Indoor skating options still abound as season draws to close

It’s not a sport that immediately comes to mind when one thinks of Las Vegas, but ice skating is enjoyed by many. End-of-season options are still available to valley residents.

Las Vegas Ice Center

Las Vegas Ice Center, 9295 W. Flamingo Road, has hockey and figure skating for all ages and all skill levels. It has an eight-week Learn to Skate Program that can be followed by free style or specialty sessions. For serious participants, the center even has an endless ice skating treadmill.

Las Vegas Ice Center has two rinks: an NHL regulation one (200 feet by 85 feet) and a smaller one (191 feet by 82 feet). Bring a sweater. The temperature hovers at about 50 degrees in summer and 40 in winter. Fees start at $10 for two hours of public skating or $6 for ages 5 or younger.

“We have no air conditioning. We don’t need it,” said Bob Della Rocca, general manager. “The ice is our air conditioner.”

He said as many as 10,000 people flock to the center when there are weekend tournaments, but not all of them are actual skaters.

What’s the appeal of ice skating?

“Everything else you do, you’ve been trained to do as a baby — walking, running. But ice is an entirely different animal,” Della Rocca said. “You either see sheer delight on the kids’ faces or sheer terror until they overcome it through instruction. I think ice skating is popular because of the surface. You’re not doing it in sneakers or track shoes; you’re on (specialized) equipment.”

Call 702-320-7777.

Fiesta Rancho SoBe Ice Arena

SoBe Ice Arena at the Fiesta Rancho, 2400 N. Rancho Drive, is a 31,000-square-foot, NHL-regulation-sized ice arena that offers private parties, lessons and events.

Its skate school is offered three days a week. Las Vegas Academy of Skating sessions are set for 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays, 4:45 p.m. Wednesdays and 11:15 a.m. and noon Saturdays; public skate hours vary. Private lessons are also available.

Coffee Cup Skate, an open skate for anyone 45 or older, is scheduled from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Admission is $5, and the arena is set to provide coffee and cookies. Visit fiestarancholasvegas.com, tinyurl.com/sobeicearena or call 702-638-3785.

Crystal Palace

Don’t want the chill of ice skating or the risk of falling on ice? Crystal Palace, 3901 N. Rancho Drive, offers roller skating lessons for $50 a month or for a $15 drop-in fee.

Class times are set for 5 to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and include 6 to 8 p.m. public sessions after classes. Call 702-645-4892 or visit skatevegas.com.

For next time

On the Strip, the Cosmopolitan’s Ice Rink, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South, transformed the Boulevard Pool. One feature allowed attendees to skate in as it snowed. It closed Jan. 4.

Ice skating took over for the holidays also at the Rock Rink at Downtown Summerlin, which ended Jan. 19. It included a skate school with basic skills taught by professionals.

Carrie Polonia brought her two daughters, ages 6 and 7, to the Summerlin rink. The little girls were in awe of the princesses. The family had been three times since the rink opened.

“It’s incredible, a wonderful experience, and we’re happy that they can do something like this when we’re right in the middle of the desert,” Polonia said.

Shawn Houser and Mary Harris brought two of their four children, ages 12 and 8.

“The girls really wanted to do it, so we were like, ‘Why not?’ ” Houser said.

“We haven’t done it in years, and this is a great opportunity,” Harris added. “I’m OK at it. I’m improving.”

Contact Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 702-387-2949.