It's been forever since I last posted... work has been NUTS!!!
Today, I finally got a chance to try out my very own skates. I've been skating on rental skates ever since they put the ice back in. I'm starting to get way more confident, although I'm sure I still look like a total goof when I'm skating.
I have a new personal best - 57.1 seconds / 500m! And the only thing that changed is the amount of time I have spent on the ice. I'm not going to lie, I've been to the gym once since the season started on may 17th. It's been forever since I have done any training, so it doesn't surprise me that my time only dropped two seconds in six months. It is nice to start to feel confidence on the skates again... Or should I say... started :P
New skates = new deal!
The rental skates at the oval are comfy, cushy, high ankled boots. Mine - not so much. They feel really good on my feet, but holy cow - there is NO ankle support. There is nothing to hide behind now. I guess that's a good thing, aside from the fact that I get to make a fool of myself in front of all the pretty girls skating at the oval. But I digress...
So, my first step on the ice felt totally foreign. Literally - like I'd never been on skates before. To suddenly have my entire body weight supported on two 1 millimetre thick pieces of metal, and nothing to support my ankles. Suffice to say, the first four laps were not fast. In fact, they were the slowest I've ever skated in years. After about twenty minutes of getting comfortable with it, I started to pick up the pace a bit and try some cross overs in the corners. The skates actually felt really nice once I got going and I forgot about how stupid I look.
But, after forty minutes, and one minor fall, my ankles had basically turned to jello, and I stopped. I still have another seven weeks of shooting left, and I don't want to hurt myself in any way, so I figured it would be best to call it quits. I must say, it was frustrating to not be tired at the end of the session, but hey - at least I finally know what it's like.
I have concluded that until the show ends, I'm going to try to skate at least once a week, (more if my works schedule allows it) and just work towards building confidence on the blades, and ankle strength. I read somewhere that the best way to improve your skating muscles is to skate. So that's what I'm going to do. Once I get confident, then I'm going to start to train again. I really look forward to getting active again. It's so much fun, and I feel so good when I'm doing it. It gives me a real focus, which I love.
In other recent news, I have finally signed up for the Tiffen Lake Arrowhead Steadicam Workshop! A week long workshop where you learn everything there is to know about the Steadicam. It will take place from the 26th of March to the 1st of April. I'm super stoked. And, it turns out that the Intact Finale is the weekend of the 20th, so perhaps I'll be able to participate and put down a real time, in real conditions. I would love to have 500m down to less than 45 seconds!
Well, I need to go to bed. I'm working in High River tomorrow, so I'll need all the rest I can get!
And to all a good night.
-Ryley
