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I'd be interested in a meet-up, but I've had to give up skating. I'd love to join you guys after skating for a bit to eat.

If I wasn't finishing out a semester while working full time with weekend call, I'd be interested. Let me know when, and I'll see if I can go. However, I work 7a-7p three days, plus 6:30-9p class the other two weekdays. It would have to be a weekend for me.

I'd be game, and thank you for bringing this to my attention. I had heard about an additional outdoor rink but didn't know it was coming so soon! Bet it will be jam packed but still fun.

So what day are we thinking? Sorry you are off the ice Skaternum - I hope it isn't forever?

How about Sunday 11/22 at 1pm? It shouldn't be too crowded when it first opens and the ice won't be torn up.

Having skated at the Koka Booth Tinsel Town rink, I know the ice gets worn down quickly because it doesn't refreeze right away.

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I'm in! I haven't skated in...forever!

Skaternum, I'm so sorry to hear that you're off ice.

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

Arrrgghhh...I just realized that this rink is artificial, not real ice.

I don't mind trying it out for a little while, but I just wanted to point it out for others.

Looplover - glad you're on board!

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Oh funny - I wondered if it was - I've always wanted to try artificial ice, it should be interesting to be on it having not skated at all since the spring

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

OK don't kill me but I think I'm going to bail on this one - working from home has me absolutely stir crazy (though I'm still glad I do it) - I need to hit the road and get out of here for the w/e! I'm not sure where yet!

Hope to make a meetup soon!

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Revised Official 2010 Goals checklist
Skate __
New boots __
(lowering the bar for 2010 as I haven't skated in a year)

I might be able to make that. Since I've not met any of you guys IRL, I have long red hair.

Where in Brier Creek will the rink be? It's kind of a spread out place.

oooh, yikes, I don't really want to skate on the artificial ice. I've seen it at shopping malls and it looks like people basically walking around on ice skates with maybe a wee bit of 'slide' going on occasionally. plus my blades are dull and I heard it will only make them more dull.

Isn't there a real-ice rink that opens sometime in December in Cary? I'd be up for that? Also, I think it would be fun to meet up at the late night public session in Cary on Friday nights. It starts at 10pm on Friday and is 18 y/o and up so no annoying little ones trying to trip you up. We could meet for coffee since it's so late, then go skate?

(((back to ice dancing live from Sk8 America on Universal Sports)))

Hey guys, this sounds like fun, but I'm hugely pregnant and might give birth any day now, so I can't join you all. I haven't skated since February. I agree w/mskater about the artificial ice. From what I've seen and heard, it's a lot harder to skate on it and it really wears out your blades. The other outdoor rink, with real ice, is going to be the Progress Energy rink in downtown Raleigh on Fayetteville St. I don't know when it opens, but that sounds like a fun place to skate if you can avoid the crowds on weekends. Have a good time! Hope to see you all at the rinks again sometime next year.

There's supposed to be a seasonal rink in downtown Raleigh. I'll see if I can find out if it's real or artificial.

Thanks, skaternum - when I started the thread, I thought this one was the real ice rink. It wasn't until later that I read a release saying it was fake ice.

I'm open to suggestions.


There was in 2006 & 2007 - the Koka Booth Amphitheatre held their "Tinseltown" celebration with a real ice rink outdoors. It was cute, very small, the ice was bad because the changing area was muddy and that mud ended up on the ice. They didn't have it last year (I think it was killing the lawn, imo) and I haven't seen any news about it this season as yet.

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skatingatty - Congrats again! Keep us posted on the baby!

Much better choice, thanks very much. Real ice rules!!
(Maybe you can just come to show us the baby and have a bite to eat????)

Raleigh, NC - REAL ICE!!!! (Thanks skatingatty!)

http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/raleighwinterfest/general_info.htm

Dates: 12/4/2009 - 1/31/2010

Hours vary - see schedule here: http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/_files/docs/hours-of-operation.pdf

A weeknight or Sunday opening time (noon) would be best for me, before 12/20/2009.

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Week nights don't work for me (work and school committments) but I could potentially do a Sat or Sun, except for the 12th when I'm on call.

I could do a weekend, depending on the exact time. But then again, I'm not skating -- only meeting you guys for food & drink.

Since we changed the location and dates, I've added a poll to tally interest. This would be either December or January since the rink opens 12/4/2009.

They said on their website that they were looking for volunteers, if anyone is interested.

Remember - it's REAL ICE, outdoors in the South! Yahooo!

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Yes, unfortunately. I've finally come to the realization that the knee just isn't going to let me skate, so I boxed up all my skating stuff and am mentally adjusting to the notion of not skating anymore. But on the bright side, I can sleep in, I don't hurt all the time, and I have rediscovered massive amounts of disposable income.

Or, you could keep my boyfriend company. He's leery of skating, but will try it to humor me...

Indeed I could, but I'm really not sure I can emotionally handle going to a rink right now and not skating. It was a really, really hard decision to make, and it's still kind of "raw." I'm sure that sounds kind of silly, but skating is what I always wanted to do and I did everything I could do to try to keep skating. It's like losing a part of my identity in a way. (ETA: wow, that does sound all lame and histrionic!)

Actually, you sound pretty normal to me. You're going through a grieving process and you have to go through all the stages. I completely understand where you are coming from. (OK, I'll step off the nurse wagon now.)

Skaternum, I also understand where you are coming from, it's really, really hard, especially as well as you skated. But, you can't take the chance of crippling your knee so badly you won't be able to walk.

Wish I lived in NC so I could come to the meetup, you all have fun and have a spiked hot cocoa for me.

Yeah, I think your reactions/emotions are pretty normal. Most of us adult skaters skate because we actually enjoy it and it's our way to 'escape' a little bit each day. I KNOW you are so strong and so well-rounded that you will make the best of this and find a way to re-direct your creativity and energy into something else that will bring you happiness.

Love ya! If there's anything I can do to help cheer you up just let me know...