Trafford News
Reading based Ice Magic set up a synthetic rink at Stretford Mall
9:00am Tuesday 7th February 2012
THEY'VE already created some ice magic for Harry Potter and Harrods, the world's most famous store.
Now the company which also provided a skating rink for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver is coming to Stretford to create a winter wonderland - whatever the temperature.
Known as Ice Magic, they will be setting up the environmentally friendly, synthetic rink at the Stretford Mall on Chester Road and it is free to all users.
It's being officially opened on Monday, February 13, by the Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Jane Baugh at 11 am.
To celebrate the occasion the region's brightest young ice skating stars, including Chloe Hadfield, 11, from Sale and Amy Morris, eight, from Knutsford, will be putting on a spectacular show of their ice skills.
Chloe, a Wellington High School pupil who trains three times a week at Silver Blades Ice Rink in Altrincham, said she was excited to be part of the display at the Stretford Mall in front of the Mayor.
She said: “I love performing in front of people and doing shows. Normally you only get to do this at a competition or during a Christmas show so it is nice to have an extra chance to perform.
Chloe is often on the ice by 6.30 am before school and is currently training hard on her routine for an upcoming national competition in Cardiff, followed by one in Telford.
“I first went on the ice when I was two-years-old and started training properly once I was six. I absolutely love skating, it is a lot of fun and you get to meet so many new friends.
“I like doing all the jumps and spins. I don’t always get them perfect and you do come away with a few bruises sometimes but it is all worth it once you get them right. I love the feeling you get when you are doing it.”
Chloe has ambitions to make a career of her ice skating skills. She said: “I really want to carry on with the competitions and get as good as I can at it but I would also love to be part of Disney On Ice. That would be a dream job I think!”
Colin McCrory, Stretford Mall manager, said: “The ice rink is a family friendly experience that will make shopping during half term that bit more fun.
“There will even be plastic penguins which toddlers can hold on to and be pushed round the ice so it is very much an activity which all ages can enjoy.”
Reading based manufacturers, Ice Magic, installed a skating rink on the roof of Harrods in London's Knightsbridge for their popular Christmas TV advert and has also supplied several of the Harry Potter films.
Worldwide Sales Director, Trevor Collins, says Ice Magic even provided one for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
He said: “This is as close as you can get to real ice but without the need for gas guzzling generators to keep everything frozen.
"Our skating rinks are also more user friendly as you don’t get a film of lying water on top which leaves anyone who falls down soaked to the skin.
“And as we supply the product to many professional skaters it shows it is as near as you can get to real ice.
According to Trevor, Ice Magic skating rinks have been used instead of real ice on numerous TV and film sets as well as the filming of commercials.
He said: “We were very pleased to be able to supply a skating rink to Harrods and it was used to film their Christmas TV and web campaign and our rinks also were used in several Harry Potter films.
“We have just launched in China and the rinks are already incredibly popular and are proving as big a hit as they already are in Japan. We are launching in the Lebanon and Dubai shortly too.
“The skating rinks are also proving very popular in really hot countries in regions such as the Caribbean as they can be used whatever the temperature."