Al Vallejo is thankful for the nice weather we had before
Christmas. No, not the last few weeks of clear blue skies and
sunshine, he prefers those weeks of freezing temperatures and
clouds. Vallejo is just one of the 20 dedicated individuals who
volunteer their time to maintain the ice skating rink at Meadow
Wood Sports Complex.
Years ago skaters played on a flooded field over on Valley View.
Eventually, a dirt and sand rink was built in Meadow Wood Park and
enough interest was gathered to support the improved cement
facility today. Each location has required teams of volunteers to
maintain the ice.
Its the most unbelievable free facility, said WPHS graduate Nick
Hanson. Hanson attends CSU and was coming out to the pic- up hockey
games while home on winter break.
The pick- up games are a blast, he said.
Games open to the community are one of the big perks for people
who volunteer their time.
If you show up on a Friday night, youll see almost everyone who
volunteers out on the ice for pick up hockey, Vallejo said.
To keep the rink skateable requires at least four man hours of
maintenance each day. When the rink first opens a large crew is
needed to provide 24 man hours of work. The opening crew paints the
lines on the ice and builds up a base layer. In an indoor rink this
is done easily with refrigeration, but an outdoor rink faces many
variables. The crew has to face the challenges of weather sunlight,
wind, temperature, snow and rain.
Our goal is five inches of ice, Vallejo said. Right now we have
three and five eights, so if some more cold weather comes in we
should make that goal.
In 2003 Woodland Park Parks and Recreation Department acquired a
Zamboni, which has greatly improved the ice and eased the job of
maintenance. Crews still use a big fire hose to cover the rink and
build up the ice, but prior to the Zamboni they also had to sweep
the water by hand into all the cracks and divots in the ice.
There are three volunteers who have been sacrificing their time
to benefit our community for more than 10 years, Andy Sherwood,
Jeff Crowell and Ira Englebardt. Vallejo has been volunteering
since 1998. He remembers coming out to the Meadow Wood rink in the
evening to work on the ice.
Back then there was only one light in the parking lot, Vallejo
said. So one guy, like Jeff Crowell, would be holding the fire hose
to flood. Then the light would go out and hed be standing on the
ice in the dark with the hose going full blast. You could just hear
him yelling, Whoa!
As the main organizer for the volunteers this year, Vallejo
spends many hours at the rink. He is motivated by a love for hockey
and the joy of watching the kids learn to play. He plays on a mens
league out of Colorado College, but isnt content with the drive to
get there.
This facility is right here in my backyard. Id rather put in
time than money or travel. When my son comes up I always say,
Wouldnt it have been neat if we had this when you were a kid, he
said.
However, in the 1980s when Vallejos son was a kid, the only
option to play hockey was to join a team in Colorado Springs and
cough up a $1,600 entry fee. Today for only $40 kids can be on a
team and play in either Woodland Park or Victor. The cost of
equipment is even offset. Players can buy used equipment to skate
in Woodland Park. In Victor skaters can buy or borrow equipment.
Brian Hayes keeps the ice rink shed full of old skates he is
willing to lend to anyone who wants to try out the sport. Parks and
Rec also provides all the extra equipment for hockey players who
are interested in trying out for the position of goalie.
Its great to give kids the opportunity to try it out before they
invest all the money into it, Vallejo said. It just didnt make
sense to pay $1,600 dollars to join a team and still not be sure if
you wanted to do it.
The volunteers make it possible for people to skate with no
charge, he said. It doesnt cost the city for labor. They just pay
for supplies.
Parks and Rec offers three hockey leagues. There are three teams
of mites, ages 5 to 8; four pee wee teams, ages 9 to 12; and three
bantam teams for teens. Currently, there are around 120 kids in the
program.
The little mites bump and fall down. Some cant skate so coaches
and parents help push them around, Vallejo said. But the pee wees
have to know the basic skills.
In the future, skaters are hoping for even more improvements.
Josh Woodword, a senior at WPHS, will not see a school hockey team
before he graduates. So he, along with Jake Brown and Alex Rupp,
drive down to the Springs to play for Mitchell High School.
There wont be a team in my time, Woodword said. But it would be
nice.
Chris Crowell is another WPHS student who plays a Colorado
Springs school. Between practices and games, he drove down the pass
72 times last season.
There are practices at 4 a.m. and midnight, Vallejo said. Kids
drive from Cripple Creek, Victor and Woodland Park clear to
Colorado Springs. Hockey players have a dedication way beyond any
other sport.
For the volunteers who work to maintain the ice, another dream
is to have a roof over the rink to improve shading. Instead of
looking to the city for more help, they are hoping Wal-Mart will
make their dream come true.
Wal-Mart has sponsored ice rinks in Minnesota and Wisconsin as a
way of giving back to the community. As soon as they get here were
going to go talk to them, Vallejo said.
In the meantime, they will be happy to recruit a few more
volunteers. Hockey players, figure skaters and parents are all
welcome to join in the unending task of making smooth ice. To
volunteer, join a team, or take lessons call Parks and Rec at
687-5225.