Rink Blogs

If you've ever entered the lobby of Ice in Paradise, chances are, you've passed the Rinkside Café. And, if you've stayed at the rink long enough, waiting for a lesson or practice, or to watch or play a game, chances are, you've enjoyed what the Rinkside Café has to offer. Lined with TVs and hockey memorabilia alongside the wall, the Rinkside Café offers not only food and drinks, but a space to relax with family and friends. Outside the Café walls, with newly installed TVs, an

Two campers propel themselves across the ice with the help of an Ice in Paradise volunteer. On Wednesday, July 15, Ice in Paradise had the privilege of welcoming Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital's Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp to the rink for a memorable morning of sled hockey. From 10:30 to 11:30 am, 10 campers took to the ice for an experience unlike any they'd had before—most of them trying sled hockey for the very first time. For more than 40 years, the Junior Wheelchair S

Arielle and Aidan Chandran, who will be moving with their family to Singapore, pose with Coach Melissa for a final photo. The Young Norqs wrapped up their spring season with an afternoon of celebration, laughter, and heartfelt goodbyes as players, coaches, and families gathered on the Rinkside Cafe's patio on Saturday, June 27. The end-of-season party was a chance to recognize the team's accomplishments, enjoy time together off the ice, and honor two teammates whose next adve

The American Riviera Figure Skating Club (ARFSC), originally conceived of as the Ice in Paradise Figure Skating Club (IIPFSC), is a non-profit organization that's affiliated with U.S. Figure Skating (USFS), a national governing body for the sport of figure skating, recognized by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committees (USOPC). Acting as the local representative of USFS, ARFSC (as IIPFSC did before them) is responsible for promoting competitive figure skating locally, which i

What an unforgettable evening. On June 6, Ice in Paradise was transformed into an enchanted world as audiences joined us for Be Our Guest On Ice, a reimagined skating spectacle inspired by the music of Beauty and the Beast. Presented by Jeanne and Jinelle Productions, the show brought together storytelling, theatrical performance, and figure skating in a way that was unlike anything we have ever produced before. The response exceeded even our highest expectations. The perform

Photo Courtesy of UCSB Department of Recreation The UCSB Ice Hockey team is composed of student athletes attending the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). As the story goes, in 2010, members of the UCSB Roller Hockey team were traveling back from a tough away-game loss, and the idea of forming an ice hockey team was conceived during that car ride home. Many of the roller hockey team members were people who played ice hockey growing up, but with no other option for

A little over a year ago, the Ice in Paradise Success Center quietly opened its doors with a simple mission: to give skaters a place where academic success could grow alongside athletic achievement. Now, as we move into our second year, we are taking a moment to reflect on how much this special space has already meant to our community. Tucked away upstairs at Ice in Paradise, the Success Center has become what many students lovingly call a “secret spot” — a warm, welcoming en

At Ice in Paradise, we believe the rink is more than just a place to skate—it’s a place to connect, learn, and create lasting memories. This April, we were excited to host two special events that brought our community together on the ice: our SB Dad’s Group Meetup and our Skating Spree Try Skating for Free. Welcoming New Faces with Skating Spree Our Skating Spree event welcomed approximately 60 attendees, many of whom were stepping onto the ice for the very first time. Design

On April 12th, Ice in Paradise was filled with more than just skaters—it was filled with purpose, resilience, and heart. Our rink proudly hosted the Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer Frozen 5K, bringing together an incredible community united in the fight against cancer. Part of the nationwide Sk8 to Elimin8 Cancer initiative benefiting the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, this event invited participants of all ages and skill levels to take part in a meaningful challenge: skating 35 laps

This May, we’re inviting our community to lace up their skates and make a difference. Ice in Paradise is partnering with the local nonprofit Mothers’ Helpers for a special series of public skating sessions designed to support families in our community. During select public sessions throughout the month, a portion of each admission will be donated to Mothers’ Helpers, helping the organization continue its mission of assisting local families who need extra support. Skate With U

The Santa Barbara Royals (SB Royals or Royals) is the high school ice hockey team, composed of players from local high schools within Santa Barbara County, with skaters ranging from grades 9-12. The Royals are a part of the LA Kings High School Hockey League (LAKHSHL), which is comprised of other teams from southern California. Following the completion of Ice in Paradise in 2015, the Royals started their inaugural season in the newly launched LA Kings High School Hockey Leag

Last Saturday, March 28, was packed with energy, excitement, and a whole lot of firsts at Ice in Paradise, as we hosted a series of successful events that brought new faces onto the ice and created memorable experiences for everyone involved. Curling Event: A Sold-Out Success Our Learn to Curl sessions were a major highlight, with all three 30-minute sessions completely sold out. Each session welcomed between 15–20 participants, many of whom were stepping onto the curling she

Dads and kids are encouraged to skate together at our Dad Meetup on April 19th! Ice in Paradise is excited to welcome local families for a special Dad Meetup on the ice this April. Hosted in partnership with the Santa Barbara Dads Group, this relaxed community event is designed for dads and kids to spend quality time together while trying something fun and active. Whether you’re brand new to skating or already comfortable on the ice, this meetup is a great opportunity to lear

The Santa Barbara Ice Hawks (SBIH or the Ice Hawks) is a co-ed travel hockey club, governed by the non-profit association, Santa Barbara Minor Hockey Association. The Ice Hawks is composed of different divisions with players aged 6-18 that travel and compete in amateur competitions throughout Southern California. Since 2016, the Ice Hawks have called Ice in Paradise home, with the rink hosting tryouts, all practices, and league games for divisions from 8U to 18U. The Ice Ha

On Saturday, February 28, the rink at Ice in Paradise was buzzing with excitement as families from across the community joined us for our Try Hockey for Free – World Stage Edition event. The special day introduced dozens of new players to the sport of hockey while celebrating the global stage that makes the game so inspiring. From the moment participants stepped onto the ice, the energy was contagious. Young skaters—many trying hockey for the very first time—laced up their sk

Our 2026 Presidents’ Day Adult Hockey Tournament delivered a fantastic weekend of competition, camaraderie, and standout performances on the ice. What began years ago as a way to bring players together at Ice in Paradise has grown into a favorite annual tradition, and this year’s event once again showed why. Teams traveled in from across the region to compete, including the SoCal Hat Tricks out of Orange County, who entered two teams and made an impressive run to both champio

As we prepare to watch athletes from across the globe gather and compete on the world stage, we fondly reminisce to when we hosted the US Men's Sled Hockey Team in March of 2017 and more recently, the US Women's Sled Hockey Team in March of 2023. Ice in Paradise was built with ADA accessibility in mind, offering sled and wheel-chair accessible ice in the Snider Rink (an NHL-sized rink), with a special bench area where disabled athletes can get on and off the ice with ease.

Over the last 10 years, Ice in Paradise has hosted numerous Presidents' Day Tournaments over Presidents' Day weekends. Originally, after Ice in Paradise opened its doors in 2015, we were excited to showcase our new facilities and so we started by inviting our friends from all over the country, even players from as far as Canada, to come play in an ice hockey tournament. The big draw for our new tournament was that many players hadn't visited Santa Barbara, much less for ice h

Ice in Paradise proudly hosted its first-ever Winter in Paradise 8U Jamboree Tournament this MLK Weekend, and the inaugural event was nothing short of a success. The full-day celebration of youth hockey brought together four young teams from across Southern California: the Goal Diggers from Santa Clarita, the Bears from Burbank, the Lady Ducks from El Segundo, and our very own Santa Barbara Ice Hawks. From the moment the puck dropped, the rink was filled with excitement, spor

As we continue sharing the ways Ice in Paradise connects with our local community, we’re excited to highlight our partnership with MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation on their seasonal Seaside Sock Skating exhibit — a playful, hands-on way for families to glide, explore, and learn together. A Great Opening Morning The exhibit opened on November 22 with a lively morning full of sock-skating fun. Our team joined the festivities and led a physics of friction and pu