Find anything in HB?Originally Posted by WingHater
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Find anything in HB?
My brother in law just moved to Minnesota and he wanted to start learning to skate. He bought a pair and was at a free-skate over the weekend. He called me up to ask if he was doing something wrong or had his laces too tight or something because his feet were cramping up and hurting, but I told him that sort of thing is pretty common with new skates and new skaters.
I encourage you all to get out there and try it. Go to free skates for a while. Work on staying on your feet, staying in balance. Work on starts and stops. Think of Olympic speed skaters and how they come out of the blocks with their skates in a V pattern. Push off at amost 90 degree angles and bend your knees. Try to turn and glide backwards before trying to skate backwards. Give yourself time to get the hang of it, then try to find some beginner stick time somewhere... Then look for a beginner league.
Pickwick Ice in Burbank is the closest to my work. The hours are pretty bad, but I can get in there for the last 45 minutes (4:45-5:30) of the day for 3 bucks, rentals are also 3 bucks.
I will try to go three times a week. I will keep y'all informed of how it goes.
I haven't been there in a while, but I think Skate Zone still exists at Edinger and Gothard. It's a small ice surface, but I played there for years. Actually, the Minnesota Wild practiced there before one of our games about 5 years ago. We were all stunned that they'd go to such a small, crappy rink! I think they were playing Anaheim the game after the All-Star or Olympic break or something...
Westminster is better ice and pretty close, too.
Yea, Westminster Ice is about 5 minutes from my house.
Playa, there is a hockey 101 class @ pickwick near you on Friday's and Monday's.Talk to coach Tian if you are interested in some private lessons. after the 101 class there is a on ice stick handling class then an off ice stick handling class. The classes are at 5 or 5:30
I guess anything I say would just be echoing, to a certain extent. I would emphasize, though, it's probably best not to start playing any real hockey (especially leagues) before learning to skate.
Those that played roller, but not ice, go to some of the stick and puck sessions - there's the time to get a feel for the difference, not just in skating, but in stickhandling as well. The transition is pretty quick, even learning to stop on ice (compared to roller) shoudn't take too long.
And yeah - your feet might hurt a little! I've been playing for almost 15 years, and my feet are like blocks of ice by the time I'm done. And I've got some good calluses going on my inside toes. Some people get them and it's no big deal.
Id go to public sessions ,5-10 times. Try to mimic what you see players doing in terms of leaning through turns with their inside foot leading, crossing over, etc.
do "snow plows" on your inside edges to get used to edge control. try to stay even and not favor one leg more than the other.
Then try to get out to a stick time. Feel solid and somewhat comfortable on your skates before you ever take a swing at a puck.
If any one is in the OC area and wants to hit up a good stick time and get some tips, let me know, I'd be more than willing to help LGKers.
Get a stick and a puck and practice stick handling and shooting on some smooth concrete. Handball/raquetball courts at schools and parks are good for this type of practice. Good luck!
It does but the ice is Terrible :(
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