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My mission to learn to play hockey from scratch at the ripe old age of 34, fully documented in my blog.
If you're interested feel free to follow along. If you have any suggestions feel free to throw them my way, I'll need all the help I can get.
Thanks
Seabass45
My Only Goal
Noble ambition, keep it up. I learned at 28 and hadn't ice skated more than 10 times in my life before that. Wear your pads and you'll be less afraid to fall down, which will help you learn.
Bring yo mad skillz to an LGK pickup game
Good read.
This really makes me want to play again, I haven't skated in over a year.
I have to go to a wedding on the 7th, but I'll watch this forum for the next one. Sounds like fun.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lappy!
Best of luck Seabass! I didn't start until 35 myself and I'm still playing 11 years later. Skate as much as you can. That's my only advise. Skate EVERY chance you get.Quote:
Originally Posted by seabass45
My Only Goal
Added a depressing playlist.
Good read. Keep it up!
A couple of suggestions:
- Keep your knees bent, your muscles loose, and your center of gravity a bit lower. Try to relax a bit and have a "bounce" to your balance. If you keep your legs and back stiff it will be much harder for you to find a rhythm/balance. It's not an easy thing to do but with time and practice you'll get better.
- Skate with your stick in your hand. For whatever reason, the body has an easier time when you take your focus away from trying to get your balance to focusing ahead of you. When I was just starting to learn to skate a figure skater came up to me and told me hold a hockey stick out in front of me (as if I was gonna cross check someone) and skate forwards, not looking down. Made a big difference. Even now when I skate I usually have my goal stick out in front of me sliding on the ice.
- If you're skating, you're using muscles you probably haven't used much, ever. When I was rehabbing a broken ankle recently, my PT told me to stand with one foot on a thick pillow, close my eyes, and lift your other leg and balance yourself for 30 seconds (set of 3). If you open your eyes, the clock stops. This will help build the muscles around your ankles that will help with balance.
- Finally, get to the recommend-a-beer-thread in the food forum.
Pretend you're going to sit on the pot and balance, works real well too.Quote:
Originally Posted by UnholyGoalie
If you skate at Ice Station, I can help!
Good luck!
Also, always be sure to stretch well, particularly your legs, groin and lower back. Touching your toes helps stretch out the back of your legs and lower back a bit. The sitting triangle or whatever it's called for groin stretching will help stretch your lower back as well.
