Summertime Outing to an Ice Rink Offers Plenty of Chills and Spills

Hot weather has definitely arrived. Got a family plan to beat the heat yet? Rather than self-imposed house arrest with the family gathered around the air conditioner, you might consider an outing to an ice skating rink.

Ventura County has only one, but fortunately it’s a very good one--Easy Street Arena in Simi Valley. And there’s lots to do there in that cool, well-lighted space that’s affordable for the whole family.

“We run ‘skating specials’ for families and kids,” said Sean McGillivray, the rink’s manager. Regular prices for public skating hours are $5.50 for adults and $4 for kids 12 and under, students with I.D. and seniors over 55.

But McGillivray offers price breaks such as “Friends Skate Free” (pay for one admission Friday night and get two), “Cheap Skate Night” ($3 per person on Tuesday nights) and “Family Night” ($10 gets up to five folks in Monday nights).

At these prices, McGillivray is almost competitive with the rates the utility company is charging to keep your air conditioner going for an equal amount of time.

Public skating hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m to noon, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. On Sundays, public hours are from 2 to 4 p.m.

A vast array of classes are available throughout the week for an equally vast array of ages, from 3 to 73. The names of these classes are as colorful as the maneuvers that students are taught: Tot, Pre-Alpha, Alpha, Gamma/Delta and Jump & Spin. Enrollment in one of these 10-session classes costs $99, with a 25% discount for each additional family member.

Students in these classes who want a price break on plain old recreational skating--during public session hours--can get a 10-entry public session pass for $25, or an Unlimited Public Session Pass for $40.

There’s another aspect to the skating going on at Easy Street. You may have heard that the famous figure-skating Hall of Famers Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner conduct their workouts there.

If you’re in the mood to watch that duo and other professionals skate, there will be three regional performances this weekend of the 1997 Tour of World Figure-Skating Champions.

Sean McGillivray reports that interest in ice skating has been growing in the U.S., particularly in California, where so many championship performers reside.

The flow of skaters from the public sessions into class sessions, then into the Tri-Valley Figure Skating Club, culminates with a local show next month. An annual recital for recreational skaters will take place at Easy Street Arena on Aug. 3 from 4 to 7 p.m.

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Easy Street Arena, 131 W. Easy St., Simi Valley. Prices from $3 on “Cheap Skate Nights” to $5.50 for regular adult admission. Skate rentals $1. (805) 520-RINK.

Tri-Valley Figure Skating Club at Easy Street Arena. For information, call (818) 609-9899.

Performances for the “1997 Tour of World Figure Skating Champions” are Friday in Anaheim, Saturday in Long Beach and Sunday in Los Angeles. Call Ticketmaster or (805) 583-8700.