Big skaters? (and why not?)

[Tad]

One of the attractions of Ottawa is that each winter (barring further impact from climate change!) a five mile or so stretch of the canal that goes through town is cleared of snow and flooded and turned into a giant ‘skateway.’ It is a lot of fun to be able to skate in a straight line, much more fun that skating around in circles in a rink! Also every mile or so are shacks where you can get food and drink. They rent skates on the canal, and even push sleds to you can push along someone who doesn’t skate. So those who want can have a good long skate. Those who are not as strong skaters can enjoy making their way to the first shacks for a hot chocolate or ‘beaver tail’ (fried pastry basically). You don’t even have to have your own skates, and if one of your group does not skate you can push them, or they can walk (there is section of packed snow alongside the ice for that purpose). Basically it makes for a really fun outing, that can be done from childhood through to old age—and I would think at a good range of sizes. After all, with no hills and the ability to glide, the work required for a bigger person should not be all that different from a thinner one.

And yet, you seldom see anyone bigger than a little chubby out there. Now I admit that Ottawa is far from the fattest of cities, but still if you go to the mall or walk downtown in rush hour you’ll see a reasonable number of fat folk. But out on the canal they are rare enough to be individually noticeable. (also, mildly fat tends to get hidden under bulky winter clothes, so the smaller end of big I may not be noticing).

I tend not to believe the stereotype that fat folk are lazy. Perhaps on average fat folk are less athletic, or less inclined to believe that they can go do a physical activity? Or are there other issues with big folk and skating?

Which finally brings me to my question for the BBW and BHM: do you skate? Did you ever skate? Do you think that your size is an obstacle to skating?

For my part the only thing my current size makes difficult with regard to skating is tying up my skates (my belly makes it hard to bend over that far for that long).

Regards;

-Ed
PS. I'm looking to see if there is any interest in getting a Dimensions group to meet on the canal some evening, which made me wonder if there would be problems with BBW/BHM skaters. See the Canada events board if you are interested in the skating evening.

[moonvine]

I really want to learn to skate, but I'm afraid of falling. Ice skating is one of the few activities I'm afraid to try, along with say jumping out of an airplane.

I doubt that applies in your area, surely everyone already knows how? I do know how to roller skate, but hear that ice skating is a lot more difficult.

Around here all we have are rinks, but since this is a frozen body of water perhaps they are afraid of falling through?

[Carrie]

I loved skating when I was a kid, but when I tried as an adult (and I was maybe 2/3 my current size), my ankles simply couldn't support my weight. They were shaking and turning inward and outward - I looked like a little kid on skates for the first time. Plus, I agree with moonvine - the prospect of falling is quite scary.

[Happy FA]

I skated in college and played intramural and league hockey(not varsity or even JV, think fraternity league), so I can skate forward, backwards and do crossovers fore and back both ways as well as stop by kicking up a spray of ice.

On the few occasions that I've skated in the last 10 years I've found that the ordeal of putting on my skates(forget about rental skates and that agony) and then the excrutiating pain that I have to deal with for the first ten minutes until my flat feet deal with the pain on the arches from the arches in the skates tends to keep my visits to the ice to a minimum. But, once I get past the ten minute mark I can skate for a few hours without much energy since it is just a matter of gliding around on very slippery ice.

I suppose if I was not as comfortable as I am on skates, though, I might be more concerned about my 350 pounds falling down and banging itself onto the very hard ice.

[Risible]

My folks tried to get me to ice skate as an 8-year-old. What an absymal failure that was. I was probably 1-1/2 times the weight of the average 8-yo, and my ankles were too weak. Following that, I passed on every opportunity to ice skate, snow ski and water ski, though I would occasionally don roller skates.

These days, even if my ankles could support my weight (no way in hell), I wouldn't for fear that a) the ice would crack under me, b) my ankles would crack under me and c) I would fall and do some real damage.

I enjoy ice skating as a spectator sport .

[Happy FA]

Originally Posted by Risible

These days, even if my ankles could support my weight (no way in hell), I wouldn't for fear that a) the ice would crack under me, b) my ankles would crack under me and c) I would fall and do some real damage.

I've seen this comment a few times. My ankles can't support me. But, when you walk on the ground it's just your ankles which are supporting you in the same way. The only difference is that the blade of the skate is narrower than the soles of your shoes. But, the ankles are doing exactly the same work.

In rental skates which don't provide any ankle support at all this may be an issue, but I'm thinking it's more a matter of the overall sense of balance on the narrow blade or blades(since much of the time that you're skating you're only on one blade) than the strength of the ankles. Also, any decent ice skate provides plenty of ankle support.

Just my thoughts...

[Tad]

Originally Posted by Happy FA

On the few occasions that I've skated in the last 10 years I've found that the ordeal of putting on my skates(forget about rental skates and that agony) and then the excrutiating pain that I have to deal with for the first ten minutes until my flat feet deal with the pain on the arches from the arches in the skates tends to keep my visits to the ice to a minimum.

Oh, I know about that pain! And I have a partial solution: good insoles. I can't say enough good things about "Super-Feet" insoles--they even have some made especially for skates, although the ones I have in my skates are general purpose. Those insoles also made my down hill ski boots just uncomfortable instead of downright agonizing. Kind of like they did for skates...my skates still crunch my toes and the arch still feels like it is going to cramp when I first stand up--but it is discomfort instead of pain. Made skating a much happier experience for me. Now granted, I'm not quite 2/3 of your weight, so they may not improve things as much for you, but they should still help. (the same insoles also seem to keep me from getting planar faciatis from wearing winter boots, basically I use them in everything but my shoes).

-Ed

[Tad]

I think balance is a big part of it. When I first started havign to tie my own skates I wasn't very good at it (not enough grip strength maybe?) so I didn't get them very tight. The result was that I learned the feel of actually being balanced over the blade, as opposed to using the skate to keep you upright. Now I think I could just tie a pair of blades loosely to the bottom of my boot and be able to skate OK.

But I can see if you are wobbly, how this becomes more of an issue.

I'm half tempted to tie my sons skates more loosely, to see if that would get him to centre himself better, but maybe I'd just make it worse.

-Ed

[Carrie]

Originally Posted by Happy FA

I've seen this comment a few times. My ankles can't support me. But, when you walk on the ground it's just your ankles which are supporting you in the same way. The only difference is that the blade of the skate is narrower than the soles of your shoes. But, the ankles are doing exactly the same work.

That's odd logic. How can your ankles be doing the exact same work on a very thin slice of steel, where all of one's body weight is concentrated into two thin lines, vs. on ground, where your weight is evenly distributed throughout your foot sole? Of course your ankles work harder on the ice skates - they have to make up the stability for all of the foot sole area that's NOT supported by ground.

[Kimberleigh]

I can't ice skate for love nor money. I fall down. It hurts.
I'd rather ski.

[Tad]

Originally Posted by Kimberleigh

I'd rather ski.

Cool :-)

A quick question--my wife sometimes* has problems with pre-set trails, because with the thickness of her thighs she can't have her feet that close together and still slide one leg past the other. Do you ever have that problem? If so, what is your preferred solution (break an entirely new trail, have one ski in the polling track, just suffer through it....).

* we haven't been skiing this year or last year, and she's lost some weight, so she may not have the same issue anymore, I'm not sure.

Regards;

-Ed

[Kimberleigh]

Originally Posted by edx

Cool :-)

A quick question--my wife sometimes* has problems with pre-set trails, because with the thickness of her thighs she can't have her feet that close together and still slide one leg past the other. Do you ever have that problem? If so, what is your preferred solution (break an entirely new trail, have one ski in the polling track, just suffer through it....).

* we haven't been skiing this year or last year, and she's lost some weight, so she may not have the same issue anymore, I'm not sure.

Regards;

-Ed

I'm normally back of the pack Charlie anyway, but I definitely have had that problem. I'm WIDER...lol
I usually ski with one in the track, one outside, and I try to kind of switch it up, so I don't use one or the other "breaking" leg for a whole circuit.

[Ho Ho Tai]

Originally Posted by edx

One of the attractions of Ottawa is that each winter (barring further impact from climate change!) a five mile or so stretch of the canal that goes through town is cleared of snow and flooded and turned into a giant ‘skateway.’ . . .

Regards;

-Ed
PS. I'm looking to see if there is any interest in getting a Dimensions group to meet on the canal some evening, which made me wonder if there would be problems with BBW/BHM skaters. See the Canada events board if you are interested in the skating evening.

. . . and Minnesota isn't really that far from you, geographically or politically. Your description of the canal skating reminds me of a story I read in my childhood, "Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates" - skating on the canals of Holland. I have images of old guys like me, with huge oom-paul pipes, puffing out smoke trails longer than the white scarves tied around their necks.

I did quite a bit of skating in my younger days. I was never as good as my dad, who was 'wing' for St. John's University in Minnesota. He could always skate backwards faster than I could forward, right up until the last time we skated together.

I kept on into my adulthood and, while never as competant as Happy FA, I could stoke right along and was fine as long as I could make all turns to the left. Never was very good at right turns, either on ice or roller skates.

I lost my skates in a car fire in 1975 and never got another pair. We have a thing down here called the John Rose Oval. To quote from their website, "The Guidant John Rose MN Oval is the largest outdoor refrigerated skating facility in the world, featuring an 110,000 square foot slab of concrete used for ice-skating in the winter and inline skating in the spring, summer and fall."

Mrs Ho Ho and I were there recently on a beautiful evening; temperature just right, lots of colorful people, lots of little kids having a ball. This was a corporate event, restricted to employees and family members. The company has quite a number of recently arrived folks from hotter climates, such as India. It was wonderful seeing some of these people experience their first ice, hanging onto each other,and the railing, and these little 'skater' things (like walkers, but on ice) and ear to ear grins.

I havn't felt the urge to skate so strongly for decades! But, in my 70th year, while weight is not a problem, other things conspire to bother my balance, and I have some vulnerabilities if I should fall. So all I could do is to watch wistfully, and drink it all in with every sense I have.

If you do manage to get a group together for canal skating, I hope you take and post lotsa pix!

By the way, while I don't have hockey experience, I do have an engineering background and a bit of physiology as well. I have to take exception to Happy FA and agree with Carrie on the issue of ankles and balancing on a skate blade. I had plenty of problems with that in my younger days which were overcome when I gained my adult strength.
http://www.ci.roseville.mn.us/parks/...ral.php?pid=19

[UberAris]

I <3 Ice

[crazygrad]

I started ice skating in my mid to late 20s, around 270pounds and learned all my single jumps but the axel in a year. It can be done, but as many have said, the prospect of falling as an adult with some weight is daunting. And having some fear only makes the likelihood of serious injury higher if you do fall since we tend to tense up the more afraid we are.

Although i don't necessarily think fat people have worse balance than anyone else, I do think foot placement is more of an issue. If your feet aren't in the right place, you will probably go down, or if they're too far apart, you won't be able to move foward or pull them in unless you have thighs of steel (this is true of any size but with more weight it would be harder to reposition and with more weight in the center if the feet roll apart, it seems more likely the weight would pull someone straight down).

Despite this, skating is good exercise for someone who has the endurance for standing exercise. With a few lessons in basics (moving forward, stopping and how to fall and get up), this is very low impact. The cool atmosphere of a rink works well for a larger body.

I think I'm going to try to go skating Wednesday.

[AnnMarie]

I used to skate as a fat kid, but I was never that good... just enough to keep moving and spend more time off my ass than on it. I had to wear ankle guards even then, they just weren't strong enough to keep me straight.

I suspect that now it would be impossible, plus I'd never get the skates laced around my ankles, which would make it even worse. And as other gals have added, I'd be VERY afraid of falling. I would probably have the potential to really hurt myself, and unless I was right at the edge (and even then, not sure) I'd have no shot of being able to get up.

All in all, sounds like a fairly high activity on the "everything about this freaks me out" scale.

[crazygrad]

Oh, if anyone tries skating- a few skate fit tips (I used to work in a rink and did skate fittings)

1- wear thin socks. You want to connect with the skate since it is what holds you up. Too many layers in the boot prevent that. I skate barefoot but I'd never suggest THAT with rentals.

2- start out with your shoe size, and move from that as necessary. The skate should fit snugly, especially in the heel. You don't want it to pump up and down. You should be able to wiggle your toes when standing and be able to lay your feet flat (in other words, don't bunch or crimp your toes).

3- Tie your skates snugly up to the top. If you feel like you can't bend in them, try untying the lace at the ankle. On figure skates, this is usually the last hole before the hooks start.

4- Don't assume right away if your having trouble that your ankles are too weak. Sadly, many rental skates are old and starting to break down. Ask for another pair (if possible, a newer pair) or try another style of skate. If you had figure skates, try hockey and vice versa. Figure are usually easier to start with- the blade is slightly longer and flatter and the boot is higher (some people say it feels more supportive). Do NOT try to stop with the picks on the figure skates- they will make you stop- with your face.

Last- try to relax and have fun.

[eightyseven]

I can ice skate pretty well. I used to rollerblade as a kid almost every day... pretend I was Wayne Gretsky and such. I even had a goal set up to play street hockey. My biggest problem now is my feet. I can't stand in skates on ice for more than 3 minutes without pain shooting through my feet. They're flatter than you could ever believe so if I ever want to ice skate again, I'll need custom skates. Sigh.

[Spanky]

Originally Posted by moonvine

I doubt that applies in your area, surely everyone already knows how? I do know how to roller skate, but hear that ice skating is a lot more difficult.

I think if you roller skate (really) then you can ice skate. I think ice skating in a straight line is very easy. The turning and stopping can be a little tricky, but it is with roller skating.

Remember, when you fall on the ground, it is thud and scrape. On the ice, it is thud and a nice frictionless slide. Maybe ice is a little better.

You should try it!!

I see a lot of beautiful BBW at the Roller Dome in Minneapolis. You roller skate on two levels around the Metrodome concourse. They wear tights and seem very comfortable on the skates. for an FA, it is a beautiful sight.

[Tad]

As I mentioned elsewhere in this thread, try getting a pair of super-feet insoles--they made a world of difference for me with skates.

-Ed

[Tad]

Originally Posted by AnnMarie

I suspect that now it would be impossible, plus I'd never get the skates laced around my ankles, which would make it even worse. And as other gals have added, I'd be VERY afraid of falling. I would probably have the potential to really hurt myself, and unless I was right at the edge (and even then, not sure) I'd have no shot of being able to get up.

I had not thought about the difficulty in getting up factor. Yah, I could see that as a real deterent! I should have realized that one, given the whole 'falling' thread that has been going on.

As someone else said, falling on ice isn't usually all that bad, provided you don't freak out and stiffen up. Because you slide it tends to be less bad than falling on the sidewalk, for example. But if you can't get up again.....yah, very bad.

Regards;

-Ed

[JMCGB]

While i am not a big guy, i started skating at the age of 4. I then played travel hockey from the age of 5-16. A few of those years were on a select team. Alot of the time newer skaters just dont tie their skates right. Another tip for those who have to rent skates. Never get the figure skates, the hockey skates are much better for first timers or newer skaters. I have definitely found it hard to get alot of the girls i have asked to go skating. I always assure them i am a good teacher, which i am. Thats my experience, hopefully some fears can be alleviated by reading this. Hockey is the greatest game there is. Go Wings, Go Black Bears.