Caroline Verdon: Why I'm totally captivated by the sport of ice dancing

Since Dancing on Ice restarted this year I've watched it in awe.

The celebs are seriously impressive. I’m amazed at how quickly they pick up the moves and at how graceful they look despite little training. Ant however has watched it with a different outlook.

He went ice skating three times as a teenager and so reckons it’s easy. He thinks they put on how difficult they found it initially and firmly believes they fake trips and falls in order to ‘go on a journey’ so it looks as though they are improving when really they were good all along.

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Sometimes when Ant and I are sitting in a box talking to each other about last night’s Dancing On Ice over a cuppa we sometimes forget that we’re actually on the radio and that other people can hear us which is exactly what happened with Ant’s rant.

The phone started flashing and we had a call from Jennifer Barnfield-Lee, an international figure skating champion. Turns out she’s going to be one of the ice skating instructors at Ice Cube in Millennium Square when it opens tomorrow (Friday) and because Ant said with five hours of lessons he could be as good as the celebs, she’s organised for us to officially open the rink with an ice dancing routine. I know. Terrifying right?

I am not an ice dancer. Infact the absolute last word anyone would use to describe me is graceful. I’m not remotely delicate, I have very little rhythm and my balance is non-existent so to say I was nervous about the concept was an understatement but I struggle to say no to a challenge. It’s a huge character flaw! So we’re doing it. 4.45pm tomorrow afternoon we’ll be prancing and praying that we won’t fall over!

I used to be sporty but at 18 I found nights out, dirty kebabs and bowls full of low self-esteem. It was so chronic at the time that it stopped me from getting involved in the individual and team sports I once loved and so over the years I’ve become seriously unfit and lazy.

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I’m talking driving to the corner shop lazy and getting a sweat on if I have to take a few flights of stairs. I think this is why this task has been so daunting for me, it is completely out of my comfort zone. Without wanting to turn this into some sort of therapy session, I think the reason I don’t really enjoy exercise classes or going to the gym is because it’s hard not to focus on how out of breath or sweaty I am or on how much weight I need to lose or what distance I need to run which makes it quite a negative experience but with learning to ice skate it’s completely different.

For starters, Jen is the most positive person in the world, she believes she can teach anyone to skate and after three hours with her I agree. The other thing that’s different is that when you are learning a new skill the mindset shifts – you’re watching and copying and before too long achieving and that feels amazing.

Each hour session I’ve come away with two new moves that I never in a million years thought I could do 60 minutes previously. Don’t get me wrong, Ant and I are no Torvill and Dean and what we have managed to learn in three hours is possibly only impressive to us but there is a jump in the routine and just about a lift!

It’s been so much fun and so enjoyable to focus on learning something new that has a side effect of helping with fitness as opposed to doing sport purely to lose weight and be healthier.W e’ve been practicing at Bradford’s Ice Arena which has been lovely during the week – the ice is really smooth, the rink is massive and the staff are really helpful plus because there aren’t loads of people there, there’s space to practice without worrying about getting in people’s way but it’s still a bit of a drive. The ice rink at Elland Road in Leeds is due to be completed this year and I cannot wait. I’ve been totally captivated by this sport and whilst I may never being a good skater and whilst I will most likely fall over and then struggle to stand up again when we do our routine on Friday in Millennium Square I can guarantee that I’ll be doing it all with a massive smile on my face.

Nannies for adults?

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I’ve come up with a new business idea and I think you’ll be on board. Nannies for adults.

Picture the scene. At 9pm, a warm looking adult arrives at your house, walks into the lounge and says “one more episode before bed then no more”. When the episode finishes on a cliffhanger and you try to binge-watch the next instalment they gently remove the remote from your hand and march you to your bedroom where your bed has been freshly made and your pyjamas ironed.

You get changed and go into the bathroom where your toothbrush is ready and waiting with the toothpaste already on it, and a glass of water has been primed ready for a quick swill. You clean your teeth, wash your face and as you head back to your room and get into bed and the adult nanny brings you a warm milky drink before removing your mobile phone so you aren’t tempted to check out facebook or twitter ‘one last time’ before bed.

They then tuck you in and read you a story until you fall into a deep and blissful sleep. In the morning you wake up to find that whilst they have let themselves out as you were sleeping, they only left after they made you a pack-up for the following day.

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Imagine that! Living the dream right?! We had loads of texts and calls from people who would also pay for this service and even a lady from Horsforth who said she’d be up for the job! Mick in Belle Isle did call to say he thought I’d lost the plot though…he might be right!

What are your house rules?

If you’re in my house and you’re wearing heels, take your shoes off or they’ll damage the wooden floors!

That’s pretty much the only rule for guests in my house. Everyone has rules and it turns out some are amazing – Tom Jackson in Crossgates’ is “beer in the fridge, grab one before sitting down”

Some rules tell you a lot about the hierarchy in a household – Jackie Webster in Seacroft said one of her rules was “if you come to my house, expect to be covered in dog and cat hair when you leave. It’s their house not yours”.

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And other rules are just eye opening like Bill’s who text us to say the rule in his house was “please shower before you come round, I don’t want to smell you”.

I can’t be the only one with questions over the company Bill keeps can I?

Caroline Verdon is one half of the breakfast show at Radio Aire. You can hear Caroline and Ant between 6-10am every weekday morning.

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