Yesterday’s snowfall added to the experience for those at the outdoor ice oval

Prince George, BC –  The city’s original ice oval may have been started a few decades ago by a member of the local speedskating club, but it is families and recreational skaters that are getting the most enjoyment out of the outdoor rink located behind the Kin Arenas and CN Centre.

Outdoor Ice Oval Society President, Kathy Lewis, says the Blizzards Speedskating club does have one dedicated ice time per week where they’re the only ones allowed on the ice because of the speed they skate at, but, she says, "otherwise it’s open to the public pretty much all the time."

"And that’s definitely our biggest usage – the recreational user," says Lewis.  "Families, lots of masters – people who aren’t racing competitively anymore, but just like to come down and go skating with their long blades."

After an incident between a skater and someone playing rec hockey in-field a few years ago, hockey was banned at the outdoor oval.  Lewis says until the in-field can be developed properly and safely to make sure that it doesn’t spill over onto the oval, an outright ban has been the easist route. "It’s self-policed," she says, "But, for the most part, the public is being exceptionally cooperative and we’re not having any issues."

It’s a twoonie per person or $5 dollars for a family to lace up their skates and take to the oval.  Payment is collected via a drop box and the OIO Society president says the honour system, based on rough calculations, seems to be working.  The money is used to pay for operational costs like fuel and insurance on the water truck and zamboni used by the volunteer-run organization.

The group would really like to see change room facilities and a warming hut as added amenities at the outdoor rink, but Lewis says they’re in a holding pattern right now, waiting to learn what, if any, plans the 2015 Winter Games Committee has for the venue. She points out that fundraising efforts last year paid for a garage to store the zamboni, but says, "there’s not a lot of point in doing that until we have more information on what’s going to happen in 2015."

Lewis says there is a core group of eight or nine volunteers who make and maintain the ice and another four people on the Society’s board, who handle the administrative work.  She says the ice volunteers dedicate a lot of time over the winter months.  "Every time it snows – depending on the amount – it’s two or three hours just of snow clearing – and that’s before we can do any ice maintenance."

The society is always looking for new people interested in volunteering.  You can check out the website by clicking here.  Meantime, the Outdoor Ice Oval Society will be catering to its main user group tonight – hosting a New Year’s Eve event.  The oval will be staying open later than usual tonight, with free hot chocolate from 8:30pm until 10pm.  Lewis says, "We’re hoping that lots of people will come down and have a little skate before they head home for their New Year’s celebrations.

After yesterday’s snow, skaters were treated to a brilliant sunset