View Full Version : Ice Skating for fitness?
I have lived in many areas of the country, but for the last 25 years I have lived here in Upstate SC. I used to ice skate quite a bit as a kid. There is a rink (believe it or not) just a few miles down the road from me that offers open skating a couple nights a week. Does anyone skate in place of walking for exersise from time to time? Any tips or suggestions?
I used to skate a lot. It won't really condition your feet. Your quads and ankles on the other hand get an awesome workout.
Skate fast and you'll get a great lung workout too for those big climbs.
I have lived in many areas of the country, but for the last 25 years I have lived here in Upstate SC. I used to ice skate quite a bit as a kid. There is a rink (believe it or not) just a few miles down the road from me that offers open skating a couple nights a week. Does anyone skate in place of walking for exersise from time to time? Any tips or suggestions?
These last couple of weeks a few of us have been skating at lunchtime at this drainage pond by the building where we work. It's definitely good for the ankles, and can be aerobic (or not) depending on how hard you push. But you know, when you fall, ice is hard.
All of my rink experiences have been: open skate= counter-clockwise. I skated a drainage basin in Canton, Ohio when I lived there in 1979-80. I loved the fact that you could skate wherever and however you wanted to. Public rinks are a rather monotonous. I would think the constant counter-clockwise needs to be changed up from time to time to even out the workout. Skating backwards?:-?:eek:
I have lived in many areas of the country, but for the last 25 years I have lived here in Upstate SC. I used to ice skate quite a bit as a kid. There is a rink (believe it or not) just a few miles down the road from me that offers open skating a couple nights a week. Does anyone skate in place of walking for exersise from time to time? Any tips or suggestions?
All of my rink experiences have been: open skate= counter-clockwise. I skated a drainage basin in Canton, Ohio when I lived there in 1979-80. I loved the fact that you could skate wherever and however you wanted to. Public rinks are a rather monotonous. I would think the constant counter-clockwise needs to be changed up from time to time to even out the workout. Skating backwards?:-?:eek:
Sign up for an adult hockey league at your rink.:-?
Toolshed
02-07-2007, 09:32
Roller skated for years, Never cared for ice skating but it seems the mechanics are the same. I agree it is a great lung workout as well as quads, calves and buttocks. But only if you are working at it and not just gliding around easily. :)
I miss skating on my favorite lakes & ponds in NY/NJ. A couple of times while working the 4 PM - Midnight shift in the winter, I stopped at Greenwood Lake on my way home to Warwick and skated in the moonlight for an hour or so. Its a great workout! Terrace Pond in NJ near Wawayanda SP is my favorite skating pond.
Sign up for an adult hockey league at your rink.:-?I've got all my teeth.:D Maybe after I get the hang of it again I'd look into that, but considering the fact that I've never played I'd be very likely to get my butt kicked. I doubt many people take up hockey at 40 years old.
Alligator
02-07-2007, 12:01
I've got all my teeth.:D Maybe after I get the hang of it again I'd look into that, but considering the fact that I've never played I'd be very likely to get my butt kicked. I doubt many people take up hockey at 40 years old.You're not forty yet!
My gym switches track direction every other day. Maybe the rink could consider it if they don't?
Old Grouse
02-07-2007, 12:22
If your ankles are getting a workout, it's a good bet your skates don't fit you right. The pros wear skates that don't really allow your ankles to flex. No sadder sight than someone, usually a child, with hand-me-down skates so large their feet are flopping over. They get the wrong impression and blame themselves, thinking their ankles are too weak to skate.
You're not forty yet!
My gym switches track direction every other day. Maybe the rink could consider it if they don't?That's correct. Just seemed like a good idea to round up when considering a contact sport. I had visions of the last time I played tackle football as an adult. We had around 15-20 people play and when we stopped the injury list included a concussion, an acl knee injury, a broken wrist and countless pulled muscles. A brutal day that concluded with almost all vowing "never again".:D I'll check on the switch, though. Sounds reasonable to me.
Trillium
02-10-2007, 21:21
growing up, I was a speedskater, and it's a tremendous workout! :banana