06/05/2008,

A decades-old Harbor City ice skating rink has
temporarily closed for repairs, leaving athletes and
trainers to find new venues or shed their skates for a
couple of months.

Renata Heindl, who took over The Skating Edge with her
husband, Erwin, in 1992, said she received a city permit
a month ago but learned only recently that contractors
could start this week.

The facility on Western Avenue closed Monday, and Heindl
said she hopes the work will be finished in six to eight
weeks. The rink dating to the 1960s will be equipped with
new compressors to cut down on energy consumption.

"It's been going on for more than a year to get the
permits from the city," Heindl said.

The rink has served countless skaters and trainers over
the years, including Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan.

Although Heindl said customers were advised of the
pending work, a sign on the door Sunday caught some by
surprise.

Members of the South Bay Figure Skating Club, which uses
the site as its home rink for competitions, said they had
heard talk of renovations, but found out just last week
the rink would be shuttered Monday.

"I know the coaches are trying to figure out what they're
going to do," said club President Roma Barba. "The kids
are in the midst of their season; there's really no
downtime in this sport."

Skaters have several events this summer, she said,
including the largest competition in North America next
month in New York. The season culminates with a regional
competition in October.

Crystal Chen sat in the stands, watching her cousin
practice Sunday. She's not sure where skaters will go,
possibly a rink in El Segundo at the facility where the
Los Angeles Kings practice, she said. There is also a
rink at the Promenade on the Peninsula in Rolling Hills
Estates. Other rinks are in Lakewood and Paramount.
"There's not too many places to go around here," Chen
said. "They have to practice, like

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