Katherine Brown couldn’t have asked for a better day to try skating for the first time.
The 17-year-old from Monroe, Ga. is in Thunder Bay visiting with family. They took her to lace up skates for the first time ever at Prince Arthur’s Landing on Saturday. She said the rink and surrounding area is beautiful.
“I think I’m doing pretty good for my first try,” she said with bit of a Southern drawl as snow started falling. “Everyone is really nice if I run into them and if I fall it doesn’t hurt that bad.”
Katherine visited the city in the summertime and always wanted to see what the winter was like.
“I’m very cold. I can’t even feel my toes but I have five layers on. I think I’m going to make it,” she said.
Her cousin Caitlyn Radbourne, 12, said she wanted to show Katherine the city but had other reasons for wanting to see her skate.
“That and laugh at her,” she said with a smile.
The cousins were just two of around 100 people who were skating, laughing and drinking hot chocolate at the rink as temperatures of around -6 C made for perfect winter weather.
Trevor Bon was part of a group of 20 who have started an annual holiday tradition of heading to Prince Arthur’s landing, with the rink now in its second year. He said it’s a great way to have fun with family and friends.
“It’s fantastic. It’s been a great addition to the city,” Bon said.
Courtney Marrello agrees. Saturday was the second day in a row that she had been to the rink, first with one side of her family and now another. It’s something that families and the community can do together for free.
“It’s a beautiful view of the lake and with music playing it’s a really nice place to be,” she said.
Tyler Sullivan said there is a downside though as no sticks or pucks are allowed. Still, the nine-year-old said he’s been to the rink three times this year already and always has a good time with his friends.
“It’s really good fun,” he said.
