raddays

Are Ice Rinks expensive to maintain compared to Swimming Pools ?

For Fun — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:25:16 +0000

Are Ice Rinks really that expensive to build and maintain ?

As ice sports (Figure Skating and Ice Hockey) are a minority sporting activity in Great Britain, it appears to be difficult for Councils and Clubs to get investors to fund new ice rinks or ice arena's. Over the last few decades there has been numerous ice rinks closed down due to various reasons, one of which maybe that the land it sits on is more valuable for other uses.

With new technology in building materials such as insulation and advances in reusable engery, you would have thought it would be a lot more economical to run an ice rink today, once the building is complete and up and running. If the ice rink had a viable location with good transport links and ample parking you would have thought this could be a more attractive leisure activity to the younger population compared with swimming as one example.

Not knowing anything about sustainable refrigeration and ground source chillers for ice rinks, it would be nice to hear if the international market leaders have sucessfully reduced the engery consumption of the refrigeration for ice rinks in the last decade. This may help to squash fears of local councils and investors that an ice rink facility is just a energy drinking money pit.

There is a Leisure Centre in Sutton-in -Ashfield in Nottinghamshire that has a small ice rink that reuses the heat produced from the ice regrigerator reuses the energy to heat the swimming pool at the centre. This centre opened in 2008, so this refrigeration system may have moved on in the last six years or so. Possibly opening up new reusable energy solutions with ground source technology.

Ice rinks and arena's in North Amercia are now installing solar panels to produce energy which supplies between 20 to 30% of the electricity required to operate the whole complex. This is another source of power that would not have been considered in the last few decades and with the advances in solar power technology this should be very benfical to the ice rink chiller industry.

Lammas Leisure Centre in Sutton-inAshfield Ice Rink, reusing wasted energy.

Without stating the obvious, as a comparsion what are the build and running costs of a swimming pool complex compared to ice rink. Take away the Zamboni, it must be similar and there are hundreds more swimming pools about. Lammas Leisure Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield must be the latest market leader in Britain to have a ice rink and swimming pool utilising the unwanted energy under one roof. Surely this type of facility can be copied in other Counties where there is a demand and history in Ice Sports.

We all know cities around Britain are crying out for replacement ice rinks or new facilities all together. Before the financial crisis even hit around 2008 there was still a reluctance to invest in ice rinks and arena's. If you search through the internet you will find several rinks that have been shut down with big ice sport communitites, infamously Durham or proposals that have never been started. It would be great if the latest ice rink plant manufacturers could prove and promote to the people at the top, that ice making is more sustainable so that Great Britain can have more ice rinks again.

It sounds like we could be losing another ice rink at Bristol this year and we most stop the decline and push ice sports more at a wider audience. It would be great to think Sport England was backing this type of sport more that it has in the past. The cost of participating ice sports needs to be kept at a reasonable level too, encouraging all walks of live to get involved and keep fit. This financial hurdle could be offset with off ice events like they do in the Arena venues now, however the arena size must be sustainable for the local population.

We need the top ice rink chiller companies knocking on our County Council doors now, promoting the latest sustainable ice producing technologies so that the Councils can find a suitable investor for new ice rinks.

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Is the Elite Ice Hockey League more stable with ten teams ?

For Fun — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:38:03 +0000

Is the British Elite Ice Hockey League heading towards a stable future ?

I am a sure the EIHL still has many issues to iron out, but with the Stars and Flyers adding to the Scottish contingent its seems on the face off it that things are looking brighter for some teams and the EIHL as a whole. With a new league sponsor, attendances on the up in the festive period and results getting closer between the bottom and top teams, could this be start of some form of stability in the top ice hockey league in Britain.

British Ice Hockey - The EIHL - Playoff Finals in Nottingham in 2011

I hope so, and it would be nice for the newer teams to annouce that they can plan and fund future seasons in the EIHL and help shape it's future. If the EIHL can make it through the bad economic years there could be a major sponsor interested at the end of it, who knows.

EIHL Sheffield Steelers Home Ice Rink

If a British north and south conference league system was setup, what are the chances of a team from Ayr taking part again for example, I know they have their arena knocked down for some reason. Just wondered if there was interest generating again now there are four Scottish teams in the league and they seem to have a good youth system up at the local rink.

We may then even have the CHL to look for in years to come for one or two of our top teams. Or is that pushing it too far for Ice Hockey in Europe. I would prefer a champions league similar to the football setup as a format, however it now seems that a IHF Champions League is years away which is a great shame for Ice Hockey. For some reason ice hockey has never competed with football in most of Western Europe.

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World’s First BMX Special Flip by Special Greg Powell

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:43:18 +0000

Special Greg Powell's - World First BMX Special Flip

Today's BMXers are just pushing this fun sport to the limits every year, who would have thought this was possible. I feel the general public don't realise how much time and effort these riders put in to nail tricks like this. Mentally they need to be focused, just look how steep the rolling ramp is for a start !!!.

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Red Bull’s Crashed Ice – Racing on Ice

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:24:35 +0000

Red Bull's Crashed Ice

Québec highlights - Red Bull Crashed Ice - World Championship Series 2011

Red Bull Crashed Ice combines elements from ski cross and ice hockey. The athletes have to face high vertical drops and various tricky obstacles on a Crashed Ice track. If you want to make it to the top, any health concerns have to be completely thrown out of the window!

If you hadn't seen this yet, you must check it out. Just like BMX racing and Boarder Cross theme, this sports attracting some top ice hockey players to compete for some big prize money and is gaining in popularity every year. Lets see what 2012 Red Bull Championship has to offer this Winter.

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Clifton Skatepark, Nottingham is Now Open !

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:23:12 +0000

After a long summer of eagerley awaiting the opening of the new concrete skatepark and bmx pump track in Clifton, the time has arrived for you to roller around the smooth curves and flats which has been constructed by Maverick Industries.

We will let you decide how good the park is, so go and check it out as the secuirty fencing is offically down now !. There is real pool coping and tiles on the deep bowl section along with a few other area's to add some fine detail. Not sure about the practicability of the wood chipping on the landscaped sections thou, we're sure the special people may find it fun to throw it about the place once they get bored of dossing down there.

Clifton Skatepark, Nottingham - Large Bowl section

Watch out the car park gates are locked at night so please check the locking up times on the board. At present it has been know to be busy at 08.30 in the morning on weekends with excited users (don't blame them).

Hopefully this facility will encourage new and old skaters and rider on the scene. But then there's the scooter at mid morning to watch out for !. There is a brick textured surface to the red bank to link back to the days of the infamous BroadMarsh Banks that were demolished for some greedy reason or two (this would be an ideal spot for the City Council's next artistic skatepark, with existing shelter from the rain).

Street section at Clifton Skatepark, Nottingham

There is an opening event on Saturday 24th September between 12.00 lunch time and 3.00pm, check out the details on the flyer below.

The BMX pump track seems a bit tight, but we're sure someone will have some fun and grazes out of it.

: Clifton BMX pump track at the Skatepark, Notttingham

It's free to use every day of the week during the parks opening times, however there is no floodlighting due to planning restrictions. Please be aware the Council park has a perimeter fencing and gates for night security.

Clifton Skatepark, Nottingahm. Bowl sections.

Many thanks to Nottingham City Council project team for pursing this skatepark project over the last few years and the guaranteed use of this creative skatepark will show this type of facility is greatly needed and benefical to the local community and city of Nottingham.

Hopefully the user numbers may stop local and parish councils funding these pointless in most cases, metal/slippery ramp parks on tarmac surfaces and these wooden ramp bike course that only resemble a dog assult course.

Enjoy and we want more !!

OPENING EVENT UPDATE 24th Septmber 2011

The weather was fine and there was a great turn out of riders of all ages snaking runs everywhere trying to get their hands on some of the great prizes that had been donated by the Jam sponsors.

Backside air out of the bowl at Clifton Skatepark opening Jam session, Nottingham

Hopefully the City Councillors were impressed and will see this type of facility is not a waste of money and will be used for many years to come, unless the Chav's take control.

BMX air in the deep bowl at Clifton Skatepark, Nottingham

Unfortunately there wasn't much room for scooter's to roam free around the skatepark today and maybe the spectacle will encourage them to try skating or BMXing once they get a little older.

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Name That Tune – Electro Style

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:16:53 +0000

ELECTRO NEW AND OLD

Please post your all time favourite Electro Tunes, and then we can get them rated and spread the word about timeless tracks that have been sampled ever since on Dance/House music.

Snowboard & Skiing Day Trip to Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, Austria

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:16:47 +0000

On surfing the web for idea's during the Spring, after we though all our snowboarding days were over, I happen to start clicking through the Austria Offical Tourist Information website and came across Summer Glacier Skiing and was surprized there were a few to choose from.

Salzburg Airport, Austria

Kitzsteinhorn looked favourable at this point and I looked at its location in relation to Airports. It seemed like it was approximately 75 minutes from Salzburg Airport !.

I hunted down UK airports that flew to Salzburg and opted for Standead as the scheduled flight times looked perfect. I think we fly out at around 06.30am and landed in Salzburg airport at about 09.30, the last return flights were departing Slazbrug Airport at 22.40 tthe same day.

We pre booked the car hire, so once we landed one went to the car hire desk to beat the queues (if there was one out of season?) whilst the others collected the snowboard bags. We managed to leave the Airport just after 10.00 and headed on the empty motorway to the the Ski Slopes in the Summer (this is mad we said) !. We got changed in the car park and got on the gondola about 11.30am which wasn't bad, clear blue skies, red hot I think it was about 25 celcus and all the summer pistes were open. As this was mid week the pistes were empty and only the international Ski Teams seemed to be there.

Kitzsteinhorn-Kaprun Piste Map - Winter Version

Check out Kitzsteinhorn Glacier website for more details.

This particular trip was in early May and the furthest point you could ski down to was Langwied at 1978m which was a Gondola station. However we went in late June another year and you could Ski down to the Main Aplincentre at 2450m which is understandable.

There are plenty of runs to keep you interested for a day trip, we stopped about 13.30 for lunch and to soak up the sun even more. After an outstanding and surreal days boarding we headed for the Umbrella Bar at about 16.40 to unwind for an hour. The atmosphere as always in Austria was friendly and fun, the usual Bavarian Beer/Euro pop songs were blasting out which brought a mouth stretching smile to us all.

Kitzsteinhorn - View on Sonnenkarbahn Chair Lift

Once off the slopes we had a walk around the local village of Kaprun which is ideally situated for this area and Zell am Zee. As the flight was late in the evening we did not have to rush around everywhere, it was relaxed and we took out time getting back to Salzburg Airport to hand over the car and check in. On another trip we had a drive around Salzburg and dropped into the close by retail park for pizza.

Kitzsteinhorn Glacier - AlpinCentre Umbrella Bar

Overall this was an excellent off the cuff trip, which was well worth doing to break up the lack of snowboarding days during the rest of the year, I think we got about four and a half hours in boarding which wasn't bad and satified our appetite for snow, Austrian Mountain atmoshpere, Snowboarding and the great outdoors.

We took these trips when the flight taxes and hidden extra's where not as high and time tables may have changed since so please check. Its all about getting the earliest flight out and the latest flights back.

Have a look into it for the Spring/Summer months as it still may be worth a trip out for a slide.

What a Rad Day !

Check through to see if there are any possible bargins for your next skiing trip.

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2012 Dynastar EXCLUSIVE EDEN Womens All Mountain Ski NX FLUID Binding 165 cm
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Atomic 2R Ski 145cm Binding DEMO A0839952
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NEW 2012 Lange EXCLUSIVE RX 100 All Mountain Performance Womens SKI BOOT 245
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NEW 2012 Lange EXCLUSIVE RX 90 All Mountain Performance Womens SKI BOOT 245
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07 08 Head Every Thang Skis 163cm w RFD 12 NEW
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TaylorMade Burner 20 4 PWAW Steel Regular Flex Iron Set
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Rossignol Cut 104 R Skis160 cm with Salomon 700 Bindings C Retail $14999
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Bargain Used Rossignol Comp Pro UK 35 4 4 Clip Mondo 235 Racing Ski Boots
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K2 carver snow skis 178 cm good condition very little use
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Atomic Race 6 kids skis 140cm with Marker m700 kids youth ski bindings SNOW NR
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Volkl Vectris V10 177cm Skis
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LH 2009 TaylorMade Rescue 22° 4 Hybrid REAX 65 Regular Flex Graphite MINT
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Dynastar Legend Exclusive womens skis 152cm with Marker 90 Speedpoint bindings
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Black Diamond Stigma 2010 Skis SZ 160 cm New
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Black Diamond Velvet 2010 Womens Skis SZ 175 cm New
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Black Diamond Stigma 2010 Skis SZ 168 cm New
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Fischer E99 Air Core Tour WAXABLE XC cross country skis w Salomon SNS bindings
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HEAD Cyber World Cup skis 185cm with Marker COMP 1400 Speedpoint ski bindings NR
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TAYLORMADE TOUR PREFERRED TOUR SPOON 13 GOLF CLUB
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1980′s Old School Skateboarding

For Fun — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:05:55 +0000

1980's Old School Skateboarding

This is the era when I first started Skating standing up properly, as in the late 70's I was just knee boarding down hills on my American Fyer. I think it was around 1984 a time just before Skating got big again. The was no Ramps or Skateparks near us in the East Midlands as they had all closed down in the late 1970's or early 80's. We just bombed around the streets making up stuff and having fun.

I first borrowed my sisters friend's 1970's skateboard which I later found out was a Jeremy Henderson Benjy Board setup. If only I still had it now !, but unfortunately my Dad took the Deck to the local Dump and I only have the Tracker Trucks, Yo Yo wheels and deep riser pads left. I wonder how many classic decks and skateboards have been buried in our Land fills over the years before the time of Ebay.

My first 1980's setup was a Sims Jeff Phillips deck, Independent trucks and Variflex Street Rage wheels. I later replaced my wheels with Powell Peralta Rat Bones 96A.

Places we use to ride:

Nottingham - Broadmarsh Banks - Behind the Bus Station.
Local Streets
Bedminster Skatepark, Bristrol

Wanlip 1970's Skatepark.
Warrington Vert Ramp at the Roller Disco.
Went to Horncastle Vert Ramp, one day.
Manchester - A Vert Ramp in a Squash Court at a Leisure Centre.
Banbury Vert Ramp.
Birmingham Wheels Vert Ramp.

In the Summer of 1985, for some reason I decided to build a Half Pipe in my Dad's Transport Cafe back Garden during the Summer Holidays from reclaimed wood. The design was used from some Skate or BMX mag around that era and was the timber frame type and not the plywood transition template design which we later found out was far stronger and easier to produce a perfect Transition (name of some Aussie Skate Zine, which I had some where).

Here's Mk2 Six Hills /Broughton Lodge Cafe Vert Ramp, half finished!

Broughton Lodge Cafe Vert Ramp at Six Hills, waiting for more plywood

Broughton Lodge Cafe Vert Ramp Mark-II at Six Hills on the A46

: Six Hills Vert Ramp Mk2, at Broughton Lodge Cafe on the A46

This was the Mark 2 Ramp, however sadly we never put protective rails on the platforms (Sorry Rob).

Does anyone recongnize any of these Skaters, I think some were from the Mansfield area.

Broughton Lodge Cafe Vert Ramp at Six Hills in the Mid 1980's

Six-Hills-Cafe-Vert-Ramp---Old-School-Skate-Mid-1980's

We had a few trips down Bedminster Skatepark in Bristrol as there was, and is a great Skate Shop down there called ">Rollermania. I think this was one of the first times we saw anyone do a Handplant or Air in the flesh as no one up the Cafe Ramp had mastered these kind of tricks yet. Until later on when the word spread about the Ramp.

Big Air at Bedminster Skatepark, Bristrol Mid-1980's - Hot Pants were the Rage !

Leopard Skin Hot Pants must have been in fashion in those good old days. This Guy was good on the Quarter Pipe, it must have been his local spot. I wonder if these lots are still having a roll about.

Handplant at Bedminster Skatepark, Bristrol in Mid 1980's

They have refurbished this Skatepark now and it's good to hear it's still going strong.

Handplant at Bedminster Skatepark, Bristrol in the Mid-1980's