Skating is a fun and healthy pastime, especially for folks who live in states like Maine, where the winters are long and frozen lakes and ponds are idyllic for easy gliding or a fast game of pond hockey. Like riding a bike, skating is a learned ability of balance and control, but with the added challenge of maintaining that balance on ice.

Gary Rousseau, who has been teaching children and adults to skate through Rousseau’s Hockey Clinic for 25 years, has personally taught his own three children and his wife how to skate.

“I remember when my oldest son participated in the Learn-to-Skate program at what is now the Colisee. I was asked to help on the ice and the first thing I did was take my group to the far end of the rink and practice falling down and getting up. From there, I used familiar games, like freeze tag, to help the kids get comfortable moving on their skates. When kids are having fun, they forget to worry about what happens if they fall down. It’s a little different teaching adults. Once my wife realized her equipment would protect her when she fell, she was more confident to try different skating drills designed to help her develop as a skater.”

Proper skating equipment can make or break a first time skater. Ill-fitting skates will not provide proper support and can leave feet feeling tired or sore and the new skater discouraged early on. Falls on hard ice without protection are not fun for a child or an adult. “Think use and fit,” says Rousseau, “when purchasing skates and protective gear. Younger children should have enough gear to protect them in the event of a fall. Helmets can be anything from a biking helmet for small children to helmets with full face mask that protect the chin. Knee pads, elbow pads and gloves with an under layer for warmth provide another level of protection.”

Skate fit is also important for comfort. The days of two pairs of socks inside the skates are gone. If a skate fits properly, socks for warmth or snugger fit are not necessary. Top-of-the-line skates now have a heat molding feature whereby the boot is heated then molded to the skater’s feet, providing a customized fit that improves comfort and performance.

Though Rousseau’s teaching approach is specific to hockey, he explained good technique is key for all skaters. “It’s important for skaters, especially those who want to develop skills for competition, to have a solid skating foundation.”

Basic elements of skating, whether for recreation, figure skating, or hockey are the same: posture, stance, and weight distribution. “Stopping, starting, use of edges, and the motion of pushing side to side are all the same,” explained Rousseau. “It is a common misconception that a skater has difficulty due to weak ankles. Today’s skates are designed specifically for good ankle support. If a person is having trouble maintaining balance and control on skates, I first consider the posture, whether the skater is in an athletic stance. Balance starts with proper posture, keeping the knees bent with the skater’s center of gravity over their feet.”

Nicole and Keith Desjardins have recently introduced their three-year-old daughter, Avaya, to public skating. Her equipment includes a bike helmet and knee pads, Bauer Little Angel skates, and CCM hockey gloves.

“We started with modified hockey attire,” said Nicole. “We wanted to see if she would like skating first.”

“I need to wear gloves under my hockey gloves because they aren’t warm enough,” explained Avaya, “and I have a stick!” She said she wants to play hockey someday and watches the games on television with her dad. When asked about her favorite team, Avaya didn’t miss a beat. “Go HABS, go!”

Before Avaya went to her first public skate, Nicole, a physical therapist by profession, had Keith tape up Avaya’s blades so she could practice walking around the house in her skates. “I placed toys on the floor and had her walk around them in a figure eight pattern. I asked her to try going slowly then faster. She did really well and I told Keith I thought she was ready.”

“She started skating two weeks ago,” said Keith. “And she’s only fallen twice. I couldn’t believe how well she did.”

Avaya smiled and said, “I was chasing daddy with the bucket!”

“And running into me on purpose I think,” laughed Keith.

The Desjardins plan to continue attending public skating and registering Avaya for a local “Learn-to-Skate” program later this winter.

Both Lewiston and Auburn offer Learn-to-Skate programs. Auburn Parks and Recreation’s program runs out of the Ingersoll Arena and is a 10-week program designed for ages four to adult and taught by a team of volunteer “seasoned” skaters and certified instructors from a variety of skating facilities throughout the state of Maine. Beginners skate on Fridays at 4 p.m. and more advanced learners skate at 5:30 p.m. The program introduces skating basics including edging, stopping, and balance. The advanced program builds on the basic skills and incorporates more figure skating techniques including low level spins and jumps. Skaters may wear figure or hockey skates for these programs.

The Lewiston Auburn Youth Hockey League, based out of the Colisee in Lewiston, also offers a basic skating skills program, referred to as Instructional Atoms. The program is intended for young skaters who eventually want to play hockey. According to Michael Dozois, Atoms director for LAYHL, the program requires skaters to be in full hockey gear and is modeled after the USA Hockey’s American Development Model.

For more information on Learn-to-Skate programs and registration in Lewiston-Auburn, contact Auburn Parks and Recreation at 207-784-0191 or e-mail Michael Dozois at [email protected].

Happy skating!

Editor’s note: Gary Rousseau is the husband of feature writer Donna Rousseau.