Answer Man: Where to ice skate near Asheville this winter: Could it be a pond?
ASHEVILLE – It is difficult, almost impossible, to hide inexperience on an ice skating rink.
Some people will glide around with ease, with their hands behind their backs. Those skaters might remind skaters like me that they grew up playing hockey. Don’t worry, we know.
I’m among the ice skaters who clutch the side of the ride in a panicked sweat, waiting for hot chocolate time. Those who enjoy the activity may need to travel long distances to get their skating fix.
If you want to help me ice skate, don’t bother reaching out. I’m a lost cause.
But if you have a question you would like a Citizen Times reporter to answer, email our executive editor, Karen Chávez at KChavez@citizentimes.com, and your question could appear in an upcoming column.
Question: Do any ponds around here freeze up enough for ice skating? Are there any ice skating rinks around Asheville?
Answer: If you’re looking to skate on a pond in the Asheville area, you’ll need to wait until it gets even cooler. The ice needs to be 4 inches thick for walkers or skaters to navigate safely, National Weather Service Meteorologist Clay Chaney told the Citizen Times Dec. 15.
Chaney said that the initial layer of water freezes after three to four days of below freezing temperatures. After the initial freeze, ice becomes 1 inch thicker for every 15 days below freezing. This also depends on the size of the body of water ― larger and deeper bodies freeze slower. A puddle will freeze faster than an ocean.
“Being from North Carolina and Western Carolina, there have only been two times in my life I’ve seen a pond glaze over,” Chaney said. He said he did not grow up in the mountains where the weather is cooler. “I wouldn’t try to walk on it.”
More: Answer Woman: Will Asheville have a white Christmas this year?
Doug Clarke, 66, relishes when bodies of water in the area freeze over. Clarke’s family owns Hickory Nut Gap Farms in Fairview. He said he is known as the “pond hockey commissioner” by friends, family and farm employees who participate in his informal winter league. Clarke has held this role for around four decades, he said.
After a few consecutive cold nights and days, the “commissioner” receives calls from hopeful skaters, looking for a location to play.
Clarke’s method for testing the ice’s thickness is a bit less scientific than Chaney’s. He said that he stomps on ice in nearby ponds to test its sturdiness. Younger participants bring drills to test the thickness, he said.
Clarke acknowledged that his method was “antique.”
More: HGTV names small mountain town the best in North Carolina for the holidays. See why.
The games are convened on private properties, where owners give Clarke their blessing, but sometimes they don’t know what they’re signing up for.
“We have been kicked off a number of ponds,” Clarke said. “People may be happy to have us skating, but when 25 young men show up at 7 a.m. to play hockey, they're not quite ready for that.”
Injuries during his tenure as commissioner have been limited, Clarke said. A broken toe here, someone falling into the water by the edge of the pond there, but his crew always brings a rope and a ladder to hoist the skaters to safety.
Roger Goodell may want to take some notes from the “pond hockey commissioner.”
If you’re not a member of Clarke’s league, here are a few places you can travel to skate.
More: Answer Man: Sinkhole on Sardis Road causing flooding? What's being done about it?
More: Answer Man: How can shoppers find spaces at Asheville Trader Joe's parking lot?
Where to skate?
Sorrells Street Park. 41 Main St, Canton, Hawyood County. Ice skating. Now open. Every day 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. Skates are available Fridays 4-8 p.m., Saturdays 12-4 p.m. and Sundays 12-4 p.m. Haywood County residents skate for free. Non-Haywood County residents need to pay $5, bring a canned food item for each skater, or bring a receipt from a downtown Canton business from that same day.
Appalachian Ski Mountain. 940 Ski Mountain Road, Blowing Rock, Watauga County. Skiing, snowboarding and ice skating. Now open. Online reservations are required. Skating sessions run 12-2 p.m., 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. During the weekdays, figure skating and hockey skating cost $21 and $24 per session respectively. On the weekends and holiday, figure skating and hockey skating respectively cost $26 and $29 per session. Rates include cost of entrance, skate rentals and helmets. There are reduced rates for locals and groups. Call 828-295-7828 or visit appskimtn.com.
Sugar Mountain Resort. 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive, Sugar Mountain, Avery County. Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, tubing and snowshoeing. Now open. Ice skating session times are posted each day on the website. Weekday sessions cost $25 per 90 minutes. Weekend and holiday sessions cost $35 per 90 minutes. Children ages 3 and 4 skate for free with a ticketed adult. Ticket prices include skate rentals. Call 828-898-4521 or visit skisugar.com.
United Community Ice on Main. 206 S Main St, Greenville, South Carolina. Ice skating. There is availability for walk-ups, but visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets for timed sessions before arriving. Tickets for individuals 13 and older cost $10 per one hour session. Tickets for children ages 3 to 12 cost $8. Anyone younger skates for free. This includes the skate rental. Visit iceonmain.com or call 864-271-5333.
The Pavilion. 400 Scottswood Road, Taylors, South Carolina. Ice skating. Tickets for skaters 13 and older cost $13.75. Skaters 12 and younger will need to pay $11.75. Senior tickets, eligible for skaters 55 and older cost $11.75. The public skating schedule for the indoor rink is posted to its website. It is subject to change based on special events. Visit greenvillerec.com or call 864-322-7529.
The Bon Secours Wellness Arena. 650 North Academy St., Greenville, South Carolina. Home of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits minor league hockey team. Skaters can glide on the rink Dec. 21 and Dec. 26-30. Sessions last two hours from 12-2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. except on Dec. 26-27, when there will only be 3 p.m. sessions. Tickets cost $15 and include skate rentals.
Highlands Outpost. 7420 Dillard Road, Scaly Mountain. Roller coast, tubing and ice skating. Tickets cost $15 for each hour-long session and $12 for each individual of a group greater than 20. Ice skates are included in the ticket price. Visit highlandsoutpost.com or call 828-526-3737.
Ober Mountain. 1310 Ski Mountain Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Aerial tramway, mountain rollercoaster, ice skating, ice bumper cars, wildlife habitat, alpine slide, skiing and snowboarding. Skating sessions are included in the purchase of a wristband, which costs $49 for ages 5 to 59 and $39 for ages 60 and over. Children 4 and younger can partake in all activities for free with a paying adult. Wristbands allow access to all activities at Ober except snow tubing and snow sports. The skating rink is open 10a.m.-9p.m. Skates are included with the wristband.
Mitchell Black covers Buncombe County and health care for the Citizen Times. Email him at mblack@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @MitchABlack. Please help support local journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Ice skating rinks near Asheville winter. Could it be a pond?
