At DB Ice Rink, kids as young as three can train in figure skating, short-track speed skating and ice hockey – and they are taught by some of the best coaches in Hong Kong. Ray Au reports
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKR
At DB Ice Rink, kids as young as three can train in figure skating, short-track speed skating and ice hockey – and they are taught by some of the best coaches in Hong Kong. Ray Au reports
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HKR
Since its opening in May 2021, DB Ice Rink (www.dbicerink.com) has set out to support the development of ice sports in Hong Kong and, as such, one of its main priorities is to provide top-level coaching opportunities for children in figure skating, short-track speed skating and ice hockey.
At DB Ice Rink (DBIR), young people’s interest in ice sports is nurtured through these different types of skating training, and through tournaments and international events. More than that, DBIR’s state-of-the-art facilities – an international standard rink (27m x 59m), large spectator capacity (230 seated, 224 standing) and four sides of LED scoreboards – create an unbeatable environment for youngsters to develop their skills and potential.
“Due to the professional amenities, kids and teenagers, who have skating lessons at DBIR, become familiar with the international-competition environment and atmosphere,” says Raul Gomes, DBIR Senior Manager. “As they grow up, they will be at an advantage – well able to per form freely and smoothly in any large-scale competition without getting stressed.”
No doubt, one of the aims of DBIR’s extensive coaching programme is to create future ice sports champions. “DBIR’s future plans are to be recognised as an elite training centre of all ice sports activities, therefore we are working with the Hong Kong Speed Skating Academy, Hong Kong Skating Union, Hong Kong Sports Institute and China Hockey Group to train world-beating short track speed skaters, figure skaters and ice hockey
players,” Raul explains.
FIGURE SKATING
With this in mind, the figure skating arm of DBIR’s skating school is headed up by six-time Hong Kong Senior Men’s Champion figure skater (former world ranking 130), Harry Lee. Not only that. Lincoln Yuen, 2022 Hong Kong Senior Men’s Champion; Adonis Wong, 2022 Hong Kong Senior Men’s Silver Medallist; Rachel Yu, 2022 Hong Kong Senior Ladies Bronze Medallist and Kahlen Cheung, 2022 Hong Kong Junior Ladies Champion are currently all on staff.
“Classes follow Ice Skating Institute Asia (ISIAsia) guidelines, taking skaters from beginner to competition level,” Head Coach Harry Lee explains.
“The ISIAsia recreational teaching and testing programme encourages skaters of all ages and ability to learn ice skating in a safe environment. It covers basic skills before figure skaters progress to learn more difficult manoeuvres, like jumping and spinning.
Importantly too, ISIAsia is a feeder programme for the elite ISU-based coaching curriculum.” Kids can start their figure skating training aged three, with DBIR coaches focusing on technique, stamina and having fun. Several different packages for group, semi-private and private sessions are on offer. Skate helpers (handrails), toys and training tools, which help children develop skating skills at a quick pace, are also available for rent.
“The semi-private classes are the most popular as many young people like to learn skating with friends or family,” Harr y says. “Currently, we have a waiting list of over 400 students waiting for the schedule to free up so that they can join our classes. Over 80% of our students are DB residents.”
SHORT-TRACK SPEED SKATING
DB Ice Rink, in partnership with the Hong Kong Speed Skating Academy, launched Hong Kong’s first International Standard Short-track Speed Skating Programme in June. Participants were taught by Sidney Chu, short-track speed skating representative in the 2022 Winter Olympics and other current and former national speed skaters. Each 30-minute session was fun-packed and informative, and enabled participants to get a taste of speed skating around
the 111.12-metre track.
“Speed skating is not as popular in Hong Kong as other ice sports, not because of a lack of interest, but because of the lack of opportunity for people to learn and practice. For this reason, we decided to
team up with the Hong Kong Speed Skating Academy to organise the Learn to Speed Skate programme at DBIR,” Raul explains. “Our wish is to get involved in developing the next generation of speed skaters, and also to ensure that Hong Kong has continued representation at future Winter Olympics.”
Since September, the Learn to Speed Skate programme at DBIR has been taught by star coach Wang Chuang – Head Coach of the Hong Kong National Short-Track
Speed Skating Team, and former Head Coach of the Chinese National Short-Track Speed Skating team. Wang has trained numerous Winter Olympians,
including Han Tianyu, Sidney Chu and Lin Yue and at DBIR, he invites skaters aged three and up to join his twice weekly classes. “Youngsters who have zero experience in skating are welcome to join the course and learn the basics,” he explains. “Those who completed the Introductory Course in the summer can choose to advance their skills by taking regular courses.”
The Learn to Speed Skate programme is designed to develop kids’ interest in short-track speed skating, while improving speed and technique. ‘Dryland’ sessions are included, which are equally important in building strength, agility and coordination. “Participants need to have basic skating ability –
they should be comfortable skating forward with no assistance on regular skates,” Wang says. “I recommend that children with no experience, who would like to participate in the Learn to Speed Skate programme, take some basic skating classes at DBIR first.”
ICE HOCKEY
Since September, DBIR and China Ice Hockey Group (CHG) have been jointly hosting a Junior Tigers Ice Hockey Coaching Programme for children aged between four and 18 years old. Now in its fourth year, CHG is at the centre of growth driving ice hockey forward in the region. Its Junior Tigers, one of the largest youth hockey organisations in Hong Kong, offers training sessions by experienced coaches, plus the opportunity for children of all ages and abilities to take part in leagues, camps and tournaments.
Again, the aim is to nurture young talent and prepare players to compete at a high level. Group, semi-private and private lessons are on offer in partnership with the Junior Tigers, plus a separate series of in-house ice hockey lessons. The Beginners Programme covers basic strokes, balance and control, proper stance and body positioning, and the correct way to fall and get back up.
Participants are introduced to crossovers, turns and glides, plus multi-directional movements (stopping, moving forward and backward, and turning). The Intermediate and Advanced Programme focuses on puck and stick usage, explosive starts, stride, energy conservation and improved response time.
DB Ice Rink is also the home of community-based ice-hockey team the DBees, who previously had to commute to Kowloon to train. “In June 2021, as part of our commitment to develop local ice-hockey talent, we offered four, free sessions to the DBees to help them recruit new members,” Raul says. “After the four sessions their membership quadrupled, and they are now training here twice a week.”