By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The 76-degree temperature did nothing to lessen the enthusiasm of the skaters on opening night of the new outdoor synthetic ice skating rink in the Downtown Hays Pavilion.
It's a project of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization which had to cancel two major fundraisers this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The DHDC board has been thinking about the project for several years.
"This year - 2020 - has brought so much disappointment, we thought this would be a great time to bring an attraction like this to the community," said Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director.
"People can do this as a family, and it's outdoors in case COVID cases do continue to rise."
The number of skaters at any one time is limited to 40 people and they must wear face masks.
Other COVID-related precautions include regularly spraying sanitizer on the synthetic plastic polymer floor and disinfectant in the skates after each use.
Most of Thursday night's young skaters enjoying the free event had never before laced up a pair of ice skates.
There were lots of falls, tentative stepping, some leaning on plastic buckets for balance, and finally, for most of the skaters, smooth gliding across the artificial ice surface to a variety of music styles.
"He got a real workout," said one mother as her young son finished unlacing his skates and changed into his own shoes. "I think I got a concussion," he joked. His mom just laughed.
"It is slick, just like ice," Bloom noted, "so if you have ice skated before it's going to feel very similar to ice. It might have a little more drag to it."
For newbies, plastic buckets were donated by Heartland Building Center.
"They can be stacked to a skater's height so you can kind of lean on them and learn on, kind of balance yourself before going without it," Bloom explained.
Hays High School senior Kai Shaffer was one of the few at the grand opening who has skating experience on actual ice.
Once he got the feel for the artificial surface, Shaffer started skating faster, and then, down he went.
"I'm all right," Shaffer laughed.
Nonprofit organizations have signed up to manage and run the rink and will share in the profits as a money maker for their organizations.
Thursday night it was the Fort Hays State University cheerleaders, along with FHSU mascot Victor E. Tiger, manning the Downtown Hays Ice Rink trailer. They signed up the skaters - who must sign a liability release - handed out skates, and free concessions.
Despite the heat, hot chocolate was the favorite treat, provided by Robert Brogden Dealership.
Victor was on the ice himself, sans skates, since there weren't any big enough to fit his feet. He was also cheering and encouraging skaters as they remained upright, and lending a paw to those who were no longer upright.
Julia Kuhl had fun as a first time skater, but said "I got my skate size a little bit off so I was slipping around in the shoe." Still, she will "probably come again and make sure I get the right size skate."
There have been traditional roller skating rinks in Hays but as far as anybody can recall, no ice skating rinks.
"Other than pictures of people we've seen ice skating on Big Creek, we think this is the first ice skating rink in Hays," Bloom said.
DHDC worked with Massachusetts-based Perfect Parties USA and its Artificial Ice Events division.
The rink "ice" and the lubricating solution sprayed on its surface, fencing around the rink, skates, a skate sharpener, and the supply trailer are all rented by DHDC and will remain in place through February 28, 2021.
The rink will be open seven days a week with concessions available for purchase at the trailer.
Cost is $7 for an hour on the ice with discount punch cards available for purchase. Private parties may be arranged.
Bloom hopes people trying out the new rink will also enjoy dining and shopping in downtown Hays.
Everybody wants to know if the rink will become a permanent fixture.
"That's the number one question we're being asked," Bloom said.
"We're going to see how the community likes it. So if you want it to be a permanent feature you need to come out and support it.
"If it does go over the way we think it's going to go over, then we can look into purchasing it and making it a permanent installation."
DHDC secured nearly $22,000 in sponsorship funds for the $35,000 investment in the rental agreement.
More information is available on the Downtown Hays Ice Rink Facebook page.