Thread: Any rinks where they skate *clockwise*?

I played at the old Thousand Oaks Rink next to Home Depot and then the more recent rink on Easy Street in Simi Valley and they always switched halfway through the public skate.

What about Toyota Sports Center? Do they switch?

i actually started skating about 6 years ago at culver city and went on to playing there and my cross overs are much stronger going counter clockwise as well and i have never seem them skate clockwise there

If you go when it's not too crowded, just pick a corner, keep your head up, and practice clockwise crossovers in that one corner.
That's what I do.

They used to switch at Culver, but like was said, years ago.

Originally Posted by SirJW

Paging BBO...

I'm surprised you remember this subject on which I rant (because I rant on so many subjects).

Jesus H. Christ, I'd be rich if I had a nickel for every time I've brought this up with rink management(s) over the years. It's not like we're asking them to split the atom, or anything. And it's not like the 16-year-old kids who supervise the ice are swamped with so many other important things to do that they can't get on the PA system once every 30 minutes and switch it up (yea, I know, they gotta chat up the babes).

The indifference of SoCal rink management is absolutely staggering to me (don't get me started on Glacial Gardens and their magic schedule). I guess they figure that the skating market is what it is around here, and being diligent about developing people's skating symetry isn't likely to start a flood of new revenue (skaters) walking through their doors. So I understand it from an economic point of view. I guess I give too much of a shiaaat about doing quality work in my own job to understand why others can't make a minimal effort in theirs.

What can you do?

1) As stated elsewhere, skate mini circles in the opposite direction in a corner.

2) Just be a contrarian and skate in the opposite direction around the entire rink. You'll really have to keep your head up to avoid collisions, but when the 16-year-old rink attendent asks you to turn it around to the 'normal' direction (for others safety), tell him you'll do so if he turns it around every 30 minutes. If he fails to do that, go back to skating in the clockwise direction. I think it takes drastic measures to wake up the living dead who walk the Earth in Southern California.

3) Every public skate has some figure skating coaches out there. You'd think they'd have an interest in the skating symetry of their clients (youngsters-hoping-to-be-the-next-Michelle-Kwan). Talk to them about this issue. They usually have the ear of the rink management.

Originally Posted by AutomaticBzooty

What about Toyota Sports Center? Do they switch?

Not whenever I've skated there.

The laziness of TSC (and Anaheim Ice) I can understand (but not excuse): they've got beautiful new facilities and people flock to skate and play there. They don't have motivation to go the extra mile.

It's the old ramshackle barns (Culver, Skaters Edge in Harbor City, PickWick, etc.,) where you'd think they'd be like Avis (we try harder) and try to make up for the lack of a new state-of-the-art building by doing some simple things to make going there more attractive.

Originally Posted by fansince67

They should switch halfway through. At least they used to, but I'm talking about the dark ages.

I miss the good ol' days!

Yeah, usually I wind up skating clockwise in the middle of the ice, with the figure skaters--all the kids and beginners tend to hug the walls.

I also didn't realize that it seems like every rink around here seems to skate counter-clockwise! I would have thought that it would be a rink-by-rink preference, and that half would go one way and half the other....but I guess not.

tonight there is a pick up at lake wood glacial garden from 1030-12 midnight. the lady on the phone said it is usually pretty dead, with only a few people so it really just turns into a sticktime. I'll probably give it a go.