What's the first (or most recent) skating lesson you learned the hard way?

[Neverdull44]

First:   Skate guards and ice surface are not meant to go together.

Recent: Brackets can go real wrong in a hurry.

Mod Note: Topic moved.

[PhysicsOnIce]

Most Meaningful: Leave the problems of the outside world, outside! The rink is your haven. The moment your blades touch the ice, you need to become one with the ice and the music. Let the ice speak to you and let it guide you.

Okay that's a bit more of a mentality, but I really do think it is a lesson which I just learned recently that has changed the way I feel and interact on the ice.

[ChristyRN]

Most recent: you should always get your feet measured so you are wearing the correct size skates. . .

[TropicalSk8ter]

Most recent: you should always get your feet measured so you are wearing the correct size skates. . .

That's the same similar lesson I learned (the hard way). Never order low cut boots if your a big guy. LOL..

I love the rink as a haven to relax and clear you mind and connect with frozen water.





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[slcbelle]

Ongoing:   Having boots that truly work for you can be a long, painful, and costly experience.

Recent:  The minute you take off your kneepads (I was practicing a knee slide for a program), you'll fall HARD on both knees doing a single Salchow and be black and blue for a week.

[irenar5]

Do not ignore the pain- it will take a lot longer to return to the ice, once you are forced to deal with it.

Stay away from the toe when doing brackets! That one was a hard lesson for the back of my head.

[PhysicsOnIce]

Do not ignore the pain- it will take a lot longer to return to the ice, once you are forced to deal with it.

Ditto on this one!

And when your coach tells you to get off the ice, know it is for your own good.

[taka]

First (as an adult) - Wear close fitting skating trousers! Slightly loose trouser leg material + toepick = broken wrist! That was my 1st fall after starting to skate again!

Most expensive - I also agree with ChristyRN and TropicalSk8ter: get properly measured for boots (particularly if you loose / gain quite a lot of weight).

[EveningSky]

(Beginner adult here)

First: I can get injured pretty bad (got a sprain on my right thumb during my second lesson).

Most recent: Skating to music (not silence) calms my nerves and an empty rink isn't necessarily less scary.

[Meli]

First:  There's a limit to how many layers you really need.  (Practically overheated on the first lesson.)

Recent:  Having to unlearn something is so much harder than learning it correctly from the get go.

[ls99]

First skating lesson: It is really good to know how to fall

Most recent, remember the first lesson.

[sarahspins]

Blades are sharp!

I keep forgetting this, somehow, and invariably cut myself helping some kid get their guards on or off.

[Kitten23]

Sport bras are your best friends. 

[ChristyRN]

Sport bras are your best friends. 

Ugh! I used to have to wear two and still hurt. God bless Dr. C. and his plastic surgeon self. Best $25 I  ever spent.

[Kitten23]

Ugh! I used to have to wear two and still hurt. God bless Dr. C. and his plastic surgeon self. Best $25 I  ever spent.

Do tell more about this Dr. C and the $25....

[AgnesNitt]

Good posture!

without good posture learning all other skills are much, much harder!

Shameless blogrolling

http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/06/vivid-language.html

[ChristyRN]

Do tell more about this Dr. C and the $25....

Plastic surgeon. Consult copay was $25. He took what insurance paid, wrote off the rest as "professional courtesy". Had the reduction at the hospital I worked at (in one of the ORs I spent a LOT of time in) and they waived the copay as employee benefit. Anesthesia group said I'd never see a bill, and I didn't. Awesome work, easy recovery. And new wardrobe. My first purchases were a lace bra and a white button-down blouse.