[ESN EVENT] ESN goes skating/ Ice hockey

After having been to my first ice-hockey match on Thursday, I could try to practice what I've seen already on Saturday, December 1. A sportive beginning of a new month!

With ESN we went with a group to skate (and do ice hockey, if you wanted) in the VOLVO Ledus Halle (Jurmalas gatve 78d, Rīga). Here we had the skating rink for ourselves for a whole hour (actually even a little bit more - the cleaning car had to honk to force us off the ice! - still had to make a group picture) and several instructors for those wishing to be helped.

It had been a long time since I skated, also because I don't always skate when there is opportunity to do so. In the Netherlands you have to be lucky to be able to skate outside each year. With the freezing cold in Latvia this seems to be less of a problem. Yet, so far I did not see anybody skate outside on lakes. I would have to find those first, anyway. This would be another incentive to check out the parks I didn't see yet. However, the real cold still has to begin, allowing the lakes to freeze up.

Now, since I am not a great skater (which is strange, since my mom is talented in it) it was good that you can rent high shoes/ ice hockey shoes that provide extra support. The main problem I have with skating is that I tend to push my ankles inwards, which can result in some nasty blisters. Luckily not with these shoes, being a bit more sturdy! They also allowed me to do a cross-over, taking a turn to the left or the right by shifting my weight and lifting my feet one over the other. I almost consider this as a milestone, as I never was really able to do this with other skates I used in the past.

During the skating hour I was mostly fooling around, falling now and then, sliding. But luckily no major crashes. Yet, I know for sure that the times that this almost happened must have looked funny, me waving my arms all over the place to prevent myself from falling. Other then that I made a few rounds with those being a (total) beginner or hadn't skate for some time, handing out my hand for support. I clearly remember the times that my skating skills were (more) poor and that it is appreciated when someone reaches his/her hand out to you. Lastly, I can say that I went on the skating rink with my winterjacket on but later took it off because I was getting warm and sweaty.
I was being active and had fun, others also seemed to amuse themselves.

Before leaving the hall I noticed that there were some signs that support the belief that Latvians like (ice)hockey. One was a chair shaped in the letter 'H' (which undoubly is meant as an abbreviation for 'Hockey'). The other, strangely enough, was found in the bathroom (see picture). Who could have expected this? I hope to be surprised more often like this in the time that I can still enjoy Latvia. :-)

[ESN EVENT] Ice hockey game

On the first of October many ERASMUS students joined ESN Riga to see the ice hockey game of Dīnamo Rīga versus Salavat Yulaev. Whilst I also wanted to go, I opted to go to my late monday evening lecture instead. One of the first questions the teachers asked during class was why there were so little people. I told her why, she did not seem to be so understanding. Because of her response I really regretted my choice of being there rather than going to Arēna Rīga (http://www.arenariga.com/en/) with all the others. In my opinion, she should know that for most ERASMUS students seeing a live ice hockey game is something completely new and hence, special. For Latvians the situation is different, as ice-hockey is very popular and even seen as a national sport!

Now, when I heard that ESN was going to see the Dīnamo Rīga vs Maskavas Dinamo match on 29.11.2012, I was determined not to miss it. I was going.
Arriving at our meeting point on D-day I noticed that, compared to the first ice hockey ESN event, there were a lot less students. I concluded that many students already took the opportunity to see an ice-hockey match, either with ESN or friends. But now it was my time to see and enjoy. Also, some were there for the second time around, clearly being true fans.
Together we moved our way to Arēna Rīga (Skanstes street 21), being in the central part of Riga and located next to the Olympic Sports Centre. On the way there a good atmosphere was already being created, even though that meant hearing a supporter of Maskavas Dinamo already shouting ''go Moscow'', haha! Actually, already in bus 15 to the meeting point, one of my floormates told me how he liked the anthem(s) of Dīnamo Riga. 'Tikai' and 'tarikitiki' were clearly appealing to him. Later I learned that with the second he must have meant the drumworks. :-)

Once in the arena and having found our seat, we enjoyed some entertainment (live music from a rock band) before the match would start. Then, on the big TV screens we saw the Dīnamo Rīga players passing by, one by one. Each time when the speaker announced the first name of the player on the display, we should shout the last name! This was actually a lot of fun.
You could notice that there was more screaming, applause, or simply noise, when the player
would be a native from Latvia (there are also internationals playing in the team - 'Johnson' does not sound particular Latvian).

During the match I learned that most of the songs were easy. Fellow ERASMUS students, who already saw Dīnamo Rīga playing before, had told me this. Indeed, simply clapping and then saying ''hey hey!'' should be do-able for everyone. Another variant was clapping faster and faster, warming your handpalms up real good. Also, saying (or preferably, shouting) 'Tikai Rīga, tikai Dīnamo' is not the most difficult in the world either. The same holds true for singing 'Woah oh oh oh' when the song with the same title (Seven Nation Army - Woah oh oh oh) was being played. All of this made it more easy to get involved in the match.
I have to admit, it was difficult to both sing and move my arms and watch the puck at the same time. But I tried, and the clapping led my hands to be more warm than cold. I don't know what the two people in front of me where doing, who remained almost motionless for the entire match, keeping their gloves (and woolen hat) on for the entire match. Really, it is more fun if you cheer together with the others. This was difficult, as being 0-3 behind didn't seem to provide an incentive for most visitors to cheer along. However, with the help of (one of the) mascotte (dressed up with Halloween mask) we were still able to do a wave throughout the whole arena 3 or 4 times, indicating that the spirit was still there. Later, when Dīnamo Rīga scored, everybody was fired up again! Too bad no more goals were made, leading the match to end in 1-3, Maskavas Dinamo being the winner.
From this experience I can say that it is worthwhile to visit an ice-hockey match if you can, especially considering the low price. If I have the time and opportunity to go to another match, I will surely take it.

Lastly, before the start of the match we were given a flyer. It included a 30% discount coupon for Sportland (a sponsor of Dīnamo Rīga) on all purchases for the day after. Having made use of this I was able to get some warm pants and face protection (preparing myself for the winter) for almost 20 Ls less. Overall, it had been a satisfying package for a 4 Ls ticket.