Dilemma!

There is no try. There is only do and not do.

Yoda.

It's raining (or at least, wet (this is Adelaide!)) so, even though I got home early, I can't go inline skating.  I was just wondering what else I should do instead (anything to avoid all those jobs around the house that need doing) when I learned that it seems there will be a winter 'Premier C Grade' season on the ice.  Fewer teams than summer, membership subject to a draft following tryouts.  Process kicks off in less than a fortnight.

This is great news.  Potentially, ice hockey all year round, and even just competing in the tryouts would be an experience in itself!  I'd have to get into a regime immediately for this as first tryout is less than a fortnight away (though I can't make that particular day due clash with Qualifying Final for the Wheelers).  Assuming that I can  make the alternative tryout day/s (still waiting on the detail), is it something I should do?

There's a few issues to think through (what this post is about).

Firstly, and also to help dispel what I regard as a myth, inline skating is not in itself detrimental to ice skating (nor vice versa).  I say this from my own experience.  As I've learned, one needs to make the effort to keep the ice/inline legs in synch, but that is doable.  I've been doing it since the Knight's last game in summer with the emphasis on the inline.  I could do it the other way.  It's not like we play for sheep stations in the Vikings C Grade comp, I'd hold my own I'm sure.

Tick to the Inline/Ice issue.

I don't want to make a commitment to something that I can't follow through on (and, if by some miracle mixed with dint of hard work) I did make the cut, I'd certainly want to keep my Vikings colours flying (even if it took a second place when ice games clashed).  I'd be willing to forego all other inline commitments to concentrate on the ice.  I suspect I'd still be able to play more inline games than not, and organise beforehand with the Vikings reserve coordinator to cover my team when I wasn't there.  Finals would only be a problem if I made it in both forms of hockey.  If it was a clash of grand finals, I'd deal with that at the time lol (bloody optimist).

So, tick to the Vikings clash (except present season's finals - potential game breaker).

Every Saturday would involve a game of either ice or inline hockey, with at least every other week featuring an ice game on different day/time also.  Do-able.  There'd be an hour at weird day/time training on the small ice every week (I'd do it if it didn't clash with Wheeler's game so as to interfere with Wheeler's season).  If I bought a term's Academy membership that would be 3-10 Tuesday evenings and a skate each week with the boy/s (assuming at least one continues).  These are the minimal requirements timewise to be real.  This equates with a minimum of 3 ice and 1 additional ice or inline session a week.  Add a day of rest.  Add another day for recreational skate / inline training session / injury recovery / kid time / etc.  Add up to 7 more Academy sessions and finals games (if feeling optimistic).  Still do-able.

Tick to the time factor.

Neither sport is cheap, though the ice is a lot more expensive than the inline.  Total Ice fees would be about $700 (Minimum of 10 small ice trainings, 3 academy sessions, 10 public sessions and 12 games over 3-4 months,  (add more academy and playoff games if optimistic)).  The Inline runs at about $120 for the season (14 games, 14 training sessions).  I have all equipment required, but still probably need to spend a few dollars for ice uniform if I get the chance and expendables (sharpening, laces, tape).  I presently have a relatively comfy middle class job.  Stop all junk food purchase and recoup half the cost.  Stop smoking and make a profit.  No excuse here.

Tick to the cost factor.

That leaves two unresolved main issues, logistics (the logistics of a busy one car family in particular, considering all the travel time that is implied as a maximum in the minimal participation outlined above) and the wife factor.  These issues are interrelated, the first factoring in as a derivative of the second on closer reflection.  Of course, there's at least a middling chance that I won't have improved enough from summer to make the cut even if I do try out, so I'll see the lie of the land with the missus and play it from there.

We'll give it a go, anwyays.