Skating is not ‘just like riding a bike’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/02/2021 (849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At this time of year I’m usually hibernating with a good book and a French vanilla latte. But one of my goals is to be more active and so my daughter and I have found ourselves going for frequent walks around our neighbourhood.

It was on one of these walks that we made a wonderful discovery — a ‘new’ skating rink tucked in behind Winakwa Community Centre (980 Winakwa Rd.).

Hope was awestruck — she had never been skating before and was eager to try it out. I ordered us each a pair of skates and a few days later we all trekked over to the community centre for some outdoor fun and exercise.

Full disclosure: Although I was an avid skater when I was young, I have only been on skates once or twice as an adult and it didn’t go well.

Despite this, I convinced myself that skating was like riding a bike and the only reasons I had struggled previously were that my skates must have been the wrong size or not tied up properly, or maybe I just wasn’t feeling well that day.

On the short walk over the community centre I envisioned skating along the ice trail with my husband, our daughter holding hands between us as we helped her maintain her balance and develop her own ‘skating legs’.

Thankfully, Hope loved her first time skating. Sure, she wiggled and wobbled but she managed to stay upright the entire time while holding her dad’s hand as he pulled her across the ice. The smile on her face was radiant.

I, however, learned that skating is not like riding a bike. Or maybe I’m still not wearing the right-size skates or fastening them up properly. After only going about a dozen feet — which took five minutes — my feet slipped out from under me and I was thrown flat on my back. Ten minutes later we were back home Googling concussion symptoms.

So, while I absolutely encourage everyone to get outside for fresh air and exercise as much as possible, I do caution you to also know your limits.

While I will happily take Hope skating again — with me wearing boots, of course — I think I will stick to taking walks for now and maybe try the skating thing again next year.

And I’ll be sure to wear a helmet next time.

Heather Innis is a community correspondent for Windsor Park. You can contact her at htiede@gmail.com