Skating in Colorado Springs & Denver

[Neverdull44]

Hello,

I am going on vacation to Colorado Springs area this Christmas. 

Of course, I am DYING to skate out there.   I looked at the Broadmoor's website, but couldn't find freestyle ice schedules.    I am practicing for Adult Silver, and it would be just great to say that I skated once at the Broadmoor.  Even better if I had a lesson too.   I'm sure I could drive one of their coaches crazy with my three turn patterns.    Do they allow drop-ins?  Or, is it just for the national level skaters?   

There's two other rinks in Colorado Springs - Seritech and Honnen (both have freestyles listed on their website). Both of these rinks are very hard to find coach information. 

I am not sure how much time I will spend in Denver because my brother's place is closest to Colorado Springs.  But, I bet we will go there for a day because my husband's employer has a big office there and he is going to be "working" on this vacation.

Anyone have good ideas on skating in Colorado Springs or coaches who would entertain having a half-hour blast with an adult with some good and bad habits, but coming from 11 feet above sea level?

I'm going to be near Vail too.   Perhaps I should skate an hour at Dobson?  This is going to be soooo much fun!

[AgnesNitt]

The Figure Skating Museum is out there. Don't forget to drop in!

I used to live in Colorado Springs. The altitude will wipe you out even if you're just walking around.
I can tell you stories of people standing in the middle of the road to take picture of deer and being completely oblivious of traffic.

[icepixie]

I'm from about 500 feet above sea level and I skated in Denver when I was there on vacation this past spring.  It was just on a public session with some friends.  I think the rink was called Big Bear, or Bear's Den, something like that.  I did get out of breath a little faster, but other than that the altitude didn't affect me much.  I did feel like my jumps were a bit springier, but I'm pretty sure that was my imagination.

The altitude didn't affect me on the rink, anyway.  Let's not discuss the day we attempted to go skiing and I ended up going downhill in a sled pulled by the nice ski patrol man after collapsing in a wheezing heap from altitude sickness--before I even got to try going down the mountain on skis, no less.

[JSM]

Adult mids is in Colorado Springs this year - I'm honestly worried about the altitude!  I wish I could get out there to experience it before competition time. 

But I would love, love to skate at the amazing training centers and famous rinks in Colorado for fun.  What history!

[sparkleskates]

I am from  Denver,I can point you in the direction of ice close to where  you will be if you are in the Metro area. As for the Springs, I used to hit up publics at Honnen, but it's  been  a decade since  I graduated college and I was exclusively on hockey skates at the time, but I remember  the ice being  laid nicely.  Take it slow though, altitude is a cruel being.

[alejeather]

There's also the rink in Monument where Jason Brown and all Kori Ade'a other students skate. It's a little north of Colorado Springs and not a fancy place, but the community there was nice. I also don't know if the rink at the Air Force Academy has sessions open to the public regularly, but you can look into it. Maybe look into doing a lesson with Ryan Jahnke if you're working on moves. He has some of the most gorgeous edges and he likes working with adults.

[AgnesNitt]

Air Force Academy Schedule: http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/icerink/

I used to work there and I didn't even know they had a rink (maybe they didn't at the time). Anyway, can't help you find it.