HOTEL DEL CORONADO SKATE-BY-THE-SEA

Technical Score: Level 1 -1 GOE for bumpy, wet ice
Presentation Score: Level 4 -1 GOE for awesome setting with awful music

The Hotel Del Coronado on San Diego's Coronado Island is legendary. It has hosted legions of the rich and famous for over 100 years, and it is also supposed to be haunted by a woman who died under mysterious circumstances (Murder? Suicide? Who knows? There is a tome of information about Kate Morgan online, so I won't devote any more space to her here).

At the holidays, the Hotel Del gets tiffed in Victorian Christmas splendour, and among the seasonal attractions it offers is an ice rink just steps from the beach -- Skate-by-the-Sea!

Would you believe I have lived in Southern California most of my life and had never been to the Hotel Del? A seasonal ice rink was all the impetus needed to get me there (well, that...and a concert the night before, which is what got me in San Diego in the first place).

A storm system was moving through Southern California, so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to skate or would be rained out. Happily, the sun came out long enough for me to visit the Del and take a few turns on the beachfront rink.

Skating at the Del was quite a different experience than what I'm used to. People wishing to skate must fill out a relatively lengthy disclaimer which is collected when they pay for their session. Session prices are steep -- $20 for each three-hour session, regardless of how long one skates (my session was a "matinee," so I paid $15). Rental skates cost an additional $5.00 (I brought my own). A portion of the admission fee goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The ice surface is much smaller than what you'd find at a regular rink, but that is to be expected with temporary seasonal rinks. When I'd arrived, the first thing I noticed was how wet the ice was. I don't know if this is typical of the Skate-by-the-Sea rink or if the puddles were leftover from the rain. Either way, I made a mental note not to fall.

The ice at the Del was the most inconsistent on which I've skated -- uneven all over, bumpy over most of the surface (like skating over acorns), somewhat smooth under the puddles, and positively unskateable in shady spots by the boards. The bumpiness took some getting used to, but I still had no trouble stroking over it. After a few warm-up laps, I lurked in the middle, where I was out of most everyone's way (the ice wasn't crowded, so I had plenty of room). The smooth patches under the puddles were good spots for spins and some simple moves (unlike other seasonal rinks, there is nothing in the rules that prohibits figure skating).

The Skate-by-the-Sea crowd is mostly families, and they skate slowly and stay close to the boards. They're also very friendly. What I found really amusing was that the simplest three-turns and back crossovers impressed them. One girl even complimented me -- "You're really good!" I thought that was very sweet of her to say, because I'm really not that good...just persistent and learning.

While the ice isn't ideal, the Skate-by-the-Sea setting is exquisite! Palm trees, the beach, the Pacific Ocean, Point Loma...incredible views! There is a coffee stand adjacent to the rink (lattes from a machine), and a bar/lounge is just across a walkway from the ice, so there are good options for warming up after a session. The Hotel Del's rink would be a great place to take a date.

The setting is exquisite, but the music is not -- R&B holiday songs. Think Boyz II Men. I was able to tune it out, but my very sweet, very patient, very understanding non-skating companion could not, and it drove him quite batty. Seriously...the Del could do much better in the music department. What was being played was just bad.

Worthy of note -- the Del offers private and group skating lessons at the Skate-by-the-Sea rink. They're expensive.

Skate-by-the-Sea at the Hotel Del was quite fun. Sure, my short time there set me back about $25 (visitor parking is $10 for two hours), but in a case like this, you're paying for the unique experience of skating in a lovely, beachfront setting. I'm not sure I would make a special trip to San Diego to skate by the sea again, but I did it once, and having that experience was well worth the time and expense.

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