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October 12th, 2008
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Cool fun on the ice

Child's Play

February 27th, 2008 issue

By Cecilia Sanchez Beltran

Ice picks

Zimní stadion Štvanice
Ostrov Štvanice 1125
Prague 7-Holešovice
Tel. 602 623 449

Zimní stadion Hasa (next to Hotel Hasa)
Sámova 1
Prague 10-Vršovice
Tel. 271 747 128

Sportovní areál
Kozí at Dvořákovo nábřeží
Prague 1-Old Town
Tel. 602 294 864

For the Post 

It’s late winter. The snow is gone, and most playgrounds are muddy and empty. If your children are clamoring for more winter fun, take them to one of Prague’s ice rinks.

Each Monday since the beginning of the year, Alice Marýzková has taken her 8-year-old daughter Tereza to skate at the Zimní stadion (winter stadium) on Ostrov Štvanice, one of eight Zimní stadions scattered throughout the city. Zimní stadion Štvanice is the oldest covered ice rink in Prague, built around 1930. It’s convenient for Marýzková, who lives near Prague Castle.
“Tereza loves to skate,” Marýzková says. “It’s a good way for her to enjoy a weekday.”
Mother and daughter prefer to go Mondays, because the ice rinks tend to attract larger crowds on weekends. But Tomáš Doležal, manager of Zimní stadion, assures that even on weekends there is plenty of room for children. He oversees two rinks, a larger one for families and a smaller one reserved for ice hockey. Every other Sunday, amateur hockey teams compete within the old yellow walls.  But the rest of the week it is open to everybody.
On a recent Monday, two preteen girls skated slowly around the larger rink while exchanging stories that made them giggle. A woman and her 4-year-old made their way through the circling teenagers while holding hands. A couple brought their 6-year-old and 4-year-old to the rink, the children engrossed in trying to keep their balance while their parents exchanged laughs and light banter.
If your child has never skated before, this would be a good place to get him or her started. Instructors give lessons to children as young as 3 for 800 Kč ($46.50) per month, for four 80-minute sessions a week. If you enroll in lessons, your child can skate free of charge. Otherwise, you pay 20 Kč per entry. Skate rental is 80 Kč.
The ice rink is open at varying times, depending on the season and day of the week. On weekdays, it generally opens around 10 a.m. and closes around 5 p.m. On weekends, it’s usually open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
You’ll find a newer covered ice rink beside the Hotel Hasa in Prague 10, about 20 minutes by tram from city center. The Czech national figure skating team uses this larger facility for training.
The trade-off for using a professional facility is that it can be open (or closed) at unpredictable times. You should call ahead to confirm that the rink will available when you want to go. An English-speaking receptionist will be able to tell you the week’s schedule in advance.  
On weekdays, Zimní stadion Hasa is usually open for public use from 9 to 11 a.m. On Saturdays, the hours are 10 a.m.–noon and 4–6 p.m., and Sundays, 10 a.m.–noon and 2–4 p.m.
Sportovní areál is an outdoor skating rink popular with families because of its central location, next to the InterContinental Hotel in Old Town. If you want to know what it’s like to skate on a frozen pond, this rink will give you a good idea. Your kids can enjoy it for just 30 Kč. Skate rental is 50 Kč. There’s a snack bar at the rink that serves warm refreshments, too. The facility is really built for family enjoyment.
If you make sure that your children are in proper protective gear — helmets, knee and elbow pads — ice skating will give them the extra winter fun they’re looking for, right here in Prague.
Cecilia Sanchez Beltran can be reached at features@praguepost.com


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