Whenever my friends suggest things like ice skating, I always think how lovely it sounds. But, as the event draws closer, I start to dread it.
I’d never been ice skating before and my official reasons for not doing so were:
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I don’t like the cold
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My feet are abnormally small for my height so I fall over a lot even when I’m NOT on ice
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I don’t want to slice my fingers off on someone’s blade when I fall over
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I have no balance and I broke my arm rollerskating once.
The unofficial reason was that I was scared. I once went along to an ice rink with friends in London. I got as far as hiring boots and then chickened out and decided to sit and look after my friend’s bags as they skated instead.
But, this time was different. I decided to face my fears of falling over and losing my digits and slide on some blades at Ice Planet, the ice rink in Siam Discovery. Not going to lie to you, my hands were shaking as I put my feet into the boots and looked at the ENORMOUS slippery rink.
What made it worse was the fact that kids of about 8 months old (perhaps a tad older than that) were pirouetting around like Torville and Dean while I clung to the rail trying not to have visions of collecting up my bloody fingers from the ice.
Of course, all my friends were either already much more competent at skating than they had led on or they picked it up incredibly quickly, with some of them even attempting spinny things on the ice as I forced a smile at them from the railings. Occasionally a friend would zip over to me and try and lead me away by the arm as I screamed for mercy until they left me alone to try and balance on teeny weeny blades on ice (whose silly idea was this sport?)
Sessions at the rink last an endless hour and a half and, after around an hour and one full circuit around the rink, I finally let go and allowed my friend to very slowly lead me around by the arm on the strict instructions that they wouldn’t accidentally maim me if I fell over. Of course, I did fall over. A lot. And I have the spectacular bruises to prove it but, thankfully all my fingers remain intact and, I’m even tempted to go back and try and make it round more than twice. Maybe.
As far as a workout went, I didn’t get any of the lovely adduction soreness I was hoping for. Nor any cardio benefits, but my friends who managed to move on the rink had that rosey-cheeked glow and serotonin high that you’d hope for from an easy workout.
Suitable for: Those without a phobia of losing fingers
989 Siam Discovery Center
6A, 7th Floor
Rama 1 Rd.
Patumwan Bangkok 10330
