Learn to skate like a Panther (or just look like one)
On the surface, it makes no sense whatsoever that South Florida has an ice hockey team. It never snows here. (Oh, wait, there were the flurries of 1977. Yeah.) But it does make sense for us to have an ice arena because when you're sweating out 97-degree day after 97-degree day, you seek the refreshing coolness of the ice. So why not have a hockey team? It doesn't matter that most of the players are from Canada or Czechoslovakia. Um, right? We like red maple leaves as much as anyone else.
So on Sunday, Casa de Tropic went to Incredible Ice, our hometown arena and also where the Florida Panthers practice. The Man-cub is almost three, and we thought if little Canadian boys are already lacing up skates, then why not a little Florida boy?
Look, we even got maple leaf rental skates, sure to bring some good Canadian luck on the ice the first time out:
My husband and I excitedly put them on the Man-cub and then realized they were on the wrong feet.
Classic rookie mistake.
So, the boy got laced up, my husband was ready to go, jackets were on and then the arena closed temporarily for this:
Watching the Zamboni was worth it for the Man-cub, though.
(See more maple leaves?)
Finally, they headed out on the ice. The Man-cub didn't quite get what he was supposed to do with his feet in these funny shoes.
The guys stayed close to the wall. Mostly, my husband held the Man-cub a centimeter above the ice. I don't think you could really call what they did skating. I'm not really sure how they moved forward, but they did -- very slowly.
I think they covered about 10 feet in 20 minutes.
It didn't help that they were both distracted.
Uh, guys? Over here. Woman who knows your secrets and/or gave birth to you.
Anyway.
The Man-cub said, "I don't wanna go ice skating no more," and the guys came off the ice.
(Funny how they were able to leave the ice faster than they got across it.)
And that was that -- the guys' 20 minutes of "skating."
For 30 bucks.
Back out in the heat where the inside of the van could double as an Easy Bake Oven, strapped into his car seat (and wearing his sandals over his socks like many a good Canadian I've seen), the Man-cub declared, "I wanna go ice skating again!"
The Man-Cub may never be a hockey fan or even an ice skater. But it's so hard to resist the refreshing arena that we just might go broke trying.
So on Sunday, Casa de Tropic went to Incredible Ice, our hometown arena and also where the Florida Panthers practice. The Man-cub is almost three, and we thought if little Canadian boys are already lacing up skates, then why not a little Florida boy?
Look, we even got maple leaf rental skates, sure to bring some good Canadian luck on the ice the first time out:
My husband and I excitedly put them on the Man-cub and then realized they were on the wrong feet.
Classic rookie mistake.
So, the boy got laced up, my husband was ready to go, jackets were on and then the arena closed temporarily for this:
Watching the Zamboni was worth it for the Man-cub, though.
(See more maple leaves?)
Finally, they headed out on the ice. The Man-cub didn't quite get what he was supposed to do with his feet in these funny shoes.
The guys stayed close to the wall. Mostly, my husband held the Man-cub a centimeter above the ice. I don't think you could really call what they did skating. I'm not really sure how they moved forward, but they did -- very slowly.
I think they covered about 10 feet in 20 minutes.
It didn't help that they were both distracted.
Uh, guys? Over here. Woman who knows your secrets and/or gave birth to you.
Anyway.
The Man-cub said, "I don't wanna go ice skating no more," and the guys came off the ice.
(Funny how they were able to leave the ice faster than they got across it.)
And that was that -- the guys' 20 minutes of "skating."
For 30 bucks.
Back out in the heat where the inside of the van could double as an Easy Bake Oven, strapped into his car seat (and wearing his sandals over his socks like many a good Canadian I've seen), the Man-cub declared, "I wanna go ice skating again!"
The Man-Cub may never be a hockey fan or even an ice skater. But it's so hard to resist the refreshing arena that we just might go broke trying.
Labels: 33065, Man-cub, site seeing, SoFla landmarks, sports, things to do
posted by Holly at 6:54 AM
18 Comments:
A couple of years ago, the FL hockey team won the Stanley Cup. Something seems oh so wrong about THAT picture.
It was a new experience for him anyway! I am a Canadian and my poor boys don't know how to skate! Mostly because neither do I! Shh, don't tell anyone around here!
How fun! We used to go the Ice Arena on Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami, great place for kids' parties.
Now it's yet another strip mall.
Progress, right?
lol, what a fun time! I am sure he will pick it up and it's a fun way to spend time together.
Thanks or stopping by!
That is hilarious. They have little things that look like walkers for the little kids to use on the ice when they're learning at the rinks here.
Oddly enough, we've NEVER taken our kids ice skating. D'oh!
LOL how cute!
My kids like ice skating- we're bloody lucky to have the Olympic ice rink from the 2002 olympics about five miles from my home. Next week it will be in the 90's again, so maybe we'll go- if I can afford it.
I grew up in So Cal and have never ice skated in my life. Though they did have a rink at the Palm Desert Mall... I wonder if it's still there?
that is awesome!!
i have only ice skated once in my life - and i was wearing tennis shoes :)
Good for you for getting him out there! If you want to learn to skate, come up here and I'll teach all of you. ;-)
The experience will hopefully set him up for interest in the next time. What a fun first. Also? Hunter hates skating.
Ah, three years old, the ones I'm related to at least can be very persnickity. Can't wait for that!
Ah, three years old, the ones I'm related to at least can be very persnickity. Can't wait for that!
I guess we're close enough to Canada that lots of kids are on the ice at 2 here (not mine...I'm not good enough to take them then). We've only been a few times, but at the ice rink here, they have big orange buckets, upside-down, for the kids to hold on to while they go around and get the hang of skating. I'm not above using one myself. :). But, still, I prefer the beach!
We were just there about a month ago. We got one of those crutch/ice-walker things for my six year old. My two year old would've been a disaster on the ice. As it was I had to push my six year old around because he couldn't move forward on his own momentum. It was nice an cool in there though. I was terrified I'd fall and rupture my spleen or something. We more mature skaters fall much harder than those little bendy kids. ;)
I have fond memories of watching hockey in the middle of summer in the super cold arena (went to Devils training camp). I hope that your little guy starts to enjoy it before you go broke - wow $30!
Sounds like the average 2 and three year old to me!
He'll get the hang of it! The fact he lasted 20 minutes says a lot, actually!
Ha! Yeah, I think the one ice skating rink within a 100 mile radius of us closed down. Hmmmm...maybe because Mississippi is nearly as rotten awful hot as Florida? Ain't nobody round here a natural on ice skates. ;)
hehe ... Since making it back to Canada we have gone skating ZERO times ... and we so do not wear socks with sandals (my husband tries but it is forbidden!)
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