L.A.-style ice skating

Ice skating in Pershing Square

It’s been a while, but I finally got a chance to drag some friends and family down to Pershing Square in December/January for ice skating. Woohoo! It was fun, but dude. I have some grievances to air.

Ice skating in Pershing Square

Well, really just one. And before I get to it, I have to say, the evening was gorgeous — a bit chilly, but only by Southern California standards — and I love downtown during Christmas. Seriously, instead of touring the Light Festival in Griffith Park, just make your way down to downtown and enjoy the gorgeous Christmas lights that are everywhere. You will probably hit less traffic, which is saying a lot.

Anyway, my one grievance is the rental skates. Sure, I get that $2 won’t get you much when it comes to ice skates. But c’mon. My first pair of skates had several eyelets missing, which made it impossible for my right boot to actually support my ankle. I kept having to go off the ice to readjust it, and making winding the laces around my ankles didn’t help, it actually hurt more, and I still continued to wobble in my boot. I exchanged my skates in for another pair, and the left one was great, but the right was missing even more eyelets. I really wanted to stay on the ice the entire hour, but my right ankle was killing me. I gave in about five minutes early, after several breaks from the ice to readjust. I realize, City of Los Angeles, that we are in a recession, but seriously — those skates are a lawsuit waiting to happen. Please get new skates. I’m even willing to pay more for rentals.

(It also made me laugh, just watching people on the ice. First, the people in line complained the rink was really small and where was there a real ice rink in L.A.? I suggested Pickwick. Then, once we got on the ice, it was literally a conga line on the rail — is it always like that? Why ice skate if you can’t get in the middle and zoom around a little? Then, the people taking pictures right in the middle of the thoroughfare or holding hands while skating. Geez, people, didn’t we already observe the rink isn’t that big?)

Ice skating in Pershing Square

But even as my ankle and foot were killing me, I still had a great time. Here’s me, a little slick with sweat, also without my mole!