Month one - Taking my first steps

I stepped on the ice for the first time in years, bought my first pair of figure skates, and signed up for adult ice skating lessons with my best friend after an amazing taster session.

Since writing my post on picking up a new hobby as an adult I decided it would be productive to start keeping a little diary of my abilities and my feelings as I learn and progress in the sport of figure skating. I'm really excited to be able to look back on these diaries in a few months time and see how far I've come.

These entries probably won't be very coherent as they are copied exactly out of my handwritten notebook, but they are raw and real, capturing my thoughts at that moment.

Monday 11^th Feb

Before Lesson

I am very nervous for tonight. I enjoyed my taster lesson last week, but this time Em isn’t coming. I have so many questions that I need answering. I don’t even know where to get my skates sharpened.

After Lesson

I feel like everything went wrong in my lesson – my technique is all wrong, I didn’t wear the right clothes, my skates are wrong. I have enquired about one-to-one lessons, and I will give it 6 weeks before buying some high quality skates. I am determined. I will do this. I won’t let today be a setback. Small win – I got my skates sharpened and the guy in the shop was absolutely lovely.

Tuesday 12^th Feb

My sister came with me tonight as I went to practice. She hasn’t skated in years, but was just so confident, skating around as I just stood there and watched people. I felt like a fraud. My new skates also hurt my feet quite a bit. I didn’t notice it whilst skating, but once I took them off the sole and big toe of my right foot was so sore. I wish I hadn’t spent £50 on them, I’m such an idiot. On a positive note, I went very fast and didn’t fall!

Monday 18^th Feb

Before Lesson

I am really looking forward to the lesson tonight! Em managed to sign up last week so she will be there too. I didn’t go to practice this weekend as I don’t want to develop any more bad habits. I’m a little bit nervous as I have to drive myself, but I’m mainly looking forward to it.

After Lesson

I really, really enjoyed myself! I seem to be progressing really fast too. I am going to be assessed next week to see if I am ready for level 2. Em is still very nervous and my old skates were too big for her, but we are both learning and having lots of fun.

Saturday 23^rd Feb

We both went to practice at Em’s closest ice rink today 0- I felt like I progressed a LOT. I’m becoming really confident with trying new things, and even attempted going backwards. I did fall when attempting to show off, but it felt good to push myself. I’m definitely ready for the assessment on Monday now! I’m very much thinking about private lessons too as this is something I’m starting to feel really dedicated to. When I’m on the ice I feel free and confident and beautiful. I love it.

Monday 25^th Feb

Before Lesson

I am so looking forward to going tonight! Each week the nervousness disappears more, and I’m becoming more confident. I must remember to remind her about the assessment. Unfortunately, Em thinks she will not be ready for it. She said she doesn’t want to hold me back. I love her very much.

After Lesson

I feel frustrated, I can (literally) skate circles around everyone else in my group on, and most likely those in level 2 as well, yet I still haven’t been moved up. I’m paying to be in lessons with people who are learning to go forwards, while I’m trying skating backwards. No disrespect to them, but I feel like I'm being kept back for no reason. We had our assessment, but weren’t actually given the results!

Wednesday 27^th Feb

I went to practice at the Dome. I don’t feel like I made any progress at all – the Dome is just too busy and full of chavs racing around. I may have to move my practice sessions to the Lammas rink near Em as it was much nicer, or keep driving to Sheffield. I did make a little headway with attempting backwards skating and reverse lemons, however I still cannot stop!

Thursday 28^th Feb

No skating today, but I did purchase my first pair of ‘proper’ Graf 500 skates from the Ice Locker store inside of the Ice Sheffield rink today. I was very naughty, and decided to skip waiting another few weeks and just buy them now. They fit beautifully, and I am very excited to begin using them. Hopefully I will be able to fit in a practice session before my lesson on Monday as I’m a little nervous that they will be too stiff for me at first and I’ll fall. Em has decided that she won’t be taking lessons any longer, which is a huge shame as I enjoyed learning with her, but she is still coming each week to support me. She's my Skate Mom now.