Synthetic Ice Skating Rink Beats the Heat in Norterra
If you’re looking to chill out for an hour or two with the kids, check out the indoor synthetic ice skating rink set up at the Shops at Norterra through Aug. 6. The 1,500-square-foot rink is open for general skating Thursdays through Sundays or can be reserved for private parties.
The surface is a dense, lubricated plastic, explained Steve Frisken, part owner of Chill Studio SK8, an events company that installs “pop-up rinks” at various locations around the Valley.
Regular ice-skating skills are transferrable, and regular skates are used, Frisken told In&Out. You can bring your own or borrow them at the rink. But the synthetic surface offers more traction, so the first thing skaters will notice is they don’t slide (or slip) just upon stepping onto the surface. For beginners — and anyone who’s ever spent significant rink time on their backside — that could be considered a big plus.
“You only get out of it what you put into it,” Frisken said. “The technique is a little bit more like roller blading.” He dons his skates for impromptu lessons for anyone who needs it. “But most people don’t,” he said.
LOCATION: Shops at Noterra, 2460 W Happy Valley Rd., Suite 1145 (next to Jos. A. Bank).
COST: $6 per individual ($4 for ages 2-3); $25 for five people. There are also times set aside for camps, and groups can rent the entire rink.
