About Ice Skating

Ice skating is one of those sports in which the human body is asked to do amazingly impossible things.. like jump into the air and do four spinning jumps before landing on one foot on a single steel blade .. right in the middle of racing around on a surface of ice at a speed of about a hundred miles per hour on those single steel blades.

Ice skating is asking the body to hoist a partner high up overhead and balance on the palms of two hands ... while zipping around that surface made of ice at a hundred miles per hour on those two single blade of steel... then having that partner do a flip and land going backwards .. while never missing a stride.

Ice skating is putting a body in front of a frozen disc of rubber that is moving through the air at speeds of about a hundred miles an hour ... and knocking that rubber puck down with a stick made of hardwood or fiberglass ... while the body is moving also at about a hundred miles an hour.

How can that not be fascinating to watch?

What can be more fascinating is to know how a body is set on that road to arrive at those ends.

Not every ice skater comes close to accomplishing the dazzling feats of the professional skater ... but every professional ice skater started at the same beginnings of every skater of every kind everywhere in the world ... by plunging their feet into those steel bladed boots and stepping onto the ice... ice skating.

Children learn easily. They have a short way to fall and their fears aren't developed to the degree of hindering them. If the desire is there ... off they go.

Adults of course find it much more intimidating to put those skates on for the very first time and attempt to make them glide .. but there too .... if the desire is there... off they go.

Pure dedication along with natural talent and a willingness to sacrifice a lifetime is what leads to development of a Kristi Yamaguchi or a Tara Lipinsky or a Steve Yzerman. Life is put on hold. The rewards are great... but so is the price paid. For those professional skaters ... it is a lifetime of committment to something they love more than most people ever love doing something. Thus.. the success.

Ice skating beginnings more often lead to a facet of life that brings enjoyment just for the fun of doing it.

A child's parents lace up skates on the youngster and the beginning of a lifetime love takes hold.

From that day on whenever and whereever a frozen pond or lake or outdoor rink calls .. the skates will come out.

Only time will tell if the road will lead to a profesional career or a part time recreational interest.

Recreational ice skating is as healthy an activity you will find .. an all around fitness routine for the body.

The physical plusses are a given. The mental and emotional benefits are more subtle but just as strong.

Ice skating removes all cares and thoughts and fears for a small moment in time .. rejuvenating the body, mind and soul like a natural "cleanser".

Watching an ice skating event can bring about similar effects.

There is something magical about ice skating and you don't have to be an ice skater to benefit.

The boots of your ice skates are fine leather ... the blades are hard steel.

Keep these two facts in mind as you care for your ice skates.

To glide easily across the ice... you need sharp blades. Therefore, the first thing you must do is make sure the blades of your skates are sharp. If you aren't sure of how they should feel ... take them to a professional skate sharpener to check them for you. He will tell you how to know when they need to be resharpened.

A professiional skate sharperner is the only one who should ever sharpen your skates. The blades have a "groove" in them and require an approriate machine to sharpen them.

Most local ice rinks have professional sharpeners on their premises.

Never walk on your skates without blade guards on ..on anything other than ice or the type of rubber matting immediately surrounding an indoor ice arena.

After an ice skating session ... dry your blades with a soft absorbent cloth you keep with your skating gear. You do not want to risk any rusting on those steel blades.

If the insides of your skate boot is wet .. hang them upside down to dry them ... or use a boot dryer to dry them if you need to use them again before they have a chance to dry. (They may get damp from your feet sweating).

If a skatelace breaks... get new laces. Do not tie the lace and use it that way. The danger of them breaking again is not one you want to take .. and you cannot properly tighten your skate with a knot in the lace.

Use a good leather product to rub your ice skates with.. caring for them as any good leather shoe or boot should be cared for.

When storing your ice skates, make sure they are in a cool dry spot where humidity and heat will not affect the blades and there will be no chance of getting "dry rot" cracks in the leather boots.

Remember ... the boots are a fine leather ... the blades a hard steel.

Keep these facts in mind while caring for your ice skates.

The most important thing to consider when buying ice skates is that you get a pair that is well made.

Vinyl boots will cause your feet to sweat and become very uncomfortable. Vinyl does not breathe... not does it adjust to your foot.

Leather will breathe and flow with your foot.

A hard steel blade is a necessity. Your weight will be giving these skates a tough workout. You need hard steel to carry that weight.

Next .. make sure your skate fits correctly. When you try a skate on, kick your heel to the back of the boot then make sure there is plenty of room in the toe to wiggle your feet