Great Skate #13 - Harbourfront

The wind on Saturday, March 3 was blowing 67 km an hour - perhaps not the best conditions for outdoor skating. But since this was probably going to be the last Great Skate of the season, my ever-intrepid friend Cathy and I decided to make a go of it. We met at the Natrel Rink at Harbourfront.

Harbourfront is one of my favourite rinks. It's has a blobby, organic shape, so you aren't skating in the usual circles or long ovals. It's right on the edge of the lake, so you get a great view of the Island and the planes landing at the airport that is just across the water. There's always a neat mix of people skating there: families, groups of teenagers, tourists in rented skates, and usually at least one figure skater practising loops and twirls.

The rink also has lockers, washrooms, a snack bar, a skate sharpening service, and a place to rent skates. The latter came in handy when Cathy realized she had brought her son's skates by mistake. For $8, she got a pair of skates that made my scuffed, vintage pair look stylish by comparison.

Despite the wind, there were quite a few people at the rink - including a class of adults learning how to skate.


We skated for about half an hour, enjoying the boost from the wind that blew us across the rink in one direction, and then pushing our way against it to get back to the other side again. Then, when the Zamboni came out to make its rounds, we retired to the snack bar to test the french fries. (They were excellent.)

After that, another 20 minutes or so of skating, and it was time to head off for the rest of our weekend activities. And thus ended the Great Skate 2012 Project, at least until next December.





Location: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8, Canada

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