Sock skating comes to Santa Barbara at MOXI for Winter weather experience without cold temps
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The winter weather in Santa Barbara is not conducive for outside ice skating, but a simulation is taking place.
The Museum of Exploration + Innovation (MOXI) has created a rink that can be used without a cold base and instead of skates, you just wear socks.
The museum said the sock skating is on the rooftop of the multi-story building. It's located about two blocks from the beach on State St.
"Seaside Sock Skating" is included in the price of admission through Jan. 7, 2024.
It creates a surface that's frictionless. Participants can slide along the floor without feeling the cold base.
"When we built this, we really were thinking about what does it look like to take safe risk taking," said
MOXI Director of Learning Experience Kaia-Joye Wesolowski said some of the first ones on the rink took some careful steps, but not everyone. "And other people are getting on and running and gliding across to the other side!"
The surface has 10-15 percent less friction than ice.
As part of the experience, you can also learn the science of socks.
Wesolowski said, "even what happens if I turn my socks inside out, so simply just having the experimentation of the socks is really a part of science and on top of that, it's a whole exhibit that's based on friction."
A MOXI board member Marcia Cohen said, "I think it's all about movement and air, friction that kind of thing." It's a rare experience in sunny Santa Barbara. Some people coming into the exhibit drove up from Ventura County and Los Angeles, just for this stop. "That's what makes it great. Whatever they are doing throwing the balls or sliding or hanging out with their mom and dad. I think its very fabulous," said Cohen.
Spinning and dancing her way through the rink, one of the kids, Delilah Munguia said, "I've been roller skating but nothing like this." She also got into a couple of cotton ball battles and came out with a smile.
The MOXI is planning for a special after hours event with adults on December 15. That will be followed by later hours for the public on December 16-17.
