Ice Skating Rink Succeeding In Atascadero
For a third straight year, downtown Atascadero is home to ice skating. Blades On Ice, a temporary rink, has settled at 6420 El Camino Real for four-month long run that will end in mid-March. Opened in early November, the 9600 square foot facility has been a big hit.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Atascadero resident Dina, Hannum. “It’s cold, but it’s a great thing for the community for the kids to come out and skate and get some energy out.”
Hannum, who was visiting on Monday with her 8-year old daughter and her two nephews added it was a much better winter break alternative than staying at home and being on the computer.
As Hannum observed from the viewing area, her daughter Mya glided on the ice, along with several other local residents. While it was cool inside the rink, which is covered with a sturdy fabric tent, it was warm on the outside, with temperatures settling into the 70’s.
“I think it’s a great opportunity since we don’t get to have snow or ice or anything like that,” said Mya Hannum. “It gives you something to do and it’s really fun and I get to see my friends sometimes.”
Leila Spaulding, who was visiting with her sister, said she’s already skated at the rink several times since it opened last month.
“It’s just fun, it’s kind of like a rush of getting going fast on the ice skates, it’s different from walking, it’s different from skateboarding or something, it’s just fun to have it on ice,” said Spaulding.
The rink is the brainchild of Derek Ehinger, a Southern California native, who was inspired by visiting Rockefeller Center in New York City with his daughters about 10 years ago.
“It’s pretty great to have an ice rink here,” said Ehinger. “A lot people are excited to come out and have a new activity for a family style activity and there’s a few challenges, we have to teach people about ice skating because there hasn’t been a whole lot of ice skating around here and teach people how to put on their skates.”
Ehinger, who has operated Blades On Ice the past two years, has a long-term vision to build a permanent rink in the county.
“I want to build an ice arena, somewhere to be able to hold hockey tournaments and figure skating championships, ice shows, Disney On Ice, anything ice related.”
Ehinger’s plan is to build a “transitional” facility that would build momentum to eventually build a permanent rink.
“I’d like to have this sheet of ice in a permanent building by next season and I think if I operate year round with roller in the summer, ice in the winter for about five more years, I think realistically we’ll be able to shut down the ice part, leave the roller part to use an indoor facility, and then start work on a major arena here on the Central Coast.”
The idea of a permanent rink is something that is creating excitement for the customers of Blades On Ice.
“It would be great for our county to have something permanent like that, I know the kids love doing hockey, give them an opportunity to do a winter sport year round and have that type of activity,” said Dina Hannum.
In addition to daily public skate sessions, Blades On Ice is also home to hockey leagues and clinics, as well as a skate school. The facility will be operate through March 15, 2015 and will be open Christmas Day from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
