Get your skates on – and enjoy the ice
THERE have been thrills and spills, flips and falls, tumbles and stumbles – and that was just when The Star took to the ice to interview skaters for this very feature.
Sheffield's first-ever Christmas Ice Rink, in the Peace Gardens, has proven to be one of the city's most popular ever singular festive attractions.
It has seen thousands of youngsters showing dizzying displays of daring, an equal number of parents gingerly trying (and generally failing) to stay upright, ice hockey professionals showing how it's done and one council leader falling flat on his backside during the promotion campaign.
In short: it's been a tremendous amount of fun.
And with early figures suggesting more than 250,000 people have visited the rink and the adjacent continental market since they both opened on November 18, there are already demands to bring them back next year.
"It's too early to talk with certainty about numbers using the rink but the anecdotal evidence shows this has been a real success for Sheffield," says council leader Paul Scriven, the very man who took the unceremonious tumble during a race with The Star's own local government reporter Richard Marsden.
"We want to turn Sheffield into a city where there is entertainment on offer to attract people here and this was a big part of our Christmas offering, and the indications are footfall was up massively which is good for local people and local businesses.
"What I would also say is that if this has been a commercial success for its owners, the council would certainly be looking to bring it back again next year in some form."
Although, whether he himself would take to the ice again in 2011 is in rather more doubt.
"I'll never be causing Torvill or Dean to have any sleepless nights," he says. "I think falling once on to my backside is enough so I'm not sure I'd be putting on any skates again – although, you never know."
He spoke as it was announced that the rink will stay open for an extra three days in the new year to satisfy demand.
It had been due to close on New Year's Eve but officials have decided to keep it running for the bank holiday weekend to maximise visitor numbers.
Prices have also been slashed to just 6 for 45 minutes and 5 for children.
Sheffield Steeldogs star goalkeeper Ben Bowns encouraged everyone to use it before they lose it on January 3 by taking to the ice himself.
The fans' favourite, who has just won a bronze medal with Team GB in the under 20s' World Championships in Belarus, skated about with rising ice stars Ashley and Aaron Smith – children of club owner Shane Smith – before saying he thought it was "a fantastic facility to get fit and have fun".
Coun Roger Davison, cabinet member for culture sport and tourism, added: "We are delighted to have hosted the city centre's first outdoor ice rink. It has been wonderful to see people come and enjoy this festive offering and we're looking forward to building on it next year."A great idea for plenty of chilled thrills – and shopping
DID you enjoy the ice? This lot certainly did!
Lisa Bloor, 42, of Millhouses:
"I've brought along my niece Lauren, who's 13, and my daughter Ella, who's 9, and they have loved it to bits.
"It's quite unusual and it's something a bit different so we've been planning on coming all Christmas and finally got round to it.
"It's great because it gets the kids outdoors which isn't always easy at this time of year, and after the skating – or the falling over – you can enjoy the market.
"I hope they do it again next year because it's things like this that make Christmas special, even if you don't necessarily skate yourself."
Kerry Fookes, 33, of Manor Park:
"I was actually an international ice hockey player when I was 18 – I played for South Africa's ladies' team a few times – but until now I've never actually skated outside.
"It's strange, I know, but we just don't have outdoor rinks in South Africa.
"I moved here six years ago to be nearer friends and family and I still skate a lot at Ice Sheffield with my nine-year-old son Logan but this is a completely new experience – and I love it.
"It's cold but you soon warm up on the ice and it really clears away the cobwebs. It's great. Open it all year round, I say."
Ben Maltravers, 16, of Meersbrook:
"It's something to do that you don't normally get to do, so it's kind of exciting. I suppose it helps you keep fit while having fun but I don't really think about that, I've just enjoyed having somewhere to go that's a bit different with my friends.
"I'm okay at skating. I haven't fallen over – yet. I think they should definitely bring it back.
"Every time you come past here it's busy, so people obviously like it."
Fiona Sutherland, 15, of Harthill, Alexandra Lilley, 17, of Wadsley and Natasha Vucak, 16, of Ecclesall:
"We're synchronised skaters so it's great for us – although it's not like you could come here to train or anything.
"But as somewhere fun to go to mess about and be with friends, it's awesome.
"We love being outside too.
wIt might be freezing but so what?
"And it's really nice to see it so busy because a lot of people don't realise how fun skating is, so hopefully it will help it catch on a bit more.
"We've had loads of fun already and we'd
definitely come down again next year.
"We've fallen over a bit, though – but we're blaming the snow on the rink for that – nothing to do with us."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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