Benefits of working at an ice skating rink?

Question

I'm hitting sixteen soon [exactly a month] and I'm really looking forward to getting a job, especially if it's somewhere I like to be. I recently got into ice skating, and I love it and love just being in the rink. I'm really thinking of applying there to work in the proshop or something during afternoons so I can skate in the mornings.

The only thing is, sometimes pay isn't the best at rinks and my mom knows I love skating, so she thinks I should try for a job at the rink that includes good benefits [not health, but rather a percent off the proshop or free ice time] so my question is are there certain perks to working at ice skating rinks?

Answer 1

At my local rink I know employees get discounts on ice time and items in the proshop.  Also if you work as an ice patrol (i.e. someone who makes sure people don't do stupid things during public sessions) you can get some extra practice time in on slow days.  Another perk of working at the rink where you practice is you will spend less time commuting because you don't have to travel anywhere to go from work to practice since you are already there.  I'm sure you would also learn a few things from the more experienced skaters that come by the rink, and you could be a big help to people who are just starting out since you've been there.

Answer 2

we get discounted ice time, free food, discounts on blade sharpening or free if the guy likes you lol, discounts in the pro shop.

Answer 3

I worked at my rink for over 10 years (high school and college) and worked at rinks while I was away at college.  A good benefit is you're in an environment that you love.....sometimes you get to skate for free, but depending where you are, that's not always the case.  If you have a pro shop, the discount is good -- especially when you need new skates!!!  It's fun to learn how an ice rink works and runs.  I guess it depends on what area you would be working in.  I was never a fan of working concessions -- I hated being a "weiner spinner" and preferred to work maintenance jobs.  I'd much rather empty garbages than make someone waffle fries!  I liked working there because I always was right in the middle of cool events.....hockey tourneys, skating competitions -- it's cool to hang out in the judge's room when you're not competing and nobody asks you why you're there.  Our rink is part of a recreation "complex."  There are multiple softball fields, swimming pool, diving well, a soccer field, sledding hill, tennis courts and picnic areas in addition to the rink.  So we also had celebrity softball games (Scott Hamilton was supposed to be there, but bailed at the last minute!!) which were always fun to part of.

BUT probably the coolest thing I did was drive the Zamboni.  How many people in the world can say they did that?   I stuck it out long enough to be trusted with running the building and doing the shaves.  It was kind of a scary thing to do -- and it's not easy, but if nobody was around, scrutinizing me, it was cool driving it.  I didn't really like having to resurface during youth or bar hockey games because they all seem to think they know everything about ice....even though I had to explain the difference between a wet shave and a dry shave to the president of the youth hockey league when he was whining about something.  Also I guess being a "5'2" figure skater" added to the novelty of my job.  There aren't too many girls driving Zambonis around here!  It was a great conversation starter too.  :)  Guys were jealous.  

While your goal may not be to drive the Zamboni, working at ice rinks is cool.  You meet great people, get to do things that you don't normally do working at McDonalds or any other after school jobs.  You can learn skills from book keeping, money handling, customer service, scheduling, advertising, marketing and more.  Also, you have the opportunity to work with kids from time to time.  Plus you're at a place you know you already like and probably already know a lot of the people.

I'd go for it.  :)

Answer 4

Ice time can be expensive depending upon where you live. At my rink it is $10/hr for freestyle sessions in the mornings. People that work at the rink can work there in exchange for ice time.