Skating rinks in Russia

One of the most popular sports in Russia is skating. 

People love to watch skating competitions, there are TV shows in which popular actors or singers learn from the professional skaters how to skate, the prepare  new programs each week and get their points for skating.  

And of course the majority of Russian men are hockey fans. 

People learn to skate for different purposes. It is not a surprise that there are many skating rinks all over the country. If you are a skate-lover and stay in Russia, this information will be useful for you.

The biggest skating rinks

The biggest skating rink in Russia is of course in Moscow in Gorky Park. Each year the park becomes the biggest skating “town” with the total area for skating of 40 000 square meters.  All the grounds, aisles and Pionersky pond become skating rinks. It is very popular place among all the skating amateurs.

There are many skating rinks all over Russia, for example, Central skating rink in Krasnoyarsk. Its territory is 14 000 sq m and 2000 people can attend it at the same time. What’s more, on the territory of this rink there is the only curling field in Siberia.

One more giant rink is on the “Yunost” stadium in Yekaterinburg. Its territory is 12 000 sq m. It is open for amateurs in the evenings only, as during the day professional sportsmen train there. But do not worry about the ice quality – for the new visitors fresh ice is made.

The most northern skating rinks

Salekhard is the town situated at the northern Polar circle. It is the place where you can feel the real winter. This year the skating rink was made in front of the mall “Polyaris”. Everyone can skate there free of charge  near the traditional New Year tree.

A dozen of skating rinks appear each year in Yakutsk. They are made on the lakes situated  throughout the city. Tyoploe, Sergelyakh, Beloe, Saysary, Soldatskoye and other lakes become favorite places for skating. There is only one minus for skating which is minus 40 degrees   below Celcius.

The most southern, the hottest skating rinks

In winter in the “southern capital” of Russia Rostov-on-Don the temperature is rarely below -5, so to find cold you should go to the skating rink. The most modern skating rink of the city is considered to be the roofed “Ledograd” on the territory of Revolutsii Park (Park of Revolution). It has café, disco and from time to time even ice motor-racing track where everyone can ride an ice car.

The oldest skating rink

One of the oldest skating rinks in Moscow is in Petrovka street. The first man was skating there in the 19^th century.  At that time the members of the first sports school of Moscow – Imperial river yacht-club trained here. Nowadays this skating rink is popular among those people who like coziness and mood.

Skating rinks on the roof

Roofs are very popular on the West. People like to have parties or romantic dates there. In Russia it is a problem to get into a roof – you’ll most probably find a lock on the door to a roof.  The more interesting it is to be on the last floor and not only enjoy the view but also to skate. The first “high floor” skating rink in Russia is “Laplandia” in Kaliningrad. It is situated on the roof of the 7^th floor of the mall. Its area is 1500 square meters. You can see the central square of Kaliningrad from the roof of this building. In case you are skating for the first time there are free of charge services of coaches who will help.

Skating rinks  with thermal water

You can find thermal skating rink in the health and recreation resort “Flamingo” situated 40 minutes from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskii. The ice here is made every day of thermal water from the Paratunka river springs.   It does not influence the quality of ice. After skating you can swim in two pools with the thermal water: one of them is hot and another is warm.

In the mountains

Have you ever been swirling on the sparkling ice 1000 meters above sea level? No? You should try.  You can skate enjoying the views of the high mountains in the breaks between skiing or snowboard.  It easy to find such a rink in the Ural resorts, for example, on the Volchikha mountain.

One more mountain skating rink is situated on the territory of the “Kamennii mys” complex. Besides skating and marvelous view you can enjoy music and colours – the skating rink here is colour-musical. So it is more pleasant to skate here in the evenings.

Source: http://strana.ru/journal/579849