With new ice rinks being built all over the state of New Jersey these days, it's refreshing to see one which seems to cater to families and not just the athletes. Such a place is Princeton Sports Center. Formerly known as ProSkate USA, Princeton Sports Center, is located in South Brunswick, New Jersey. Serving the surrounding communities of Monmouth Junction, Franklin Park, New Brunswick, etc. this is fast becoming a place where families can spend quality time while pursuing ice skating, hockey and fitness. One of the reasons this facility is now able to offer all of this is due to their newly added Fitness Center. Located on the upper level, one can look out at either of the two ice surfaces while exercising on stationary bicycles, tred mills and universal machines. One sheet is NHL sized while the other is a full Olympic sized rink. Take your pick of either watching a hockey game or freestyle practice.
I attended their November 20th Kick-Off Celebration which really showed off the addition of a Starbuck's Coffee stand, newly renovated food concession area and a warmer color pallet for the interior walls. There were on ice games, prizes, refreshments and exhibitions from the rink's skating club members and skating school students. If this is an inkling of things to come, Princeton Sports Center is going to have a definite edge in the ever competitive family entertainment market.
In my interview with CBS Television News this past November, I was asked, "What about women who say they have no time for exercise or pursuing a hobby such as skating?" I replied that women are going to have to become smarter about how they use their time and not be afraid to perhaps join in on the child's ice skating lesson or take a lesson on the same day as their child's. With facilities such as Princeton Sports Center and The Ice House in Hackensack, N.J., parents can even go to the rink's fitness center while their child is having their skating lesson. Parents do well to set a good example of keeping physically fit at a time when American children have become some of the most obese in the world. Children also learn that you have interests too. This is very healthy because if you simply remain a skate or soccer mom, you may be sending the message that adults cease learning and taking on new challenges after a certain age. The point I tried to make in my interview and in my books is that we all need to continue to fulfill ourselves. Once we stop, we then begin to wither from within.
