Slip-sliding away
If the summer heat is getting you down, it might be time for some ice - a field of it. Ice skating used to be limited to winter time in places where it got cold enough to freeze local ponds. But in today's world it's possible to frolic on the ice even in scorching Dubai.
Skating is good exercise and loads of fun. You don't need professional lessons to get started and you don't have to spend much money on equipment as luckily rinks will hire out skates. It is better to have your own, however.
Ice skating is relatively cheap - a session at the rink will cost about HK$60 depending on where you go - and it's a great outing for groups. Rinks in Hong Kong offer both private and group lessons.
If you've never been on skates before, it's perfectly okay to hold the rails and move around at snail's pace while your more capable friends whizz past or practise their triple-toe loops.
And the ice caters to all tastes. Figure skating is elegant and beautiful and requires a lot of control and hard work. Once you've mastered the moves you can unleash your imagination to put together sequences and routines to dazzle your friends.
Ice hockey, on the other hand, is one of the fastest and most aggressive sports in the world today. Players need to be confident and willing to take risks.
The great thing about ice hockey is you don't have to be in top athletic form to play. All you need is the equipment and some willing friends. This is a team sport that requires co-operation and fast reflexes.
There are six rinks in Hong Kong.
Cityplaza is the only one on Hong Kong Island. Kowloon has four - Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong, Mega Box in Kowloon Bay, Dragon Centre in Sham Shui Po and Elements in Tsim Sha Tsui.
There is also a rink at Riviera Plaza in Tsuen Wan.
