The Reno Ice Rink at Greater Nevada Field is officially open for the season.
Two sounds dominate the rink: laughter and screaming, often in combination. The screaming coincides with the near falls or actual falls, and the laughter from friends and family quickly follows.
Nearly all first-time skaters start out hanging onto the waist-level guardrail much as beginner swimmers cling to the side of the pool. After skating a few laps and building a little confidence people start venturing away from the wall and picking up a bit of speed. Younger skaters, who seem to bounce back off the ice after a fall, are a bit faster to relinquish their dependence on the wall than the older skaters.
The rink also rents out a blue plastic seal for $10 that serves as a sort of pram on ice so young members can join their family on the rink.
Starting on Nov. 29 the rink is host to a broomball tournament, a sport similar to hockey but played without skates or the body-crushing hip checks. Teams will play once a week until the big championship match Jan. 31.
The Reno Ice Rink will also be hosting special characters throughout the winter ranging from Star Wars to Frozen, and even Paw Patrol.
It would be simplistic to say the Reno Ice Rink is just a great place to go for some family fun because it is really a great place for everyone to enjoy. There is a sense of camaraderie as total strangers slip and slide across the ice. So yes, you might be bad at skating but that’s part of the fun. Nearly everyone is bad at it and they can’t stop smiling about it.
Visit http://greaternevadafield.com for hours, character days, broomball information, and additional information.
