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Rain, atypical weather delay Aspen ice rink’s opening

Andre Salvail
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado
The free skating event at the Silver Circle ice rink, part of the 12 days of Aspen, was cancelled Monday due to rain.
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ASPEN – Rain and above-freezing daytime temperatures have kept the Silver Circle outdoor ice-skating rink from opening, the facility’s operator said Tuesday.

“We’ve got to get through this crazy period,” said Craig Cordts-Pearce. “As soon as the weather cooperates, we’ll be ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”

Through a long-term lease with the Hyatt Grand Aspen, Cordts-Pearce now manages the ice rink and operates CP Burger, his bustling new restaurant on the same Durant Avenue property across from Rubey Park.



He apologized to the community for not having the ice rink open, but said his hands are tied by the unseasonable weather. He said the rink’s cooling system is “working overtime” to keep the existing ice frozen.

Cordts-Pearce said he doesn’t know when he’ll be able to open. The weather forecast is not working in his favor, with daytime high temperatures in Aspen predicted to remain in the middle to upper 30s over the next nine days, according to The Weather Channel. No precipitation is predicted for Friday through Tuesday, though.




“I would be renting skates right now but the weather hasn’t been cooperating,” he said.

Construction on the new skate-rental structure adjacent to the rink is nearly complete, and could be put into use at a moment’s notice, Cordts-Pearce said. But the condition of the ice is unsafe for use.

“The ice is too sharp right now,” he said. “It has to be safe. We can’t let kids out on the rink – they would cut themselves. It would be like skating on gravel.”

Cordts-Pearce said he’s never operated an ice rink. However, he said his learning curve has no bearing on the delay in the Silver Circle’s opening.

He acknowledged the disappointment felt by some in the community. A Monday free-skating period planned in conjunction with the 12 Days of Aspen was canceled. A child’s birthday party Wednesday most likely will be postponed or canceled.

Once the Silver Circle opens, operating hours will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Fees will be $8 for those who need skates, and $4 for those who bring skates.

Meanwhile, skaters will have to get their fix at the city’s indoor facility at the Lewis Ice Center in the Aspen Recreation Center. The outdoor skating area at the recreation center was able to open Saturday, but as in the case of the Silver Circle, weather issues have forced its closure this week.

asalvail@aspentimes.com