Practice

The best way to find out about practice times is to keep an eye on the Yahoo! Team Rainbo message board (open to anyone who is interested). This is the main way we communicate practice times and locations. The information here is for general information only. The practice schedule is always subject to change.

Indoor Practice Schedule & Information

Indoor practice begins Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, 8pm at  Orbit Skate Center [Link pops new window with map] and ends at the end of March 2012, weather permitting. Orbit has open skating sessions all year long for anyone who loves indoor roller rink skating.

Gear Required: helmet.

Recommended gear: indoor wheels. Indoor practice is better with indoor wheels. Indoor wheels are designed for maximum traction & grip on indoor rink surfaces. The wheels used for outdoor skating may not be suitable for high speed skating indoors. Wheels can be ordered from Cale Carvell.

Cost per practice session: $8.00 per session. Exact amount cash (preferred) or check paybable to Orbit Skate Center. Inquire about discount practice cards.

  • Saturday 8:00 – 9:15 am
  • Sunday 9:00 – 10:30 am
  • Tuesday 8:00 – 9:30 pm

All open speed sessions – no specific coaching is scheduled. As stated above, start times are subject to change based on parties being scheduled. Watch your e-mails on the week of practice

Why Skate at Indoor Practice?

  • Improve your skating
  • Develop better technique
  • Skate faster!
  • Have more confidence
  • Stay in shape this winter!

Outdoor Practice Schedule

Organized outdoor practices are held only on the weekends and only while the weather has a chance of being warm. Organized outdoor practices should begin in April 2012. As the weather dictates practice time will adjust slightly. Watch the email message board linked to above for changes in times and weather/rain conditions each day.

2011 Schedule:

  • Saturdays 9:00 AM, ATT Center, Hoffman Estates
  • Sundays 9:00 AM, Conway Park, Lake Forest

    Outdoor Skating Locations, Maps and Directions

    Official organized outdoor practices start up again in the spring, however many people skate outdoors in small groups whenever weather permits. Below is a listing of skating areas frequently used [links pop open new windows with maps]. Saturday and Sunday practice times were at 9 am. Times will vary as the weather cools down and skaters want the roads to warm up a bit. Updates can be tracked on our message board.

    • AT&T Center in Hoffman Estates – (Click on the link above for a map of the location.) From Chicago- I-90 west, exit Barrington Road North, turn right onto Lakewood Blvd, turn left into the parking lot of Jersey’s restaurant. The practice route is most of the course for the Chicagoland Inline Marathon. Please note the parking is in a different location from that during race weekend.
    • Busse Woods Forest Preserve – Entrance is just East of Rt 53 off Higgins Rd. on the South side of the road. Turn left at the first parking area. Go to the turn around and park.
    • Conway Park – take I 94 exit east on Rt. 60 (Townline Rd).  At the top of the exit ramp, turn East.  There is a stoplight in about 200 yards, Field St. (you will also see the corporate development sign for Conway Park)  turn left (north).  When you enter on Field St., off of Rt 60, take the first right turn, and then turn into the second driveway on the left, 1955 W. Field Court, we will be parking behind that building.
    • Deer Park near the corner of Lake Cook Rd. and Quentin Rd – (Just northeast from the Deer Grove Forest Preserve, click on the link above for a map of the location.)   From that corner, you would go north on Quentin a few hundred feet to the first street on your right (there is a firehouse on the corner)…..turn right and drive up a few hundred feet and you will see a parking lot and a baseball field on the left.  Pull in there and park.
    • Old Elm Trail – From Rt 41 in Lake Forest, turn West on Old Elm Rd. Go to first stop sign and turn left. Turn left at the next stop sign into Northcroft Park. Drive to pavilion. Skaters now most often meet in the Cross Roads Shopping Center parking lot north of the intersection of Lake Cook and Old Skokie Roads.
    • Tom’s Dell-a-RINK, Elgin, IL – From I-90 Northwest of Chicago, exit 31 North. Turn right on Tollgate road, the entrance is next to a restaurant called Alexander’s, and a Holiday Inn. Look for a warehouse with a lot marked “Parking.” Best time to skate here is weekends and weeknights after 5:30.
    • Randall Road, Elgin, IL – take I-90 Northwest, exit Randall Road. Head north a short while to Technology Dr., turn left and Vantage Dr. will be on your right. Parking is at a vacant building. The address is 2360 Vantage Dr., Elgin, Il.   It is a large industrial park with great pavement and about a 5 mile loop.
    • Shoe Factory Forest Preserve – From I-90, take Barrington Road south past Higgins. Turn right (west) into forest preserve parking lot. Park near the entrance. You cross the path as you enter the parking lot.

    Questions can be left in the comment section below or through an email to Cale

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