So death skating has sort of grown on me. I mean, I’m still worried that Son No. 1 is going to have some sort of horrible fall, smashing into the mats and breaking every bone in his body while razar sharp ginzu knives whiz past him at break neck speed and he’ll become the number hit when you google “freak speed skating accidents”.
But, you know, other than that.
Son No. 1 had his first speed skating meet which is where my new found love of the sport began. Watching it on t.v. is one thing, seeing it in person? The speed with which they skate and how close they are together and the power and the excitement of the races.... and did I mention the speed?
It kinda blows my mind.
But what I love most about speed skating is that gender, age, or even how you’re built physically don’t really matter. They have boys skating against girls, the very tall vs. the petite and even though you think to yourself “that little girl out there doesn’t stand a chance” she’ll go and rock the race.
Speed skating is about technique and strategy. Sure you have to be in shape but ultimately, it's technique and strategy that wins. That and not falling.
By the end of the day, I was all “I want to try this shit”. And my husband, surprisingly, was “I could see you doing it”. So I was really really excited until one of the moms at the meet mentioned they teach speed skating to adults but you're grouped according to skill level. Which means, quite possibly, I would be grouped together with a bunch of seven year olds. Visions of Kramer taking karate lessons flitted about my head.
Luckily, the mom was misinformed. Not only do they teach adults and keep them grouped together with adults, the President of the speed skating association told me there were “four or five moms my age who joined this year” and I was all “twenty nine year old women rock, don’t they”.
I was left with just one last hurdle – Son No. 1. I approached him and asked how he would feel if I joined speed skating and he said it would be totally embarrassing to have to skate against his mom. I was all "Dude, I'd be doing it on a different night than you. You wouldn't even see me". This, apparently, was a selling point for him.
So I'm going to give it a go. The President told me I could come out one night, strap on a pair of skates and try it out - if I like it, I'll sign up for classes next year.
And if they do group me according to skill level? I’m just saying….those kids better watch the fuck out.
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