Extra Precautions in These Pandemic Times.
Rinks that have re-opened have various protocols in place to deal with the on-going pandemic. I’d like to discuss my limited experiences (3 sessions) at an adult public session at one rink (which I’ll call Rink C). Questions for other skaters are highlighted at the end.
For adult public, the maximum number of skaters was originally 20, then raised to 30 (freestyle remains at 20). Advance registration and payment are required and are processed online. The registration page shows how many skaters have previously registered, and the number of available slots remaining. As long as the maximum hasn’t been reached, however, you can register and pay even after the session has started; i.e., you can be a walk-in if you bring along your smartphone to register and pay.
Rink C has two ice surfaces accessed via a common lobby. To avoid co-mingling of different groups, you are not supposed to enter more than 15 min prior to your scheduled session start time, and you are supposed to leave no later than 15 min after your scheduled session end time. Entrance and exit both occur via the common lobby. My first two sessions, I was too early by about 10 min; so I dutifully waited in the car until 15 min before the scheduled session start time. Both times, I was surprised to find several people on the ice already. I figured as long as there was no conflict with another group leaving, the schedule was not tightly enforced. The third time I was early by about 5 min. This time, I didn’t wait in the car. I checked to see whether any skaters were still exiting. None were; so I just entered.
Masks are required when you enter and when you are off ice; they are optional when you are on ice. When I entered the lobby, a staff member took a temperature reading of my forehead. There was no health screening questionnaire, either online in advance or in-person when I entered. I did have to sign in (on a paper sheet) with name and phone number, however. I thought this was peculiar, because most businesses have made efforts to be as “contactless” as possible. OK with me, since I put on disposable gloves before I enter. After the first session, though, I brought my own pen.
Skaters are allowed to bring in a bag and lace up inside. There are chairs and benches around the boards. One team room with benches and a single-occupancy bathroom was also open. Seats were not marked and assigned. Up to the skaters to separate themselves appropriately. Skaters are also allowed to park items (e.g., water bottles, blade guards, and phones) along the boards and in the hockey boxes. Again, no marked and assigned spots.
My first session, I didn’t know what to expect, so I played it cautious. I left my kit bag on a bench, and my water bottle in the kit bag. I intentionally avoided drinking too much water, to avoid using the bathroom. The second session, I placed the water bottle in a tote bag, and placed the tote bag in a hockey box. The third session, I did the same. But when I saw a janitor start to clean the hockey box, I moved the tote bag to another hockey box. In the future, I think I’ll leave the water bottle in the kit bag.
The rink is supposed to perform extra cleaning. Each session, the floors and benches were indeed clean upon visual inspection. But I was surprised each time to find a janitor actively at work cleaning. Not sure whether that indicates an extra level of diligence, or whether that indicates that I can’t assume everything is thoroughly cleaned prior to the start of the session (which would be my expectation).
Hand sanitizer stations were available, but they were manual dispensers. I don’t care for those (why touch a lever that X other people have touched?), so I bring my own pocket-size bottle. I try to avoid touching surfaces as much as possible. Two scenarios are difficult to avoid, however. When I lace up, the laces drag on the floor. One option would be to bring a sheet of paper to line the floor, but I decided to forgo that. Instead, after I laced up, I used hand sanitizer before putting on my leather gloves. Blade guards, of course, contact the floor. I take them on and off while I’m still wearing my leather gloves. When I need to get a drink of water or adjust my mask, e.g., I take off my leather gloves and use hand sanitizer first.
Other precautions I’ve taken are the following. I’ve emptied my kit bag of non-essentials. Many of these items were for the benefit of other skaters anyway (e.g., extra water bottle, extra tissue pack, ...). At the end of a session, I wrap my dirty blade guards in a plastic bag before putting them in my kit bag. When I'm ready to leave, I use hand sanitizer again and put on a pair of disposable gloves (I need to grab door handles to exit). When I get to the car, I remove the gloves, and place them in a trash bag. When I get home, I unload all my gear and park them on shelves in the garage to quarantine. I don’t want to degrade my skates and other gear with disinfectants. This works for now because I’ve only gone once per week. If I resume daily sessions (highly unlikely for now), I’ll need to come up with something else.
So far, the sessions have gone smoothly, because there have been only around 6 of us. I wear a mask on ice. The first two sessions, there was only one skater on ice without a mask. The third time, there were 2. I know one of them. He likes to chit-chat a lot. He recognized me, and started to approach me. I waved hello, and skated away. I think if the number grows to 10 or so, the current protocols would start to break down; certainly at 30, I don’t think they would be viable. May be a moot point, because these sessions have been getting bumped for hockey. May have to consider freestyle sessions if I want to skate regularly.
That’s my story. I’m interested in other skaters’ experiences: no need to identify the specific rink; but please identify the type of session (e.g., freestyle, public, or LTS). I’ve read posted protocols for various other rinks. I’m interested in not just a listing of protocols, but primarily in stories of personal experiences: what you are happy with, what you are not happy with; special concerns; and how well the protocols are executed and enforced in practice, especially over time for those who have been back on the ice for several months. [E.g., the supermarket I usually go to had strict and well-enforced protocols back in Mar – May. Over time, they’ve gradually eroded; and, except for the “no mask, no service” mandate required by the Governor’s Executive Order and plexiglass partitions shielding the cashiers, they were all absent when I went shopping last week.] Besides rink protocols, what other changes (if any) have you made to your skating routine?
Topic: Returning to the Ice: General Discussion; Helpful Hints and Tips (Read 2842 times)