Observations on the Outdoor Rink

The long-awaited outdoor rink finally opened this week, and Deerfield’s quad has turned into a stage where new students learn many things: how to fall without losing aura, how to pretend slipping was part of skating, and how to spray snow in the direction of their crush without impressing them at all.

As the fall term concluded and the winter term began, the rink looked amazing, surrounded by lights and snow. But as the rink stayed open, there was plenty to see. There was a freshman trying out (what I think was) a trick for the first time and ended up inventing an Olympic-worthy move that involves skating, falling, and then somehow not hitting the ice. A couple of days later, I witnessed a romance comedy unfolding. There was a brave skater going out with their huzz, trying to perform a cool trick with them, only for him to fall and slam onto the ice. His date, on the other hand, glided on the ice... poor guy.

The hype isn’t limited to casual skaters. The JV hockey and recreational hockey teams have begun using the rink for what I think are supposed to be practice drills: lots of falling, dramatic saves, and acting worthy of an Oscar.

Safety-wise, there were a couple of issues. Some skaters had the confidence but not the skills. Skates weren’t always tied properly, and I personally saw more heads than helmets. While no one seemed to leave the rink with a permanent injury, seeing a sophomore face-planting into the ground (and standing up trying to look uninjured) made it clear: organizational tweaks could help.

The rink’s diversity is the main attraction. It has become a site for bonding, flirting, and trying out a new sport. Groups of friends, especially those with nothing to do on weekends, group up in corners talking about skating hacks, near-death experiences, and (of course) their grades. The rink has become both literally and figuratively an icebreaker. If you haven’t made it to the rink yet, go. Bring a friend and a willingness to laugh at yourself, before your friends do.

The outdoor rink has already reminded Deerfield how much we value these small, shared traditions and communal spaces. Whether you leave the ice with either an unscathed or broken body, you’ll have a memory that’ll be the talk of your friend group for around four days. And honestly, that’s why we keep coming back.