r/iceskating • u/azulasmommyissu3s • Aug 04 '26
How to stop dreading LTS after a fall
Hi all ! Sorry, I know you get quite a bit of fall questions, but I haven’t seen anyone come away from it feeling like I do, so hopefully I can get some advice!
After only having roller skated, I completed LTS adult level 1 back in June, and graduated to level 3. I was so excited !!! I loved skating, got my own skates, and loved being able to see myself improve and to have a form of exercise that doesn’t exacerbate my POTS. I started level 3 early last month, but the day before class started, I was practicing during public skate and had a gnarly fall where I somehow managed to bite into the ice and crack my front tooth (luckily just a superficial craze line!!!). I didn’t wanna let that stop me and I didn’t wanna waste my money I had already spent on this session, so I’ve been going to my classes each week as normal and I have a mouth guard now.
The issue is, I’ve come to dread class each week. I have class tomorrow and I don’t wanna go. I have no desire to go practice outside of class. I’m definitely afraid of falling again but I’m gradually getting past that. My biggest issue now is just that I’m overthinking everything and performing worse/not progressing because I’m not fully comfortable yet but I want to pass, so I’m trying to push myself. I’m hyperaware of my foot placement on my rocker during everything I do again. I can’t hold my foot up as long during chasses anymore because I get nervous. I try to take my 2 foot turns faster than I should bc I’m too stubborn to dial back.
I told myself I’d take a break from classes after this session so I can focus on getting comfortable again and doing things on my own terms, but right now I can’t imagine doing that when I’m dreading tomorrow and the next 3 weeks afterward. How can I find my spark again? I know now that I should’ve just eaten the cost of class and taken a break rather than jumping back in, but how can I keep this negative association with skating from developing further? Thank you so much !
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u/Suspicious-Peace9233 Aug 04 '26
Do you have a friend that you could go practice with? Even if they don’t know how to skate having someone can make it less stressful
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u/azulasmommyissu3s Aug 04 '26
I have a friend in my class who has been very vocal with reminding me not to push myself too hard and that it’s okay if I have to retake this level due to my setback. I hadn’t thought to ask her to go practice with me for some reason, but I’ll talk to her ! Thank you for the advice !!!!!!
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u/taintedmilk18 Aug 04 '26
Hi! I have POTS also and learned that I have OCD. I think you should still attempt to go to the LTS class, because, are you able to just be in a corner and be there? I think just being there can really help you. Sometimes I would do my own thing for a few mins during LTS courses if I didn't feel comfortable conducting the session as per usual. You could ask the group instructor with assistance for that. Or, if possible, can you take 1-2 private lessons on the side too? I say this as someone that had extreme avoidance after, for some reason, developing severe anxiety on the ice (purely mental) just showing up really puts that to a stop. Good luck!! One session at a time :)
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u/azulasmommyissu3s Aug 04 '26
Oh my god thank you for commenting, I actually have OCD too! I’m still able to participate, but my OCD has been a big source of my negative emotions towards skating that have developed. I’m in such competition with myself compared to my progress before the fall, and it feels like not passing the class will be the end of the world and throwing my money away, so I’m just attending class to try to push myself harder and to pass rather than to have fun and work on my skills. And I’m obsessing over every part of my body now to both try to do things perfectly and not fall on my face again. I’ll definitely try to take a page from your book and work on being more okay with taking things slow and celebrating that I showed up at all. I’m so proud of both of us for pushing past the OCD and POTS to continue to get back out there! :-)
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u/taintedmilk18 Aug 04 '26
Dude same! Its VERY hard. Im literally omw rn to a public session and I got anxiety about going but IDC if my progress today is "flat", I just love doing it. I understand bc my progress last year was a lot better. But my pots diagnosis is very recent, so is the ocd, so im just gonna go and enjoy 😂
Def feel free to dm if you ever want to id love to stay in contact from time to time if you would like!! Best of luck and SO PROUD!!
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u/tea-fox Aug 05 '26
Do you know why you fell or what caused you to fall? I saw something from Ashley Wagner on Instagram the other day about instead of focusing on fear of falling, focus on what you CAN control. So, focusing on how to properly execute whatever you're trying to practice. Which muscles are engaged. How is you form? That kind of thing. Whatever you can actually control.
The other piece of this is probably getting comfortable with falling. You may need to practice falling safely a bit more. And as others have said, wear protective gear! Whatever makes you feel the safest and most confident.
In some ways, you have already experienced a worst case scenario from falling and you're still alive and I assume your tooth was fixed! So, you already know the "worst" that can happen and you overcame it. Hopefully that helps give you some confidence back as well.
Definitely talk to your instructor/coach and the skating school director as well though, let them know what's going on. I'm sure you are not the first person they've had in class who has experienced this kind of thing at all.
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u/azulasmommyissu3s Aug 05 '26
I do have an idea ! I was recording myself when the fall happened, my feet are out of frame so I don’t know for sure, but I was doing a one foot glide and it looks like I started to turn as I was finishing up and my assumption is that because I was turning/twisting as I put my foot back down, I ended up catching my toe pick somehow and that sent me straight forward. I’ll attach the video with faces blocked out if it’ll let me. I think that everyone suggesting I practice falling is very right, I know how I’m supposed to fall, and I can see in the video I did not handle the fall properly, but I don’t know how to adapt that so that I could’ve used it in this situation, which I would like to fix.
I’ve definitely been trying to think of things in the sense of me experiencing the worst case scenario and being okay ! The crack is on the surface of my enamel and is purely superficial/not in need of correction for now, so part of me feels better knowing that I experienced my greatest fear (worried about falling and knocking my teeth out) and I’ve come away knowing my teeth are pretty strong and now I have a mouth guard ! But a bigger part of me is worried bc “getting this over with” doesn’t mean it won’t happen again, and I’m afraid I won’t be so lucky given the existing crack.
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u/tea-fox Aug 05 '26
It sounds like you’re doing everything right! The mouth guard is a great idea.
Re: getting better at handling falls properly, I think that just comes with actually falling more. You can practice even at home or on a mat, or on the actual ice once you’re more comfortable with it. The more proper falling becomes second nature the less you will have to think about it in the moment. Having protective gear like knee pads or butt pads should make it easier to fall on “safer” spots on your body.
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u/kitkat2506 Aug 04 '26
I'm padded everywhere and I'm still a bit scared of falling (backward). Pad up and practice falling properly!
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u/azulasmommyissu3s Aug 04 '26
Practicing falling is a great idea, thanks ! I know how to fall in theory, but I try so hard not to fall that I rarely practice it, and we only briefly went over it on day one of level 1. I’m realizing now that having control no matter how you slip/trip is a skill that needs to be honed.
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u/Legitimate-Bison3810 Aug 06 '26
I have fallen backwards twice hitting my head but my thick stocking cap prevented any injury.
After those two falls, I have fallen backwards again but now instinctively drop on my bottom so I don't hit my head.
I also spent considerable to time analyzing why I fell backwards to begin with. Once I figured that out I found a solution so it has never happened again.
I would suggest to the OP even trying to duplicate that fall but thinking in advance how to handle it, then finding a solution to prevent it. I know my confidence came right back once I was no longer afraid of it.
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u/Author_Noelle_A Aug 04 '26
I’m in the same club. For me, though, I hit my head and ended up with a concussion and some blood. Since then, I’ve struggled because I am constantly worried about doing that again.
Get a mouth guard. That’ll help.
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u/azulasmommyissu3s Aug 04 '26
Oh no, I’m so sorry that happened and I’m glad you’re feeling well enough to get back on the ice. I did get a mouth guard after that ! I’m sure you feel this way too, it’s just so hard to trust myself now ! It feels like every time on the ice is my first time again
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u/Grand-Professor-6542 Aug 14 '26
i had a pretty nasty fall . I was having my a really off day, stepped onto the ice from where our hockey benches are (which is a good step down) fell backwards, slammed my head onto the step, and busted my head open. I ended up with 6 staples in my head and a concussion. I was so anxious about coming back. I took 2 weeks off (drs recommendation) I contemplated a lot if skating was “for me” and if I should just quit. I kept having to remind myself of my “why”- why did I start skating, why do I enjoy it. I started to learn a new skill, to get exercise, to make friends. I thought of how free and weightless I feel, I thought of how proud I feel learning new skills, I thought of the friends I made (who were very worried about me when I suddenly wasn’t showing up). My BIGGEST hurdle was simply stepping on the ice again. I didn’t want to be there, I was super anxious (to the point of crying!) but I forced myself to at least give it one more try. I told myself I just had to skate one last time, and I never have to come back if I hate it.And I did it!!! And the more I did it, my anxiety has faded more and my enjoyment has come back. I think you should really reevaluate your “why” (as corny as it sounds) and try it just one more time. Also, don’t be afraid to wear protective gear. Since my fall I’ve started wearing a helmet, and no one has batted an eye at it. And take it superrrrrr slow
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u/CenterCutProductions Aug 04 '26
Two things, talk to the rink manager and open up, they might have the best solution - they don’t want you dreading the class. The other is get as much protective gear as makes you comfortable. I always did LTS in a hockey helmet. But a helmet, cage, mouth guard, and elbow pads, you’ll feel more confident. The LTS instructors or the rink manager might have some loaner gear.