PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- As the temperatures warm up this week, one Portland business that runs a winter staple says it couldn’t be happier about the warm week—particularly because it’s vacation week.
The Ice Rink at Thompson’s Point is open for two more weeks and if the weather remains sunny and balmy, these could be the busiest of the season.
Early Monday afternoon, as the ice melted from overhangs, filling puddles beneath on the ground, both the big rink and the smaller, beginner’s rink were filled with skaters, from newbies to the more experienced.
“Alright, we’re getting there!” Adam Graves, taking advantage of the weather, at the rink to skate with his four-year-old Declan and two-year-old Sadie. It’s her first time on skates. He holds her pink-mittened hands and helps her slide forward.
The three are all smiles, the sun bouncing off the ice and onto their rosy cheeks. The warm weather seems to be agreeing with this skating trio. “Absolutely, once they get cold, it’s kind of game over, so yeah, it’s been great.”
Molly Breton sees this all the time. “The warmer the weather, the more skaters we get.” Breton and her husband own The Rink at Thompson’s Point.
It may sound counter-intuitive but Breton says December’s deep freeze kept skaters away.
The more comfortable skaters are, the better for business.
“Our ice rink is refrigerated at 18 degrees at all times so it doesn’t matter what temperature it is outside it’s going to be frozen.”
Which is great news for the pre-teen set who can skate on their own. Mason and Will are friends from Gorham. Will plays hockey and spends many hours on the ice. Mason, on the other hand, had only been skating five times before Presidents Day and is learning from his friend. “He’s a really good skater, so it’s a little hard to keep up.”
The Rink is filled with skaters of all different levels. During February vacation, it’s open 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Each session is two hours.
When the morning session comes to a close, skaters make a beeline for the food and hot cocoa and coffee trucks parked at The Rink.
“It’s been a very cold winter people want to get out”
Jeanne Krull owns and operates Mainely Meatballs. She also hand prepares all the food for sale—from meatballs to salmon and cheeseburger balls to vegan balls. Her recipes, she says, set her apart and hungry ice skaters are especially appreciative.
“They’re like ‘oh my gosh, that smells so good I have to have some!’ And they come up and order. They love it. It’s comfort food.”
As the two hours come to a close, the Zamboni revs its engine, preparing to take the grooves out of the ice on both rinks, creating a smooth surface for the next batch of skaters. On a nearby bench, Adam Graves takes the small skates off of first his son’s, then his daughter’s feet. They are tired, but still very happy.
“It went pretty well. She did really well for her first time. We had a lot of fun.”
And almost on cue, 2-year old Sadie sticks out her tongue and says “a lot of fun! I can skate!” A happy father chuckles then leads his kids out of the rink and back home.