Childhood in Australia is likely to be spent outdoors in the sun, in a pool or the ocean (or a dam, if you grow up in the country), or when it’s raining, playing the Xbox or iPad inside. My kids learned to ride a bike after countless opportunities to practise in our nearby park. They can swim freestyle and have ridden a wave or two. Neither have ever seen snow that has fallen to earth naturally.
Ice skating is something quite foreign to the typical Australian. I’m not sure if we even have a lake in Australia that freezes solid! Both my kids have had a chance to try ice skating during the Winter Festivals where rinks are set up for a short period of time and over in San Francisco where they enjoyed a skate at Union Square. It has always been a bit of a novelty. Quite recently Miss N has spoken about wanting to try Ice Hockey (can you imagine!). Learning to ice skate has become a reality.
Earlier this month were invited to an Ice Skating Birthday party at Liverpool Catholic Club which would give us an opportunity to try skating on a full size rink and celebrate the adventure with family and friends. Of course we said yes!
Whilst the ice rink is at “Liverpool Catholic Club” it isn’t actually in Liverpool which was a little confusing. You’ll find it on Hoxton Park Road, Prestons which is around 5-6 kilometres from Liverpool. Parking is plentiful and free.
The first thing my kids noticed was the size of the rink. They quickly realised that the temporary versions they had skated on during winter were poor imitations. Delight quickly swept across their faces.
As we were attending a birthday party, the kids met in the party room. Skates were ordered and fitted before the group headed to the ice for a group lesson. I watched them learn to fall and turn around before they played a very bizarre game of limbo which saw each child crawling under a low beam on their tummies. Thankfully I had the foresight to dress them in their winter woolies! I do wish I had asked the teacher what that was all about.
After the 30 minute lesson, the kids were released out on to the ice. Miss N has a real knack for skating (I think her San Francisco experience prepared her) while Master R left the sides after around 15 minutes of confidence building.
Because it is pretty much “free play” the only real rule is that they all skate in the same direction. The good skaters zig zagged around the beginners hanging on to the side rails or each other; the professionals (there were a few with “Australia” on their back) did Torvill & Dean routines in the middle of the rink and a few little penguins sliced up and down the rink as if they owned it. While it was nail biting to watch at times, it also had moments of joy when the kid finally let go of the side rail and skated by themselves. What a day!
A visit to the Liverpool Catholic Club Ice Skating rink with the family is not a cheap experience. A family ticket is $62.00 for non-members which is inclusive of skates. You will need to pay extra for a penguin, helmet and protective pads.
looks very cool