Manx residents will be guaranteed to have a lot of fun this festive season with a real ice rink at the Villa Marina Gardens brought to the Island by the telecoms company – you can even pre-book your ‘Sure Skate’ ice sessions now and be one of the first to try it out!
ITV’s ‘Dancing on Ice’ champion, Kyran Bracken, has launched the big attraction today, Monday 5th October 2009, at the Villa Marina in Douglas. The rink will open to the public for six weeks from 24th November and will be covered over to ensure skating sessions are not interrupted by poor winter weather.
‘Sure Skate’, in association with Nokia Siemens Networks, is being organised in conjunction with Kyran Bracken’s ice-skating company. Since his win on the popular ITV1 show in 2007, former England Rugby international and World Cup winner Kyran has toured the UK with his ‘Ice Party’ show, performing to thousands of fans.
The ice rink framework will be brought to the Isle of Man via ferry on four or five trailers, measuring 40ft each. It will take one week to build in November, and another week to de-rig in January. Ten people will construct it, with the rink having a capacity for 200 skaters once complete. The rink will hold approximately 50,000 litres of water and measures 18 metres x 30 metres. It will weigh approximately 50 tonnes.
Mike Stanton, Country Manager of Sure in the Isle of Man, commented: “The non-artificial rink will be open to the public from late November, and I for one cannot wait to get out on the ice and test my skills! I expect this to be a hugely popular attraction and will be something for Manx residents to look forward to over the Christmas and New Year period. I am delighted that Sure can, once again, give something back to the local community.
“Anyone who would like to pre-register for details on specials offers, events and a chance to win free tickets to Sure Skate can do so through our website www.sureskate.com. Sure customers can also benefit from special half price sessions which will be available to pre-book online from Monday 26th October.
Kyran Bracken commented: “I’m delighted to launch the ‘Sure Skate’ community ice skating project and to be playing such an integral part in bringing the first real ice rink to the Isle of Man in time for Christmas!
