Ice Skating At Christmas Time

Ice Skating At Christmas Time  

 

Christmas is a season filled with traditions. We give gifts to others, decorate trees, write letters to Santa, and enjoy ice skating at Christmas time. Each of these things are traditions that help make the holiday season special.

Ice skating is something that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Whether you visit a seasonal ice-skating rink, one that is open year-round, or you skate on a frozen pond – ice skating is a thrilling experience.

Here are some tips that will help make your ice skating more fun and safe!

Tips for Fun

Be prepared for fun – be ready to laugh at yourself and at others. Expect to fall down a time or two – it’s all part of the process! With that in mind, you might want to make sure you have someone nearby – it may be a good idea to hold hands. Having someone with you can provide emotional support.

Tips for Success

It can take a little time to get used to ice skates. If this is all new to you the first thing you need to do is to stand on the skates. That’s right – just stand there for a bit – don’t try to skate, in fact, don’t try to move for a moment or two.

To get started for your first time ice skating you might want to ask a friend for help – someone that has experience ice skating. Just bend your knees slightly and let that person pull you around – but tell them to take it slow.

Don’t expect to look like a professional – just enjoy the experience. You will get the hang of ice skating and soon you will be helping someone else ‘get the hang of it’.

Tips for Safety

The first thing we need to mention is that skating on frozen ponds can be very dangerous. Even if the pond appears to be completely frozen there may be areas or patches of ice that are thin or weakened. Always use caution in choosing the place you skate – opt for safety first!

The blades on ice skates are dangerous – do not touch them! Parents should help children with their skates. Also important is that the skates fit properly. Wearing skates that are too big or too small can cause more falls and even lead to serious accidents or injuries.

It makes sense that you need to dress warm, but do dress in layers. Because you will be moving around you may get warmer than you expected. If you are dressed in layers you can adjust your clothing to suit your needs.

Helmets can offer protection. Although this is optional, it may be a very wise choice for young children.

Watch for the other guy! Just any public place, an ice skating rink can get crowded at times. This makes it easy to bump into other people and for other skaters to bump into you. The main danger is the risk of getting hurt by skates. It is wise to visit the rinks when they are less crowded – especially if you are new to ice skating or if young children will be with you.