Preneeta Sharma
As the summer capital of British era is continuously facing the Covid Pandemic, yet again the Asia oldest natural ice skating rink has alive with its enthusiastic skaters.
On Thursday morning, the temperature has dipped to 5 degree Celsius and Shimla Ice Skating Club witnessed with a thick sheet of ice on the rink’s clay surface. The young skaters , lost no time in trying it out, said Pankaj, Ice skating Club Managing Board member.
Club secretary Bhuvnesh Banga said “ On Wednesday morning we had a trial session and it was successful .For children the club will provide ice skaters and knee pads”.
“As we are facing pandemic Ice Skating Club is following the COVID 19 protocol as per directed by the Government of India.” We are regularly sanitising and checking the temperature, he said.
Pankaj, Member says, “We are not allowing the children to sit together, make chain but are allowing to skate alone. To keep check on such activities, Ice Skating Club Shimla is making announcement on time to time”.
Asia only open the air natural ice skating set up in 1920 in cold blessington area of Shimla (now called as Lakkar Bazaar)on north side of the ridge, organizes skating session every year.
Over 10 skaters mainly youngsters, enjoyed their run at the rink on the Friday morning .Skater Nidhi said “We are quite excited about the onset of the skating season, though much delayed. We will definitely enjoy our winter break this year.”
Banga also reveals that the evening session will be started from tomorrow onwards. There is no change in membership fees ie for children below 16 years Rs 1600 and Rs 2800 for above 16 years.
He said that if the climate is in our favour , the morning and evening session will be conducted regularly at the club.
As the tourists participation is concern,”We are waiting for SOPs from the government based on which the course of action will be decided”, Banga said.
In 2019,there were 50 sessions and club created a record by hosting 166 session in 1960-1961,Banga said and added that reason for the reducing session was the late set of winters even in last two decades the snowfall pattern has shifted towards January and Feburary.
Although now days the night temperature is below 5 degree Celsius so it is the ideal time for the ice sheet formation ,as water is sprinkled on the clay floor of stadium. All the preparation has been done for the ice skating and water has been sprayed to make ground hard with ice, Banga said
