Abbie Ruckman (9) is able to combine two things she loves, working with kids and ice skating, into an exciting job at the San Diego Ice Arena. The Skate Heroes, a group of 15 teenagers and young adults, take their positions on ice to help make the skating experience run smoothly and train beginner skaters. This all occurs during SDIA’s public skating sessions that are held with music, lights, and their own mascot, Mr. Cube.
“As Skate Heros, we create a warm, welcoming experience for everyone on the ice during the public sessions,” Ruckman said. “We’ll run a DJ booth and play music, and we control a cool light system. I think that our rink is very popular for public skating sessions because we have Skate Heroes and music.”
Ruckman said that the Skate Heroes also allot time during the public sessions to play games and dance with the kids.
“We do the Chicken Dance and the Macarena, and we have our ice cube mascot come out and dance with the kids as well,” Ruckman said. “Then we do this train game where we all skate around like a train and usually all the kids end up falling down, which is very cute. Another game we do is the freeze game where the DJ in the middle of the ice will say freeze and tell you to make a pose.”
Ruckman works both on the ice as a Skate Hero and in retail at the arena’s pro shop, both working in customer service and in the workshop.
“I work at the register selling items to people,” Ruckman said. “I give people recommendations on skates and gear, because as a figure skater, I’ve used different skates and skating gear over the years. I got to learn how to do fittings for ice-skaters to tell them which skates to buy, which is interesting to know. We also started learning how to sharpen skates, which we have to go through a lot of training to learn how to do because it’s actually a pretty lengthy process.”
Ruckman said she has been able to get out of her comfort zone during her time as a Skate Hero by connecting with and helping strangers.
“I’ve learned a lot of communication, especially talking to people that I don’t know,” Ruckman said. “When I’m in my Skate Hero jacket and I’m on the rink, I go up to people and just strike up a conversation and make friends, which I normally wouldn’t do.”
Ruckman has made connections with people that return again and again to participate in skate sessions with the Skate Heroes.
“We all like to make friends on the ice,” Ruckman said. “We have regulars that come and skate with us often. They’re both regular kids and adults. Its always fun to talk and hang out with them.”
During school breaks, children come in school buses to the rink for day camps, which Ruckman and the other Skate Heroes lead.
“At the camps, we have classes to teach the kids skills,” Ruckman said. “To teach the younger kids, because some are as young as 3 or 4, we hold their hands because they fall a lot and show them how to march across the ice. By the end of the week, they get used to ice skating, and some can do a few tricks. I definitely learned more patience from this, because sometimes you just don’t get why the kids can’t do the skill, but you have to be patient and know that they’ll later understand it.”
In competitive skating, there are many levels starting from Pre Preliminary to Preliminary, Pre Juvenile, Juvenile, Intermediate, Novice, Junior, and finally Senior. According to Ruckman, being a Skate Hero requires a basic proficiency in ice skating, enough to skate around for hours and give advice to those struggling.
“During the interview, I told them my skating level and what I was jumping, but you don’t have to be a super high level to be a Skate Hero, you just need to have good ice coordination in general so you can help people on the rink.” Ruckman said.
Some of the Skate Heroes, including Ruckman, are competitive figure skaters. Ruckman is currently at the Intermediate level. During her years of figure skating at the San Diego Ice Arena prior to working there, she often saw the Skate Heroes around during public sessions as she practiced.
“I’ve ice skated for four years and I used to see the Skate Heroes when I was younger,” she said. “I thought what they did seemed fun, and I knew that they hired at 14, so when I was old enough I applied.”
Overall, Ruckman has had a positive experience working at her rink which has helped her become both a better skater and a better mentor.
“Working at the rink has taught me more about the sport I love and has given me more experience and motivation to keep working on my personal skating skills.”