Myrtle Beach Laces Up the Ice Skates
By Lenore McKenzie-Morris
The folks at The Market Common in Myrtle Beach are doing their best to dress up winter on the Grand Strand.
A horse-drawn carriage made the rounds of The Market Common in Myrtle Beach while music students sung holiday favorites and members of The Red Cross handed out snowballs made from a snow cone machine as Christmas shoppers visited nearby stores and restaurants.
The big draw, however, is the simulated ice skating rink in Valor Park. Open through Jan. 3, the rink is staffed by members of the Horry County Chapter of The American Red Cross.
"I love it," said 9-year-old Stella Van Dyke. "I've been out here two hours already. Want to see what I can do?"
The skating rink will allow most Myrtle Beach residents to experience the strength and agility required to perform simple skating maneuvers like going forward and backward on ice skates. More experienced skaters will want to see how the simulated ice rink handles turns and stops.
"It's plastic sheeting that best resembles an 8x4 piece of plywood," said Dave Tibbetts, a staff member with Artificial Ice Events, the Massachusetts company that supplied the simulated ice rink and rental skates. "It's very similar to a cutting board. We spray it with a special substance to enhance the speed and glide across the surface. It also reduces friction."
Tibbetts has traveled with the rink from Canada to Honduras. "We do any event, if possible," he said.
Tibbetts said the locals who came out to try the rink we're not as "buffaloed" as some of the people he met while in Texas. "But ice skating is something that takes a while to really get down."
Van Dyke, who was accompanied by her 4-year-old brother Holden, said she was coming back every day to skate. Her mother, standing nearby with a camera and watching her daughter confidently twirl on the ice, confirmed they would return.
For another mom, Cheryl Martin, bringing her daughter to the skating rink was a opportunity to share one of her childhood activities with the next generation. Three-year-old Maggie, dressed in a beautiful Christmas dress and coat, did her best to move about on the simulated ice while holding on tightly to mom's hand.
"We had ice skating growing up in Long Island," Cheryl said. "We wanted her to have something that we had growing up."
"It's a cool concept," said Michelle Stadelmann, who came along with Cheryl and her daughter to try the rink. "If you're used to ice skating this doesn't compare, but if you've never skated before this would be a good way to learn."
All proceeds from the skating rink benefit the Horry County Chapter of The American Red Cross. Volunteers are staffing the booth in Valor Park where Tibbetts has dozens of men's, women's and children's skates available for rent.
The rink is open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily, except for closing on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Skating is $7 and includes the skate rental. Shoppers and patrons who spend $50 will receive a voucher for skating.
Hatton Gravely, marketing manager for The Market Common, said she noticed that people were more intent on going out with their families this Christmas season.
"The emphasis is more on family and spending time together," she said, "and the activities we've got out here are the perfect fit."
For more information on The Market Common's skating rink or other activities, call Molly Brown at 843-839-3500.
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