I finally got to skate in the middle of a mall today! Okay, I know that doesn’t sound so exciting to most, but I’ve never gotten the chance to do this. They don’t really exist in my part of the world so they’ve kind of become like folklore to me. Therefore, despite having many “full-ice” skating options available on this quick trip to Dallas, I headed up to the Galleria Mall for a spin. The surface was about 2/3 NHL-sized and decently maintained for being middle of the day, public session, mall ice.
The best part though – the smells! Rather than inhaling a combination of Zamboni exhaust mixed with hockey player sweat, you get hit with all the food court combinations coming at you from all sides. Five Guys cheeseburgers, Yogurtland, and though not visible from the ice, I’m positive I caught a whiff of Auntie Anne’s mixed with Mrs. Fields.
All yummy smells aside, it’s not the most comfortable situation skating in such a fishbowl-like setting. At least for someone like me who doesn’t necessarily like being watched when I skate. Skating for me has always been more of a meditative, internal endeavor, rather than a performance for others to see. I’ve skated at local outdoor rinks where passersby will stop and watch, and I’ve always felt uncomfortable having random eyes on me. So imagine four levels of random eyes, coming at you from 360 degrees! And when you are the only person in non-rental skates, not holding on to the boards, and you’re able to skate backwards – you’re going to draw attention. Like – random guy at Panda Express got up from his Orange Chicken to come take pictures/video of me – kind of attention (I’m fairly convinced he thought I was a notable skater, but was sorely disappointed when I failed to throw a quadruple twirly-doop. Sorry random guy!) In the end, I suppose it’s a good thing to put yourself in uncomfortable situations from time to time and I’m certainly glad I went.
Where: Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center (http://galleriaiceskatingcenter.com)
Cost: $15 with skate rentals; $12 without
Did you feel like Tonya Harding; skating in a mall? 🙂
Hi Jean – We haven’t met in person (yet) but have several mutual skating friends. I love that you’re keeping a blog about your skating and travel adventures. I plan on competing in Oberstdorf one of these years (hopefully in 2019). Hope you’ll drop by my Skating Fridays posts every once in a while! Love that you got to skate in a mall and got videoed by the random dude! 🙂
Hi Eva! You should definitely come to Obi – it is so much fun! Hope to meet you in person sometime soon. Please send me a link to your Skating Friday posts. I’d love to check it out!
Hi Jean! My skating blog is intermingled with my baking blog too, so you can get some fun dessert recipes while you’re there! http://www.evabakes.blogspot.com.