
I can think of more fun things to do.

unenthusiasticfuturedancemom · 21/12/2017 18:44

I am petrified of ice skating. I have successfully managed to avoid it for thirty eight years.

Otherwise I live be a full and happy life and you'd never know I was a rink avoider to look at me.

Just. Say. No.

pallisers · 21/12/2017 18:49

I took lessons when my kids learned to skate. Was enchanted with the look of the thing and my lovely white boots and my kids seemed to get it so fast and enjoy it.

I hated every single moment of it. If you know how to skate, it is great fun gliding around the place. If you don't you are on blades on slippy ice in danger of falling all the time. I'm way too old to be able to deal with a broken arm or leg without major disruption to my life. I wore a helmet learning and was glad I did as I had one fall where I went flat on my back thumping my head on the ice -would definitely have been concussed. I did learn well enough eventually to go around the ice and do scullys/stop etc. DH learned at the same time and he loved it and was quite good (learning hockey moves)

I don't think it is an activity for a one-off without lessons etc unless you are happy to hold onto something the entire time.

Original poster

Babababababybel23 · 21/12/2017 18:49

Too late, it's already been booked
What have I let myself in for

OP posts:

APcreator · 21/12/2017 18:50

Ice skating seems too risky for me. Trying to glide on ice with sharp metal boots. Fall over and you've got a million sharp metal things tying to slice your fingers off. Best outcome a concussion or a missing finger. Don't see where the fun comes in to play. Pass.

lampygirl · 21/12/2017 18:58

If you get blades that dont have the stabby toe picks at the front you need to use a V shape with your feet and push partially to the side else you wont go anywhere and will slip over if you try and push from straight over the toes.

Only a tiny bit of the blade touches the ice at any point, so you probably want to imagine this as being the area under the balls of your feet. If you put weight over your heels you will rock and fall backward, just imagine always pushing with the balls of your feet and keeping your knees bent with your knees over your toes and your shoulders over your knees.

Also make sure your skates are tight enough so that your ankles don't flex inwards, particularly if your ankles arent that strong.

I have skated all my life so it is quite hard to imagine it being difficult but hopefully the points above might help. Otherwise just use the sides to help steady you, and push with your feet until you get more confident.

milkjetmum · 21/12/2017 19:00

Ice skater here! Top tips:

Ask for figure skates, easier for beginners than hockey skates in my opinion.

Yes to the penguin/snowman

Watch some YouTube videos on how to get up from fallen over (hands in fists, go onto all fours) and beginners skating (walk like a penguin).

Go beginning of session, will be quieter and ice less 'wet'

Gloves of course a must have. Spare socks/trousers for way home.

And yes to doing skates up as tight as you can, no ankle movement required!

Enjoy!

AgentProvocateur · 21/12/2017 19:01

I’m 50 and I went for the first time ever last week. I was SO crap at it, but I had great fun. I even managed to let go of the side! The only thing I hurt was my pride when I fell in front of the people watching. I’ll definitely do it again next year when the rink is back.

ToadOfSadness · 21/12/2017 19:01

Don't do what I did and not fall over until you reach the one melted puddly bit of ice and then sit in it so that the dye from your dark jeans runs into your light coloured top and you have a cold wet arse.

That was fun.

Namechangetempissue · 21/12/2017 19:02

I love it! But I did do my badges as a child so have confidence on the ice and am a strong skater. Just take it steady, you may really enjoy it. If you hate it after a circuit hanging onto the wall hop off and never go again! It really isn't as hard as you think.

Doobigetta · 21/12/2017 19:07

I used to go every week as a teenager. Went a couple of years ago to an outdoor rink and it was hell, I only lasted five minutes. Packed full of toddlers who wanted to grab hold of me and pull downwards until we were both lying on the ice with other people's skates flying over our fingers. No thanks.

Xihha · 21/12/2017 19:10

I have been once, I stayed by the edge and held on to the wall, edging round slowly while small children skated merrily round me. I do lots of activities that are probably more dangerous than ice skating (my hobbies are mostly outdoorsy stuff) but kids zipping round with sharp blades on their shoes terrifies me.

Slowtrain2dawn · 21/12/2017 19:12

It’s great! If you’re reasonably able bodied you’ll get the hang of it. Wear thick socks and gloves. Hang on to the side if you’re nervous at first. I have been every Xmas for the last few years and until then hadn’t ice skated since I was a kid. Trust your balance and go slowly at first.

ChippyMinton · 21/12/2017 19:13

Agreee that you need to do up the boots firmly, but not so tight that your feet hurt due to lack of circulation.

Look into hiring an ice guide person to help/teach you. You’ll both get on much faster if you have some assistance. And less likely to be put off for life.

If all else fails there is always hot chocolate and mulled wine to console you.

Somewherethatsgreen · 21/12/2017 19:15

Disagree with milkjetmum; as a 'non-skater' who has tried both, the stability hockey skates give your ankles compared to figure skates makes a huge difference. Go down on your knees a bit and lean forward not backward that way you are pretty stable. Love going ice skating and have never had a tumble.

slightlyglittermaned · 21/12/2017 19:22

I can't skate. But I enjoyed going skating with DS. Wear gloves and take a spare pair of trousers to change into in case you end up on your bum!

You may well end up clinging to the side while trying to get used to staying up on your skates for much of the session (or book a penguin/banana/whatever), but it's not a bad way to get going, and people are generally cheerful and enjoying wobbling about being a bit crap at it.

How old is your DSS? If young, definitely book a penguin or something for him.

lljkk · 21/12/2017 19:29

Top tips:...Ask for figure skates, easier for beginners than hockey skates in my opinion.

pmsl, do you think the little pop up rinks offer a choice???

slightlyglittermaned · 21/12/2017 19:29

If it's not a "proper" skating rink but one of the temporary rinks that go up in shopping centres at Xmad, are they even going to have different kinds of skates? The one we went to had adult skates, and kids. The kids skates had two blunt blades on the bottom so they could stand on them easily. The adult skates had plastic tops and basically clicked on to your feet - they felt pretty solid. Again blunt edged blades.

lljkk · 21/12/2017 19:30

There's also fake ice, I had the (not) pleasure to try this year. Plastic squares that allow an ice-skating style experience.

Original poster

Babababababybel23 · 21/12/2017 19:31

Dss is 13 so I can't hire him a penguin and then sneakily borrow it the whole time. And I am nearly 6ft so will look strange crouching over a penguin

OP posts:

Footle · 21/12/2017 19:32

If it's a proper rink you could book a lesson first. But not if it's a pop up

ApocalypseNowt · 21/12/2017 19:35

I've never been in my life and want to keep it that way.

My DC are starting to make noises about it though. Think I'll be ok this year though.

I've been scared of it ever since I was a kid. I kinda wish I'd tried when I was younger because the thought of starting now is terrifying.

Original poster

Babababababybel23 · 21/12/2017 19:35

Just a pop up one in the local town so no chance of lessons and I don't think I will be able to get figure skates. It's in two days
Dss has never been and it was the only Christmassy thing I could think of

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