Tulsa World: Skaters cut cool figures, despite warm weather

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Skaters cut cool figures, despite warm weather

Roman Meek, 6, skates on the first day of Arvest Winterfest outside the BOK Center on Friday. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 11/28/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/28/2009 3:53 AM

With the temperature climbing above 70 degrees, a pool of water formed on the ice rink, giving the illusion of a giant lake Friday afternoon at the opening day of Arvest Winterfest outside the BOK Center.

But as the 4 p.m. start time arrived, dozens of excited skaters scrambled onto the rink, cutting through the thin sheen of water and gliding across the 6-inch layer of ice beneath.

"It's a little wet, but that doesn't matter as long as you stay on your feet," 11-year-old Aleah Tinker said after doing a couple of spins.

Tinker takes skating lessons at the Oilers Ice Center and said she will be back many times to hone her skills during the festival's run through Jan. 4.

"I love it. I'd come every day if my mom would let me," she said with a grin, skating off to join friends.

Staying upright was something 14-year-old Jason Walker didn't manage to do.

He slipped and fell into the watery ice, soaking his short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans.

"Ah, man, bummer," he said with a laugh as the song "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" began to play.

"It's all good. At least I'm not freezing cold."

BOK Center Special Events Manager Jeff Nickler said that with an outdoor rink, the ice is going to be temperamental.

"But once it gets cooler, we won't have any issues," he said. "Tonight, when the sun isn't beating down, it will all freeze up."

And there's plenty of room. Enough for 200 skaters at a time.

The rink, 150 feet by 60 feet and set up on Third Street, is 26 percent bigger than the famed Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

To add to the festivities, there's a 44-foot Christmas tree with 35,700 lights, holiday food treats, horse-drawn carriage rides and live music.

Nearly 48,000 people attended last year's inaugural Winterfest. This year, officials are expecting as many as 100,000.

"This is really just a great event for people to come out and enjoy spending time with their friends and families," Nickler said.

A Houston family was in Tulsa visiting relatives for Thanksgiving and decided to check out Winterfest.

Megan and Brian Moddelmog said it was high time for 3-year-old Adison's first skating experience.

The little girl clutched the wall of the rink and looked like she was about to cry until her parents each took a hand and circled the ice with her. After the first pass, she was all smiles.

"This will help us get into the spirit of the season," Megan Moddelmog said, shrugging off the warm temperature. "Feels like Houston."

Stacey Miller brought her two teenage daughters to skate after a morning full of Black Friday shopping.

The three had been at the stores since 5 a.m.

"We've been going pretty hard all day and wanted to relax," Miller said, sipping a coffee while watching the girls skate.

"Now that we're done with Christmas shopping, we can actually enjoy the holidays."

Get your skates on

Arvest Winterfest’s ice rink, on Third Street between Denver and Frisco avenues, will be open through Jan. 4.

Prices are $8 per person, including skate rental; $5 for those with skates; and $5 for children ages 3 and younger.

mondays are half-price with a donation of a can of nonperishable food; and “Toys on Tuesdays” offer half-price skate rentals with a donation of an unwrapped toy to The Salvation Army.

Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 18; and noon to 10 p.m. all other days, except noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 24. The rink will be closed Dec. 25.

For a live entertainment schedule and more details, visit tulsaworld.com/winterfest09

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Winterfest gets off to balmy start," which was published on 11/27/2009.

	Report Comment tulsahills, (11/27/2009 6:29:53 PM) aw,that's cool! no pun intended.
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/27/2009 7:12:02 PM) Slip sliding away.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/27/2009 8:21:35 PM) Thinking about Winterfest and the skating rink. It reminds me of the old Cary Grant movie The Bishop's Wife.
	Report Comment truth fairy, (11/27/2009 9:19:55 PM) Very cool downtown Tulsa tradition. Williams Center had an ice skating rink in its shopping mall. My mom used to skate at the old Coliseum at 5th and Elgin, seventy years ago.
	Report Comment aint missbehavin, .. (11/29/2009 2:07:46 AM) The ice in my day was for others who had that climate.it was the wheels for me,looks beautiful.the picture.
	Report Comment okieintx, dallas (11/30/2009 9:59:29 AM) That's my kiddo! So proud. :)

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