Should I do ice hockey or figure skating?

[skarelo]

I really want to do both but I’ll have to pick one eventually. I’m not looking to do anything professional, just for fun. I’m going to start skate school soon and once I get used to the ice a bit more, maybe then I’ll be able to decide. Both seem very very fun though! But I am also wondering what I’d look like to others. Men usually play ice hockey and women usually do figure skating, not many do the other. How would a guy or a girl react to me playing hockey?

Ice Hockey

Figure Skating

[slatyb]

There are co-rec hockey leagues and women's leagues. Most (all?) amateur adult leagues do not permit checking. A lot of the skills for hockey and figure skating overlap, but they use different skates. Could you try both?

[skarelo]

I do really want to try both. But even if I do go with figure skating, I don’t really have the courage to perform in competitions where the spotlight is on me, so I’ll most likely just be doing that for fun. As well as hockey though. Only problem is, each sport is expensive as it is, it would cost a lot to keep doing both.

[slatyb]

Don't learn figure skating because you want to compete. Learn it because you want to enjoy doing it.

[TommyMountainFigure]

I love going round the ice as fast as possible and crashing into people, but if you would rather something a bit less full on, maybe figure skating would be the way to go.

[skarelo]

Honestly, me too!! It’s just the things like falling and hurting myself really bad in a collision that scare me a bit.

[TommyMountainFigure]

It's really not the falling over that causes the problem, its when you're down and someone else skates over your hand for example.. That can do some real damage.

[skarelo]

Oh yeah, that too. I’m often very worried when I find myself on the floor at public sessions.

[TommyMountainFigure]

A tip for you. When you fall, pull your jersey over your head and keep your hands and head protected by wrapping yourself into a ball until it's safe. Once you get a feel for what is around you, you'll find you won't need to.

[skarelo]

That actually makes sense, thanks so much!

[TommyMountainFigure]

You're very welcome.

[TommyMountainFigure]

Based on our conversation, I would say start with figure skating and see if you enjoy it. Hockey is always there as an alternative.

[skarelo]

Sounds good, I’ll do that.

[TommyMountainFigure]

Just remember not to smash into your dancing partner if you have one. (joke)

[skarelo]

Haha, my friend and I are planning on being partners. She knows I want to do hockey as well so if I do, she’ll understand 😂

[TommyMountainFigure]

Wow that's some friend you have there then :))

[molonski2]

Go from Ice Hockey to figure skating over time.

[Anonymous]

figure skating is far more feminine.

hockey is masculine

which do you feel more comfortable with?

[skarelo]

figure skating looks pretty, and ice hockey looks fun. I’m only just getting used to the ice, I can skate around, but I don’t usually go a session without falling over at least once. I have no problem appearing feminine, I just worry that people will assume I’m “too girly” for dancing on ice, and I have no problem with appearing masculine, I just worry people will assume I’m trans. I often switch between masculine and femininity, I don’t really settle on a style, I just do how I feel at the time. Maybe once I get used to the ice and try both sports out, the decision will hopefully be easier then.

[strateguy632]

..1th