Chaparral Ice

Chaparral Ice is an ice skating facility located in Austin, Texas. It holds approximately 2,000 people after being upgraded in 2006 to be the home rink for the Central Hockey League Austin Ice Bats. In May 2008, the Ice Bats announced they were leaving Chaparral, and Austin, due to a lack of sense in having hockey in Texas.

The I-35 facility now has two sheets of ice. It remains the home ice facility for the ACHA University of Texas ice hockey team, and the Austin Youth Hockey Association.

Chaparral Ice also planned to host the Texas Stars Hockey Team, an affiliate of the Dallas Stars, but lost the contract due, once again, to mismanagement by the owner.

Chaparral rebuilt an ice rink at its Northcross Mall location. With 3 full sheets of ice in Austin, Chaparral should support not only hockey, but the two local figure skating clubs as well. Austin FSC is the only official member club of United States Figure Skating. However, they receive no help from the rink, and ice prices for competitions, seminars, replacement freestyle times, and testing sessions continue to rise.

Recently Chaparral drastically altered their schedule to move and/or cut out freestyles and public sessions. This makes booking lessons difficult for the coaches and parents, and finding time for figure skaters to practice very frustrating.

That being said, to grow the figure skating program we still need new skaters to come to the rink. Skate on the few remaining public ice sessions, or sign up for Learn to Skate classes. Perhaps if Chaparral makes more money they will give our ice time back, so please come skate until the Cedar Park Center is open.

Chaparral Ice has many talented figure skaters but their location does not support many skaters. Their classes, though are fitted to the beginner through the advanced.

External links

• Chaparral Ice website