I have roller skated, roller bladed and snow skied but never ice skated. I loved roller skating. That was one of my favorite things to do when I was a kid. I loved to go to the the roller rink and skate to the music. I started going to the skating rink when I was around 9 years old in the late 70's. Some of the music I skated to were songs like "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson, "Knock on Wood" by Amii Stewart, "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer, "Celebrate" by Kool & the Gang, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, "SuperFreak" by Rick James and "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen. The spinning lights, the disco ball, the colors everywhere. I felt pure joy and freedom going in circles around the rink and singing the words to these songs. And I always looked forward to the "Speed Skate" where they let you go as fast as you wanted to for one whole song.
As time went on I still enjoyed going to the skating rink but I had become more interested in boys, of course. So that meant fast skate was replaced by "couples skate" and I could slow down and hold hands with a cute boy that I would meet at the rink while they played "Open Arms" by Journey. Other songs that I skated to in the 80's where "Centerfold" J.Geils Band, "Jump" Van Halen, "Love Is A Battlefield" Pat Benatar, "Stroke" by Billy Squier, "Beat It" Michael Jackson, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" Def Leppard, "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" by Culture Club and "Holiday" by Madonna. Then came the 90's and everyone was rollerblading. It started as a way for hockey players to skate in the off-season, off the ice rink. I finally broke down and bought a pair of roller blades for "exercise". I thought it would be a breeze since I already knew how to roller-skate. So I laced up and took to the street in front of my house. And fell again and again. I kept the roller blades and would take them out every now and again. I got to where I wouldn't fall down but I never really had fun with them. No matter what I always felt a little wobbley. Eventually I think I sold them at a yard sale or maybe gave them away.
Even though I wasn't so great at roller blading I always wanted to try ice skating. I have always enjoyed watching ice skating during the Olympics. I had dreams that would cross between me roller skating and ice skating. So it was definitely on my list of new things to try this year. We have an indoor skating rink right by the kids school at Oak Park but I wanted to skate on an outdoor rink during the holidays. In the past there has been an outdoor rink downtown at Weber Point right on the Delta but for some reason they didn't do it this year. Luckily Del'Osso farms in Lathrop now has winter time activities including an outdoor skating rink. So we went on a short family day trip to the Del Osso Farms. When we arrived Leo announced that he wanted to intertube down the mountain of snow. When we inquired they said the earliest he could "hit the slope" was in 2 hours. They limit the amount of people at any given time. We decided that was too long. As a consolation, Leo did a "rope obstacle course" were he was up high off the ground doing what looked like Army training. He absolutely loved it! He is much braver than me. Then, we walked towards the rink and saw a small mound of snow that kids were playing on. Annie and Leo jumped right in throwing snow at each other. Once they were done we walked over to the ice rink. My biggest fear was that I would fall and break something! So, Joel escorted me around the ice on the first go. Then, I went on my own as Joel took Annie around. Her legs looked like spaghetti noodles slipping out from under her. I went around the rink on my own close to the rail as a guide. The third go, I didn't even use the rail. Every time I went further away from the rail and I didn't even fall down. The sun was shining and I felt free. For a moment I felt young again thinking of my roller rink memories.
As time went on I still enjoyed going to the skating rink but I had become more interested in boys, of course. So that meant fast skate was replaced by "couples skate" and I could slow down and hold hands with a cute boy that I would meet at the rink while they played "Open Arms" by Journey. Other songs that I skated to in the 80's where "Centerfold" J.Geils Band, "Jump" Van Halen, "Love Is A Battlefield" Pat Benatar, "Stroke" by Billy Squier, "Beat It" Michael Jackson, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" Def Leppard, "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" by Culture Club and "Holiday" by Madonna. Then came the 90's and everyone was rollerblading. It started as a way for hockey players to skate in the off-season, off the ice rink. I finally broke down and bought a pair of roller blades for "exercise". I thought it would be a breeze since I already knew how to roller-skate. So I laced up and took to the street in front of my house. And fell again and again. I kept the roller blades and would take them out every now and again. I got to where I wouldn't fall down but I never really had fun with them. No matter what I always felt a little wobbley. Eventually I think I sold them at a yard sale or maybe gave them away.
Even though I wasn't so great at roller blading I always wanted to try ice skating. I have always enjoyed watching ice skating during the Olympics. I had dreams that would cross between me roller skating and ice skating. So it was definitely on my list of new things to try this year. We have an indoor skating rink right by the kids school at Oak Park but I wanted to skate on an outdoor rink during the holidays. In the past there has been an outdoor rink downtown at Weber Point right on the Delta but for some reason they didn't do it this year. Luckily Del'Osso farms in Lathrop now has winter time activities including an outdoor skating rink. So we went on a short family day trip to the Del Osso Farms. When we arrived Leo announced that he wanted to intertube down the mountain of snow. When we inquired they said the earliest he could "hit the slope" was in 2 hours. They limit the amount of people at any given time. We decided that was too long. As a consolation, Leo did a "rope obstacle course" were he was up high off the ground doing what looked like Army training. He absolutely loved it! He is much braver than me. Then, we walked towards the rink and saw a small mound of snow that kids were playing on. Annie and Leo jumped right in throwing snow at each other. Once they were done we walked over to the ice rink. My biggest fear was that I would fall and break something! So, Joel escorted me around the ice on the first go. Then, I went on my own as Joel took Annie around. Her legs looked like spaghetti noodles slipping out from under her. I went around the rink on my own close to the rail as a guide. The third go, I didn't even use the rail. Every time I went further away from the rail and I didn't even fall down. The sun was shining and I felt free. For a moment I felt young again thinking of my roller rink memories.
Comments
I think rollerblading is easier than rollerskating, but I'm guessing it's because I first learned how to rollerblade before rollerskating.