The Hays community recently gained its own ice-skating rink, where students and community members can have a fun time with family and friends.

The rink is in the Downtown Hays Pavilion at 110 East 10th St. It opened on Nov. 5 and will be open until Feb. 28, 2021, with various times during the week. On Mondays through Thursdays, it is open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; on Fridays, it is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; on Saturdays, it is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and on Sundays, it is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Ice skating originates from as early as 1000 BCE in Scandinavia; the first pair of skates were made from shank or rib bones of elk, oxen, reindeer and others. Early Dutch prints depict skates with metal blades, but it is not known when the metal runner was introduced, according to https://www.britannica.com/sports/ice-skating. Ice skating is now a fun sport or leisure activity for winter.

“The experience was very fun,” sophomore Remy Stull said. “The best part of it was watching people fall and slip.”

Ice skating is something that requires a lot of balance and can easily be learned, but it can be dangerous if people are not careful.

“I had never been [ice skating],” Stull said. “It was easy for me to pick up, though, but it seemed like other people were struggling.”

The rink is something new and is a good experience for everyone to try.

“Yes, I would recommend it,” Stull said. “It is just a fun time, but definitely be careful because you can roll an ankle very easily.”

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