I always can feel the holiday season in the air when the Santa Monica Ice Rink is up.
I have walked or driven by it so many times over the years and never had the nerve to try it. I hadn’t skated since I was 12 years old! Last year, I finally got the nerve to put on some skates and get on the ice.
It was exhilarating! Yes, I was a little wobbly, and had to hold on to the side a couple of times, as kids at least 30 years younger than me whizzed by (little bastards) but it was fun!
It’s a great work out too. After several laps around the rink, I was flushed, my heart beat was up and my legs, ankles and butt were feeling it. The next day, however, I got up and could hardly walk. Awesome.
This year, I am going to get lessons from Randy Gardner. I’m so excited. Randy is a former champion pairs skater. Together with Tai Babilonia, they won the 1979 World Figure Skating Championships and five U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1976–1980). The pair qualified for the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics.
I used to watch him skate on TV in the 70’s. I was in high school. They were so beautiful on the ice. And, we get him in our own backyard, as the official instructor at the Santa Monica Ice Rink!
Every holiday season, Downtown Santa Monica brings a little ice to the beachside community and transforms the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue into ICE at Santa Monica, a premier outdoor ice skating rink.
The 8,000 square foot rink by the beach offers residents and visitors a little taste of winter without the bite.
When I skated last year, it was a balmy 80 degrees.
It’s a great place to get into the holiday spirit, and is the perfect place to hang out with friends and family, throw a party in a private event cabana, and sign up for skate lessons.
Ah, yes – skate lessons. I fully expect Randy to teach me some moves he and Tai performed, now that I’ve gained some confidence from last year. Just hope I don’t fall on my ass!
Dates
Nov. 1, 2015 — Jan. 18, 2016
Admission including Skate Rental: $15
General hours of operation:
Monday-Thursday: 2 pm – 10 pm
Friday: 2 pm – midnight
Saturday: 10 am – midnight
Sunday: 10 am – 10 pm
For more information, visit www.downtownsm.com/ice.
