Hello, how are you I am fine thank you, an d you? I am fine thankyou. And you? I Polish boy from Australia so English first language but now I am live in Espain now for over 7 years, so please be patience with me my fiend, becauase involuntary English deterioration occur in my brain region since live in espain, ok? (And also, my keyboard is c heap one and keys type weird, and also my eye doctor, after my eye surgeery in 2023 recommends looking at screen much less or never, so I not spend time doing bullshit proofreading). I like share my brain thinkings with you, of the lives in Espain, no? Okay, YOu listen me, I explain you! And dont forgetting to smash like button and subscribe to my email channels, my internet fiends!!
In 2019 I move to Spain with 4 things – my dog Chunky and three bags. One of the bags did having my ice hockey gear. but CRAZY, i not use it all even once, because soon after i get here, they close the only ice rink in town!!
SO i wait, and hope and think, ok no problems, soon they open new one. 2022 come and go and npothing, no news. 2023 come and go and still no news. at this point i give ups. still check out of deperate man-drowning-in the ocean style desperation, but oif course tnoghting.
THen one day i go to pub to watch broing motorbike race and talk to man who play inline hockey and he tell me: new rink opening sooon!
YOU MUST TO BE SHITTING ON ME!!!!!
And now, it FINALLY FUCKING OPNE!!!!! I askte for first time since 2017 on shittty ice rink with puddles in Queensland!!!!
Hell yeah my fiends!!
But, one problem!!!
Do i still remember how to skate? can i skate without breaking knees and back and other bones?
I really not sure, so let’s go back ofver most common stretching techniques first:
(these are witten by internet man called CHangGPT):
THE PLAN
Tiny important thing:
Don’t crank your laces to death immediately.
After years away, overtightening can murder your feet and ankles.
You want:
- heel locked,
- ankle supported,
- but still able to bend knees properly.
🚶 ON THE WAY THERE
Your only goal mentally:
“Smooth and relaxed.”
Not:
- fast,
- impressive,
- technical,
- cardio destruction.
You’re reopening a circuit that’s been dormant for almost a decade. Like turning on an old arcade machine and hearing it hum back to life.
Music helps here. Get yourself into glide mode mentally.
🧘 WHEN YOU ARRIVE — STRETCH
You’re absolutely right to get there early.
Focus on:
Ankles
- ankle rolls
- calf stretches
Hips
- hip openers
- leg swings
Groin/adductors
Skating hits these immediately.
Knees
Warm them gently — don’t aggressively stretch cold knees.
Lower back
Especially because skating posture loads it differently.
🪑 BEFORE STEPPING ON THE ICE
Very important:
Sit for a second and remember:
hockey stance.
Not upright.
You want:
- knees bent,
- chest slightly forward,
- weight centered,
- head up.
Almost every beginner problem comes from standing too tall.
Tall posture on skates is like trying to fight Mike Tyson while wearing rollerblades in a bathtub.
⛸️ FIRST 10 MINUTES ON THE ICE
DO NOT:
- crossover hard,
- sprint,
- stop aggressively,
- test yourself.
Just glide.
Seriously.
First objective:
Feel your edges again.
Inside edge. Outside edge.
Do:
- gentle C-cuts,
- soft turns,
- shallow edge work.
You’re calibrating.
🧊 THE BIG THING TO REMEMBER
The blade works when you TRUST the edge.
If you get nervous:
- people stiffen,
- straighten up,
- shift weight weirdly.
Then skating becomes harder instantly.
The edge wants commitment.
Not recklessness — commitment.
🏒 HOCKEY SKATE REMINDERS
Compared to figure skates:
- shorter blade,
- more maneuverable,
- less naturally stable.
So:
- slightly deeper knee bend helps,
- smooth weight transfer matters.
And remember:
hockey skates are designed to move dynamically.
Tiny shuffles and rigid movement feel worse on them.
🧠 MENTAL CHECKLIST DURING THE SESSION
Every 10–15 mins ask:
- am I breathing?
- am I relaxed?
- are my knees bent?
- am I gripping/tensing?
If yes:
slow down again.
🎧 THE SWEET SPOT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
Eventually there’s a moment where:
- music,
- glide,
- rhythm,
- edges,
- movement
all lock together.
That’s the magic you remember.
Not speed.
Not skill.
Flow.
That’s why people love skating. It feels closer to flying than exercise.
⚠️ WHAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN
You’ll likely:
- feel rusty at first,
- improve rapidly within the session,
- get overconfident for 3 minutes,
- almost eat shit once,
- recover,
- laugh,
- then suddenly feel emotional about being back.
Because this isn’t just skating.
It’s reconnecting to a version of yourself from before Spain, before all the other noise.
🧊 LAST 15 MINUTES
Don’t stay until exhaustion.
Classic mistake.
Leave while still feeling good.
That way your brain goes:
“I want more.”
Not:
“my hips are filing a workplace complaint.”
AFTER
Stretch calves, hips, groin again.
Drink water.
And tonight/tomorrow:
- groin,
- feet,
- lower back,
- stabilizer muscles
may scream at you like unpaid extras in a medieval battle film.
Normal.
OK SO THERE YOU HAVE MY FRIENDS!! I SKATE!!!
*and in the end i did it!!
