R O O

[jawnbc]

We were out of town for the grand opening of the Richmond Olympic Oval. But we got to go to a public skate there this evening. OMGWTFBBQ it was so frickin' kewl!!!!

As per ISU requirements, the ROO features a 400m ice surface. The ice is harder than found in hockey or figure skating, to maximize glide and speed. After skating the first 100m I could the difference--especially on hockey skates. Being use to skating around my local ice rink dozens of times it was shocking to realize we covered 2 km in just 5 laps. My legs sure knew it though...

The venue is simply stunning, inside and out. The design is very green, integrates Musqueam detailing, and shines on the banks of the Fraser River. In daylight the spectators will be treated to the city of Vancouver and the Coast Mountains when the skies are clear.



From outside (taken this morning)


It's frickin' huge!


Look paterson_si, they even have badminton!


Skating around an oval is waaaay more fun that a rink


All miiiiine, i'n he hawt?


Seems like yesterday when he could barely get around on skates



Complete photo set is here.

Comments

[champdaddy.livejournal.com]

wow, that looks like fun...

[kent4str.livejournal.com]

Did they spend so much on the ice that they couldn't afford indoor plumbing?

[jawnbc]

WTF?

[jawnbc]

It's a highway only and it's about 75% finished. It's 4 lanes almost all the way up to Whistler now. There's a new Skytrain subway out to the airport though: that'll be finished around September 09. It'll take 24 minutes from the terminal to downtown Vancouver, for about $6. The Oval is about 4km from the airport itself.

[asskicka.livejournal.com]

hi, I'm Shanna... an LJ friend of Adrienne's. I live on Vancouver Island. Love your pictures! What were they setting up in the middle of the rink?

[jawnbc]

Hiya Shanna!

The centre was set up for badminton, basketball and indoor soccer. When there's an actual race on it'll be full of skaters and officials. The whole facility converts to a multi-section sports facility when the ice is shut down though: tennis courts, running track, all sorts of stuff.

[asskicka.livejournal.com]

How very neat that you got to be right inside of it before it becomes packed with media and the sort! Thanks for sharing!