The Outdoor Ice Oval Society is opening their facility this weekend thanks to colder temperatures from this past week.
Zamboni finishes final lap around the Outdoor Ice Oval behind the @CNCentre; open today & tomorrow from 1PM-4PM only @mypgnow #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/LWTKjx6cob
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) December 10, 2016
President Kathy Lewis says it’s taken longer than normal for the weather to contribute when it comes to maintaining the ice surface.
“We’ve been able to open as early as the end of November, even part way through November in the past, and certainly by early December we’ve been open. So this is a little bit on the late side.”
She says she’s thankful for Mother nature, adding making the ice the way it is a process.
“We have to go pretty slow at it; you can’t put down too much water at once, otherwise we end up with air-pockets. So we’re putting thin layers down with the really cold temperature, but from what I’ve seen down there, it’s pretty incredible ice right now.”
Skaters have arrived at the Outdoor Ice Oval; testing out the surface for the 1st time this winter @mypgnow #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/e4T4g7yiBw
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) December 10, 2016
The oval will be open for a limited time this weekend from 1PM to 4PM, but Lewis hopes by Monday morning, they’ll be open full-time.
“We do ice maintenance in the morning, so snow removal and zamboni usually until about 11AM. Then it’ll be open until 8:30 at night, and then we do ice maintenance again.”
Admission is $2 per person; $5 per family.
Skate rentals, as well as seasonal passes, will also be available for purchase.
The oval is located on 18th Avenue behind the CN Centre.
The Outdoor Ice Oval is only open SAT & SUN from 1PM-4PM; temperatures finally cold enough the help freeze the surface @mypgnow #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/1OIaicFK7T
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) December 10, 2016