[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. :-)