GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” In the two-plus years since the Community Center entered the ice age, the skating rink has exceeded expectations.

It has become so popular, in fact, that drop-in hockey players were turned away at the door on Tuesday.

But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, says Glenwood Springs Parks and Recreation director Bill Efting.

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“The weekend was a mob scene,” Efting said. “We’re kind of excited about it. If you’re going to have a problem, that’s a good problem.”

The rink has become a major draw for the Community Center. Members of the center can skate for free, but it also attracts fee-paying nonmembers for public skating and drop-in hockey ” which is where people come with hockey gear and form teams with whomever shows up.

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City manager Mike Copp, who was instrumental in finding the money to build the Community Center and accompanying skating rink, said that along with the exercise facilities inside the center, the skating rink is one of the biggest draws in convincing people to become members at the Community Center.

“I think it’s doing fantastic,” Copp said.

Efting said comparisons to the first two seasons are difficult to make so early in the season ” the rink just opened on Nov. 1 ” but he noted that at least one of his workers said it seems busier than it has been in the past.

“She said the public just keeps getting better every year and so far this is the best year yet,” Efting said.

Skaters don’t have to be hard-core hockey nuts to go for a skate. The rink also has plenty of time for casual skaters who just want to skate around, get some exercise and socialize.

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There is at least one public skating time each day, sometimes at lunch, and sometimes in the evening, and often there is more than one time.

“We’re really getting geared up for the holiday season,” Efting said. “During the holidays we’ll expand our public skating sessions.”

During the fall, winter and early spring, the rink becomes a busy place. According to ice rink manager Janelle Weidler ” who was hired Sept. 1 after running the Glenwood Springs Kid Kamp last summer ” there are some fun activities coming up later in the season.

“There’s a family skate night coming up during the winter season,” she said.

Weidler also noted that there’s a senior citizen holiday ice skating party that starts at noon on Dec. 10 and includes a potluck lunch after the skating is over, as well as Zamboni driving classes for those interested in learning how to drive the mythical machine.

The rink has a heated concession and skate rental building where concessions such as popcorn, drinks and nachos are sold.

The rental racks have scores of skates, leaving almost nobody out.

“They start at junior 6 size,” Weidler said. “They go up to adult 14.”

Efting, who has worked in Aspen and Vail ” both towns that have covered ice rinks ” said the Glenwood Springs rink has as good a sheet of ice as any rink he’s seen.

“We have good icemaking and a good Zamboni,” he said. “It feels like an old-fashioned ice rink. That’s what I really like about it. I think everyone’s comfortable skating there; it’s not intimidating to anyone.”

For those who are serious about their skating and hockey, the recreation department’s athletics coordinator, Andy Worline, said he’s now signing up teams for league hockey. Either entire teams can be signed up or single players can jot their names on a sign-up list and be placed on a team.

For more information on the schedule, public skating, hockey leagues, or anything else at the Community Center, call the center at 384-6301.

Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511

gmasse@postindependent.com