Your Press
Get in touch: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting YORK to 80360 or send an email »
Busiest opening yet for York's Ice Factor rink
8:14am Tuesday 20th November 2007
Comments (26)THE Ice Factor proved it remains a red hot winter attraction, as crowds flocked to get their skates on in the centre of York.
It was the rink's busiest opening yet, as visitors took to the ice in the shadow of Clifford's Tower, lit by the illuminated central oak tree.
Following two hugely successful seasons, when more than 90,000 people enjoyed The Ice Factor, organisers anticipate even more over this Christmas period.
The outdoor ice rink kicked off its third successive year in the city with a grand opening party on Friday.
The preview night inspired York's would-be skaters, with performances from professional Russian skaters Natalia Pestova and Alexei Kislitsyn, and world-renowned skating troupe The Imperial Ice Stars.
The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Irene Waudby, also attended the opening night, and took a turn on the ice with other local dignitaries, sponsors of The Ice Factor and VIPs.
Public skating started on Saturday, when The Ice Factor once again proved its popularity by attracting a large crowd.
Maria Farrugia, the attraction's executive producer, said: "We were absolutely delighted by the turnout on Saturday.
"It was much busier than we anticipated, and far busier than the opening weekend last year.
"To see so many people having a laugh on the ice and enjoying the crisp autumn weather with friends and family was just great - that's what The Ice Factor is all about."
For the less confident skaters, "ice marshals" were on hand at all times to give tips to people going on to the ice for the first time, tempt beginners off the handrail, or help those who want to improve their technique.
For the first time this year, The Ice Factor is offsetting its carbon emissions with green project, by joining the Carbon Neutral Company.
It is also pursuing other policies, such as keeping its electricity use as low as possible, and even recycling water from the rink, to ensure it is as environmentally-conscious as possible.
James Cundall, producer of The Ice Factor, said: "We believe we're the first temporary ice rink in the country to offset our carbon emissions."
The Ice Factor featured in The Sun and The Guardian's Top Ten ice rinks last year, and boasts free skate hire and a heated bar and café.
Sponsored by Fenwick, The Ice Factor is open from 10am to 10pm daily, except Christmas Day, until Sunday January 6.
Tickets cost £7.95 for adults, and £6.95 for children (12 and under) and can be bought on site.
Your Say YourYork Press
HOBBIT, at work says...
8:44am Tue 20 Nov 07
TG wrote:I think you might be taking it a little seriously??
Obscene waste of energy to try and keep water frozen when the ambient temperature is 10 degrees or more. If at all, an outdoor rink should be restricted to later Jan/early Feb when the ambient temperatures are generally colder. Just something else to add to the 'Christmas' capitalism and excesses.
BeeUK, York says...
8:46am Tue 20 Nov 07
It's people like you that would want to get rid of all traditions and nice events like this for the sake of a tiny bit of CO2. Get a life of your own instead of trying to put a dampner on everyone else's!
oli4uk, York says...
8:50am Tue 20 Nov 07
Paul Hepworth, York says...
9:12am Tue 20 Nov 07
akuma, York says...
9:49am Tue 20 Nov 07
HOBBIT, at work says...
10:02am Tue 20 Nov 07
oli4uk, York says...
10:07am Tue 20 Nov 07
Noddy1, York says...
10:15am Tue 20 Nov 07
TG wrote:I agree TG.
Obscene waste of energy to try and keep water frozen when the ambient temperature is 10 degrees or more. If at all, an outdoor rink should be restricted to later Jan/early Feb when the ambient temperatures are generally colder. Just something else to add to the 'Christmas' capitalism and excesses.
Why not spend the money on fireworks and stop making York look so daft on the WORLD stage.
akuma, York says...
10:15am Tue 20 Nov 07
GF or not I'd spend most of it attached to the side or on my arse, while it would be funny, no romance involved!
akuma, York says...
10:17am Tue 20 Nov 07
So someelse is wasting the energy at there own expense.
CYC are not footing the bill, they are just raking in the profit from there cut for allowing it to happen.
HOBBIT, at work says...
10:22am Tue 20 Nov 07
bjb, York says...
11:27am Tue 20 Nov 07
Why not spend the money on fireworks and stop making York look so daft on the WORLD stage.
Most major cities on the European mainland have an icerink. They have been laughing at us for long enough for not having one. Most of these cities have similar temperatures to us.
I have been to the ice shows at the Sheffield arena. Not quite an icebox in there. Would you want to ban that? Fireworks eh! What for all of 20 minutes and at what cost even if it was privately owned as the rink is.
andyb, york says...
11:53am Tue 20 Nov 07
So someelse is wasting the energy at there own expense."
Not so much who is paying for the waste but the effect of the waste upon the (DEBATABLE) climate change.
Notjimbhobs_mate, York says...
11:57am Tue 20 Nov 07
andyb wrote:But surely the cold from the ice is counter-acting the waste of electricity by fractionally lowering the earth's temperature? so therefore they cancel each other out! So what's the problem?
"The ice skating ring is privately funded. So someelse is wasting the energy at there own expense." Not so much who is paying for the waste but the effect of the waste upon the (DEBATABLE) climate change.
akuma, York says...
11:59am Tue 20 Nov 07
The climate change people would have us living in caves eating berries and grass if they could.
Seriously, you lot were born 200 years too late, the dark ages seemed to be your era!
Notjimbhobs_mate, York says...
12:04pm Tue 20 Nov 07
akuma wrote:Yeah but you would be damaging the local eco-system by doing so, better off licking the moistuire and nutrients off the cave walls chief, but only after apologising to the wall first!
Jesus christ. The climate change people would have us living in caves eating berries and grass if they could. Seriously, you lot were born 200 years too late, the dark ages seemed to be your era!
andyb, york says...
12:13pm Tue 20 Nov 07
Notjimbhobs_mate, York says...
12:23pm Tue 20 Nov 07
andyb wrote:You should come to a car festival with me then, spend hours walking round fields listening to engine notes and watching drag races, it's a great day out,family orientated and very good for the lungs and legs as well, must have taken about 200 photos last time as well.
that`s a good point jimbobs, i`ts probably not as damaging as driving a car. Anyway, I`m all for events that get people out and excercising.
Lou, York says...
1:34pm Tue 20 Nov 07
ouserower, york says...
4:58pm Tue 20 Nov 07
Littlepoo, Washington, DC (ex pat) says...
5:14pm Tue 20 Nov 07
akuma wrote:Ahh, but you miss the point - as you lose your balance, you can reach out and hold onto the boy/girl you're with. Also they can help warm you up after.
I recon ice skating is only romantic if you can do it properly. GF or not I'd spend most of it attached to the side or on my arse, while it would be funny, no romance involved!
I'm such a romantic soul.
bjb, York says...
7:14pm Tue 20 Nov 07
Littlepoo wrote:Sorry but over here you would probably grab a no go area and end up in court and with your name on the sex offenders register for life.
akuma wrote: I recon ice skating is only romantic if you can do it properly. GF or not I'd spend most of it attached to the side or on my arse, while it would be funny, no romance involved!Ahh, but you miss the point - as you lose your balance, you can reach out and hold onto the boy/girl you're with. Also they can help warm you up after. I'm such a romantic soul.
jk, york says...
9:58pm Tue 20 Nov 07
akuma wrote:you'd soon get into the swing of it,just watch your hands if you hit the floor,
I recon ice skating is only romantic if you can do it properly. GF or not I'd spend most of it attached to the side or on my arse, while it would be funny, no romance involved!
we used to go on the occasional school trip to bradford to skate,
don't think this rink will attract too many speed skaters
TG, says...
10:22pm Tue 20 Nov 07
"But surely the cold from the ice is counter-acting the waste of electricity by fractionally lowering the earth's temperature? so therefore they cancel each other out! So what's the problem?"
Thank you for showing yourself up as an uneducated philistine. I suggest you Google entropy and Gibbs free energy and you will realise that to refrigerate one enclosed space requires heating somewhere else. As human machines are less than 100% efficient, this "waste" heating (i.e. the cooling elements on the back of your fridge) is greater than the net cooling achieved. Thus the affect of an external ice rink is still a net contribution to global warming.
And to you people that believe in enjoying your life to the maximum in your gas guzzlers and trying to make Christmas into the snowy Victorian ideal, just remember that it is your children's and your grand children's future that you are squandering.
andyb, york says...
7:06pm Wed 21 Nov 07
In this section
- York Minster fire remembered
- Violence victim demands former York prison officer be sent to jail
- Two new cases of swine flu in York
- Council defends fitness record as study reveals number of obese youngsters has risen
- Muggers attack woman in Monkbar car park
- Heston Blumenthal draws up menu for revamped A64 Little Chef
- Royal Mail urged to keep York postmark
- York civic leaders in council house rent subsidy cash plea
- Father Christmas spotted in York – 168 days before December 25
- Service of thanksgiving to mark York Minster fire
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
TG, says...
8:30am Tue 20 Nov 07