Info on Twin Ponds East in Harrisburg PA?

[dlbritton]

Anyone have info about Freestyle sessions at Twin Ponds East in Harrisburg PA?
Especially Friday 3:00-4:15PM or 4:30-6:00PM sessions. Good, Bad, Ugly???

I may be staying nearby on Friday the 28th and would like to check it out if it is not too crazy or crowded at the times I listed above.

I am going to a PSIA Skate-to-Ski clinic sponsored by Rollerblade to introduce skiers to the cross training possibilities from inline skating.
I do have inline skates but hope to get some good insight on possible ice skating exercises I can utilize in practice sessions in preparing for ski season.

Rollerblade does not make an inline figure skate but has an Urban model that can be fitted with a rockered frame for the wheels so I am hoping to see if I would be able to do simple 3 turns, etc. I could go to a local park to practice some moves such as crossovers, 3 turns, etc on a basket ball court.

[FigureSpins]

You saw this schedule, right?

http://twinponds.com/ice-skating/freestyle-times/

Are you asking if they have sessions or if they're good, bad or ugly?

[lutefisk]

How 'bout a double axel?:  https://www.facebook.com/william.henley.9699/videos/477382359428096/?t=4

[Bill_S]

If you have regular inlines,  you can provide a rocker by getting larger diameter wheels for the middle. If frame clearance doesn't allow that, use smaller diameter wheels at the ends.

But you will wish that you had a toe pick once you start learning threes on them. Face-splats come easy for skaters used to having toe pics.

BTW, the skater in the video linked above appears to be skating in the three-wheel Sno White skates. In the past, I used PIC skates which offer both three and four wheel models. I have the four-wheel frames. http://www.picskate.com/

[dlbritton]

You saw this schedule, right?

http://twinponds.com/ice-skating/freestyle-times/

Are you asking if they have sessions or if they're good, bad or ugly?

Asking if the sessions are good, bad or ugly. I should have been more precise.

[FigureSpins]

Sorry, I don't know about Twin Ponds East, but I was just curious what info you wanted.

Bill - huh?  Wrong topic, maybe?

[dlbritton]

Sorry, I don't know about Twin Ponds East, but I was just curious what info you wanted.

Bill - huh?  Wrong topic, maybe?

I was commenting about trying out a rockered frame for 3 turns in the post as well.

[dlbritton]

If you have regular inlines,  you can provide a rocker by getting larger diameter wheels for the middle. If frame clearance doesn't allow that, use smaller diameter wheels at the ends.

But you will wish that you had a toe pick once you start learning threes on them. Face-splats come easy for skaters used to having toe pics.

BTW, the skater in the video linked above appears to be skating in the three-wheel Sno White skates. In the past, I used PIC skates which offer both three and four wheel models. I have the four-wheel frames. http://www.picskate.com/

I have looked at SnoWhite and PIC online but was planning on using inlines for both distance skating and possibly some simple figure moves such as crossovers and stroking. 3 turn was just a thought if it looks/seems feasible.

It may be using inlines would be like using soft rental boots for anything beyond simple stroking.

One of the models of RollerBlade I would be trying out actually comes set up with reverse rocker where the 2 inner wheels are smaller for riding down hand rails, etc. Not going to be trying that any time soon.

[FigureSpins]

I was commenting about trying out a rockered frame for 3 turns in the post as well.

Oh, sorry.  I was confused.  My FIL used to segue with "Speaking of propane tanks..." when he didn't like the topic of a convo.  Funny

[Bill_S]

Yeah, we're all doing stream of consciousness here, and deviating all over the place.

(Wandering even further... I love the "Speaking of propane tanks" phrase. I'll have to remember that.)

I'll be quiet now.

[CaraSkates]

I haven't skated a freestyle there in ages, years really so can't answer to that. The rink is nice, on the colder side but everything in this area is because hockey. There are 6 clubs in the central PA area and all have their own home rink; they also all offer Friday afternoon FS. My experience is Friday afternoon is busy because it's a good after school time but it's not a zoo. If you want to drive a little more, rink/club in Palmyra, PA has Friday evening clinics, including one for adults (5:45-6pm powerskating, 6-6:30 practice, 6:30-7pm group lesson, $15 to walk on). Freestyle ice ahead of time from I think 3pm on.

[Query]

Here is the local figure skating club for Twin Ponds East: https://www.centralpennfsc.org

Perhaps you could figure out someone in the club to contact for info? They've links for contacts, Facebook and Instagram. You don't trust the rink itself to tell you how many people come?

FWIIW, there are other somewhat local rinks (Twin Ponds West, Klick Lewis Arena, Giant Center, Hershey Park Arena, though the latter two are mostly special events and some public skating).

But I haven't skated at any of these rinks, and cannot review them.

P.S. have you ever tried roller skiing? Some Youtube videos look insane, especially on hills. (Then again, a lot of ski videos look insane.) I wonder if it is closer to skiing than inline skates.

BTW, I once bruised myself on a Roller Blade fall, though that was partly because I was nervous about sliding on asphalt, and reacted wrong. There is nothing wrong with using helmets, padding and protection. I suspect padding won't be a problem at your lesson - Roller Blades sells some of it. Wheels can move much faster than ice runners, especially on hills; concrete and asphalt develop more friction on body slides than ice and snow; turns and stops are harder (you kind of have to jump into them); curbs can make you stop rather fast if you don't jump them; you may have to share the road with motor vehicles. The guy who sold me my roller blades (Don Giese) offered a free skating lesson, which included how to avoid being hurt if a car runs into you, or vice versa - he was a racer, and racers can be ever so slightly crazy.

I think roller blades are used for training more by XC skiers than alpine skiers, but may be wrong.

There are a lot of skate parks you might play in. Lots of them are right next to ice rinks, and might provide a good warmup while waiting for an ice session. If not, there is always the parking lot.

P.P.S. The Mananda Hill exit off route 81 is probably the cheapest place to get gas a bit north of Harrisburg, if you are coming from that direction.

[dlbritton]

Here is the local figure skating club for Twin Ponds East: https://www.centralpennfsc.org

Perhaps you could figure out someone in the club to contact for info? They've links for contacts, Facebook and Instagram. You don't trust the rink itself to tell you how many people come?

FWIIW, there are other somewhat local rinks (Twin Ponds West, Klick Lewis Arena, Giant Center, Hershey Park Arena, though the latter two are mostly special events and some public skating).

P.S. have you ever tried roller skiing? Some Youtube videos look insane, especially on hills. (Then again, a lot of ski videos look insane.) I wonder if it is closer to skiing than inline skates.

BTW, I once bruised myself on a Roller Blade fall, though that was partly because I was nervous about sliding on asphalt, and reacted wrong. There is nothing wrong with using helmets, padding and protection. I suspect padding won't be a problem at your lesson - Roller Blades sells some of it. Wheels can move much faster than ice runners, especially on hills; concrete and asphalt develop more friction on body slides than ice and snow; turns and stops are harder (you kind of have to jump into them); curbs can make you stop rather fast if you don't jump them; you may have to share the road with motor vehicles. The guy who sold me my roller blades (Don Giese) offered a free skating lesson, which included how to avoid being hurt if a car runs into you, or vice versa - he was a racer, and racers can be ever so slightly crazy.

I think roller blades are used for training more by XC skiers than alpine skiers, but may be wrong.

There are a lot of skate parks you might play in. Lots of them are right next to ice rinks, and might provide a good warmup while waiting for an ice session. If not, there is always the parking lot.

P.P.S. The Mananda Hill exit off route 81 is probably the cheapest place to get gas a bit north of Harrisburg, if you are coming from that direction.

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I emailed Twin Ponds using their contact form but have not heard back from them.

I found a rink near York that has a public session from 4:40-6 PM. If it is anything like the Friday afternoon/night public at my home rink I would rather take my chances on a freestyle session elsewhere.
I plan to stay right off of I81 and drive to Roundtop Ski Resort (30 minutes from I 81) the morning of the clinic.

The clinic is furnishing all protective gear except we are required to bring our own helmets, which I have.
I will wear jeans and long sleeves.

The clinic will have a gentle slope for learning speed control using turns and a slalom course with cones and later poles.

I never tried roller skiing, if you mean on inline skates with big knobby wheels, but did some racing on grass skiing in the 70s at several NC resorts that had it. Grass skis look like little tank treads and are about 2 1/2 - 3 feet long. Slight rocker for turning. Nothing but carving on them. You lubricate them by washing them off after a few runs to get the grass and dirt out. Grass skiing in the rain can get exciting since they are self lubricated at that point.

I have a park nearby with nice sidewalks for jogging, biking, etc that I use some for a workout with my current inline skates. There is a basketball court I tried practicing backward skating on when I first took up ice skating but quickly abandoned that effort. There is also a blocked off road that loops around a reservoir that I do laps on.

[Query]

Of course you know Twin Ponds East has a phone number too (http://twinponds.com/contact).  I would trust better a desk employee to be honest spontaneously over the phone than what they took the time to post on email, especially since management might see their emails.

Roller Skis:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtdTpwmM8WU (not a great video, but clear equipment picture)

I assume that like XC "skate skis", it requires a lot more sideways strength than figure skates.

Skis on grass? I imagine it would be like wearing out skate blades on "synthetic ice". You must be truly addicted to skiing. Hope you've found places with no rocks, and that you save your best equipment for snow.

Skates on a downhill slalom course? OMG, you must really fly. I imagine you signing up for the Red Bull Crushed Ice races, since you have so little fear. Are you one of those skiers who outruns avalanches on pro videos?

Good luck!

[dlbritton]

Of course you know Twin Ponds East has a phone number too (http://twinponds.com/contact).  I would trust better a desk employee to be honest spontaneously over the phone than what they took the time to post on email, especially since management might see their emails.

Roller Skis:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtdTpwmM8WU (not a great video, but clear equipment picture)

I assume that like XC "skate skis", it requires a lot more sideways strength than figure skates.

Skis on grass? I imagine it would be like wearing out skate blades on "synthetic ice". You must be truly addicted to skiing. Hope you've found places with no rocks, and that you save your best equipment for snow.

Skates on a downhill slalom course? OMG, you must really fly. I imagine you signing up for the Red Bull Crushed Ice races, since you have so little fear. Are you one of those skiers who outruns avalanches on pro videos?

Good luck!

I will try calling since I have not heard back from anyone.

Not taking skis on grass although I have seen videos of that. All of us hardcore skiers have old equipment we refer to as "rock skis" that you use early/late season when rocks pop through the snow.
Like I said grass skis are little tractor treads. Think of seat belt webbing with plastic rectangles riveted to it and running around rollers.

The slalom course is supposed to be "a gentle slope". We will learn speed control through turning. Gravity works, if you turn enough to go slightly uphill you will slow down, then turn back down the hill. Turn means follow an arc around, I always struggle with nomenclature between skiing and skating where "turn" has a different meaning  in the 2 sports.

I posted a picture of grass skis from Wikipedia and 2 pictures (top of slope and bottom) from Sugar Mountain NC in November 2014. They opened Halloween but I couldn't get up until the next weekend.  I used rental equipment that day. That would be the ultimate rock ski day. 

[dlbritton]

I heard back from the skating director at Twin Ponds east and she said 5-6 PM would be the best time for freestyle.

Started packing the car and will be heading out in the morning. 6 1/2 hours to the rink by google maps so I am going to give myself an extra hour for gas stops and snacking.

Weather is supposed to be sunny and mid 70s on Saturday. They said to pack sunscreen AND bug spray along with extra socks because we will be working up a sweat.

[dlbritton]

I made it to Twin Ponds for the 4:30-6PM session. Nice rink with 2 sheets. Bleachers in the one freestyle session was on. I didn't look at the other one, but it appears hockey is the big deal at the rink.

The director was right about 5-6 being best time. 4:30-5:00 had 6 high level lessons (axel and doubles plus flying spin entry) going including a pairs couple using full ice plus a few other high level skaters practicing. 5-6 still had lessons but there were a few beginner kids and a pre-prelimanary moves lesson so it was quite as crazy.

My inline clinic was interesting, rolling is certainly different than ice. More a little later including a very short video from mid day.