Got to the rink and found these:





Those are the biggest I've seen form overnight. Hate to hit those at speed!

They did Zamboni the ice after the first hour was up (rink guy overslept).

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Bill Schneider

Oh, great! Perfect for hockey curve figure 8 drills!!! No need to get the cones out!!! (Yeah, those suckers are BIIIIIG!!!)

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Cheers,
jazzpants

11-04-2006: Shredded "Pre-Bronze FS for Life" Club Membership card!!!
Silver Moves is the next "Mission Impossible"
(Dare I try for Championship Adult Gold someday???)

Thank you for the support, you guys!!!

They're pretty big alright. There should be a law that the rink should be cleared of bumps before sessions. They could be lethal.

OHMYGAWD! You wouldn't even want to hit them with a small car!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Is the rink you are talking about Ohio University by any chance?

If it is, do you happen to know if OU has a synchronized skating team this year and if so what level they are competiting at and what test level is required to skate for the team. Also, are there many freestyle sessions available on a regular basis at the rink, is the rink open year round, and is there is a figure skating club associated with the rink.

Thanks!

Yes, it is Ohio University. The rink is open from September through early April - not year round unfortunately.

We had a synchro team last year, but there weren't enough skaters to form a team this year. I'm not sure at which level they competed, but I could give you an email address for checking into it. My coach headed up last year's university synchro team.

There are two synchro team classes that involve area youngsters - one called Lil' Synchro and another with high-school kids. My coach also teaches those classes.

There are adequate freestyle and moves sessions when the rink is open (and much more time available now with classes on winter break). Normally the hours are:

Monday freestyle 6-8am, moves 5-6pm
Wednesday freestyle 6-8 am, moves 5-6 pm, freestyle 6-7 pm
Friday freestyle 3-5
Saturday freestyle 7-9 am

For synchro classes there are other times in addition to these.

If you're interested in attending the university here, you should also know that university students are the coaches. If you have tested, you can apply to coach at your level or below. In addition, you might get assigned to teach a phys-ed class during the day. This year, the new coaches were sent to a PSA coaching workshop on the university's nickle.

Let me know if you're interested in more information, and I can put you in touch with the skating director. My email is william.schneider@ohio.edu

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Bill Schneider

They are massive! I would trip over those guaranteed!!

OK Bill - those are the steepest I've ever seen! When this happens at our rink I bring in a heavy scraping tool designed to cut through roofing nails and tiles when replacing a roof. I found it at Lowes and it works great - ask the guy in the shovel dept.
this should work:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...642&lpage=none
or:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...R7W&lpage=none
This also serves to make the management embarrased - I also would post signs not to skate until bumps scraped.
Good luck
Lyle

Hmm, maybe I need a bigger skate bag?

Here's coach Nadia preparing the ice for a lesson using a ball peen hammer:



Ok, ok, I know I'm poking fun of the rink because of one morning's problem, and that's not fair to the rink.

It's usually a very nice arrangement for the figure skaters, especially with all the extra ice time over the academic intersession.

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Bill Schneider