A wonderful way to spend a sweltering summer day is at the ice rink. Weird but wonderful. Weird because I grew up in Canada, where little boys dream of becoming professional ice hockey players and little girls dream of becoming Olympic figure skaters. I have fond memories of skating on frozen rivers and ponds, or ice arenas; where kids wore scarves and mittens while mums sat in the stands under heat lamps sipping hot chocolate to keep warm.
My daughters have been begging me to go ice skating (it must be genetic) so on a sizzling Saturday we drove to Iceworld in Acacia Ridge - home to Australia's first Winter Olympics gold medallist, speed skater Steven Bradbury. It was a surreal sight; skaters wearing singlets and board shorts.
We attended the public skate session - on every Saturday afternoon from 2:00 til 4:30 pm - where skaters young and old, from beginner to expert, glide around the rink in harmony listening to pop music under the brightly coloured lights and disco ball. My recommendation is get there early. We didn't arrive until three o'clock when the ice was not at its optimum, already starting to liquefy with a big puddle forming at one end.
If you're not skating and sitting in sub-zero temperatures isn't your idea of fun, spectators can have a cuppa in the comfort of the coffee shop.
One of the best deals on offer is their Coffee Skate Sessions. Held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am until 12:30 pm, the cost is $11 which includes skate hire, and tea, coffee or hot chocolate. Children between 3 and 5 years old get free admission.
If you are looking for something to do with the kids on the school holidays, Iceworld will be running a Summer Skate School. Price includes entry, skate hire, and a thirty minute group lesson.
For future Olympians, Iceworld offers figure skating, ice hockey, and speed skating.
Iceworld also has a location at Boondall. For more information on sessions and prices, visit their
website.
