A New Rink!

Well, not literally, but today I got to skate at Lee Valley Ice Centre for the first time. Stacey rides at the Riding Centre next door, and it happens to cooincide with the afternoon public session.

It was incredibly busy - I don't expect anything else at the moment, what with Dancing On Ice, but for the first 15 minutes (whilst everyone else was still putting on their skates), I did manage to do some of the "big" stuff - FXO's, fast forward stroking, Russian Stroking, forward edges etc. Once it got busier, I did the "small" stuff in a quiet(ish) corner- mostly focussing on Barrel Rolls and open mohawks.

It is more expensive, but so much more preferable to the Littlest Rink - nice flat, well maintained ice. And one thing that was a real bonus - Plexiglass!!!! For once, I was able to see my reflection (slightly disconserting to start with!), and I could see on the Barrel Rolls where my weight was being thrown off slightly. And it helped! I am doing them nice and slowly at the moment, making sure each stage is well defined and with me pointing in the right direction, and they feel a lot smoother. I shall attack them again at patch on Tuesday.

I also spent a little time doing a few BXO's with my head looking where I am going, as D made me start to do in my lesson. I really paid attention to where my weight is, keeping on my back foot while crossing over, and then transferring the weight really smoothly to the front foot. Progress, I think.

So a busy session, but a good one. And I got to stroke a few horsies before walking over to the Ice Centre as well!! I hope I don't have an overwhelming compulsion to return to horse-riding as well - don't think my bank balance could stand it at the moment :)