Aotea Square Ice Skating Rink
by lei
I’m not sure you could call what I did on Saturday night ‘ice-skating’. I did venture to the ice-rink at Aotea Square, I did strap on some ice-skates and I did put these ice-skates that were strapped to my feet on the ice. I just don’t think what I did could accurately be described as ice-skating. I clung to the rails of the rink, and shifted my feet along. Sometimes, when I felt really adventurous, I’d hold on with just one hand. You know what’s even more shame though? This wasn’t even my first time trying to ice-skate. It was the bf’s, and he was sweet, zooming around no problem. Me? Useless. The bf tells me I just switched off and went into survival mode and wouldn’t talk or respond to him, except for a prompt ‘No!’ when he’d ask me to let go of the rail, haha! I shuffled my way around the entire rink once, and then I hopped off. I had more fun watching my friends skate, than I did being on the ice myself. The fairy lights sure did look pretty though.
This is David saying, ‘go on, let go of the rail,’ and this is me saying, ‘oh, hell no.’
$20 will buy adults an hour and a half on the ice. During that time you’ll have to hop off for about 10 minutes while they re-surface the ice. If it is your first time, or you do suck, don’t feel embarrassed or let that put you off because there are plenty of rail-clingers-on like myself. Being a Saturday, it was pretty busy, and as a result people were skating at not too scary of a pace, but aside from one or two show-offs everyone was pretty courteous of each other, though I did see two girls getting stretchered off throughout the night :/ In the end, I think I’d be lying if I were to say that I had fun, but I’m glad I participated, and everyone else I was with had lots of fun, so that’s all that matters, innit? It’s also really lovely to see Aotea square lit up like that, not just the ice-rink but with the Merry Go Round too.
This is David winning on the ice
These are the faces of people having a good time on the ice
This is the face of someone who can’t skate to save her life
The Merry Go Round behind the ice rink, pretty lights!
UPDATE: You know what I did have fun on though? The ‘Rock’n'Tug’ lolol – fyi: I’m not crying in the pic below, I’m laughing uncontrollably:
Special mention to the Rockin’ Tug.
You should try rollerskating instead! I can’t ice skate to save myself but rollerskating is a lot easier on the ankles and in my opinion a bit more enjoyable for unco people like myself. The wifey says I skate like a robot, but man it’s a lot of fun when you get up to speed! Papatoetoe has a cool skating rink, with a bunch of friendly regulars and organisers.
One of those “girls who got stretchered off” was probably friend. She broke one of her shin bones, quite badly. Kinda glad I didn’t accept their invitation to go along…
oh no! Poor thing, I hope your friend has a speedy recovery
Ouch. I saw two chicks bail together. I was right by them but all I could do was look ’cause I was so rookie at skating :/
i’m giving it a go this weekend. i’m excited and ready to laugh at myself