With free tickets, Capitol Hill skate rink organizers say 'try it, you'll like it'

While we're helping the locals out with a little marketing, here is your chance to find out just how shitty the synthetic surface at the Capitol Hill Ice Rink is:

Organizers of the ice rink -- and, yes, CHS, like Dominic Holden's the Stranger, is a sponsor -- think you ought to give it a try despite some of the early reviews on this CHS post. We suppose you former hockey pros and ice princesses will not like the fake surface. Small children, drunks, people from California and the rest of us? We'll do just fine.

Details on free skating this Friday and information about the synthetic surface are below. We've also been told that there are free tickets for skating tonight available during the art walk at Babeland, Cupcake Royale and Blick Art Supply. 

Pike Pine Events Group Offers Free Skate 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday December 9 at Capitol Hill Ice Rink 

 

SEATTLE, Wash.—(December 8, 2011) — On Friday December 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Pike Pine Events Group will host a FREE open skate to encourage skaters to give it a glide for themselves.

The ice rink was created to help bring one of winter’s classic pastimes to Capitol Hill for the holidays and to provide a delightful activity for all ages. The Capitol Hill ice rink will serve as the new center of holidays on the Hill for this increasingly diverse and eclectic neighborhood.

The 80-foot-by-50-foot, environmentally friendly synthetic ice rink by Artificial Ice Events  http://www.artificialiceevents.com/  is constructed over the basketball court in Cal Anderson Park (1635 11^th Avenue). The following link diagrams how it workshttp://www.artificialiceevents.com/how-artificial-ice-works/.Take a look at this video from Tuesday, December 6:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DSzJ9q5EVU.    

Dave Tibbets from Artificial Ice Events who is in Seattle for the month to train and maintain the synthetic rink, explained that temperature, wind, moisture all affect the way the rink skates.  Once the rink is seasoned the skating is improved dramatically. 

 

Tips on How to Skate on Synthetic Ice: 

• ·         Allow five minutes for skates to “heat up” allowing the blade to move smoothly through the synthetic surface.
• ·         Push off strongly. Keeping a sturdy momentum is key to building a natural speed.
• ·         Sharpen blades every hour. The additional friction dulls skates faster than traditional ice.
• ·         Wear clothing that is appropriate for the synthetic surface.
• ·         Skate with a group.  The more skaters on the ice, the better the surface.

Details:

• ·         Dates of operation: December 6 through 24.*
• ·         Hours of operation:  11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
• ·         Cost per hour:  $12/general; $6/children 8 and under. Cost is the same with or without included skate rental.
• ·         Concessions: Caffé Vita serving coffee and cocoa and Dante’s Inferno Dogs serving hot dogs.
• ·         Free gift-wrapping:  Provided at the rink by Sound Transit with a Capitol Hill merchant receipt.
• ·         Proceeds: Sponsorships and tickets monies will go to the non-profit Pike Pine Events Group for expenses and future projects.

About Pike Place Events Group:

Pike Place Events Group 501(c)(3) non-profit was formed in October 2011. Board Members: Jill Cronauer (Hunters Capital, LLC), Chip Ragen (Ragan & Associates), Rich Fox (Poquitos), Michael Wells (Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, and Todd Shumsky (Hunters Capital, LLC). 

Capital contributors to the Pike Pine Events Group include Rancho Bravo, Elliott Bay Books, Odd Fellows, Caffé Vita, Fokus Industries (Nuemos), Poquitos, Dunn & Hobbs, and Cupcake Royale. 

2011 Capitol Hill Ice Rink Sponsors include Rancho Bravo, Elliott Bay Books, Odd Fellows, Dunn & Hobbs, Cupcake Royale, The Northwest School, Sound Transit, Skanska, Dick Blick Art Supplies, Nube Green, Capitol Hill Blog, Pagliacci, Century Ballroom, CURE, The Stranger, International Parking Management, Cal Anderson Park Alliance , Bader Martin, Capitol Hill Housing, Girlie Press, Mobar, The Garage, Washington Trust Bank, Flora & Henri, Tavern Law, Sorrento Hotel and Hunters Capital.

For more information, visit www.capitolhillicerink.com or contact the ice rink at info@capitolhillicerink.com.