Fun Ice-skating at Tropical Cebu (Part 2)

I’ve never tried ice-skating before. So, the first time I stepped on ice at SM Seaside City, I felt both fear and excitement. Well, it’s fun to try something new, but it had also been unnerving to think that getting an injury could be part of it. OMG.

LET’S GO ICE-SKATE INSIDE!

The Outfit

As with any sport, there’s a certain outfit to don. As a usual getup, you’d have to have these included: 1) hand gloves, 2) pants/leg warmers, and 3) sports socks with skate boots. Actually, only a pair of socks and skate boots of the correct size (and with laces properly tied) are required. If you can do it with shorts and without hand gloves, the staffs would still let you in. But you definitely have to decide on your own if you can do so. (In fact, there were some who could.)

But what if you’re not wearing socks? Well, let your worries fly, but do ready your pockets for the socks are not covered by the admission fee. You can purchase it at a store beside the Boots Rental station for 50PHP.

I mentioned, “Boots Rental”. That doesn’t mean you still have to pay for the renting of boots apart from the admission fee. It’s all covered. Just get the right size at their fitting station, where you’ll see foot molds corresponding to different sizes.

The Procedure

Step 1: Settle the price.
The first thing you have to do is check your wallet. The price is quite high since there is no “per hour” usage of the rink, only “unlimited,” which is nice though (but yeah, still pricey). It’s 380PHP per person. If you have a companion who doesn’t feel like skating and would just opt to take pictures of you and/or take care of your belongings, he/she will just have to pay 100PHP. If you’re alone and have some belongings with you, you can rent a locker for 50PHP. And if you want help from an expert, you can hire an instructor for 30 minutes at 150PHP.

Step 2: Queue up
If you’ve got the money secured, it’s time to fall in line towards the cashier’s counter. As I’ve said in my previous post, it’d be better to visit the rink in the morning (mall hours: 10AM to 9PM) if you want to avoid a long line.

Step 3: Fill up the waiver and get the right size.
Before you reach the cashier, the attending guard will hand you a waiver. You’ll have to fill in your name to signify that SM Skating will not be held liable for any injury inside the rink. If the skater is a minor, then a parent or guardian will have to sign it at the bottom of the waiver.

Also, near the counter, you’ll be asked to fit your foot on any of the molds at the fitting station to know the correct size of your skating boots.

Step 4: Wear the ticket
After paying at the counter, you’ll have to tell the cashier your boots’ size. She’ll write this on the receipt. Afterwards, you’ll be asked to wear a ticket on your wrist and stamped on with something greenish. You must never remove the ticket as you cannot get inside or out the facility without it.

Step 5: Pull up those boots and get ready!
Once you get inside, head to the Boots Rental station (and store, if you don’t have socks) to claim your boots. Hand over the receipt to the staff and proceed to one of the benches nearby. If you find that the boots are still too small or too big for you, you can readily exchange them for another at the station. Make sure you get the right fit and the laces are properly tied.

Well, if you’re all set, you’re ready to glide on ice.

‘TWAS A GREAT SKATING EXPERIENCE!

It wasn’t as easy as you’d think it’d be by just seeing others do it. Plainly, it was difficult for me as a first timer.

I couldn’t do it by myself at first. I was scared of slipping. So, I held on for some minutes to my friend, Hana, and cousin, Lovely. We were skating together until we finally learned the trick. We figured out that if we just kick with our left foot, we’d be advancing the right foot. Repeatedly, we’d be finally gliding.

So, each of us tried it. But was I careful? I tried to be. Yet, I fell about 20 times! Haha. And yes, I was just laughing every time I did. But I also felt some sort of shame since there were people observing through the glass windows. Yikes! But the falls and the ensuing muscle pains only taught me how to do it better. Besides that, an instructor inside the rink gave me a tip, which really worked!

Finally, after a few hours, I could skate on my own! But, still, I need more practice. I bet I’d still fall the next time I visit the rink. OMG.

GIVE IT A TRY!

One thing I learned from skating is that you also have to enjoy what you’re doing. If you focus too much on doing it right, you won’t get it. You’ll have to feel the ice and be careful at the same time. Oh well, maybe that’s hard to picture out, so you should try it. ^_-

Whether you’re a first-timer or not, ice-skating would be a good pastime, especially in hot, tropical Cebu. So, what’re you waiting for? Experience ice in the tropics!