If you haven't heard, the SM Mall of Asia Ice Skating Rink has reopened after being closed for 22 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. It's one of the most popular spots to be during the holiday season or on Valentine's Day, and it's also where some marriage proposals have taken place in the past. But, in the new normal, what should we be expecting?
Located at the 3rd-floor main mall. It has been home to some of the country’s finest athletes like Michael Christian Martinez who represented the Philippines for figure skating at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics and Julian Kyle Silverio Macaraeg in short track skating who competed in the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics.
What’s new in SM Skating?
Unlike the norm prior to the pandemic, SM Skating used to offer unlimited skating passes but with its new protocol that is operating at a limited capacity, they are offering 2-hour pass (P330) and afternoon pass (P499) along with the skating shoes and gears, to guarantee the health and safety of its visitors.
Only fully vaccinated individuals ages 12 yrs. old and above are permitted entrance, and they must provide their vaccination card at the time of entry. All of the coaches and staff have been completely vaccinated as well. Before and after each usage, skating gears are being sanitized with UV technology.
We asked Nikki Cheng, President of the Philippine Skating Union some questions, and here are the things we know about the comeback of SM Mall of Asia’s Ice Skating Rink.
How’s it like having no skating rink to train for our Filipino athletes?
Our Philippine athletes still kept themselves productive over the past few years. While classes resumed online, our athletes would train off-ice through sessions organized by the Philippine Skating Union. Some of them, who have expressed their intention in participating in international competitions, flew abroad to places that have resumed operations in their local ice rinks, such as those in the US or Russia.
How did the closing of the ice skating rink affect the skating community?
The silver lining of the temporary rink closure is that skaters were able to keep in touch digitally and eventually establish a community and friendships online. Groups on social media platforms such as Everywhere We Skate PH on Facebook became a platform for skating enthusiasts, for example. It helped unite those who have missed the sport dearly or those who are just interested to try it out. Some of our skaters turned to in-line skating for fun or to stay in shape during the lockdowns.
What is your wish for our local skating rinks?
Hopefully they do all open soon, but for now we are focusing our efforts in reviving skating as a sport and recreational activity in the SM Mall of Asia.
Cheng also mentions that they are also looking forward to hosting training sessions for our national developmental pool of athletes as some of them had to train abroad since the rinks here were still closed. Our athletes not only look forward to skating but also training together as a team. Apart from it, she says “ we are excited to see new faces! Despite the absence of the ice rinks over the past nearly two years, many have drawn interest to the sport and have been awaiting its reopening. We hope that this will mark the beginning of training future Olympians”
“Although we won’t be hosting competitions anytime soon, we’re ecstatic to see many skaters get back on track and pick up where they last left off on the ice” she added.
To kick off your skating journey be sure to wear comfortable clothes, jackets, gloves and long socks are our must-haves! It wouldn’t hurt to bring some beanie or some leg warmers and add it to your style!
Now, we’ve ticked off our list on what to look forward to. It is time to mark our calendars! For more information, visit SM Ice Skating’s Facebook page for updates and upcoming announcements.
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