Fake Ice Skating: A Learnign Experience

[ailbhe]

Last year and the year before we brought Linnea ice-skating on the temporary rink at the Oracle shopping centre. This year Emer was big enough too, so we all headed off today.

Different company; no ice. Fake ice, also known colloquially as I Can't Believe It's Not Lino, is pretty much impossible to skate on, though one can slide about a bit. Emer had a good time, never having been on ice before, and Linnea had a reasonably good time, but Rob and I were very glad we got a special offer price and hadn't paid full whack. We have decided to seek out a real ice-rink for Emer soon when Rob is next off work, because that was ridiculous.

If we'd gone last week the fake ice would have been covered in real ice and we'd have been fine!

Still, it's nice to have a plan. Hope I don't break anything this time. I have several times visited ice rinks and not broken anything, after all...

Comments

[helenprev.livejournal.com]

We went fake ice skating too recently (also on special offer) and had a good time though I agree it is impossible to actually skate on! I'm hoping to take them to a proper ice rink at some point too, though it's a bit of a trek from here to the nearest one.

[ailbhe]

I think we need to allow an hour each way travel for a two-hour session, which is pretty much ok as a rare and unusual treat.

[ai731.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall there being a permanent indoor ice rink in Oxford, somewhere off to the right of the train station.

[ailbhe]

That looks a lot better than Bracknell! Thanks!

[rpdom.livejournal.com]

I've skated on fake ice once. I agree with you that it is very difficult to skate on, and nowhere near as much fun as real ice. The technique required is quite different to ice. I found I couldn't dig in on corners and if I stopped pushing at all I quickly came to a halt.

We are very lucky here, having a ice rink in the town centre. It's about 35 minutes walk, 25 mins by bus or 7 mins by car. I really must drag Gemma down there once the school holidays are over.

I agree with ai731 about there being a proper ice rink in Oxford. I've passed it a couple of times, but never had the opportunity to go in an try it.

[thealmondtree.livejournal.com]

If you can't find details try asking mrsredboots as I'm sure she's talked about skating in Oxford.

[moustachios.livejournal.com]

I... didn't even know fake ice rinks existed. My mind is awash with shock and amazement.

(But then, I'm also still flabbergasted at the thought of field hockey as a real sport, and not something you do to pass the time for two months while you wait for real hockey to start up again...)

[mrs-redboots.livejournal.com]

Fake ice is fine if your blades are sharp, which hired skates never are!

Your nearest permanent ice rinks are Bracknell (http://www.bracknellskislope.co.uk/times_and_prices) and Oxford (http://www.oxford.gov.uk/leisure/oxford-ice-rink.cfm) - lovely people at both places. Bracknell has the merit of being very warm; Oxford, though much easier public transport (and walking-distance from the Park'n'ride, too) is very, very, very cold and doesn't have a café you can warm up in.