Hi Everyone I've just joined the forum and this is my first post
I discovered ice skating late in life and only six months ago and already I'm completley addicted to it!
I'm in Melbourne and there aren't many people my age and gender who skate so I don't really have anyone I can talk to about it and get advice off, I think my friends have started to zone out when I tell them how much I love it and talk about my progress because they have no idea what I'm talking about, unfortunatley I think ice skating is largley under rated in Australia.
So I've currently been skating for only six months, I started in July with a 10 week group lesson course (Adult 1). Then I signed up to Adult 2 and also a supplementary stroking class and a half hour private coaching session. So thats three half hour sessions a week over Saturday and Sunday plus a half hour practise session. This Sunday will be the end of Term and then next term I plan to do Adult 3 but that doesn't start until the end of February, in the meantime I will do a least a half hour per week with a coach and try to make it at least one or twice a week for additonal practise. Next term along with the core Adult 3 lesson I pland to do two half hour supplementery lesson which are stroking and then edges and also a half hour with a coach, and half hour of practise. I know everyone is different but how quickly can I expect to progess and what else should I be doing apart from general fitness to get to a reasonable level of proficiency, I still feel unsteady sometimes and get the wobbles and general fall over at least once everytime I skate at this stage.
I also bought a pair of Jackson Freestyle skates, which had to be ordered from the US and shipped over it took about 3 weeks before I could get them. I didn't get the chance to try on any skates before they arrived because shops here don't stock mens figures skates and had only worn rental boots. Although I was measured by a guy who is a professional - I think - ice dancer, I'm not sure they are the right ones for me, how do I know? The last couple of times I have skated I've found the outer sole of my feet really hurt during and after skating, is this normal? Do I just put up with it or is there something I can do?
Any and all advice would be very welcome, and thank you in advance for any contributions!!!
Hawke