Thursday, November 09, 2006
Triple Flip, Triple Toe!
Last Friday, I bought a pair of ice skates. I bought it because I wanted to have some sort of a hobby and a physical activity. I am also a huge fan of skating. I like watching it so much that I said to myself that I should also skate. :) It is a fun way of exercising.
When I was 12, I actually enrolled in ice skating lessons in the Philippines. It was more of a fad back then because it was the first time a rink was built there. I became quite okay with it but I never did really well because I was so afraid to fall. I never took the risk of practicing edges, spins or jumps. So, as my friends progressed to become better skaters, I just remained as I was -- good but not quite. The stupid thing was instead of trying and pushing myself to try the tricks, I just quit.
That is why I have this unexplainable obssession with watching ice skaters. :) I just admire them for having the courage to go out there and try even though the ice is slippery and nothing is predictable.
But my admiration for skaters goes beyond their ability to jump or spin or dance on ice. By watching them, I actually saw that those who had genuine love for the sport always had a place on the podium. :) Those who competed just to get a medal often fall short.
I have also seen so many skaters fall and get up so fast. Though I sometimes shake my head in sadness because of their falls, I cannot help but wonder how brave they actually are to stand up and see their programs to their ends. It is really inspiring to see that inspite of that one mistake, they are able to move on, skate their best and hope that the overall presentation would overshadow the mistake.
I am really grateful for ice skating. :) I am grateful because some of life's lessons which I hold dear to me were taught just by watching these people dedicate so much of themselves for those 10 minutes on ice. :)
I am quite sure my body cannot handle all those triple jumps, but one thing is certain, this time around, I will enjoy the skating and won't be afraid to fall. :) After all the fun is in getting up and moving on.
3 comments:
hi Erica,
i also played ice skating... well,only twice (and i wouldn't really call it ice skating when you can't even walk for more than 3 seconds).
But i prefer to see it as a fun way to hurt my self...so it's not so bad :p
teach sometimes..hehehe...
with smile,
ali
I've never seen it from this perspective, and I've practiced ice-skating for nine or ten years....thanks for this post, says a fellow ice-skating lover ;-)
Mummo,
You should have bought water skis in a... um... um... chicken!
-T
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