Why is ice skating fun? Ice skating is an excellent way to keep fit while having fun. Probably you’re looking to getting started in ice skating and wondering if it’s worth it or not. After research, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide with you in mind.
Ice skating is fun because it’s an exciting, stress-relieving, therapeutic sport with tons of health benefits. You can actively or passively participate in fun ice skating disciplines like figure skating, recreational skating, speed skating and hockey skating. Lastly, ice skating enables the production of dopamine, the feel-good hormone and endorphins for stress management.
Why is Ice Skating Fun?
This is only the tip of the iceberg. In the rest of this post, we look at how ice skating is fun and some of the fun ice skating ideas you can try out. So, without much ado, let’s get to it!
You can actively or passively participate in Fun Ice Skating Sport Disciplines
Ice skating is versatile and fun, whether you’re an active or a passive enthusiast. You’ll, therefore, find watching or taking part in figure skating, hockey skating, speed skating or recreational skating exciting, fulfilling, and therapeutic.
There are more than ten fun ice skating disciplines. However, the above are the most popular amongst many ice skating hobbyists.
Figure Skating
What is figure skating, you ask? Figure skating is the artistic form of ice skating. It was popularized by Sonja Henie, Dick Button, Peggy Fleming, and Dorothy Hamill in the 1930s, making them the sport’s pioneers.
In addition, they started as amateurs but later switched to professional figure skating out of their love for the sport. If ice skating weren’t fun, they wouldn’t have gone around doing tours to popularize figure skating.
Figure skating is fun because individuals, pairs and teams can do it. It involves performing spirals, figurative dances, spins, and jumps. You’ll find this therapeutic whether actively performing figure skating moves or watching on the sides.
Lastly, figure skating has been an Olympic sport since 1908. Since then, thousands of people, if not millions follow all the proceedings of this winter Olympic sport passionately. If you’re yet to, you don’t know what you’re missing.
So, this would be the time to get started if you want to try figure skating actively. On average, figure skating shoes cost anywhere between $79.95 and $ 799.5, depending on your age (skate shoe size), level of skating (Pro level or amateur level), and brands.
You can also rent figure skating shoes for as little as $3 from ice skating rink operators. If you need training, this will cost you anywhere between $5 and $200 per hour or a fixed fee of between $49 and $150 for a 6-12 weeks series of classes.
In addition, most ice skating rinks will charge an admission fee of between $5 and $30 per hour per week. Adding this to your budget will help you plan accordingly.
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Hockey skating
Like figure skating, ice hockey skating started in the 1880s as an amateur sport in the United Kingdom. Later in the 1900s, the sport evolved to a more professional level.
Modern ice hockey skating was brought to North America late 19th century, and the first game was held in Montreal, Canada. Ice hockey skating is fun because it can be played indoors and outdoors at an ice skating rink.
In addition, it’s a contact sport involving two teams playing side by side. Each team comprises six players, each with a stick to shoot pucks into the opponent’s nets to score a goal. Hockey skating has gained more popularity in the United States, Canada, Eastern, and northern Europe.
It’s the official national winter sport in Canada, which wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t a fun sport. North America’s National Hockey League is the highest hockey league for men globally. It attracts thousands of hockey lovers who turn up for different matches.
So, if you’d like to try out hockey skating, this is your time. You can learn from professional hockey players as an amateur then graduate to professional hockey playing. Alternatively, you can sign up for professional training, which will cost between $49 and $150 for a 6-12 weeks series.
Lastly, quality ice hockey skating shoes cost anywhere between $99.95 and $350, depending on size, brand and level of skating. As a beginner, you need affordable hockey skates, which are found on the lower end of the price range spectrum. You can always upgrade with time.
Speed Skating
Ice speed skating involves contenders going around a racing track. There are three types of speed skating: long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating, which are fun to watch and play.
Ice speed skating is fun because it can be done indoors and outdoors, which is quite therapeutic. Whether you’re watching from the sides or actively racing on the tracks, you’ll find this ice skating discipline exciting and fulfilling.
In addition, if you love watching the Winter Olympic Games, you’ll be glad to follow ice speed skating proceeds every winter Olympic season. The sport has been in the winter Olympics since 1924.
As a beginner, you can start as an amateur then graduate to professional speed skating. On average, the training fees cost anywhere between $49 and $150 for a 6-12 weeks class. Also, ice speed skating shoes cost anywhere between $29.60 and $350 depending on size, brand and level of skating.
Amateur speed skaters can start with relatively affordable speed boots then graduate to more expensive speed skating boots. That’s precisely what you want to do if you want to save on cost.
Recreational Skating
Recreational ice skating is done mainly for leisure, making it more fun and exciting to watch or do. Recreational ice skating is fun because it can be done indoors and outdoors, making it an all-year-round hobby.
In summer, you can go recreational skating at ice skating rinks. On the other hand, you can skate on frozen water bodies like rivers, canals, ponds, and frozen roads and open spaces during winter.
Like other ice skating disciplines, learning recreational ice skating will cost you anywhere between 49 and 150 for 6-12 weeks of training. If you prefer hourly lessons, this will cost between $5 and 200 per hour depending on the arrangement with the trainer.
In addition, you can buy or rent recreational ice skating shoes. If you decide to rent, it’ll cost from as little as $3. if you choose to buy your own, it’ll cost anywhere between $36.39 and $350, depending on the brand, size and level of skating.
Helps with the Production of Dopamine and Endorphins for Stress Management
Ice skating is fun because it enables the brain to produce dopamine—the feel-good hormone ad endorphin for stress management. Ice skating feels good and relaxes your body since your brain interprets it as fun. This is a fantastic way to improve your mental health.
Packaged with tons of Health, Physical and Social Benefits
Apart from improving mental health, ice skating offers tons of health benefits like;
- Weight management
- Muscle growth and development
- Improved body balance and coordination
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Keeps lifestyle diseases like diabetes away
- It keeps joints healthy and stronger
- Improves one’s self-esteem and confidence
Please check out the following amazing ice skating shoes on Amazon
Jackson Ultima SoftSkate Womens/Girls Figure Skate
Glacier by Jackson Ultima White Figure Ice Skates for Toddler, Girls, and Women
Riedell Skates – Soar Adult Ice Skates- Recreational Soft Beginner Figure Ice Skates
Jackson Ultima Excel Women’s/Girls Figure Skate
Why is Ice Skating Fun? Wrapping Up
Ice skating is fun because it stimulates the brain to produce dopamine—the feel-good hormone and endorphins for stress relief and management. You can actively or passively participate in fun ice skating disciplines like figure skating, recreational skating, speed skating and hockey skating.
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