Update: Rinks are opening!

I'll wait to write my usual beginning of the month post for next month, until I'll skate once or twice next week. Yes! you heard right... the rinks (some rinks) are opening. I live in the city and my rink is not gonna open until July 6. I've occasionally skated in some north suburbs were my coach was teaching when ice wasn't available at the city rink, and those rinks are probably gonna open mid June. But some south suburbs rinks announced at the beginning of this week that they'll open June 1st, and these last days I've seen some further north rinks opening too.

I'm set for next week to skate Monday, Wednesday, Friday far south. It was the first rink I heard will open and I jumped and reserved the ice as they announced it. It is a rink were a good friend works occasionally, so I had early information. It's gonna be a long long drive, but I think I'll get to see my friend one of those days, so that's a bonus. It's also expensive, as only 10 people are allowed on ice, including coaches... 3 sessions cost as much as I was spending before for 4-5 session plus one private lesson. The day after I signed up for this expensive ice, I saw another south rink offering ice a little cheaper, and it would have been a little closer to me also. But there are no refunds so what's done is done.

A rink I've skated before and where my coach gives lessons, still not close to where I live, but closer, announced reasonably priced ice (half price of the expensive rink) from the second week of June. They allow 10 skaters on ice and coaches off ice. Now, I couldn't decide how further along should I pay for. Their schedule is not fitting mine too well. This is combined with the decision if/when I'll start my private lessons. I kind of feel I want to skate a little on my own, but if I would want lesson I should better say asap, so I can get the time slot that I want. Then, there is another rink opening probably mid June, that would be more convenient to me location wise, so I would kind of want to wait and see that rink schedule and price. So ideally, I should have bought ice only for the second week of June, but as the registration started and I saw sessions getting full all the way until end of August, I've panic and bought 3 weeks.

So I'm excited that I have secured ice for the first four weeks of June, 3 days a week. What I'm not excited about is that my schedule is gonna be very tough, the days super full, and I bet I'll be physically very very tired... I was saying in my previous post, 2 weeks ago that I would want a more balanced life, and here it goes again, skating is taking over.

I'm also unexcited about numerous reports from adults that started skating already in another states. They all say that they feel shaky and slow and lost lots of their moves. But, I was kind of making my mind during this break to maybe switch my focus from skating for progress to skating for enjoyment... So, I'll start with that in mind and see where it's gonna get me. I also don't want to push my muscles, and my stubborn hip that keeps tensing up, so, the plan is to start slow. Theoretically I shouldn't get frustrated about the lost skills. As I was saying at the beginning of this post, I'll skate few times just to see how I feel, without putting any pressure, any judgment, or try to make plans.

Part of skating for enjoyment and not training for progress is meeting the skating friends. One group of skating friends, took upon themselves to rent ice per hour and split the cost. Actually they've got a deal for 5 sessions, each sessions allowing 11 people on ice. I signed up for one of the session for Monday, June 8th. It is a long drive north and at 8 pm and the most expensive per hour compared with the other options... Oh well, I'll see my friends, and if it's true that we are all gonna feel wobbly, we'll comfort and encourage each other...

The only other update I have at this point is that I've tried on my skates and they fit like a glove!