skatingforums
On the Ice => Sitting on the Boards Rink Side => Topic started by: AgnesNitt on July 04, 2011, 06:26:52 PM
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I admit, I've only skated at about a dozen rinks. But I'm astonished at the amazing proclivity of people to just leave stuff lying around. I always skate in a zippered jacket, with my wallet in the pocket and the purse locked in the trunk of my car, so no worries there. But I've seen cell phones, purses, bags computers etc just sitting out. Yet I've never had anything stolen from my bag (I usually put it up on top of the lockers, but still). Nor have I heard of reports of theft any greater than blade guards. There's got to be some theft. I thought this might be a place to report safe vs unsafe rinks for theft.
My nomination is Charlottesville Ice Rink in VA. I didn't have anything stolen but the layout is just insane, and creeped me out. It is the only rink I ever secured my boot bag and shoes in the lockers. Other than that the rink was great.
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I try to leave my wallet and phone in the car. But I'm too scared of being stabbed to skate with my keys in my pocket, so they stay in my skate bag, and like most key fobs it causes the car to beep- so stolen keys could easily equal stolen car. Occasionally my wallet will be in there if I have to go shopping afterwards, and my checkbook is always in my bag (but who would steal that? Does anyone write checks anymore?).
My rink is in a mall, so theft would be easy- anyone from the public can access and not seem out of place (though it would be slightly more suspicious on an early freestyle session). I have heard of wallets being taken, when I first got there, but haven't had anything taken out of my bag in 5 years I've skated there. I rarely see anyone, public or freestyle use the lockers.
I think most stolen skate guards are either kids looking for a thrill, but too scared to steal something of value, or else are mistakenly taken. I think most people are good, and don't worry too much about theft. I do think it is helpful to always have the same bag, and know the regulars- that way the "moms" will say something if they see someone other than me digging into it.
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I've left my CAMERA, CELL PHONE, lots of clothing and of course, guards, at rinks all over the place. No one's ever taken them. Down heah, they go a step further: I've gotten calls from people at the rink to come on back because they spotted something of ours after we left the rink. One mom here said that her daughter's designer jacket was taken from inside her zuca bag - the thief opened it up. I just can't believe that is what really happened because my kids throw stuff around all the time and it always comes back.
When I was younger and had a much-lighter skate bag, I used to use a small shoulder duffel bag. I didn't carry much, so it was simple to just put it on the other side of the wall in a hockey box.
Today, I bring my purse or tote onto the ice with me during freestyles, but I lock up my wallet during general sessions. It's just too distracting since our rink allows people to use the hockey boxes during general sessions. I'm constantly looking to see who's in that box.
My current skate bag (a rolling suitcase) can be locked and I do carry a small luggage lock. When I skated in Dallas at the mall rink, we used a locker for keys/purse/etc. Anyone trying to pick up my skate bag would get a hernia, so no one's going to be running off with it. (The lock is the least of the things I carry in that behemoth of a bag.) At Rock Center, I put it in a locker or I would just bring an ID & cash plus my skates and guards. Nothing heavier than a sweater, but my office was only a few blocks away and I could use the underground concourse so no biggie.
The disappearing skate guards are interesting, though. I witnessed a kid try to take a pair once. Aside from the fact that the dope put them on in order to step onto the ice (I stopped him), he asked where to get them since "they were free." He thought everyone got a pair at the rental counter and he had missed out. It was an interesting conversation. He was around 7 or 8 years old.
I take my guards out with my purse, mainly so I don't forget my purse in the hockey box. I never leave them by the door - the off-balance hockey boys knock them all off the edge while they wait impatiently.
I think a bigger issue is that the skaters are so inconsiderate with their bags and belongings. You walk into a rink during a freestyle and every seat has a zuca bag in front of it, shoes and jackets all over the place. While they all have $150 seats, they park them in front of the benches and leave them there like they're saving the spots for later, when they come off the ice. It's selfish, imo. I make my kids put their things inside and park the bag underneath the bench or against a wall but left to their own devices, they won't do it because no one else does that.
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I was at one point ridiculously trusting and someone snatched a beautiful ornament hanging on my skate bag that I got for birthday a day ago.
Since then I lock up the skate bag for all-age public skating sessions. Noon adult session is usually consisted of regulars and I don't mind leaving it in the hockey box.
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During freestyle, there is no theft. We all know each other, and the skate moms watch everything like hawks. There's no way I'd leave my stuff in the lobby during public session, though.
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I'd had no thought of using a locker until my husband's cell phone was stolen from his jacket pocket one day a few years back. We put our names on the waitlist for a "permanent" locker the very next day - there are only a few lockers available for "permanent" hire by the regulars - and were allocated the locker nearly a year later, when the previous hirer passed away :(. Because there are so few permanent lockers, the only way to get one is to wait for someone to give up their permanent locker. Once we get one, we hang onto it for dear life - if you give it up, there's a long wait if you later change your mind!
Lockers at my rink cost a fortune if bought on a casual basis (I think $4 or $5 a session??) The permanent ones are a much better rate ($8 a week). The lockers aren't very big - enough to fit a large handbag. Some regulars who have permanent lockers keep their skates in them when they're not at the rink. I've seen those lockers packed as the skater departs, and not a lot else fits!
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I think a bigger issue is that the skaters are so inconsiderate with their bags and belongings. You walk into a rink during a freestyle and every seat has a zuca bag in front of it, shoes and jackets all over the place. While they all have $150 seats, they park them in front of the benches and leave them there like they're saving the spots for later, when they come off the ice. It's selfish, imo.
:worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy And heaven help you if you move any of the stuff out of the way ...
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You know, I think of it kind of like camping. People lock up up and hide their belongings in almost any situation. But camping- people leave hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars of stuff set up at a campsite, in their tents, or out and about, while they go on hikes, or out fishing. I haven't heard of much theft at all in campsites, and haven't experienced it. (More likely to hear of drunken violence.)
Oddly enough- at the beach, we always have someone guard the bags. Wonder why that situation is different?
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:worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy :worthy And heaven help you if you move any of the stuff out of the way ...
Nah, I just move it. They can glare all they want. Usually they take up half the bench in an area with 20 people in it and bench space for 10.
What irks me is when I've very carefully got all my stuff in a pile neatly beside me and I'm the ONLY PERSON IN THE BENCH AREA, two girls with zuca bags will sit next to me and try to push me off the bench in a passive aggressive way. I ignore them.
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Nah, I just move it. They can glare all they want.
And I move street shoes and dripping skates to the floor without hesitation. Hello, people sit here.
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Knock on wood, theft isn't a huge problem at my rink that I'm aware of even though we're not in the best place in the area. During freestyle there is no problem at all, but during publics if it's not crowded at all then I leave everything in my transpack, but if its' super crowded to the point I don't feel my stuff is safe there, I drop it in the office (perks of working there).
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I think a bigger issue is that the skaters are so inconsiderate with their bags and belongings. You walk into a rink during a freestyle and every seat has a zuca bag in front of it, shoes and jackets all over the place. While they all have $150 seats, they park them in front of the benches and leave them there like they're saving the spots for later, when they come off the ice. It's selfish, imo. I make my kids put their things inside and park the bag underneath the bench or against a wall but left to their own devices, they won't do it because no one else does that.
We actually have a rule about this at my rink, which is nice. All Zucas go to the side away from the benches. It is always annoying when a non-regular kid comes in and parks right in front of the bench or when it's a skate school kid with mom and dad and the zuca spread out over the entire bench.
The problem comes during show time. We are all in a locker room with little space and one year there were so many Zucas that there was zero room for me, one of the lone ones without a Zuca. So one of the older girls and I moved all of the Zucas to the middle of the room and the kids moved them right back in front of the benches until we said something to them that no one could get to the benches...
Even if the bag is in front of the bench in either scenario, the kids sit on the Zuca, not the bench! So annoying!
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Funnily enough, I've never really heard of theft at my rink.
We also don't really have too many problems with the Zucas, mostly because there are never enough people to fill all the benches so if the front row has Zucas parked there you can always just hop up to the next one.
I have a black wheelie suitcase that I keep my skating stuff in and I leave it on a bench. It has my wallet and phone in it. The rink is under-sized so you can always see your bag no matter what part you're on - and there's usually a mum there that knows most of the skaters and who's bag is whose.
I never skate with anything in the pockets of my jacket except a handkerchief. I don't even skate with a watch on. I don't like landing on things. I've done it multiple times off my bicycle, I don't particularly care to repeat the experience! :sweat
The worst thing for me is when there are public skaters at our session. At my rink there are three freestyle sessions daily - an early-morning slot (for the really serious skaters - well, I could go, but I'm not a morning person), a 3:30pm-5:30pm slot, and an evening slot. The mid-afternoon slot is "public freestyle" - that is, we can skate our freestyle on it, but if a member of the public wants to skate they can do so.
The worst problems we have are with those public skaters. They leave their shoes and bags everywhere, and will happily sit right next to your bag or dump their stuff on top of it! I've never had anyone steal blade guards, but I hang mine on the netting that goes all around the rink in place of "Plexiglas"so I can always see them anyway.
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I don't recall ever having a problem at my rink, other than guard being taken (and i'm sure it's more accidental or by young kids than not). Some skaters leave their PURSES out :o...I zip mine in my Zuca, behind my street clothes, shoes, etc. I figure if they have to root around it's harder for them to take my stuff (knock on wood). I don't skate the heavy night publics so I can't speak for that session.
We used to have lockers, but they were too small to be useful, and each time you wanted to open them you had to spend 50 cents. Not helpful at all.
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Parents look out for belongings from regulars. Dd pushes her zuca backwards so the zipper is facing the wall. I can totally see a non skating kid thinking guards are free! They are usually just sitting on the walls. ;D
Rhinestone jackets are the biggest loss. Dd had thought she left it and the director said don't bother coming back for it. We later found it "eaten" in the couch. Yes, we have rescued jackets and guards when we know who they belong to - and have had the same done for us.
Other that that I haven't heard of any outright theft. It was MUCH worse at gymnastics where almost weekly a car window was smashed in.
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The only things I've had "stolen" were things that I actually left at the rink.. in the days pre-MP3 players this was usually a binder of CD's. That happened twice, both times I consider it my own fault - I should have been more responsible with my stuff, but I'd often leave stuff in the DJ box and didn't worry about it - the disappointing part of this is only employees had access, so it had to be a co-worker who took off with them both times.
While I worked at the rink the most common item to be reported stolen were SHOES of all things.. there was probably a pair that went missing every PM public session. That rink would also only purge lost and found twice a year, so if you did lose something like a jacket you had fairly good odds of recovering it.
Where I skate now, because we have a computerized punchcard system (you just sign in at the desk) I don't even bring in my wallet or cell phone in with me, I leave them in the car, and ironically I probably worry about them more out there than if I brought them into the rink. But I've had my car broken into twice (not at the rink) so that's always in the back of my mind. I've yet to lose anything at either rink I currently skate at though... I would like to think that they're both fairly decent places, but I'm sure as soon as I let my guard down something will happen.
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I have twice had my purse stolen from my zipped bag in an ice rink lobby. This occurred at two different rinks in different parts of the country with many years between them. Neither culprit was a skater or otherwise trustworthy rink patron.
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I used to take a fabulously lightweight jacket made by Open Air Wear to rinks, just in case it got too cold, and usually left it in the lobby. Someone took it. It's irreplaceable - no one makes anything equivalent that light any more.
Speaking of camping, on kayak camping trip to Florida a number of years back, in a state park, someone came into the office while I was checking out, to report that someone had stolen the tent and camping gear from a neighboring site. Ranger said it happened fairly often.
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I haven't heard of any theft at the rinks I skate at, but I still have a luggage lock on my bag. Only one of my rinks has a skate change area that can be seen clearly from the ice, so I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I don't remember ever locking things up as a teen, but we either had a club room or could clearly see our stuff from the ice and there were skate moms everywhere.
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We did have some thefts at our rink - it was the only facility in a certain area that had restrooms, and many homeless people were coming in to use the showers, etc, in the locker rooms. Management didn't mind that people were coming in to get clean, etc, but after some things were stolen out of cars, bags, and locker rooms, they banned nonskaters from coming in, locked up the locker rooms, installed cameras, and let us all know what had happened.
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You know, I think of it kind of like camping. People lock up up and hide their belongings in almost any situation. But camping- people leave hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars of stuff set up at a campsite, in their tents, or out and about, while they go on hikes, or out fishing. I haven't heard of much theft at all in campsites, and haven't experienced it. (More likely to hear of drunken violence.)
Oddly enough- at the beach, we always have someone guard the bags. Wonder why that situation is different?
Campgrounds have a well earned reputation as safe places. We've been going to the same small NY State campground in the Adirondacks for almost 20 years. In all of that time, there has only been one theft there. We know, because we have always been on friendly terms with the ranger in charge, and very quickly became friends with the locals who go there regularly also.
Speaking of camping, on kayak camping trip to Florida a number of years back, in a state park, someone came into the office while I was checking out, to report that someone had stolen the tent and camping gear from a neighboring site. Ranger said it happened fairly often.
I think that says more about Florida than about campgrounds in general.
Back on topic - On winter weekends, it gets totally crazy at my rink, and I would expect things to be stolen. My protection against carelessly leaving something out, is to always lock up. I do this even when there are just a handful of skaters and I know them all. That way I don't get careless and leave things out when I shouldn't. The only time DD and I forgot and left our guards at the rink, they were stolen. I've picked up at least 4 pair of guards for other skaters, when I've seen them left behind, but mine & DD's were never returned. The stupid thing is that I bet the thieves didn't even really know what they were for and probably just threw them out later.
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There are a lot of thieves at campgrounds - of the four footed variety.
It's just part of how they survive.
Letting homeless people into a rink is a similar situation.
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A few years ago I accidentally left my skating-safe gel pads in the bathroom...they were still there three days later when I went back! I had left in a hurry (had to run to work) and left them on the sink. That says something about the people, and also the cleaning staff :o
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Well...only a week or so after posting that I'd never seen blade guards taken at my rink...
The school holidays are out so there were a lot more public skaters than usual on the practice this afternoon...two in particular had made me side-eye them, I know it sounds terrible but they were like 14/15, dyed black hair with long floppy fringe, etc etc. They were the type who just rocket around the rink at full speed even though they can't skate properly and definitely can't stop.
I happened to be looking towards the gate when I saw the boy with a blue blade guard in his hand...I thought he'd just knocked it off the barrier and was going to put it back on, but I never saw it reappear. I skated over to the boards near the gate to have a drink...
And there was Mr. Emoboy, clomping around near the benches with these blue blade guards on his rental skates.
I just said sharply, "Those aren't yours." He looked up and went, "Uh, I thought they were everybody's." I'm just like, "No, they belong to the person who bought them. If you want a pair, they're $25 at the pro shop." He took them off, put them back on the board, and slunk off. I overheard him say to his girlfriend, "I thought I wouldn't get it in trouble." Not on your life mister!
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Well, guess I'll rent a locker at the rink after all... Thieves visited my skate bag in the lobby and took away a ziplock bag that contained cash and ice coupons in addition to other stuff. Fortunately my keys and phone were not in the skate bag at the moment. Granted the lobby was empty and office closed (Sunday evening), but there were twenty kids practicing for the ice show and tens of zucas parked there... I will call the rink tomorrow to check if they left anything for me in lost and found, sigh.
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Well, guess I'll rent a locker at the rink after all... Thieves visited my skate bag in the lobby and took away a ziplock bag that contained cash and ice coupons in addition to other stuff. Fortunately my keys and phone were not in the skate bag at the moment. Granted the lobby was empty and office closed (Sunday evening), but there were twenty kids practicing for the ice show and tens of zucas parked there... I will call the rink tomorrow to check if they left anything for me in lost and found, sigh.
Sorry to hear about that. That's really sad.
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I always carry my wallet in a zippered pocket in my jacket, along with my keys.
The iphone was a problem fitting into the pockets, so I just tuck it into my bra. Let's see someone steal it out of there. ::>)
Anyway, most rink thefts (I surveyed the literature and did a blog post on it) occur during games or competitions when someone breaks into the locker rooms.
I used to worry about someone stealing my shoes--totally irrational--so for years I kept an extra pair of shoes in the car when I went skating. Then one day I woke up and realized it's probably only fancy sneakers getting stolen not old lady shoes. So, no more extra shoes in the car.
A good tip is to always zip up your bag. Little kids will claw through it if you don't. Zuca's are nice, but I mostly skate on public, so I just carry a duffel. Easier to deal with and doesn't attract attention.
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At my rink, stuff got stolen out of the locker rooms during hockey games, so they put a security camera aimed down that hallway that's on 24/7.
A rink employee assured me that where I and most other figure skaters leave our stuff (on benches right by the entrance to the cold part of the rink, facing one of the goal ends) is "the safest place" because people would notice anyone who didn't belong poking through it, but I'm skeptical. When I go to public sessions, I lock my purse in my car and tuck my wallet and phone down inside my bag.
There used to be lockers in the lobby, and anyone who wanted to lock up their stuff just had to bring a combination lock and could keep it there as long as they wanted. I was surprised at how few figure skaters took advantage of this, considering our rink doesn't have a parking lot so we have to walk quite a distance with our skates sometimes. After the rink was sold and renovated, they got rid of those lockers and just left a bank of coin lockers way back in the back that nobody ever uses. I skated there for well over a year before I ever even noticed them.
The iphone was a problem fitting into the pockets, so I just tuck it into my bra. Let's see someone steal it out of there. ::>)
Hmm...your iphone must be a lot smaller than mine then. That just wouldn't work :)
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For freestyles most seem to put their valuables in their rink totes (they go on the boards).
During public sessions, for my skater and her friends they park their bags near the mom's bench (away from everyone else) and parents watch the bags.
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At my former rink skaters can use the lockers freely with their own locks. At the current rink skaters need to rent lockers I believe on an annual basis. I don't know when does the new "locker season" start but will find out.
Phone size is a huge problem here too, being bigger and heavier than iphones. While it works OK for ice dance in pockets (used as metronome), it moves around too much for jumps and simply disastrous for spins.
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I only skate early morning patch, and I know pretty much everyone who is there regularly. I'm sure the parents would question a random person who came in and started rumaging through people's stuff. I don't have a car and go straight to work from the rink, so everything for the day (purse, keys, train ticket, patch tickets, phone etc) is with me at the rink. touch wood, never had a problem. The only thing I've lost was a jacket and it was my own fault for leaving it at the rink.
On the extremely rare occassion I skate on a public session (if i'm taking non-skater friends), I use the lockers.
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I always carry my wallet in a zippered pocket in my jacket, along with my keys.
I'm terrified of skating with my keys. I don't want to stab myself on a fall.
I do not carry ANYTHING on the ice with me. I leave my wallet at home when I skate, but I put my car at risk I guess. My 'clicker' is broken though, so it would take someone a long time to find my car in the mall parking lot...
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My skate bag would never fit in a locker since it is a locker itself! I have books, paperwork, training tools, etc. that I haul around with my skates. I often need to get something from my bag, so I like having it accessible, rink-side. I never leave my skate bag in the lobby or changing areas; I drag it into the rink and leave it in a corner or against a wall, out of traffic. I wish my kids would do the same, especially when they leave their ipods in there.
I usually take my purse on the ice if I bring one. I put it in a hockey box or (at publics) on top of the music station. If I'm at a rink I don't know, I usually splurge on a locker for my valuables or just lock them in the glove box/trunk of the car. Otherwise, I put my wallet and keys in my skate bag; I keep my phone and ipod with me on the ice when I coach.
I do have a luggage lock that I've used during public sessions to secure a compartment on my skate bag, but it's just a deterrant. If they really want to get in, they can just slice open the fabric or break the zipper.
I have heard of two thefts from zuca bags. One girl told her angry mother that someone opened the bag to steal her puffy jacket; another said her freestyle card was stolen. In the first incident, I think she actually left the jacket on a bench or didn't zip the bag and someone picked it up in error. The bags and those black, puffy jackets, look alike, so it could have been an honest mistake.
The freestyle card theft could have been done out of spite, or she might have misplaced it herself. The card had her name on it; no one else could use it and a stranger wouldn't know what it was, so it wouldn't have been taken for its value. It's also possible that she used her last punch and the clerk threw it away.
Here's a wacky suggestion: what if you bought a little toiletries bag with a hook to take on the ice for your valuables and some necessities? (Tissues, bandaids, music, etc.) You could hook it over the top of the glass in a hockey box so it's visible and only accessible to those on the ice.
I guess just buying a lock for your bag is easier, though. You could make a loop from a zip tie, put it around the frame support, then use the lock to secure one of the little outside zuca pockets. Again, you're just discouraging an opportunist, anyone who really wants to steal from you will make more of an effort.
ETA: I know the zucas have a zipper on the door flap that can be locked, but the little side pouches are more discreet to use for something small. Most skaters don't use the inner pockets and pouches well, so finding something small turns into a major search.
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Zucas already have lock-friendly zipper pulls on the "door" flap. I've thought about buying a lock but still haven't gotten around to it. My bag is a disaster with 3 pairs of skates and gloves and guards for 3 people, plus towels and other stuff. I actually joked to someone yesterday (while I was digging around for my wallet so I could pay my coach) that I don't worry about anyone stealing anything from my bag - they'd have to FIND it in there first!
I have not had anything stolen in the past couple of years... the only things I've had go missing are things I've left on accident... like boxes of tissues, or more recently, the bunga sleeve I left sitting on a bench. Not exactly the rink's fault there :)
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A bit OT: One of my DDs realized three blocks from the rink that she had forgotten something. We went back and spent 20 minutes looking everywhere for the item. Our rink has two lost-and-found stations; we checked all our skate bags, locker rooms, on-ice boxes, snack bar, stretching areas, bathrooms, everywhere! I was really ticked off because it appeared that the labeled item had been stolen within a few minutes of our leaving. I couldn't believe it! I checked the lost-and-found for a week - nothing turned up.
A few days later, the Director mentioned that the item had been left in her office, but she didn't know by whom or when. It just turned up when she came in to work one day. I told her how we had searched and she was surprised, too.
A month later, I was at the rink and saw a pair of skates leaning against the check-in desk that I knew belonged to one of the skaters. I saw her take them off, but she forgot to put them away. She was a rookie, and didn't have a skate bag at the time, so normally put them in under the desk while she waited to be picked up.
I came in the following afternoon to find the kid in tears, frantically looking for her skates because she had a lesson. I said, "Oh don't worry - I saw them by this desk last night. Maybe someone put them underneath or in the Lost and Found." She looked, I looked and they were nowhere to be found. I felt awful for the kid.
Turned out, her instructor had found and hidden them to "teach her a lesson." She watched the kid break down in tears and said nothing. I thought that was cruel, but it explained why skaters' things were often missing around the rink, only to turn up days later out of the blue.
I suspect this instructor tried to teach my kids a lesson. I couldn't have looked in the office since the Director wasn't in that day and the door was locked. The instructor, who had a key to that office, probably didn't know what to do when she saw me come in to look for the item with the kids, or she was enjoying our distress, as she did with her own student.
I now snatch up anything left behind by anyone and put it in the Lost and Found right away, to protect them from this sick nutjob.
Make your items look different with decorations or a jingle bell on a pocket, so there are no mixups. Keep looking and asking about left-behind items. (Obviously, cash and jewelry are long shots.) Put a permanent marker in your bag and use it to label everything with your name. Close your bags and put them out of the way, but where you can see them.
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Here's a wacky suggestion: what if you bought a little toiletries bag with a hook to take on the ice for your valuables and some necessities? (Tissues, bandaids, music, etc.) You could hook it over the top of the glass in a hockey box so it's visible and only accessible to those on the ice.
I guess just buying a lock for your bag is easier, though. You could make a loop from a zip tie, put it around the frame support, then use the lock to secure one of the little outside zuca pockets. Again, you're just discouraging an opportunist, anyone who really wants to steal from you will make more of an effort.
I always forget water bottles behind me, so totes will not work. Locking the bag to something actually sounds good, but I ended up signing up for the locker after all. The locker key is surprisingly big and fat, I may have to pin it inside the boot cover.
It's been concluded that my camera (that I've wanted to replace but worked perfectly) and a small music player (cheap off eBay) were also on the casualty list :/
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These are what are popular right now http://www.kissandcryangels.com/. Holding water, tissues, cd's, keys and phones....
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These are what are popular right now http://www.kissandcryangels.com/. Holding water, tissues, cd's, keys and phones....
You've posted this bag before, but I've never heard of it, nor have I seen it in use at rinks.
Wow! $30-50 for a tote to fall off the boards into hockey player spit and slush puddles? No thanks.
There used to be an (overpriced) rink side "saddlebag" tote that alleged to be good at staying on the wall since it hung down on both sides. Haven't seen it promoted in a long time.
At our rink, the skaters use inexpensive totes, caboodle train cases or shower totes if they need to bring stuff on the ice, but most travel light and just carry what they need.
Sorry about your camera and mp3 player, jjane.
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LOL - Maybe I should take a photo this week. They do look pretty lined up on the wall. :D
Coming soon to a rink near you....!
It's like a Zuca. 5 years ago no one heard of them but now? They are everywhere.
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No, they're not - I've never heard of them, nor have I seen them at any rinks.
Wow! $30-50 for a tote to set on the boards? Not a good use of money - there's nothing exceptional about them.
I agree, and it may be a regional thing.. I haven't seen them here either, but I can say that you can pick up a crafting tote for under $10 that does the same thing... if that's what you'd want to use. I have one on my desk full of stuff :)
Here people either use binders to hold all of their stuff or they just take a bag into the hockey box. It's not that hard to remember a bag with your wallet and phone in it if it also contains your car keys!
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LOL - Maybe I should take a photo this week. They do look pretty lined up on the wall. :D
Coming soon to a rink near you....!
It's like a Zuca. 5 years ago no one heard of them but now? They are everywhere.
Why are you so proud to follow this trend without thought? How is it a good thing to throw money at a status symbol, just so your daughter can fit in with the rest of the "haves?"
The only advantage that a Zuca bag provides for $150 is a seat and light-up wheels. All the other features can be found in other bags easily. By the way, the new trendy skate bag is a Heys bag, also overpriced, imo.
Zucas are overpriced status symbols, and apparently these totes are also. Glad to see they're isolated to a few areas. No wonder people try to discourage their kids from getting into figure skating, given these type of budget-busters.
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LOL - My dd has a tote from Target's garden clearance.
I just thought it was cute for those who want something fun at the rink for their phones.
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I've seen the kiss and cry totes in my region in one rink out of four. None of the other rinks have them. When I saw them I thought, 'Maybe I can use my old longaberger small purse when I skate freestyles,' but too lazy to haul something more around.
One of the reasons for using a duffel if you skate at publics is no one pays attention to them. Zucas scream 'I have money'! I can see people who go to a lot of competitions, or even a lot of rinks using them, but I'm sticking with my tried and true 'invisible duffel'.
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How is there space for everyone to have their own tote? My rink only had the length of the hockey boxes to place things. It just about has space for all the water bottles. CDs tend to stay with so parents as it's an excuse for them to talk to the coach.
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How is there space for everyone to have their own tote?
Our boards still have room for totes, but no room for spiral stretching...
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I'm going to say that the kiss and cry totes are actually awesome. I'm sure there's cheaper options but mine has never fallen and I can keep all my things togeyher when I'm on the ice. They're a trend of sorts at my rink.
When I went to competition last September, mom saw some of yhe skaters with them on their zucas and she asked why I didn't have one. I told her they gave them out at the banquet and I couldn't go because of work. She thought they were so cool she ended up ordering me one. I've used it for every freestyle session since. :) Mom was excited about it too. (I love the little moments when she turns into skating mom and gets excited about the sport lol)
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These are what are popular right now http://www.kissandcryangels.com/. Holding water, tissues, cd's, keys and phones....
They sell these in the shop at our rink. A few of the teenagers have them for holding tissues, water bottles and what not. I'd noticed them and wondered if they were the next trend.
There's plenty of room on the boards for them because we don't have perspex (they use netting for hockey).
I lock all my valuables in my skate bag using a combination padlock, but I'm only skating freestyles now. I'd probably be more careful on a public session.
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i only ever see coachs folders and coffee cups and skaters water bottles on the boards by the hockey boxes. But then we leave our stuff right by the ice (thats where theres benches and where we put on our skates), so you can see your stuff and can easily get off for a tissue or something without wasting loads of time.
I have a zuca but don't have money, I walk 30 mins to the rink, so it's easier than carrying a backpack or shoulder bag. Plus yes, it is cool :pI've had random non skating strangers tell me they like the flashing wheels lol!
Transpacks replaced zucas for a lot of kids last year, they go en masse to another rink and all the zucas wouldn't fit in the car lol!
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I've never had anything stolen but I have thought of rigging up a rape alarm so that I'll know if someone goes in my bag.
A friend had his iPod stolen and his bag was right next to mine (mine's a purple Transpack, his is a big hockey bag which has a flask of tea etc in)... Why didn't they go in mine? (Not that I'd want them to but it would've been easier to get my purse out of there than go through his bag!)
Today's news, though, really takes the biscuit.
The U18s ice hockey shirts have vanished. None of the coaches etc know where they are. What's someone going to do with a load of shirts?
(I don't know if these were stolen or just misplaced but no-one knows where they are and they aren't where they should be)
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I haven't heard of sticky fingers at any of the rinks I frequent, however, one rink I go to is scary on the outside (I haven't seen any crime, it's just isolated and creepy) so because of this, I've gotten into the habit of keeping everything locked in the trunk and I tie my car key into my laces as I lace up. I'm conviced this added weight on one leg from this super tiny key will somehow make one side of my body more fit than the other so I have this ridiculous habit of making sure I put the key on the opposite boot the next time I lace up. Being illogical is just plain fun ;D
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I have only ever had skate guards taken. I have heard of many people losing things from their skate bags. I always take my purse out to the ice and put it in on a bench in the hockey box. In and extreme case of theft, at one rinks I trained at in the summer, the skating office which had all the music equipment in it, which was toted around on a trolley, ws broken into one evening and all the equipment was take. Made for a very quiet session the next morning.
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Knocking wood ;) Had nothing stolen at our rink. It's pretty big with lots of hockey people plus random soccer kids in the summer. We use the benches to put skates on, but all the zucas go along the boards in the rink area. Any random kids get shoed away from the area by parents or coaches. My DD once left her ipod in the player on the last FS session of the night. She realized it when we were all the way home. We live 20 mins away so it was 40 mins round trip. Some nice hockey guys had turned it in to the front desk.
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Some nice hockey guys had turned it in to the front desk.
The hockey guys at our rink are really honest and thoughtful; they put forgotten jackets and books by the skate rental for lost&found and iPods, phones, jewelry, money get turned in at the front desk all the time. I borrowed a jacket from skate rental one day and the SD came over and said "That's my jacket!" Someone had hung it on the coat rack after finding it in a hockey box.
I'm friendly with the woman who work in the rink's day/trackout camps. Last month, she brought me a freshly-laundered black fleece jacket and said "This says (dd's name) inside; one of the kids borrowed it for skating during the camp, but when I saw the name tag, I though it might be your DD's." Sure enough, it was a jacket I'd been looking for, but couldn't find in the house. I figured it was left at school in June. She washed it for me! What a nice lady.
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I was at one of my rinks tonight, and found out that two skate bags had been stolen in the last week. One with the skates in it!
I lock everything up in the trunk of my car before I go in, and stuff worth money (phone, keys, cash) are in a zippered pocket on my jacket.
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My nomination is Charlottesville Ice Rink in VA. I didn't have anything stolen but the layout is just insane, and creeped me out. It is the only rink I ever secured my boot bag and shoes in the lockers. Other than that the rink was great.
Wow. I clicked on this thread and saw my home rink nominated as the rink where you're most likely to have something stolen. What is it about our layout that creeps you out? I have been to quite a few rinks in Virginia, and actually I feel a little more comfortable at ours because we put our stuff right by the ice. At a lot of the other rinks I've been to, most people leave their stuff in a separate room or lobby, and it's not easily visible when you're on the ice.
That said, I will acknowledge our rink is much more accessible to the public than most others since it's on a pedestrian mall, and it's a lot easier for anyone to come in.
When did you visit? A lot has changed in the past couple of years, though I wouldn't say it's made us more secure.
I too only bring in what I need and keep everything else locked in the trunk of my car.
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I am probably not the only theft victim at my rink. Last month I saw the office staff advising people to take skate bags into the rink area instead of leaving them unattended in the lobby. During syncro there was an army of zuca bags lined up perfectly against the first row of seats lol.
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Nothing has ever happened to me, but after reading your comments, I should invest in a wallet with a string to put around my neck. :-[
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The only thing I leave on the benches is my skate bag with my skates in it. Because I'm an employee at the rink, whoever is in the office lets me store my purse in there. Thankfully ::knock on wood:: I've never had anything stolen.
But I know other people have lost jackets and guards and stuff. I've managed to save a few things that are left behind before they go into our lost and found bin if I know who it belongs to. Like when one skater I know left her knee supports behind, I put them in the front office with her name on them and messaged her on facebook to let her know they were safe and sound. :)
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I've had some hockey players steal my hardguards during Public Skate. Then there was one time when they took the screws out and tossed them clear across the rink, and I caught them in the middle of the act. After that, I always take my guards with me onto the ice and hang them on the glass, or have my parents take them and give them to me when i get off.
Ever since I got my züca bag, my parents won't let it out of their sight at the rink or at tests/competitions. But often we see many girls get dropped off at the rink and leave their züca's unattended while they skate, and nothing happemds to them. I left my bag unattended once to get a drink and I come back and some hockey player kid is unzipping it. Luck a' the draw I suppose...
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I've had some hockey players steal my hardguards during Public Skate. Then there was one time when they took the screws out and tossed them clear across the rink, and I caught them in the middle of the act. After that, I always take my guards with me onto the ice and hang them on the glass, or have my parents take them and give them to me when i get off.
Ever since I got my züca bag, my parents won't let it out of their sight at the rink or at tests/competitions. But often we see many girls get dropped off at the rink and leave their züca's unattended while they skate, and nothing happemds to them. I left my bag unattended once to get a drink and I come back and some hockey player kid is unzipping it. Luck a' the draw I suppose...
My coach always has said never leave your stuff unattended. ESPECIALLY at competition. She sets up an area for us all to meet up and parents will keep an eye on the bags.
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My coach always has said never leave your stuff unattended. ESPECIALLY at competition. She sets up an area for us all to meet up and parents will keep an eye on the bags.
Haha, that sounds really cool. I wish the coaches at my rink had something like that. :laugh:
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This will probably sound funny to everybody, but my water bottles keep getting stolen. Today it happened for the second time in just a week. Of course, a bottle of water isn't really a big loss. But come on, I got thirsty midway through the session! What could I do? I kept skating, but I felt exhausted at the end.
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This will probably sound funny to everybody, but my water bottles keep getting stolen. Today it happened for the second time in just a week. Of course, a bottle of water isn't really a big loss. But come on, I got thirsty midway through the session! What could I do? I kept skating, but I felt exhausted at the end.
This happens to my friend all the time! So she bought a sports bottle that is meant to attatch to a bike, it has velcrow straps on it. So whenever she brings her water bottle out, she velcrows her guards to it too. :laugh:
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This will probably sound funny to everybody, but my water bottles keep getting stolen. Today it happened for the second time in just a week. Of course, a bottle of water isn't really a big loss. But come on, I got thirsty midway through the session! What could I do? I kept skating, but I felt exhausted at the end.
I wonder if it would help to write your name on your water bottle with a permanent marker...
That might tell people you cared enough to keep it, and that you aren't one of those slobs who discard their bottles anywhere convenient - so the maintenance staff would routinely throw it away.
And a casual thief might feel guilty taking something which is labeled in such a way that it obviously isn't theirs.
Anyway, it's worth a try.
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I had my guards stolen off a public session recently, but that was quite abnormal. Years ago I took some guards that weren't mine out of a lost-and-found bin, so I reckon it was karma catching up. :P
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I almost forgot. My club jacket disappeared at another rink about 70 miles away. I think I left it folded over the boards after a session, and I never saw it again. While I don't have proof it was stolen, I checked lost and found multiple times and asked coaches and other skaters if they'd keep an eye out for it, and it never turned up. Since the club's name was on it, it seems like if it had ended up in the hands of someone with good intentions, it could have been returned to the club and then to me.
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I almost forgot. My club jacket disappeared at another rink about 70 miles away. I think I left it folded over the boards after a session, and I never saw it again. While I don't have proof it was stolen, I checked lost and found multiple times and asked coaches and other skaters if they'd keep an eye out for it, and it never turned up. Since the club's name was on it, it seems like if it had ended up in the hands of someone with good intentions, it could have been returned to the club and then to me.
I think for anyone with good intentions, it would end up at rink lost and found bin. Personally I would not expect anyone to take a jacket back to the club, especially if the club is 50+ miles away from that rink... :)
My rink seems to clean up the lost and found bin very frequently. If I don't ask for misplaced items immediately, chances are they are already gone. I hope they at least donate usable items to charity, instead of just dumping things...
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Since my work schedule changed, my 13 year old spends most of her time alone at the rink. She has to have her phone and has to leave her stuff. She spent about eight hours/day over the summer and does about 3 hours/day now. Her spinner went missing for a few days. I thought she misplaced it but a couple coaches suspect another skater "borrowed it". That made me sad. She rarely has cash, just a rink gift card with her name on it, but all her equipment, her phone, sometimes her iPad have always been safe. I worry when she's there during public skate or classes, though as there are SO many people just milling around. She had her "lucky clip" stolen (I think) during a competition. :-(
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Do rinks generally have lockers available for use / rental?
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I think for anyone with good intentions, it would end up at rink lost and found bin. Personally I would not expect anyone to take a jacket back to the club, especially if the club is 50+ miles away from that rink... :)
Oh, I didn't expect them to take it back to our club. But I thought a rink employee, coach or a member of that rink's club might say to someone in our club, "Hey, I found a jacket with your club's name on it. Know anyone who's lost one?" There are tons of people from our club who skate there during the summer.
In any event, I checked lost and found a few times, and it never turned up.
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This will probably sound funny to everybody, but my water bottles keep getting stolen. Today it happened for the second time in just a week. Of course, a bottle of water isn't really a big loss. But come on, I got thirsty midway through the session! What could I do? I kept skating, but I felt exhausted at the end.
How funny! Why would anyone steal a drink bottle? They might get your germs from it! ;)
I don't think I'll ever have that problem; ours is quite a small rink and my drink bottle is VERY distinctive - it's bright red and has huge F1 and Australian Grand Prix logos on it, so it's not like anyone could claim "I confused it with mine!"
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I accidentally left an ugly, labeled MP3 player in the hockey box for 5 days before my coach rescued it. So there is hope yet.
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We have coin operated ones but most of them don't work. It's kind of annoying actually. I wish they had some where you could just bring a lock similar to the Y.
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Theft in the figure skating community is not common, however I would never leave my things around during a public skate or hockey skating session.
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My rink pro shop has had a theft recently-very bold one at that! Someone swapped out a pair of new hockey skates (worth >$300) and left their old beat up ones in the box. Now, I will say that the owner does leave his store unattended (he sits just outside the door in the main lobby and watches tv) and will occasionally run down the road for errands while leaving his shop open and unattended.
He is now more cautious and protective of his goods.
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Is he sure they were really stolen? Sometimes skaters put their old skates into the new skate box and carry/wear the new skates. He should check his sales/inventory to make sure he really was robbed.
When my mother used to take me shopping at a *real* shoe store, they would always ask if I wanted to "(wear) the new shoes home." If the skater went right out on the ice to try out the new skates, I could see them forgetting to come back for the box with the old skates.
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My old rink had two car thefts due to people leaving their keys and purses unattended during public session.
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My old rink had two car thefts due to people leaving their keys and purses unattended during public session.
Two words: pocket plus (http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2012/10/oddball-useful-things.html)
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We had 3 bags stolen at the rink in the last two days. That makes 5 that I know of this month. The rink has a lot of shortcut traffic from muggles, but I suspect muggles wouldn't bother. Skaters know the schedules and when people are on and off the ice during groups.
Anyway, one of the crew came out and told everyone and posted himself to keep an eye on stuff. Still, people were (blocked)ing "Why aren't there cameras!" Well, folks, there's that nice gentleman over there, looking out for you self absorbed, ungrateful people, why don't you go over there and thank him?
I thanked him. I was the only one.
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At the ice rink I skate at I've not had a problem but my wallet and purse are in the trunk of my car, my keys are in my jacket or pants pocket, or sometimes in my skate bag, depending on how busy it is. But really that's luck.
Alexandra