Sharon Liu went ice skating for the second time and was able to slowly skate unsupported towards the center of the rink, holding onto the rink barrier for support. The document provides tips for beginning ice skaters on how to slowly skate unsupported, such as tightly lacing skates and using the barrier for balance. It discusses the difficulty of replicating roller skating jumps and spins on ice due to ice's slipperiness. The document considers next steps for practicing a two-footed jump, such as focusing more on roller skating moves and kicks.

1. Ice Skating Unsupported.
2023/11/30.
Sharon Liu, and dad.
Introduction.
So, as you know, I wanted to do a two-footed jump, on the ice. We’re still, trying to do that. The small bit of progress,
which I made yesterday, was that I did ice skate slowly, unsupported, towards the centre of the rink. That was my
second time, ice skating. I was on the ice, for 20 minutes. I was kind of disappointed, as I did roller skate, just before I ice
skated, and did a one-footed jump, as well as a slight spin in the air (roller skating), but replicating this, or a two-footed
jump on ice, is very difficult. For one thing, the ice is very slippery. With side-by-side roller skates, you get given a long
reaction time, and if you kick up, it’s possible to slide and regain your balance. On the ice, a fall happens very quickly. If
you are slightly out of balance, you fall within a split second. Well, I didn’t fall, but didn’t do the two-footed jump. I was
sure I was going to fall.
How to slow ice skate, unsupported.
First, make sure that the ice skates are on tightly. The upwards column of hooks, on the ice skate, need to be threaded,
and the skate lace, needs to be zigzagged. Now, I did put the skates on tightly, as when they were on loosely, I wobbled
whilst walking on foam. With the skates on tightly, you have more control over the ice skate (and there’s no wobble).
When you get to the edge of the ice rink, you hold onto the bannister, and step onto the ice, with one hand on the
bannister. You learn quickly, that your foot never leaves the ice, (by observing a faster skater, like the attendant), and
you can then slide along, beside the bannister.
(Now, you may wonder, what is the point of reading this, when the way is shut? Well, you can eyeball the document’s
difficulty, and decide whether you want to ice skate, or not.)
If your hand gets too cold, whilst holding the bannister, you can use your jumper sleeve, as a kind of glove. You can take
your hand, off the bannister, to see whether you still slide along. If you, start to fall, you can grab the bannister, again.
You can do moves near the bannister, such as rotating around. (Well, I only did one. Wait, I was also singing.) Of course,
you may encounter an obstacle, such as no bannister, or the exit, and then, you pay attention to the other faster
skaters, and then I heard, in my head, (well, I also said this out aloud, I think), to fall. Wait, I think he did fall. He then
picked himself up, and carried on skating. Anyway, if you notice this about the other skaters, this gives you confidence.
You then leave the bannister, and slide slowly, towards the centre of the rink. Well, you see, everyone ice skates
differently. I was about to finish too early, if I took the exit, so I edged forwards, on the ice. (My legs got tired, later on,
and I ran out of money, when I finished at around 20 minutes.) By examining the ice tracks, you can see that if you dig
your skate into the ice, it is easier to balance. Anyway, on the ice, your head must stay super sharp. Especially when
unsupported. Therefore, it is advised, whilst concentrating on the slow skating, to keep doing some activity, in your
head, like singing soprano. In this way, you can tell whether you are stressed or not, as the quality of the composing and
singing goes down, when you have too much to do.
Also, when you are distracted, by the attendant, try not to fall, as he comes up and asks you questions. You may get
other skating tips, from the other skaters, as they remind you of things, like the balance stance. Also, refuse when
someone else attempts to “help” you skate, by holding your hand. That is very distracting, and you might fall.
What to do next, to do the two-footed jump.
So, how do you fast skate? Well, another skater, said to use the knees, if the ice skates were on too tight. I don’t
understand, how to do this. Maybe I had best tie up my roller skate laces, the same way as the ice skates, because when
I roller skate a bit faster, it’s kind of simple, like running. Anyway. I was told more time on the ice, would help, but I keep
on being told, the ice rink at the Winter Wonderland, pays £100 per 10 minutes of ice skating, as well as the ice skater
paying £12.50 . Anyway. As a theorist, I’m supposed to be confident of a successful two-footed jump. I think I should do
more moves, with the roller skates, including the full landing pose of the single Axel. I must admit, I’m still quite a
distance away from doing that. The front kick goes up high enough, but not the back kick, on roller skates. I didn’t focus
on the back kick, in the summer sporting season. As for jumping higher on the roller skates, well, the highest was about
2cm, with the two-footed jump, but you see, the knees need to bend and straighten very quickly, for a higher jump, on
the roller skates. Anyway. Well, there was a slope, at the old pub site, on The Meadows Embankment, whilst is below a
wall. I haven’t gone down on that yet, or gone up the slope. These things, look impossible. The slow and patient studying
continues.