Bednars to open ice rink today at ribbon cutting

by Emily Toy
Scroll Staff

Stephen Turcotte, a physics teacher at BYU-I, teaches his son John, 3, how to skate on the new ice-rink on Saturday when the rink was open for faculty use. The rink opens to students today at 4 p.m. James Ricks / Scroll

The ice-skating rink that has been long in preparation will offer gentlemen the tradeoff for an inexpensive date activity, costing only a few dollars to skate.

They will also have the opportunity to hold a girl’s hand as they glide across the ice under the illumination of field lights to the beat of the music playing on loud speakers.

The work crew has been tireless and persistent in preparation to open the ice skating rink located on the intramural fields, Devin Shaum, director of activities for BYU-Idaho, said.

The fruits of the labor — hours spent working in the freezing cold — will begin to be harvested this afternoon at 3:30 when President and Sister Bednar, on ice skates, open the rink for the use of students at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Following the ceremony, the ice rink will be open from 4 - 10 p.m., as it will be Mondays through Thursdays, at the cost of $2; the price includes skate rental. It will also open Fridays from 4 p.m. - midnight and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Now that students are coming back from winter break, Shaum said, this will provide them with a fun outdoor activity to be involved in.

The rink is open primarily for BYU-I students, as well as faculty, staff and dependent family members.

Skaters are asked to obey the general rules and procedures, including wearing skates only on the ice and on rubber mats surrounding the rink, Shaum said.

There will be pigeon holes around the rink for skaters to store their shoes.

One goal for the new activities program is to prepare students for the future.

“I hope that this is another option that will prepare every father and mother to teach their kids to enjoy outdoor activities and bless their homes,” Shaum said.

The 4-foot-high walls around the 100 by 200 foot rink provide a boundary for the four to 12-inch thick layer of ice.

“This was more water than we ever dreamed it would take,” Shaum said, “because of the slant on the field.”

The school purchased three hundred pairs of ice skates for rental.

A four-wheeler donated by a New Mexico resident will serve as a make-shift zamboni machine to clear the snow off the ice. The rental center will be open during skating hours to provide restrooms and a warm spot for skaters.

Kyra Solheim, a freshman from Champlin, Minn., and Desa Greenhalgh, a freshman from Bonners Ferry, Idaho will teach free group lessons Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 - 5 p.m.

One-on-one help is provided on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10-11 a.m.

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