Nothing says winter has arrived like a family skating around an ice rink. It’s relatively inexpensive, even if you rent equipment, and arenas or ponds are a lot more accessible than the mountains. Besides, as Canadians, skating is in our blood, eh.
East Side dad and radio personality Chris Coburn came out to share his long-time passion for figure skating. Not a sport you would expect for a heterosexual, stereotypical country music DJ. But after 51 years, and many of those on skates, Coburn can still be seen on the ice at this time of year, frolicking with his wife and daughters at Robson Square. They all work their fancy moves and toe picks.
As parents, we know peer pressure can affect the decisions our kids make when it comes to choosing extra-curricular activities. We want our kids to participate in the sports they love and that no longer means gender-specific football for Bobby and ballet for Suzie. We can all be grateful times are changing. Your child must be confident enough to stand up for his or her choices, and parents need to be on side.
Exposed to skating as a toddler, Coburn played hockey until he was 14 and then made the switch to figure skating. At five-foot-four, Coburn said he didn’t have the physical size to compete at the contact sport.
“I wasn’t growing much and I was getting slammed on the hockey rink. My sister had started figure skating… and there were a lot of cute girls doing it, so I thought I would give it a try,” he said. “Not many guys were doing it.”
His parents were supportive, but Coburn says his friends thought it was weird.
Determined not to let their judgments stand in his way, Coburn saw figure skating as an opportunity to express his artistic and physical strengths. He said it is a complex sport that is athletically challenging. Mastering complex skills earned him the respect of his peers. After competing for four years, Coburn taught at a club before heading off to university.
Coburn’s favourite indoor rink is at Hillcrest community centre but he still prefers to skate outdoors. He was thrilled when Robson Square was re-opened.
“It’s so cool, it’s right downtown, small and there’s not a lot of hot-doggin‘ going on.” Coburn loves that he can take his whole family out for a skate for not much more than $10.
“My Canadian chest puffs up whenever I get a chance to tie up my laces,” he said. His advice to parents with kids seriously interested in figure skating is to invest in a quality pair of skate. Proper ankle support and sharp edges really make all the difference if you want to excel. Coburn added, “Skating is fantastic cardio with no trauma on the joints.”
Although his daughters are not as athletically inclined, they come together on the ice a few times a year so their dad can show his stuff.
Chris Coburn’s city rink picks
Outdoor: Robson Square
800 Robson Street
Sunday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Free with your own skates. Rentals are $4, helmets mandatory for children under 12. Cash only.
Indoor: Hillcrest Rink
4575 Clancy Loranger Way
Check website for fees, public skate schedule and lessons
For a full list of seasonal and year round rinks in Vancouver visit vancouver.ca.
Stephanie Florian is always chasing her next adventure and plays with her family in the mountains and on the water. Get in touch at Twitter.com/@PlayoutdoorsVan
