The Vancouver Winter Olympics are a couple of years off. For anyone trying to perfect that triple-double-toe loop or salchow – two fancy, complicated figure skating jumps – there is still time to perfect those moves.
The D.F. Buchmiller Park Ice Rink, otherwise known as the Secaucus ice rink, is located at 150 Plaza Center. Buchmiller is open seven days a week.
“Skaing is really fun. I love it,” said Danny Jacobsen on Tuesday night during a hot chocolate break at the concession stand. “I was with my friends earlier.”
He added, “We were skating on the basketball court before the rink opened,” referring to the fact that there happened to be ice all over the outdoor courts near the rink. “I skated for two hours out there already. I’ll probably skate for another two hours in here.”
“We got yelled at, skating on the basketball court,” said Jacobsen’s friend, Timmy Holloway. “Everybody thought we were going to hurt ourselves. But we didn’t. We weren’t really skating, though. Just gliding on the ice in our shoes. Now we’re skating!”
Not every youngster is so confident. For children and teens who are not yet ready for an axel, Buchmiller is now accepting registrations for their Learn to Skate classes, open to children ages 4 and up. Parents who think their kids may be the next Mark Messier can enroll them in the rink’s upcoming hockey program, open to children ages 4 through 13.
The Learn to Skate classes are only open to Secaucus residents, and proof of address is required. However, the rink in general and the hockey program are open to residents and out-of-towners alike.
Admission to the rink is $3. Skate rental is $2. Learn to Skate classes are $30 per child. The hockey program is $50 for residents, $100 for nonresidents.
Open session hours are Monday through Friday, 3-5 p.m. and 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., 4:30-6:30 p.m., and 7:30-9:30 p.m.. For more information, call (201) 330-0273.