In the early 1970s, the growing Dublin community agreed that more family-oriented activities were required. East Bay Iceland Corporation has embarked on plans for a new ice skating rink. The property was bought from the rancher George Hansen, a member of one of the city’s founding families, and the construction of the new building began. Dublin Iceland opened its doors for the first time on 7 April 1975.
Public sessions and learning-to-skate lessons have exposed the people of Dublin to this sport. Coaches from various parts of the Bay Area came to teach skating to young and young people at heart. Soon, there was a thriving group of skating enthusiasts in the new rink.
In addition to public sessions serving the community at large, figure skating and hockey programs have begun to expand. Both the St Moritz Ice Skating Club and the Tri-Valley Minor Hockey Association have initiated programs at the new rink that continues today.
Hockey was thriving in the East Bay. Dublin was a regular training rink for the California Seals pro team and the Fresno Falcons semi-pro team in the early years. The Tri-Valley Minor Hockey Association started with a small group of in-house teams and has since become one of the largest youth hockey leagues in Northern California. Teams of all ages are participating in their projects. Tri-Valley teams participate in tournaments locally and around the U.S. and Canada each year. They play in regional and state tournaments, frequently qualifying for national championships.
The rink provides daily freestyle lessons for competitive figure skaters and private coaches. The St Moritz Ice Skating Club also gives skaters the opportunity to evaluate, take part in workshops, ice shows and competitions. The Dublin Rink hosts these events whenever appropriate. Skate St Moritz, a figure skating competition that started at the Dublin Rink, is considered to be one of the most prestigious competitions in Northern California. Many skaters who take part in this event and practice in Dublin Iceland can compete at the provincial, sectional and national championships.
Kristi Yamaguchi (National, International and Olympic Champion) and Rudy Galindo (National Champion and International Bronze Medalist) had a lot of experience in Dublin Iceland as they made their way through the competitive ranks. Brian Boitano (National, World and Olympic Champion) was trained in Dublin in the years preceding the 1988 Winter Olympics.
These must-see attractions are just few of the many you don’t want to miss in Dublin, California:
- K1 Speed – Indoor Go Karts
- Rockin’ Jump – The Ultimate Trampoline Park Fun & Games
- Dublin Ranch Golf Course
- Caps & Taps
- Dublin Farmers’ Market
- Exit2Escape
- Dublin Heritage Park & Museums
- Iron Horse Trail
All of these wonderful attractions are located just a short distance from our location located at 6400 Village Pkwy #101 in Dublin, California! Stop by for a visit anytime!
