Learn to Skate - Making the News

Even though we've been skating before, we decided to officially sign up for lessons this season - I figure as much as they have fun with me at the outdoor or local public skating (that isn't cheap!) Perhaps they would pick things up a little quicker with a different teacher other than Mom...

As per usual - we found a better option for lessons in the neighboring suburb (more convenient schedule & less expensive)...and the kids are having a blast...

This Monday night was the halfway point...4 lessons down, 4 to go...

They are getting it...and having fun while they do...

We've finally got a rhythm down...getting to the arena on time (but not too early), getting on the snowpants, skates, helmet...making sure everyone is fed because we don't get home until after bedtime...

You feel good about things...they are clicking along...

And then, you open the news to this...

As reported in our local news this week:

Zamboni driver in Apple Valley accused of being drunk while resurfacing ice

Apple Valley police arrested a 34-year-old man Monday night for driving while intoxicated. His vehicle of choice? A Zamboni.

Officers were called to the Hayes ice arena shortly after 8 p.m. after people there noticed that a part-time employee who was grooming the ice with a Zamboni was driving erratically. When police arrived, the man was struggling to maneuver the ice-grooming machine off the ice. The man was unsteady on his feet and smelled of alcohol, according to a news release.


He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested and taken to police headquarters for a blood-alcohol test. Test results have been sent to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis, the news release said.


The man, who has not yet been charged, was convicted of drunken driving once in 2002 and twice in 1999, according to state records.
called 911 as the usually 10-minute ice resurfacing job took upwards of a half-hour.


The 34-year-old Zamboni driver failed a field sobriety test. A blood alcohol test taken at the police station was sent to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis.

I'm not exactly sure how all of this went down under our noses without us seeing it...as the kiddos have ice time until 8:15...but YIKES!
This is something you don't see every day!

And thank God no one was hurt...Can you imagine a Learn to Skater being run down by the Zamboni?
Aye Aye Aye...
What is this world coming to?