Warm weather thaws outdoor skating dreams at most rinks around Calgary

Gliding across askating rink on a chilly day is an integral part of the Canadian winter experience, but the warm December weather has evaporated those icy outdoor dreams for many around Calgary.

Of the seven city-operated outdoor rinks, only Olympic Plaza, which has a refrigerated ice surface, has opened so far.

Most of the community rinks are are closed, but a few remain open thanks to skilfulvolunteers who take the art of tending ice very seriously.

• Calgary likely to see white Christmas after getting less snow than Mississippi so far this month

"You talk about striking when the fire is hot, well you flood when the weather's cold," said Dale Prince, a volunteer who who keepsone of twoHaysboro community centre rinks in pristine condition.

Prince said they took advantage of the eight days of chilly weather in November and flooded the rink until it was built up toabout 10 centimetres. Prince regularly comes back to flood the ice when temperatures are low to keep the rink "chinook-proof."

Thewarm weather does make for pleasant skating conditions when the ice is good and frozen. AndreaMerredewspent Monday at Stanley Park teaching her kids to skate.

"This place has been amazing. We've been out here probably four times in the past week and every night they seem to do some magic because we come out here and the ice is perfect," she said.

Prince says it comes down to experience.

"It's not magic, it's just sort of knowing what to do," he said.

Environment Canada predicts the weather will stay above zero during the day until at least the end of the week.

• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Tiny bungalow in Alberta's Foothills costs $2.9M but promises never interrupted mountain views
• MORE CALGARY NEWS|Calgary takes 'tremendous step forward' on secondary suites