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| - My very first time here was part of a Grade Six field trip where we skated on the outside track. I sucked (and continue to suck) at ice skating, so I had to utilize the outer foam boards to stop. Fun times.
It's funny, but while I was an undergrad at the University of Calgary, I rarely visited this venue. Probably because I was so wrapped up in school that I didn't make time to cut class and attend any of the events that happened here (what can I say, I was a nerd).
Fast forward to today, and while I still don't come down for the public skates, I do visit every so often to watch some speed skating (mostly because I have a couple of friends who are Olympic hopefuls).
While there are fees to pay to join in the public skate (most fees to use the venue are waived if you're a U of C student), if you're watching speed skating training or certain events like Team Canada World Cup trials, admission is free and you can just walk past the turnstiles.
You can wander to ground level and sit at the public bleachers, which is cool because to get to them, you have to pass many skaters training on the running track.
There is no camera policy, so if you want to bring your DSLR with your fancy high-speed stalker lens, it's perfectly acceptable. In fact, you can stand beside the railing of the rink and snap pictures to your heart's content, as long as you're not interfering with or distracting the racers.
All in all, it's a fun venue, and if you have time to check out the many events that go on here, you should. The Olympic Oval is a world class venue with world class talent, and it'd be a shame to not witness them in action at least once in your life.
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