Does everyone know how to ice-skate in Canada?

Question

I'm really sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but I have never been able to learn how to ice-skate before, I'm from australia where there is never any snow or ice whatsoever and I'm coming to Canada soon for a couple of years... will people laugh at me because I don't know how to ice skate?

Answer 1

no, don't worry. a lot of people don't know how to skate/ skate well. there's always a first time, and you'll get better at it.

of course it might not be fun at first when you see those little kids (who play hockey or go skating very often) that outlap you 2-8. but its fun and with practice you,ll be good too.

Answer 2

Not everyone. I can't. But Canadians usually have a great, if sometimes warped sense of humour. KB is right - if you don't take to skating like a shark to bait, bring on your sense of humour. You'll do fine!  Have fun!  That's what it is all about.

And if you are going to be in Ottawa during the winter months, try out Canada's premier skating rink - the Rideau Canal. "The Rideau Canal Skateway holds the Guinness World Record as the world's largest naturally frozen ice rink."  It is also a World Heritage site.

Where ever you go, enjoy Canada!

Answer 3

No you will be fine. Lots of people don't know how to ice skate here.

You will fit right in and nobody will know the difference :-)

You will like it here.

Answer 4

Haha no don't worry about it I live in Canada and I can't even walk on ice without falling on my face. LOTS of people in Canada can't ice skate!

Answer 5

You'll be fine. Skating is popular here, but not everyone knows how. Just try it, it's fun but it hurts when you fall on your butt. After awhile you will learn to skate straight into a wall instead, and then fall. People will laugh at you especially when they find out you're from Australia, but so what?  

Answer 6

Most of us can skate but most of us aren't that good at it.

A lot of areas have adult lessons. It's not a lot different from inline roller blades, with some issues about stopping.

Make sure you give skiiing, down hill and cross country a try too.

Answer 7

Don't worry about it... out of millions of people there have to be a good number of people who can't ice skate. And if they laugh at you because of that ( though I don't think many really will ) they're just jerks, people aren't meant to do everything.

Have fun in Canada!

Answer 8

Don't worry..... not everyone knows how to ice skate here! We have people from all around the world and not all know how to ice skate. No one will laugh! Ice skating is not that easy and everyone understands that!

Have fun here in Canada!

Have fun Skating!

Answer 9

Haha I thought the same thing when i moved. Don't worry! When I moved nobody even cared. That is not to say I did not learn. Try it when you get there and see if you like it. It also depends where you are moving. In Ottowa it is important because of the river but in Vancouver not so much. I hope you had as good of a time in Canada as I had.

p.s. Lived for 4 years in Canada, now in USA

Answer 10

If you do not laugh at the way we ride kangaroos we won't laugh at the way you ice skate. I cannot honestly say no one will laugh at the way you fall on your butt though - people seem to think I am a great comedic act when I fall which is often. So give them a good reason to laugh - holler, "Oh! I hurt my dijerydoo!" They will forget immediately that you have fallen and will recognize your Australian accent and choice of words and be at your side to help you in no time flat. What a great way to turn a negative (falling) into a positive (instant compassion and interest).

Answer 11

I concur -- no Canadian would laugh at you.  However, Canadians are very good at making fun of themselves (possibly before any else has a chance).

To your scream of pain as you hit the ice, I would add "Crikey -- I've fallen on my didgerydoo."  Once you start laughing at yourself, another Canadian will join in.  They will ask where you're from, and probably offer to take you out for a beer.  It's just the Canadian way.  If you know how to rollerblade, you'll probably catch on to the motion of skating quite easily.  It's all in the way you gliiiidddde across the ice.

No -- I don't skate.  Weak ankles, and I'm quite a klutz.  My husband does play hockey, though!

Answer 12

no and no.

remember, there are a lot of immigrants in Canada, so many do not know how to skate.  now, as for Canadians from birth, i believe most do know how to skate, but i doubt everysingle one knows how; im sure there are some people out there who neven got lessons.

Also, you're Australian so people will understand why you can not ice-skate. (also, no matter what, i dont think people would ever "laugh", if anything, they just might wonder why you cant skate, but once they find out you're an Aussia, they'll understand)

Answer 13

No, not everyone knows how. I think I still know how, but having lived around Vancouver for the last 30+ years where it hardly ever gets cold enough to freeze any lakes, and there aren't too many public rinks, I haven't been on skates for a long time.

I skated a lot until my early 20s but never did get very good at it. That guy who said you'll learn to skate into a wall and then fall down was right. I never did learn how to stop without skating into a wall or falling down. On natural ice without a skating rink wall to slam into, I fell down a lot so I could stop. Don't worry, people might laugh, but mostly because they fell down once just like you will.