Erik's very subjective skating rink reviews: The Orbit
The Orbit is part of a very large complex. There's a blade hockey rink, separate from the general roller rink. And an indoor soccer pitch. And a bowling alley.
The floor at the Orbit is smooth like glass. It must be basically new [EDIT: Some exploration of their web page reveals a photo collection entitled "floor refinishing project" and dated "September 06"]. And the boards are curved. You're skating with the grain all the way around the loop. And it's freakin' HUGE! Ginormous! The Fleetwood would almost fit in it sideways, I think. It's a thing of beauty.
The people there are also friendly; the people working there seem to actually like working there, like each other, and like skating and skaters.
The Orbit offers a discount in the pro shop to Derby Girls, and has a special session set aside on Monday nights for Derby practice. This is the only rink where I've actually run into a member of the rollers. This is also the only rink I've been to with an actual pro shop; not just a few skates and wheels in a glass case and a copy of the same catalog everyone else has, but an actual selection you can try on, and someone there who can help.
The rental skates are pretty good; This is the only rink I have been to where I didn't feel I had to change skates ever.
The floor at the Orbit is smooth like glass. It must be basically new [EDIT: Some exploration of their web page reveals a photo collection entitled "floor refinishing project" and dated "September 06"]. And the boards are curved. You're skating with the grain all the way around the loop. And it's freakin' HUGE! Ginormous! The Fleetwood would almost fit in it sideways, I think. It's a thing of beauty.
The people there are also friendly; the people working there seem to actually like working there, like each other, and like skating and skaters.
The Orbit offers a discount in the pro shop to Derby Girls, and has a special session set aside on Monday nights for Derby practice. This is the only rink where I've actually run into a member of the rollers. This is also the only rink I've been to with an actual pro shop; not just a few skates and wheels in a glass case and a copy of the same catalog everyone else has, but an actual selection you can try on, and someone there who can help.
The rental skates are pretty good; This is the only rink I have been to where I didn't feel I had to change skates ever.