...ice skating agility!

[fatlazyless]

How to improve your ice skating agility; skating forwards, skating backwards, right turns, left turns, stops and starts, getting comfy with your skating ability?

Here's what works for me? Go get yourself a four legged aluminum lightweight walker from somewhere such as a yard sale, thrift store, or out in the garage of a deceased uncle or someone who will no longer be using it. Typically, each walker leg comes with a large rubber crutch tip and you want to remove them and replace with four vinyl tips. For some reason, vinyl glides across the ice much much better than rubber, and the Heath Hardware in Center Harbor sells a four-pak of 1 1/8" white or black vinyl tips for about 2.59 so it is not too expensive.

Once you have your walker adapted for ice and adjusted to your height then just get out on the ice and practice, practice, practice, & practice; forward, backward, right, left, stops & starts......and pretty quickly....you will see your ice skating agility get better, faster, stronger, and more in control!

Probably, you want to wear a helmet while pushing your ice skating skills, and a bicycle helmet works good.

Both the Waterville Valley rink and PSU rink in Plymouth will usually allow you to use a walker as an ice skating trainer tool.

[AC2717]

?????????????????

[ishoot308]

I think I would simply try another sport before doing that. Somehow skating with a walker in public doesn't seem very appealing to me. Takes the "cool" factor right out of the equation....

Dan

[RailroadJoe]

I like that way of learning. A lot cooler than having a busted head or rear end. Now if only FLL has a good way of learning ski jumping.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by RailroadJoe

I like that way of learning. A lot cooler than having a busted head or rear end. Now if only FLL has a good way of learning ski jumping.

Just attach his walker to his skis and off he goes.

[fatlazyless]

Up at the WV rink, the rink has about eight steel trainer supports in both adult and child size that are somewhat similar to a walker with a couple exceptions. They have rubber tips which do not glide nearly as well as vinyl, and are all steel construction so it's much heavier than an aluminum walker.

At the PSU rink in Plymouth, they use two plastic milk crates held together vertically with nylon wire ties which are ok for children but not as stable as an aluminum walker.

If you compare the aluminum walker vs the milk crates or larger steel supports, it's pretty obvious that a walker makes for a real good ice skate trainer support.

As far as not looking too cool out on the ice what with skating with a walker and a helmet......while that is true.....here's something to consider..... two people can use one walker at the same time.....either side by side....or three people.....side by side by side.....or two people....one going backwards and one going frontwards....so the walker can add a social human dancer style element to learning how to skate better.....and that makes it more fun to do......plus the backwards skater gets to show off just a wee bit.....and two more proficient skaters can do two-dimensional cart wheels by continually circling the ice while using a walker for support and stability as they get more practice time on the ice.

On a scale from one to ten, I consider myself to be about a seven, or a "C" on ice skates, and I have had people including ice rink employees who drive the Zamboni come up to me and ask: "So why do you use a walker when you are already a good skater?" and I usually say that's because I'm trying to become a better skater...

Maybe the walker could be thought to be somewhat like bicycle training wheels except adapted for an ice skater who's training to be a better skater plus it should easily cost less than ten dollars when purchased at a yard sale for like five bucks or so plus the 2.59 four-pak of vinyl tips.

[dpg]

FLL - but the looks of this post I've got to assume your still out of work.....And bored stiff.....

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Up at the WV rink, the rink has about eight steel trainer supports in both adult and child size that are somewhat similar to a walker with a couple exceptions. They have rubber tips which do not glide nearly as well as vinyl, and are all steel construction so it's much heavier than an aluminum walker.

At the PSU rink in Plymouth, they use two plastic milk crates held together vertically with nylon wire ties which are ok for children but not as stable as an aluminum walker.

If you compare the aluminum walker vs the milk crates or larger steel supports, it's pretty obvious that a walker makes for a real good ice skate trainer support.

As far as not looking too cool out on the ice what with skating with a walker and a helmet......while that is true.....here's something to consider..... two people can use one walker at the same time.....either side by side....or three people.....side by side by side.....or two people....one going backwards and one going frontwards....so the walker can add a social human dancer style element to learning how to skate better.....and that makes it more fun to do......plus the backwards skater gets to show off just a wee bit.....and two more proficient skaters can do two-dimensional cart wheels by continually circling the ice while using a walker for support and stability as they get more practice time on the ice.

On a scale from one to ten, I consider myself to be about a seven, or a "C" on ice skates, and I have had people including ice rink employees who drive the Zamboni come up to me and ask: "So why do you use a walker when you are already a good skater?" and I usually say that's because I'm trying to become a better skater...

Maybe the walker could be thought to be somewhat like bicycle training wheels except adapted for an ice skater who's training to be a better skater plus it should easily cost less than ten dollars when purchased at a yard sale for like five bucks or so plus the 2.59 four-pak of vinyl tips.

But what you are forgetting is that you will become a better skater by practicing, and without the walker. This is the only way your body and mind will adapt to the current conditions on what it has to do

[GTO]

Originally Posted by AC2717

But what you are forgetting is that you will become a better skater by practicing, and without the walker. This is the only way your body and mind will adapt to the current conditions on what it has to do

The walker or crates is great for a newbie but once you have the balance aspect down....get rid of them. Learning to stop, turn, crossover etc can then be learned by alot of practice and of course, a few falls.

[NoBozo]

I'm starting to like this walker idea. I'd be inclined to go just one step further....add a Drink Holder to each side of the walker for yourself and the other skater across from you, ...for your favorite beverage. Better yet...maybe even a small built in beer cooler. It all makes perfect sense. NB

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

I'm starting to like this walker idea. I'd be inclined to go just one step further....add a Drink Holder to each side of the walker for yourself and the other skater across from you, ...for your favorite beverage. Better yet...maybe even a small built in beer cooler. It all makes perfect sense. NB

....now you're talk'n! ...... and then take it up a notch .....for about five dollars.....pick up a 1980's small boom box at a thrift store for play'n cassettes....and duct tape the handle to the walker in a symmetrical spot.......... and skate out for the big smooth ice of Lake Waukewan.....and the....what the heck is it called....the Pond Hockey Ice Happening.....this Friday-Saturday-Sunday.......be there........ cha-cha-cha!!! ....Lake Waukewan, Meredith, NH ......just google that! .......what? ......me bored out of my mind ....... no-way! .......not me! .....

[dpg]

Pretty mild winter for cabin fever to be setting in...

[CrownRay]

If I saw someone doing that on the rink I work at, I'd run them over with the Zamboni JK

Im teaching my GF to skate. I find that leaning on a hockey stick works best

[fatlazyless]

April 1, this Sunday, is the closing day at the Waterville Valley Ice Arena, www.watervillevalley.org until july when the www.saintjohnseadogs.com and other Canadian teams come for summer practice.

St John, New Brunswick is the home town headquarters for Irving Oil, and Irving is supposedly a big, big supporter of the Sea Dogs and Canadian local minor league hockey play.......so's next time u want to get the puck out of here.....maybe u want to fill it up at your local Irving.