mobile bits

I recently experienced this 'exotic' but really great variation of ice skating.

I tried with the 2 different common skate systems, and the one on the picture is the one I would recommend. The other system uses your regular hiking boots -which is a cool idea- and some much longer blades which are fixed to the front and back of your sole. I noticed that is easier to go faster with the long skates, but it is also way more difficult to move around than with the other system -where you can lift your heel. Additionally, my preferred system uses the same boots as for cross-country skiing, which are relatively easy to find -in countries like Finland, of course.

You can get your gear and try this at the frozen sea when it's safe. But if you'd like to try it inexpensively, you can go to the 1 km ice ring in Paloheina, and for less than 20 euros you can rent all you need and skate for a couple of hours.

I hope you enjoy as much as I did! Let me know how it goes or your comments here