Whenever your life is in need of something interesting, consider eliminating traction and friction from the equation. You’re bound to find things a bit more engaging then.
Last week, we set out for this exact type of experience, and since it was about 60 degrees all week, there was only one place we could go: Everett Arena.
The ice rink is open for public skating Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Sundays, with $5 admission. We figured that since neither of us had been on ice skates in years, we should give it a shot. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?
Since I tried roller skating at the arena earlier in the year – my first time ever on roller skates, and a heck of a debut if I do say so myself – it was determined that I was the skating beat guy, so this one was all mine to try.
I honestly couldn’t recall the last time I had put on a pair of ice skates, but it was at least two cars ago for sure. And whenever that last time was, they were rentals – I owned a pair once when I was a kid, but that’s it.
It would be the same story this time around, and the TSR-operated pro shop has hockey and figure skates to rent at $5 a pair. The sizes tend to run a bit small, or big – whichever one means your skate size is about one smaller than your shoe size.
The pair I got weren’t the most comfortable things in the world, but who was I to scrutinize a product I knew virtually nothing about.
My first step onto the ice was a tenuous one: it was a lot more slippery than I remembered. After a few nervous pushes close to the wall, I picked up my stride a little bit and drifted away from the boards.
Fortunately, since it was only about 11:40, I was one of only three people on the ice, meaning the chance of me stumbling into somebody was considerably lower than expected. It gave me plenty of space to get my bearings.
After about two slow laps, I picked up the speed and started cruising around like Bobby Orr. I even managed a few spins – and no falls.
If I can do it, so can you.
