Where to skate around Pittsburgh

The opening of the Rink at PPG Place takes center ice next week as Downtown Pittsburgh celebrates its version of New York City's Rockefeller Center, complete with a lighted Christmas tree and special kick off activities planned for Tuesday.

But to the thousands of young and old fans of the sport who regularly lace up their skates at one of the area arenas, it's just one more place to sharpen their blades.

Ice skating is a popular year-round pastime in western Pennsylvania, with a growing number of indoor rinks offering new venues for figure skaters and ice hockey players. The upcoming 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City is helping to generate a renewed enthusiasm for ice skating that Beth Sutton, skating director for the new Rink at PPG Place, says is typical prior to the Olympics.

"Interest peaks every four years," she says.

Sutton is a former performer with the Ice Capades who doubles as skating director at Island Sports Center, Neville Island. She says the new Downtown rink might eventually offer lunchtime and weekend lessons once it's opened, but its main focus initially is to showcase the city and draw more people Downtown.

"Everybody is getting very excited about it," Sutton says. "It's Pittsburgh's best-kept secret, but the word is getting out."

Other skating centers are sharing excitement for the winter sport. At Airport Ice Arena in Moon Township, general manager Harold Jones agrees that the ice business is booming, especially with parents enrolling their children, as young as 3 years old, for classes. He says 125 children are registered for the arena's Tiny Tots program for ages 3 to 5.

One of the most popular programs for youngsters at the rink near Greater Pittsburgh International Airport is birthday parties, Jones says. During the past 10 years, he says, the party schedule has increased as much as 70 percent, with as many as eight birthdays being celebrated at one time. A $12.50 charge per child includes admission to a public skating session, skate rental, two slices of pizza, a drink and piece of cake.

"The kids really love it," he says. "About 50 percent of the party guests are first-time skaters, and many of them sign up for our learn-to-skate program after the party."

Ice skating birthday parties also are a "big thing" at Center Ice Arena in Delmont, according to spokeswoman Betty Mikoszi. Also popular is the arena's Ice Babies program for ages 3 to 6, she says.

But you don't have to be young to learn to ice skate, says Laurie Rossetti, director of the learn-to-skate programs at Island Sports Center. "A lot of parents want their kids out there as soon as possible," she says. "They think the earlier they're on the ice, the better skaters they will be. That's not necessarily true."

Rossetti, 39, didn't start skating until she was 12 when, she says, "I begged my mom to take me to the old Monroeville Mall Ice Palace." She took lessons at the ice rink and, at age 15 was invited to begin teaching group lessons.

"It's such a great sport," she says. "It's available year-round, and it offers an all-inclusive cardiovascular workout and toning for life."

Although people generally think of skating in the wintertime, Rosetti says the best time to learn is during the "off season," in spring and summer.

At Mt. Lebanon Ice Rink, John and Marian Tischuk of Mt. Lebanon, former members of the Pittsburgh Figure Skating Club, are regulars on the ice.

"I'm a senior citizen, and he's been 58 for 20 years," she says, laughing, but not willing to disclose their ages.

The couple, who specialize in ice dancing, used to come to the rink three times a week, "but my knees don't always hold up anymore," Marian says. She says she didn't start ice skating until she was 48 years old.

Her husband used to play pick-up hockey games at the Mt. Lebanon skating facility. "He kept getting hit with pucks, and I told him he had to stop," she says. "He said he would if I would take up skating." They took group and private lessons, a move Marian recommends to first-time skaters.

At the indoor rink at Lynch Field, Greensburg, Dot Dorsey, 81, and her friend Jeanne Hamrick, 64, both of Greensburg, ice skate as often as they can, sometimes as often as three or four times a week.

"I was 50 years old when I started taking lessons," Dorsey says. "When I was a little girl, there were no rinks around. When Sonja Henie (Norwegian Olympic gold-medal ice skater and film star of the 1930s) became famous, I thought I'd love to do that."

Hamrick says she learned a lot about the sport from her friends, but she has experienced an average number of spills in the ice.

"Everybody falls," she says. "Luckily for me, it's not been recently. It's always a danger."

Mt. Lebanon Ice Rink manager Bob Hlebinsky turned to ice skating to rehabilitate a leg injury he suffered while playing football as a senior at Laurel Highlands High School near Uniontown.

"It was an ankle injury that was slow to heal," he says. I decided to try skating to strengthen my leg, and it worked." He played club hockey while attending Penn State University and participated in adult leagues after that. "It's a fun activity," he says of skating. "It's good exercise, especially for adults. It's low impact and not as hard on your knees as running. And temperature-wise, you can keep comfortable. A lot of adults skate throughout their lives just as a way to keep active."

"I think it's easier than rollerblading, although some people would disagree with me," says Amy Whitsel, administrative assistant at Bladerunners in Marshall, who helps with group lessons. She started ice skating when she was 13. Now 24, she's teaching her sister, Angela, 18, to skate.

"She's terrified to fall," Whitsel says. "You can't be afraid. You just have to learn the proper way to fall so you don't hurt yourself."

Ice rinks

The Rink at PPG Place

They'll be slip-sliding away on the ice Tuesday at The Rink at PPG Place, Downtown. That's when the public will get a chance to take the first slices out of the ice surface. A full day of special activities is planned from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The special events include: Live music performances by local talent. Ice skating performances. Public skating sessions. Lunchtime treats. Fireworks finale. More info: (412) 394-3641.

Airport Ice Arena: 330 Hookstown Grade Road, Moon. (412) 264-2222. Hours: Noon to 2:50 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 7:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays; 2 to 4 and 8 to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $6; $5 for age 12 and younger. Skate rental: $2.50. Lessons: Tiny Tots, ages 3 to 5; Learn to Skate, age 5 to adult; eight-week session costs $85, including skate rental, helmets and walkers. Lessons at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Fridays. Private lessons available.

Beaver County Ice Arena: Brady's Run Park, Beaver Falls. (724) 846-5600. Hours: 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 7:45 to 9:45 p.m. Fridays; 2:45 to 4:45 and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays; 3:45 to 6:15 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $3.50; $3 for age 17 and younger. Skate rental: $1. Tiny Tots lessons: ages 2 and 3 at 9 a.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays; 1 p.m. Wednesdays or Fridays. Ages 4 to 6 at 10 a.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays; 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. The five-week session costs $25, plus skate rental. Children group lessons: ages 6 to 17 at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays; 4:45 p.m. Wednesdays. The five-week session costs $30, plus skate rental. Adult lessons: Age 18 and older at 9 a.m. Fridays. The five-week session costs $30, plus skate rental. Call to register.

Belmont Complex: 415 Butler Road, Kittanning. (724) 548-1067. Hours: Noon to 2 p.m. Thursdays; 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays; noon to 1:30 and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $3 for afternoon sessions; $4 for evening sessions. Skate rental: $2. Learn to Skate, age 3 to adult costs $70, plus skate rental, for 10 weeks and begins Feb. 11. Registration deadline Jan. 29.

Bladerunners, Bethel Park: 305 Church Road, Bethel Park. (412) 833-8500. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 and 7:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays; 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 and 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays; 12:30 to 3:50 and 7 to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Admission: $6; $5 for age 12 and younger. Skate rental: $3 for hockey skates, $2 for figure skates. Lessons: 1 to 1:30 p.m. Sundays; 7 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays. The five-week session costs $60, including skate rental and public skate sessions.

Bladerunners, Harmarville: 66 Alpha Drive, Harmarville. (412) 826-0800. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 7 to 8:50 p.m. Fridays; 12:30 to 2:20 and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays; 1:30 to 3:20 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $6; $5 for age 12 and younger. Skate rental: $3 for hockey skates, $2 for figure skates. Learn to Skate for age 4 to adult at noon Saturdays and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. The eight-week session costs $90, including two-hour public skate session and skate rental. Private lessons available.

Bladerunners, Marshall: 103 Marshall Drive, Marshall. (724) 772-0022. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Mondays; 1 to 3 and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays; 3:30 to 5:20 and 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $6; $5 for age 12 and younger. Skate rental: $3 for hockey skates; $2 for figure skates. Lessons: 7 p.m. Mondays or 12:30 p.m. Saturdays. The eight-week session costs $90, includes two-hour public skate and skate rental. Private lessons available.

Center Ice Arena: 100 Center Ice Drive, Delmont. (724) 468-1100. Hours: Noon to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8 to 11 p.m. Fridays; 1 to 3 and 8 to 11 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 3 and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $5. Skate rental: $3. Lessons: 6 p.m. Wednesdays and noon Saturdays. Each session costs $9.50, including skate rental; $8 without skate rental. A six-session package is $45 with skate rental; $36 without skate rental.

DeVito Park: 101 Frankie Lane, Leisenring. (724) 626-1400. Hours: 6:45 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission: $5. Skate rental: $2. Lessons at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. An eight-lesson package is $75. Private lessons available.

Golden Mile Ice Center: 4650 Old Frankstown Road, Monroeville. (724) 327-7465. Hours: 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays; 2:30 to 4:30 and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2:10 to 4 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $6. Skate rental: $2.50. Learn to skate for age 4 to adult at 1:30 to 2 p.m. Sundays. A five-week session is $45, including public skate session. Skate rental not included.

Iceoplex at SouthPointe: 114 SouthPointe Blvd., Canonsburg. (724) 745-6666. Hours: 1:10 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7 to 8:20 p.m. Saturdays. Admission: $5; $4 for ages 6 to 12. Skate rental: $2.50. Lessons: Age 2 to adult costs $12 per session, including skate rental and public skate session, plus a $5 insurance policy. Lessons run for 12 weeks. Classes begin Dec. 8. Registration required.

Island Sports Center: 7600 Grand Ave., Neville Island. (412) 262-3335. Hours: Noon to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission: $5; $4 for age 12 and younger. Skate rental: $2.50. Learn to skate for age 3 to adult at 6:10 p.m. Wednesdays and 12:10 p.m. Saturdays. The program costs $99. Private lessons available.

Lynch Field: Route 119 North, Greensburg. (724) 834-4880. Hours: 10 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays; 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays; 7 to 9 p.m. Saturdays; 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 7 to 9 p.m. Saturdays. Admission: $4.50; $3.50 for age 17 and younger. Skate rental: $2 for hockey skates; $1.50 for figure skates. Lessons at 5:15 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Lessons cost $6 per lesson or $50 for 10 lessons, including skate rental.

Mt. Lebanon Ice Rink: 900 Cedar Blvd., Mt. Lebanon. (412) 561-4363. Hours: 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 8:10 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 4:10 to 5:50 and 8:10 to 10 p.m. Fridays; 2:10 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 8 to 10 p.m. Saturdays. Admission: $5; $4 for ages 6 to 18; $2 for age 5 and younger; $4 for age 62 and older. Skate rental: $1.50. Learn to skate for first-graders to adults begins Jan. 14. The 16-week session costs $125, plus skate rental. Registration begins Monday. Programs available in February for younger children. Private lessons available.

North Park Skating Rink: North Park, McCandless. (724) 935-1280. Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; 11 a.m. to 4 and 4:30 to 7 and 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission: $2.50; $2 for ages 12 and younger and 60 and older. Skate rental: $2. Free lessons at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 8 for those with last names beginning with the letters A to K; the L to Z session will be 4:30 p.m. Jan. 10. A four-week lesson package costs $16, plus skate rental.

The Rink at PPG Place: PPG Place, between Fourth and Third avenues, Downtown. (412) 394-3641. Opens Tuesday. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $5; $4 for children and senior citizens.

Schenley Park Skating Rink: Schenley Park, Oakland. (412) 422-6523. Hours: 4 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays; 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays; 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (adults only); 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tuesdays (College ID night offers $1 off admission). Admission: $3.50; $2.50 for senior citizens and children age 18 and younger. Skate rental: $2. Lessons begin in January. Call for registration details.

South Park Skating Rink: South Park. (412) 833-1199. Hours: Noon to 4 and 4:30 to 7 and 7:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 11 a.m. to 4 and 4:30 to 7 and 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission: $3.50; $2 for senior citizens and age 12 and younger. Skate rental: $2.

How to get started

"I can't skate, my ankles are too weak."

That common misconception probably is the biggest excuse for not skating. But skaters who think they have weak ankles usually just need better skates, according to Laurie Rossetti, director of the learn-to-skate programs at Island Sports Center, Neville Island.

"Often, people make the mistake of buying the cheapest skates a sporting goods department sells," Rossetti says. "They find they don't have any ankle support. A quality pair of ice skates starts at $100 and up." Rossetti recommends renting skates from the rink until a new skater decides he or she likes the sport enough to stick with it.

Skaters should wear loose-fitting clothing such as a warm-up suit, she says, and one pair of socks, not more, or a pair of tights worn under the warm-up suit for warmth. Gloves are a necessity, too, she says, as are helmets for children. A bicycle helmet is acceptable. Top off the outfit with a warm, but not bulky, ski jacket.

"The right equipment makes a big difference," she says. "A lot of people don't realize when they buy skates they need to have them professionally sharpened. With only the factory sharpening, the skates will have no grip on the ice, and the skater will have a tendency to fall."

Tips for kids - and their parents

Leave it to Disney to make learning to skate a magical experience. Feld Entertainment will bring its touring production of Disney on Ice: "Three Jungle Adventures" to Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena from Feb. 20 through 24 and Johnstown's Cambria County War Memorial from Jan. 3 through 6.

For children who aspire to someday skate the role of the Lion King or Tarzan with the pros, Disney on Ice artistic talent director and production coordinator Judy Thomas offers the following ice skating tips for kids and their parents:

Tips for kids

Tips for parents

Whatever you do, have fun on the ice and enjoy skating. When you fall down (and everybody does), get right back up on your skates again. Stand as tall as you can and hold your head up high. Try not to look down at your feet. Instead, look in front of you in the direction you are going. Keep your feet under your hips; don't lean over your skates. Hold your arms out in front of you (like a hug) and open them wide. This will help you stay balanced. Remember to bend your knees. When you turn, learn to use the edges of your skates. Stretch your legs in the air as you skate along and point your toes like a dancer as you step off the ice. To stop, bend your knees, turn the toes of each foot in toward the other foot, point your heels out and push out on your heels. This will slow you down and bring you to a stop.

Remember that the decision to skate should be your child's. If you're on the ice with your child, skate backwards, allowing the beginner to rest his hands on your outstretched palms to offer support. This is much better than supporting your child from behind. When your child falls on the ice, encourage him or her to get back up and don't show extreme concern. That might alarm the child. Know when a child's attention span has dropped off, and let the child stop skating at that point. Make sure the child's skates are not too tight (his feet will go numb) or too loose (he needs ankle support). It might take several adjustments to get skates tied correctly. Have children wear knee pads or elbow pads or both. Wearing a helmet is a good idea for beginners. Children should be warm but not bundled too much so that they have freedom to move. Kids should always wear gloves while they are skating. Thick socks are not always the best choice depending on how the skating boot fits. The best thing you can do to help your child learn to skate is to enroll him in a learn-to-skate group session.