(2011/2012) Outdoor skating rinks in Calgary - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FLAMESRULE · 01-09-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronck

I need to get my kids' skates sharpened...I used to go to sport swap, and ideas for a new place? I'm in the SW close to Chinook.

I take mine to No Sweat on Heritage and Macleod by the Co-Op store. Get the FBV cut, makes a big difference (at least for coasting fat guys!)

Northendzone · 01-09-2012, 12:44 PM

+1 for No Sweat - Todd knows what he is doing. I wish I had the time to get my skates sharpened there.

Honourable mention to the guy at Stick-Fix in the SE and Dunn-Rite

aaronck · 01-09-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLAMESRULE

I take mine to No Sweat on Heritage and Macleod by the Co-Op store. Get the FBV cut, makes a big difference (at least for coasting fat guys!)

Thanks for the info...I called and they are $8 per sharpen. Sport mart up the road is $4. Am I better off spending the extra $?

Regular_John · 01-09-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geos

Any updates? Is there any ice left in town?

Thank goodness for some cold weather coming next week... return to outdoor hockey.

We went skating at the Canyon Meadows community centre on New Years Day and the ice seemed to be pretty good. Tried to go skating again last Wednesday (Jan 4th) and it was a no go. Damn chinooks.

hah · 01-09-2012, 01:19 PM

We have been getting our skates done at No Sweat this season.

I get the FBV, however I get the kids timbit and Novice age players the regular sharpen at No Sweat it is a little cheaper.

Violator · 01-09-2012, 01:19 PM

is there a rink close to woodbine i have never skated outdoors.

FlamesKickAss · 01-09-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronck

Thanks for the info...I called and they are $8 per sharpen. Sport mart up the road is $4. Am I better off spending the extra $?

Go to deerfoot meadows hockey experts, its $4 and they do the FBV there. Go during the day if you can that's when the better people are there

FLAMESRULE · 01-09-2012, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronck

Thanks for the info...I called and they are $8 per sharpen. Sport mart up the road is $4. Am I better off spending the extra $?

They last at least 50% longer I find between sharpenings. I thought it was $7, but I get my wife to drop them off so I'm not sure what the actual price is. I get them sharpened maybe eveyr month so its not that much more and I do find it worthwhile.

FlamesKickAss · 01-09-2012, 04:05 PM

Oh an FBV is the way to go, they last so much longer. It took me a while to get used to them skating backwards. I have asthma and use my inhaler way less now

macker · 01-10-2012, 10:52 AM

Got out 12 times in December and 3 times so far in January. Not sure why everyone is saying the ice is slushy as where we have gone it has been just about perfect all but 1 time. For family type skates Airdrie has a good set up by the festival of lights and Princess Island park is also good. As for the best place to go that has nets and a full set up.......I can't really say

but there is always enough people there for some 3 on 3

As for sharpening, go to Play it again or some other used skate store and get some "ponders" as we call them for $20 and don't worry about sharpening them for months on end and keep the good skates for game action. We always get ours done at Skillz about once a month? There was also a very good sharpener at Bonavista but I think he was recently recruited over to the shop at SFC.

FlamesKickAss · 01-10-2012, 01:18 PM

Valley ridge rink is usually pretty good. Havent been there this year yet though

geos · 01-12-2012, 09:53 AM

Played some outdoor last night. Things looking better. Hampton's was still closed, however. Meaning the others are just more crowded.

They were flooding at Ranchlands as well when I stopped by, but certainly wasn't ready last night.

Now if only the forecast for next week improves from the -20 night time temps that are forecast, we'll be able to get out and enjoy the ice.

Cole436 · 01-13-2012, 02:18 AM

Anyone know if Olympic Plaza is good to go? I was thinking of going after work.

Wormius · 01-13-2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole436

Anyone know if Olympic Plaza is good to go? I was thinking of going after work.

Olympic Plaza is a go, at least as of Wednesday.

Wormius · 01-13-2012, 09:21 AM

Anybody know if those little "lakes" / ponds that are around communities (i.e. Country Hills Lake) are okay for skating on?

macker · 01-13-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wormius

Anybody know if those little "lakes" / ponds that are around communities (i.e. Country Hills Lake) are okay for skating on?

Most of these have no skating signs posted by the local communities or if on city property same thing. Liability has changed many things that we used to enjoy as kids. Now you have to work to find a good pond that is open to the public.

geos · 01-13-2012, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macker

Most of these have no skating signs posted by the local communities or if on city property same thing. Liability has changed many things that we used to enjoy as kids. Now you have to work to find a good pond that is open to the public.

That and they are stormwater ponds with unstable water levels. I would be a little leary of skating on one. It's not the same as a real pond where the ice and water levels are more consistent throughout the year.

With all the community rinks, why would you skate on a pond like that? There are some ponds in the mountains that certainly are skateable. I just don't see the appeal of falling though a Country Hill stormwater pond and being the laughing stock on the cover of the Sun versus heading to a community rink.

That's just me though.

macker · 01-13-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geos

That and they are stormwater ponds with unstable water levels. I would be a little leary of skating on one. It's not the same as a real pond where the ice and water levels are more consistent throughout the year.

With all the community rinks, why would you skate on a pond like that? There are some ponds in the mountains that certainly are skateable. I just don't see the appeal of falling though a Country Hill stormwater pond and being the laughing stock on the cover of the Sun versus heading to a community rink.

That's just me though.

Very true....when we were kids we didn't have these types of man made stormwater ponds everywhere but then again that was before all the frogs dissapeared

Kipper is King · 01-13-2012, 09:08 PM

Just went and shot some pucks on the new rink in Braeside. The ice is a bit soft, but it is vastly improved from previous years! Man, it felt good to be skating outside again!

WilsonFourTwo · 01-14-2012, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geos

Now if only the forecast for next week improves from the -20 night time temps that are forecast, we'll be able to get out and enjoy the ice.

I love going when its really cold.....

- Smaller crowds (People seem to forget that they'll warm up after a few minutes of skating).

- The heartier folks tend to show up and play some slightly more competitive rec hockey.

- The crisp air makes the "ding" of the crossbar sound amazing.

Gonna check out Glenbrook and Glamorgan rinks again today. They've been unusable for a little while, but should be in great shape again.