Alpine Ice Centre

Alpine Ice (also known as Alpine Ice Sports Centre) is an indoor ice sports and public skate centre, that opened in April 1985. It is located in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, in the inner-city suburb of Opawa. It is the current home venue of the Canterbury Red Devils in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) and Canterbury Inferno in the New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL). The arena is the only operational indoor ice sports centre in Christchurch.

Alpine Ice
Location495 Brougham Street, Opawa, Christchurch, New Zealand, 8023
Coordinates43.548359°S 172.657662°E / -43.548359; 172.657662
Capacity700
SurfaceIce - 56 m × 26 m (184 ft × 85 ft)
Construction
Opened30 April 1985 (30 April 1985)
RenovatedMay 1993 (May 1993)
New roof installed
Tenants
Canterbury Red Devils (2005–present)
Canterbury Inferno (2014–present)
Website
www.alpineice.co.nz

History

Christchurch ice rink history

The first indoor ice rink in Christchurch was opened in 1952. Known as Centaurus Road Ice Rink, the venue was located in the southern-Christchurch suburb of Cashmere.[1] The ice rink was owned by Mr. A F W Jones and the brothers Mr. Frank and Mr. George Kirkpatrick (Ice Rinks Chch Ltd).[2] In 1953, the Centaurus Ice Skating Club was formed to utilise the facility along with the general public.[2] On 5 July 1953, the ice rink was badly damaged by a fire but was repaired and remained operational.[2] In 1978, the ownership and operation of the ice rink changed hands, with Mr. Jaap de Haan purchasing the venue.[2] The early to mid-1980s saw the aging Centaurus Road Ice Rink hit tough times, first closing in 1983, before ceasing all operations in September 1984 and being demolished in March 1985.[2][1]

Foundation of Alpine Ice

In 1983 work commenced on the construction of a new and modern international-sized ice rink facility located at Opawa.[1] The new rink, was bought by a company that included the current owner of the facility and was officially opened in April 1985 under the name of The Big Apple Ice Rink.[1][3] In August 1992, Christchurch suffered a major snow storm, colloquially known as the 'Big Snow'. This storm was the largest snowstorm to hit Christchurch in 30 years.[4] The Alpine Ice Centre suffered major damage during the storm, with the roof of the facility collapsing. Reconstruction of the roof took nine months, with the ice rink closed for this time and re-opened in May 1993.[1][5] As of 2023, the arena employs 30 people, including full-time and part-time employees.[6]

Facilities

The arena's facilities were built between 1983 and 1985 and have been gradually updated with the last major upgrade coming in 2009.[7][6] They include:

  • 56 m × 26 m ice rink (international sized)
  • 700 spectator capacity
  • Skate and equipment hire
  • Café
  • Snack bar
  • Pro-shop
  • Private lounge
  • Public toilets
  • Outdoor parking

Events

The arena hosts public skating and holiday events on a regular and seasonal basis. Alpine Ice hosts regular community-level ice sporting events for ice hockey, speed skating, and figure skating with a number of associated clubs, such as Canterbury Ice Hockey Association, Canterbury Alpine Ice Speed Skating Club, Canterbury Masters Figure Skating Club and Centaurus Ice Skating Club, using the venue.[8][9][10][11] The arena also hosts national level ice hockey games during the NZIHL and NZWIHL seasons.[12][13]

See also

References
  1. "The History of Alpine Ice Sports & Entertainment Centre". alpineice.co.nz. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  2. "Centaurus Ice Skating Rink". Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  3. "Opening of Big Apple ice rink". Christchurch Star archive. 30 April 1985. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  4. Jamieson, Debbie (27 August 2022). "A city paralysed: Remembering Christchurch's 'big snow' 30 years after the devastating dump". Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. Sivertsen, Juliette (7 July 2020). "Go NZ: Best places to ice skate in New Zealand". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  6. "Frequently Asked Questions". alpineice.co.nz. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  7. "Alpine Ice Sports Centre Christchurch". eurohockey.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  8. "Sports at Alpine Ice". alpineice.co.nz. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  9. "About Us: History and Objectives". Canterbury Ice Hockey Association. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. "Frequently Asked Questions". canterburyspeed.co.nz. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  11. "Figure Skating at Alpine Ice". alpineice.co.nz. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  12. "NZWIHL History". New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  13. "Canterbury Red Devils". Canterbury Red Devils. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
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