47.0°,
Mostly Cloudy The Herald goes skating at Twin Rinks
The closest I usually come to being on the ice is when I get good seats for an Islanders game. So when I laced up and stepped onto the red rink at the new Twin Rinks complex at Eisenhower Park, it was an unusual but not entirely unfamiliar feeling.
Back in high school, my friends and I occasionally took advantage of the open sessions at Hicksville’s Cantiague Park. It was a good way to spend a Friday night, skating around as ’90s music blasted from the speakers. Then I didn’t skate for a long time until last year when, as editor of the Valley Stream Herald, I went to Valley Stream on Ice at Grant Park in Hewlett and took a few laps so I could write a piece similar to this.
My co-workers and I arrived at Twin Rinks on Dec. 20 for an open session. We immediately noticed the Herald banner hanging inside the outdoor rink, where skaters much more accomplished than us were practicing for a show that night. Stepping inside the main entrance, I was impressed with the facility. It was new, clean and colorful. The fireplace in the middle of the main foyer made for a nice touch. A youth hockey game was going on in the blue rink. In the party room was a “Frozen”-themed girl’s birthday. We contemplated crashing it to get some cake.
After getting my skates and storing my belongings, I stepped onto the ice. My goal was simple — don’t fall. I wasn’t the best skater in our group of eight, nor was I the worst. But I managed to stay upright the entire time, even if there were a couple of close calls. By the time the two-hour session was up, the ice was choppy. It certainly gave me a greater appreciation for anyone who plays ice hockey, who has to skate, hold a stick and think about the game at the same time.
There were people of all ages and skills levels skating that day. The rink guard quickly came to the aid of anybody who took a dive.
By the session’s end, I realized should have worn higher socks to protect my feet. Lesson learned for next time. Changing back into my sneakers was welcome. When we left, the whole lobby smelled of fresh popcorn.
I will never skate professionally, and probably won’t ever be more skilled than the mediocre level I am at now. But the atmosphere at Twin Rinks was warm — even if the temperature inside the rink wasn’t (bundle up!) — and family-friendly. I certainly would like to head back and take a few more laps.
