Does anyone have any experience with getting their kids into speed skating? My son is five, and this is his second winter of taking very introductory hockey. He loves to go to practice, but is more interested in working on his skating speed and technique than actually playing the game. Each day before practice starts, he drops his stick and will skate around the whole rink as fast as he can for as long as he can.
We were at a larger rink in a bigger city yesterday, and he met an older boy (around 10 years old?) who was working on his speed skating. He taught my son some technique, and the two of them raced around the rink together for a long time, and the little guy actually kept up pretty well! Now he's asking to start speed skating, but I'm not very familiar with this sport, and I can't find much information online about kids and speed skating. Can anyone that has done this offer any advice? Is this a good activity for kids? Is there anything I should watch out for? Thanks for your help!
In response to Andi K., we couldn't find any local speed skating resources. As my son got older, he became more interested in the hockey aspect, and is now the top scorer for his Squirt hockey team! He is not the fastest skater on the team, but is a great stick handler. So I think that ship has sailed and we're now pretty firmly entrenched in ice hockey.
i would either take a trip to milwaukee to the Pettit National Ice Center - Info
thepettit.com
###-###-#### - 500 S 84th St, Milwaukee, WI
or call them to see what they can do for you or offer you!
You'll see speed skating in the next Winter Olympics, but that's in 2014.
Here's the Olympic training center site for the sport:
http://speedskating.teamusa.org/
You might ask your son's hockey teacher if there's anyone local you can talk to about speed skating. He or she might know a coach who can give you much more information about the whole thing, including what the minimum age is for involvement.
I would suggest at least calling if not stopping by the Pettit National Ice Center. It is a great place with many great classes and open skating, I know you are not super close but maybe they can give you info on someone in your area.
Here is their info about speed skating.
http://www.thepettit.com/schedulesskating/speed.htm
Also if you see that other boy again, find his parents and ask where their son goes for speed skating lessons. Look online for the skating rinks that are in your area maybe they offer speed skating, also as your son's hockey coach (many will be able to point you in a helpful direction).
I know nothing about speed skating but your 5 year old and my 5 year old sound like they would get along great. He loves to skate and he tells everyone how fast he is. He does hockey but when he does public skate he will find and older kid usually a high school hockey player and try to race them or play tag.
Our Ice Rink has Power Skating classes so maybe you can check for that in your area? My 8 year old son plays ice hockey and I've been considering signing him up for these classes in addition to his regular practices, to increase his speed and technique. I would also ask any instructors about it at your ice rink. I know ours do private lessons (more costly, of course).
