Los Angeles kids can skate to Olympic-sized dreams at local ice rinks

Salchow, lutz, axle and toe loop don’t have to be words firmly entrenched in your vocabulary for you to be inflicted with Olympic fever these past few weeks. One look at the glittery outfits of the ice dance and figure skaters, and my 3 ½ year old has declared her first—of many I’m sure—grown-up professional aspiration. Even without children announcing their fondness for the Olympic ice skating sports, we bet that more than a few parents are also dreamily off in the gold-medal futures of their kids. We talked to some local Ice Skating Rinks to see if Olympic fever has been warming their venues (and pocketbooks) and got the deets on how you can take your kids (and yourselves) for a whirl on the ice.

Iceland

The oldest ice skating rink in the Valley, Iceland boasts a history of old-school Olympic-sized patrons, including Brian Boitano, Christopher Bowman and Sonja Henie. And according to community relations manager Martha Avtandilian, this very skating rink is where legendary Linda Fratianne mastered her triple toe loop and double axle. For those who don’t know, Fratianne was the first woman figure skater to land two triple jumps in a competition. (MORE)

Pickwick Ice

Pickwick Ice in Burbank is no new comer to L.A. as it will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The National Hockey League-sized rink (just a tad narrower than Olympic size) has been serving the community well, including United States Olympian Mirai Nagasu, who assistant manager Sean Bachand says had been practicing at Pickwick Ice for four years until her move last October to Toyota Sports Center with her new coach Frank Carroll. (MORE)

Culver Ice Rink

Olympic-sized Culver Ice Rink in Culver City didn’t name drop any past or present Olympians, but they have been busting at the seams nonetheless this Olympic season. “All of our classes are at capacity,” says Shannon Takahashi, Skating School and Youth Hockey Coordinator. Fifty-five classes that normally enroll 400 students are currently teaching twice as many ice skating fans. Public skating sessions on the weekends are equally twice as busy. (MORE)

Los Angeles kids can skate to Olympic-sized dreams at Culver Ice Rink

Olympic-sized Culver Ice Rink in Culver City didn’t name drop any past or present Olympians, but they have been busting at the seams nonetheless this Olympic season. “All of our classes are at capacity,” says Shannon Takahashi, Skating School and Youth Hockey Coordinator. Fifty-five classes that normally enroll 400 students are currently teaching twice as many ice skating fans. Public skating sessions on the weekends are equally twice as busy.

Both ice skating and hockey classes are available in ten week, one-class/week sessions, with something for the entire family. Lessons are available for kids age 4 all the way up to adults. A hockey dads group gets dad fit while a fun Parent and Me Ice Skating class is available for kids ages 2-3 with one parent. We love the Parent and Me class, which Takahashi says is more like a play class for toddlers on ice with music, games, bubbles and stickers. The parent attending class with the child must be comfortable on the ice. The Parent and Me class is $155 for one 45-minute class for ten weeks.

Sign up early for the spring classes that will begin April 19, 2010. Registration for the spring 10-week session begins March 15, which is when Takahashi suggests interested students enroll to reserve their spot.

Culver Ice Rink

4545 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, 90230; (310) 398-5719
Public skating hours: Monday-Friday 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Cost: Admission – $9 ages 12 and under, $10 ages 13 and up; Skate Rental – $3
Check website for lesson dates, times and costs
Website

photo by shutterbc

Los Angeles kids can skate to Olympic-sized dreams at Pickwick Ice

Pickwick Ice in Burbank is no new comer to L.A. as it will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The National Hockey League-sized rink (just a tad narrower than Olympic size) has been serving the community well, including United States Olympian Mirai Nagasu, who assistant manager Sean Bachand says had been practicing at Pickwick Ice for four years until her move last October to Toyota Sports Center with her new coach Frank Carroll.

Bachand says there’s definitely been a surge in attendance at Pickwick Ice the past couple of months, but it’s nothing new to the rink, which plans appropriately for the occasion. “We have a four year plan,” he says. “We know that every four years during the Olympics public interest will peak and we plan for that.” Planning includes offering more classes, and bringing on more coaches and teachers every four years to sustain the demand.

This year is no different, except for one thing. “We don’t see a lot of beginner adults enrolling themselves like they used to,” he says. “Adults are enrolling their kids, perhaps wanting to invest in future generations.” According to Bachand, Pickwick Ice is ideal for parent supervision, with their newly installed seamless glass all around the ice allowing parents an unfettered view of their future Olympians in training. Also ideal at Pickwick is the philosophy, as Bachand points out. “Usually it’s the parents who bring their kids in and push them to try ice skating. But the trick is to create a fun and safe learning environment where the kids connect to the sport and start having their own goals and sharing that with their parents.”

Pickwick Ice offers skating classes for 3 year olds to adults. Their winter 10 week session is almost over, but a new 10-week session begins March 17, 2010. Once-a-week classes for 10 weeks will cost you $130 plus skate rental. Go to the website for a $10 discount on classes.

Pickwick Ice

1001 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, 91506
Public skating hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Wednesday and Sunday evening 8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Cost: Admission and Skates – $10 age 12 and up; $9 age 11 and under
Check website for lesson dates, times and costs
Website

photo by shutterbc

Los Angeles kids can skate to Olympic dreams at Iceland Skating Rink

The oldest ice skating rink in the Valley, Iceland boasts a history of old-school Olympic-sized patrons, including Brian Boitano, Christopher Bowman and Sonja Henie. And according to community relations manager Martha Avtandilian, this very skating rink is where legendary Linda Fratianne mastered her triple toe loop and double axle. For those who don’t know, Fratianne was the first woman figure skater to land two triple jumps in a competition.

Avtandilian says Iceland has seen a bit of a spike in attendance since the Olympics, but at this more than 50 year old venue, the winter season is more of a steady indicator that they will be busy. That and this year’s phenomenal Ice Skating lessons special, where 2 classes for 13 weeks will run a mere $162.50, or $6.25 per class! And the deal includes ice skate rentals.

Iceland’s medium-sized ice rink will allow a maximum of 100 people during public skating hours. If it’s your birthday, you get to skate FREE! Lessons are available for children as young as 3 years old to adults. Private lessons are an option, as with hockey lessons of varying levels.

Iceland

14318 Calvert St. Van Nuys, CA. 91401
Public skating hours: Monday Noon – 6 p.m.; Tuesday Noon – 5 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.; Wednesday Noon – 6 p.m.; Thursday Noon – 5:30 p.m.; Friday Noon – 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday 2:15 p.m. – 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Sunday 2:15 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: Admission – $7; Skate Rental – $3
Check website for lesson dates, times and costs
Website

photo by gowestphoto

Mattel Imagination Toy Testing Center Testers

If your little one is already opinionated about everything, channel that energy into reviewing something they are most naturally suited for: toys! The Mattel Toy Testers program will give your kids the first opportunity to play with and test toys new to or not even on the market yet. It will hardly seem like “work” when your kids (ages 5 and older) share their very important comments, reviews and opinions about all the toys they just got done playing with! Your child will even get swag to take home. Call (310) 252-3811 to sign up or get all the details.

Imagination Toy Testing Center

Mattel, Inc.
333 Continental Boulevard, El Segundo, 90245; (310) 252-2000 or (310) 252-3811
Ages: 5 and up
Website

Geffen Playhouse Kid Reporter Program

Your kid has the scoop, and Geffen Playhouse wants to hear it. The Saturday Scene series at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood offers plays for families and children ages 5 and up but if your child is at least 6 years old and has a nose for news or a sense for storytelling, sign her up for the Geffen Playhouse Kid Reporter program. Email your child’s information to the Geffen and a Kid Reporter will be chosen randomly for each Saturday Scene production.

This gig comes with perks too, because your kid reporter will receive four free prime seats for the performance, a pre-show Meet & Greet with a member from the cast or artistic team, her name announced as reporter for the day during the pre-show announcement , a Saturday Scene t-shirt , a special “Press Pass” created by the Geffen Playhouse for her to wear and as a keepsake and her photo taken pre-show when she checks-in! Wow!

Your child’s privacy will be honored, so only her first name will appear in the follow up publications, but you must sign a photo waiver. The Geffen will provide the Kid Reporter with fun questions for them to answer about the performance they attend and/or the theater. These answers will then be “lightly edited” as an article to be published along with their photo in the following Geffen Playhouse Saturday Scene playbill.

For the entire scoop on this opportunity, go HERE.

Saturday Scene Performances

Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood Village, Los Angeles, 90024
Select Saturdays
11 a.m. – Noon
Ages: 5 and up
Cost: $15/person (Purchase Tickets Online HERE)
Website

Toy Making

Rose Scharlin
2414 Lake View Ave., Los Angeles, 90039; (323) 574-1859
Wednesdays, January 20-February 24, 2010
3 p.m.
Ages: 8 and up
Cost: $15/class
Website 

Fed up of store bought toys?  Design and make your own toys!  Artist and teacher Jane Gotts shows you how to sew up your own felt pals and amaze your friends.  The kids draw and design their own toys; at first use felt, buttons and trim, then move onto more advanced techniques if the skill set of the class allows.

Santa Monica Playhouse Enrolling for Spring 2010 Workshops

“I got my start at Santa Monica Playhouse,” says actress Kate Hudson.  Hudson, along with Playhouse alumni Jason Ritter, Zooey Deschanel, Jason Segel and many others, are part of an alumni base of over 25,000 students who have honed their creative skills in the internationally acclaimed Santa Monica Playhouse Theatre for Youth Program, now entering its fifth decade of providing cutting-edge educational and theatre arts enrichment classes for young people ages 4 to 17.  Sign up now for the Spring 2010 workshops as spaces are limited!

Play Production

Santa Monica Playhouse
1211 4th Street, Santa Monica, 90401; (310) 394-9779 ext. 623
Wednesdays, February 10 – May 26, 2010
4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; OR
Thursdays, February 11 – May 27, 2010
4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; OR
Saturdays, February 6 – May 22, 2010
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Ages: 6-13
Cost: $495/four month session
Website

Early Stages

Santa Monica Playhouse
1211 4th Street, Santa Monica, 90401; (310) 394-9779 ext. 623
Saturdays, February 27 – May 22, 2010
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Ages: 4-6
Cost: $325/three month session
Website

Teen Performance Lab

Santa Monica Playhouse
1211 4th Street, Santa Monica, 90401; (310) 394-9779 ext. 623
Thursdays, February 11 – May 27, 2010
4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Ages: 13 – 17
Cost: $495/four month session
Website

Kids Craft ‘N Sew

Hands on 3rd
8377 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, 90048; (323) 655-0515
Six-Week Session
Tuesdays, January 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 2, 2010
2 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Ages: 5 +
Cost: $210 for 6 classes and includes all materials!! ($195 for members)
Website

Kids get creative and resourceful at this six session series that includes Puppet Making, Costume Design, Recycled Art, Decoupage, Make your own Robots, Monsters and more!

Play on a team with the American Youth Soccer Organization

Kids in junior high school will have an opportunity to participate in team sports though their physical education classes. For the younger set, or to involve your older kids in extracurricular team sports, try the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). Anyone can join AYSO and all kids are guaranteed to play 50% of the time, so you don’t have to worry about your kid being a bench warmer. Find an AYSO in your area for more information HERE.

American Youth Soccer Organization
Website