Thursday, September 4, 2008

So what's up?



So it's been a month since I've posted - not sure why - I think on some level I am done blogging about the state of the ice rinks here in Portland. I mean, what else is there to say?


So just a brief rundown of my most recent observations:


The ice at Valley is better than it was last winter - it is more even and I was even able to skate on the end part of the rink closest to the lobby, an area which I had considered basically off-limits because of the severe ruts and sloping - I basically had altered most of my skating to avoid this part. The other day I actually set my figures up on that piece of ice because that was the only clean ice available (I'm thinking other skaters have learned to avoid it also - so that's why it was clean. Habits. Interesting.


The ice at LC has generally been very good - the other day it was so fast that I got scared while doing one of the dances - I was moving too fast! They are eliminating one of the dance sessions (Saturday early-evening) in a couple of weeks - it was poorly attended and I guess the management decided they would try to leave the public session open longer in hopes to gain more revenue (? - oh well, at least they have a plan) - so now the only social ice-dance session is Sunday morning and hopefully the attendance will improve in the fall.


The ice at Mt. View has been a little disappointing - I have been still going to the Adult-only Coffee Club on Wednesday at noon - it is very quiet and nice ice - we can play our own music and I can get a lot of skating done. I don't think they are actually cutting the ice before the session and only laying water on so it is a little rutted and not that "smooth-as'glass" surface that I enjoyed so much earlier in the summer. I also wondered if it just didn't seem as good since the ice at Valley has improved so much.


So we are getting ready for the "High-Level Adult Dance Camp" which will be at Mt. View and Lloyd Center the weekend of July12-14 - we are expecting a lot of good skating - I don't plan to do the whole camp but I will be helping with the food and going to the off-ice and social sessions as long as my feet can hold me up - it should be fun and invigorating to the skating community in general and especially the people who are interested in competing.


Otherwise it's business as usual - getting out there and skating and hoping for good ice and acceptable customer service...