Loops and Spins (A Day on Ice!)

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Yesterday I went ice skating for the first time. I had been wishing for it for so long - and now that winter is slowly approaching, I thought it would be a great chance to give it a try and start to feel the winter spirit. I know, officially, it's still a month to go, but in Switzerland it's expected to snow this wednesday! 

Anyway, I never tried it before, given my naturally untalented feet - which up to now, have made me turn off most of the activities and sports in which my feet have a main role, such as  skiing/snowboarding and dancing. I'm not overstating my clumsiness - today, in fact, I stepped on my own foot when stepping into a bakery! However, after my successful night dancing salsa in Havana - I decided to give my two left feet another chance.

The first time I stepped onto the ice, I was still telling myself to get off while I still could, and avoid being involved in a serious injury. But starting off with a teacher (or in our case - 2 very talented figure skaters (Robert Dierking, USA and Anna Sophia Bernauer, Luxembourg) was probably the best choice. They started by teaching us how to fall best and how to get up, as well as how to stop (which I still haven't mastered yet), and then slowly kept on with the basics. I was clearly happy enough to be gliding without holding myself onto anything - and even managed to do "lemons" !! I only fell once: I was gaining some speed and then saw the wall approaching quite quickly and attempted to turn to avoid the typical movie-alike collapse and, well, turned a bit too quick (I was glad that I was surrounded by other beginners at that time!). 


What I've learned so far is:
          -   Wear gloves - even better: wear ski gloves in case you fall on the ice!
          -   There's a higher possibility of falling if you look down than if you look straight 
          -   Learn how to stop before learning how to speed
          -   Don't fall on your butt (but if someone else does, have your camera ready!)

It was great fun - and I might have found a new hobby! This one being useful in Switzerland - as I think I'm going to be having ice rinks until sometime in march (or april?). And besides, ever since I first read about the Lac de Joux in the Jura Moutains (Switzerland), I've been counting the days for it to freeze so I can try it out. Obviously, I still have to practice a bit more in a closed rink - I don't want to fall on the ice, break it and well, turn into an ice cube!

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Even though it's a quite large lake (in fact, the largest of the Jura region), it's depth is maximum 32m, which makes it easier to freeze. When temperatures have dropped enough and snow has been falling on less than 1000m hight, the Lac de Joux is transformed into a big ice skating rink. I haven't been yet - mental note -, but it looks like the perfect place to escape from the loud and crowded ski resorts, right? I've read that they even have little wooden stands next to the lake, selling vin chaud (hot wine) and take away raclettes! 

Picture Source

Last year I would have been praying for no snow - but this year, a tiny winy part of me is wishing for it as soon as possible, to get the most out of this lake!

Have you gone ice skating?  Ever tried skating on a natural lake?