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The Cutting Edge of Skating

© Dr. Marie Miczak

Fall is the time many of us begin to pack on the pounds. Holiday parties, rich foods and less physical activity all add up to extra weight.

The good news is that winter sports such as ice skating, skiing and snow boarding can burn up to 400 calories an hour. In fact, skating allows almost the same physical benefits as running without stressing the joints. This is welcome news to those with arthritic knees and hips. Skating is not just for the Michelle Kwans and Sasha Cohens among us either. Adults are now the newest wave of first time skaters.

Here are a few basics to make sure you have every ice skating success:

Get a comfortable boot. There's no need to suffer breaking in stiff, painful skates. Companies like Graf & Riedell now offer heat moldable boots for an instant fit. Their top models, the Graf Edmonton Special and the Riedell 1500 offer rolled, padded edges and a thick tongue to prevent leg irritation. Both these boots are also part of the new breed of lighter weight heat moldables. They weigh less than traditional boots while offering a custom like fit in only 30 minutes. After being heated in special pro shop ovens, they conform to the unique shape of your foot. You can skate on them in complete comfort from day one.

Take a lesson. Before investing in lessons, try an instructional video. The PSA Moves in the Field is a two volume set which covers skills for pre-preliminary to senior level. Moves in the Field replaces the old mandatory school figures once required in competition. These tapes are very complete and introduce you to many terms and moves you'll use in free skating. For more advanced Freestyle you can check out the new ISU 4 volume set which covers everything from jumps to spins and even pairs skating. Once you're ready to take to the ice, you might try group lessons. The U.S. Figure Skating Assoc. has an excellent Basic Skills program called Skate with U.S. Group lessons with qualified instructors include skate rental, official patches and a skater's journal to chart your progress. Working with a group can help keep you motivated while being less expensive than private lessons. Check with your local ice rink for details or visit the USFSA website at http://www.usfsa.org .

Energy to burn. Make sure that you stay hydrated as being even 2 percent dehydrated causes you to work at only 90 percent of your potential capacity. Avoid sports drinks though. Studies have shown people who use them consume 20% more calories after working out than those who use pure water to rehydrate. A small piece of fruit, half a whole grain bagel or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich are all good training table choices.