Ice sports: Emphasis now on grass-roots level

The Dunedin Ice Stadium has changed its approach and is now promoting ice sports from the bottom up instead of from the top down.

When it was opened in 2004 management funded skaters who demonstrated a potential to compete in the international arena.

It still gives some help to budding internationals but the main emphasis is now aimed at fostering ice sports at grass-roots level.

"We involve our staff and club people in coaching through the Kiwi Skate programme," manager Neal Gamble said.

"Kids of 5 or 6 relate better to people closer to their own age."

The new approach has worked.

There has been an increase of 300% in people using the stadium - that has a value of $3.5 million.

"We hold six classes a week and they are always full," Gamble said.

There has been a growth in all the ice sports.

There are now 18 curling teams in Dunedin and three secondary schools participate in competitions.

There are 10 teams in the Dunedin ice hockey league and there has been a big increase in membership of the Dunedin Ice Skating Club.

"In 2004 we only had 12 paid-up members and three competitive skaters," the president of the Dunedin Ice Skating Club, Daniele Shogimen, said.

"Today we have 170 members and 40 competitive skaters."

"The Olympic ice rink attracts more figure skating championships to Dunedin. This year the club has hosted the Masters Games and the national figure and speed skating championships."

It has been a successful year for the Dunedin Ice Skating club which won the Otago-Southland challenge for the first time in 17 years and the South Island Challenge Trophy for the first time.

At last week's national championships, the Dunedin club finished third in the interclub competition with 47 points behind Centaurus (Christchurch) on 75 points and the Auckland Ice Skating Club on 57.

The Dunedin Ice Stadium, New Zealand premier ice sports complex, has a full-size 60m x 30m Olympic ice hockey arena and a four-lane curling sheet.

"The complex is recognised as the premier ice sports facility in Australasia," Gamble said.

The adjacent curling rink was completed in 2005 and officially opened for the public in 2006.

The fully insulated mezzanine viewing floor overlooks the Olympic ice hockey arena, and the curling rink.

The Alexander McMillan stand has seating for 1500 people, while the rinkside stand accommodates 350 spectators.

The stadium management realizes the financial viability of the stadium is linked to growth of people confident on skates and it has put an emphasis on Kiwi Skate.

The ice sports catered for at the stadium include figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey and curling.

"Youngsters are encouraged to participate in the Kiwi Skate learner classes that we hold three days each week," Gamble said.

"Kiwi hockey classes are also held."

New skaters are encouraged to join clubs once they have completed the Kiwi Skate programme.