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PHOTOS: UW-MADISON RECREATION & WELLBEING 22 / JULY.AUGUST.2023 USICERINKS.COM Serving the community Though still in its infancy, Sub-Zero Ice Center has already welcomed plenty of visi- tors—and it expects even more this fall. "We do have free offerings, like a wel- come back skate in the fall, and we offer three sessions where anyone can come and skate and get rental skates for free," Riggins said. "When students are back on campus, that's always extremely popular. I think last year we served 900 skaters, so I think this year it has the potential to be even more." Sub-Zero Ice Center also hosts intramu- ral broomball and hockey, general public skating, figure skating and open hockey. "We do offer a skating membership, so you can either pay per session if you want to, or you can get a semester pass," Riggins said. "It's been nice because, operationally, it's faster, too. People can just scan in, and then we don't have to deal with payment methods." The university's old building didn't have a proper HVAC to be open during the warmer months, whereas Sub-Zero Ice Center is open year-round. "Ice is always in demand," Riggins said. "Hopefully being available in the summer will help us service more youth camps and other groups. We also want to do some programming to serve under- represented populations. We're working on formulating a plan to broaden our reach to really serve the community in the best possible way." Whether or not they're lacing their skates, Riggins encourages everyone in the community to pay a visit to the facility. "It's pretty stunning, and the geography around it is amazing," Riggins said. "If you just walk around the building, you'll see Native American effigy mounds, and there's a tribute to the Ho-Chunk Nation behind the building, because these are his- toric lands in terms of the people who were here before us. It's truly a beautiful spot." J Featured Rink Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center | | Madison, Wis. p Opaque windows prevent ice melt by diffusing the incoming light.