Current mood:

excited

A new rink, a new experinece?
Saturday I went to a different rink to look for a skating dress for my older daughter. The rink we skate is huge. Actually it's 2 rinks, both set up for real hockey games (ie bullet proof glass all the way around), bleachers, scoring booth, etc. I would say they probably have over 200 kids in the LTS program just on Saturdays. The pro shop is bigger than most stores at the mall. Workout room, locker rooms, the works. I don't know what the qualification for teaching skating is, but to be a measly little helper person you have to be at least FS4. I would say there are at least 3 or 4 people who have a shot at national level competition. If you want to be good, this obviously is the place to do it.

The rink we went to looking for a dress was more a neighborhood rink. I didn't even know it existed. It's probably 20 minutes away from my normal rink, that's 20 minutes further after already driving an hour and 15 minutes to get to the first rink. I couldn't believe what I saw there. It was maybe 10 adult women doing a dance class. They got to use the whole rink. Just 10 people! The rink I skate out could never stay in business with just 10 people on the ice. And they were really good. I couldn't take my eyes off them.

I intend to sign up for their dance class. It's really what I need. I want to be able to flow like they were doing. And learn how to use all the ice. It's only $65 for 8 weeks. What a bargain. I am going to feel like such a dunce getting started, but it will really push me.

We'll still get up at 6am to leave the house by 6:30 to get to the first rink a little before 8 where my 2 daughters will take their private lessons and freestyle classes, and I can practice, then we'll pack it up, drive 20 minutes and skate at the new rink. Then it will be nearly 2 hours home. But it is next door to a Krispy Kreme, so that makes it worth it! Okay, I won't stop every week, but we stopped Saturday and those hot donuts are heaven.

I think the dance rink's current session runs through March, so it will be a bit before I get to start... but then I think why not start in the middle? I have some conferences and big events coming up, so the end of March will be here before I know it. I can't wait.

Actual skating on Saturday, practice the PB 3 turn pattern. I am probably doing it way too fast, but I get so much power on the BXO that I'm really moving when I do the FI3. I can't decide if I need to slow it down, or the whole flow thing makes it better.

Can't wait, can't wait.