(ice skate sharpening) (upbeat music) - Hi, and welcome to Field Trip.

This is Matt.

- Hi - Hold on.

- Coming through.

(laughing) (beep) - We're here to check out some local winter fun activities.

- Yeah, let's learn how to skate.

(upbeat jazz music) (upbeat classical music) - Welcome to Empire Skate Plaza.

Here at right next to the Capitol Albany.

On Saturdays we offer free skate rentals and we also offer learned to skate clinics by Highmark as well.

So very exciting.

Come down and enjoy the winter here at Empress Bay Plaza.

- They're setting up a goal.

I can't play high, I can't skate.

- It's great for us to, as as a non-for-profit health carrier we're proud to be able to partner with an organization like this to make sure people are fit.

Being able to be active all year long, especially during the winter months, is, is important in the Northeast.

And having a facility like the the skating rink is, is crucial.

And we believe in being active and, and fit all year round.

- Oh, the little skaters?

Yes.

Multi-colored skaters, but all those who don't know how to skate or the little kids that really need a little bit of a helping hand - Have no shame - Gives a little extra safety and security for those that are just learning how to skate.

You know.

1, 2, 1 2.

- Oh, Okay.

- Yeah - Nicole.

Wait for me.

Nicole.

Pass it.

I'm right here.

- Well, you know, there's so much to explore here.

Really, if it's you're coming in the winter start with the ice rink.

- Oh my God.

Ah.

- Then you can go downstairs to the concourse.

You can check out some of the art.

You can go up to the Corning Tower.

Take an incredible view of all around Albany.

(elevator door opening and closing) - Now this is one of 240 machine rooms on the site, one of 240.

So, and it made sense since we're right below the rink right here.

(loud machine sounds) - These are, these are the size of a car engine, a big car engine.

And basically it's a heat exchange process.

So we're, we're bringing glycol that circulates through the mats on top side and it chills it down and it made sense to put the machinery here right below the ring.

So they been, it is been in service for at least 20 years.

- How, how many tons is the chiller?

- So it's two and a quarter tons each.

It could air condition 40 homes.

So Glycol, we used a vegetable base.

It's a environmentally safe product that won't freeze.

Years ago this was a brine system but now we use Glycol, cause it won't freeze.

So the concourse is almost 4 million square feet just alone.

The entire site is almost 15 million square feet gross floor area.

- That was a lot of fun, but it's really cold out and windy.

Let's head inside.

Let's try to find someplace warmer a little warmer where we can practice our skills.

- Yeah, let's get better.

(ice skates skating) (upbeat jazz music) - I think we can totally teach you guys some stuff.

We've all been skating for a long time so hopefully we can give you some tips and pointers to make it better.

Beginners, I think just like keeping your knees bent, staying low, lean forward a little bit and not getting frustrated when you like fall or something.

You know, it takes everyone so long at first on a skate so just like sticking with it.

- Take that.

Kristi Yamaguchi.

- So we're the RPI Women's Hockey Team.

We're an NCAA Division I team and this is the Houston Field House, which is our home.

So the program's been Division I since 2004/5 and they've been a DIII team before that since '97.

So they've had a team for 27 years now.

I'm Maddy Papineau.

This is Asiah Taylor-Walters.

This is MJ Alexander and this is Marah Wagner.

And to come to our games means a lot to us just to support, you know, women athletes in general.

I think our games are a lot more interesting than people think.

You know, they're not, they're not as fast as the guys but there's so much skill and talent in the E C A C is such a fun league to watch.

I mean, every game is tight.

It's competitive so it's definitely a good atmosphere to come and join.

(ice skating) - Where do you think they should go next?

(happy music) - I didn't know I was gonna have to play sports.