AWCH No Weak Ankles: Ice Skating, Inline Skating and Skateboarding

In my 40-year stay in Germany, I’ve never seen a world-class ice skater come from Hamburg. When I first arrived, Hans-Jürgens-Bäumler and his partner Marike Kilius were winning international couples’ ice skating. Then, of course, there was Katarina Witt from former Eastern Germany. Even this year at the world competitions in Dortmund, Germany didn’t do so badly with bronze for men’s skating (Stefan Lindemann) and another bronze for ice dance (Kati Winkler/Rene Lohse). But there has never been a good ice skater from Hamburg. In this northern region with relatively mild winters, it’s difficult to find a frozen pond on which to practice; the Alster has only been frozen four times since I arrived here in 1964.

Ice as well as inline skaters practice within their Verein, grouped under an umbrella organization called Hamburger Eis- und Rollsportverband e.V. Contact Kornelia Ritter, Wran-gelstr 2, 20253 Hamburg, tel 22 60 98 47. They have an all-inclusive website at www.herv.de. Here you can read about joining groups for curling, Eiskunstlauf (figure skating), ice hockey, Eisschnellauf (ice speed skating), Eisstocksport (similar to curling), Rollkunstlauf (roller skating), inline fitness and speed skating, and skateboarding. Probably the most interesting website on their list is the Altona Schlittschuhlaufen Verein von 1893 e.V. See it at www.altonaer-sv.de, then on the left side, page one, click Laufseiten; you’ll find the best and most comprehensive list of the three ice skating rinks in Hamburg. None are in business during the summer, although the one at Wallanlagen allows inline skaters to practice for free in the summer. Also see Hamburg in Your Pocket under Skating.

Ice Skating Rinks

Hamburg-Stellingen, at Hagenbeck-str. 124, tel 546 866 or 543 152. Open Tue-Sun, mornings and afternoons. The cheapest ticket is EUR 1.50. Season starts October 3.

Ice Arena Farmsen, Berner Herrweg 152, tel 64 33 200, Open Tue-Sun, mornings and afternoons, The cheapest ticket is EUR 3.50. The season starts September 9.

Wallanlangen (continuation of the Planten un Blomen park in the city) at Holstenwall, tel 319 35 46. Tickets for two hours’ worth of skating start at EUR 2.05. There are skates for rent. This outdoor rink will open for ice skaters either October 31 or November 6. Their good website, www.eisbahn.info, has more information on prices, times, etc.

Inline Skating

Inline skaters used to be whizzing around everywhere. Perhaps the fad has faded to a few die-hards, or perhaps they have been discouraged by Hamburg’s traffic rules to protect pedestrians, however, they are not as evident as they used to be. One place to contact other inline skaters is by typing “inline skating Hamburg” into Google – that takes you to some groups and events. Here are some upcoming events:

Hamburg Tuesday Late Skate: Tuesday, August 10; Tuesday, August 24; and Tuesday, September 7

The Hamburg Sportjugend and the health insurance company AOK present Blade Nights. From 20:00 to 22:00 the roads around the Binnenalster will be closed to motor vehicle traffic and will be for skaters only. Meet at the Alsteranleger Jungfernstieg. Participation is free of charge and is at your own risk. Contact AOK Hamburg, tel (040) 20 23 00 or email aok.hamburg@hh.aok.de, or see www.tuesday-late-skate.de.

Alsterrunde: Sundays, August 15 and September 19

The Hamburger Inline-Skating Schule e.V. presents the Alsterrunde on the above Sundays. Each event starts at 12:30, when approximately ten kilometers of streets around the Außenalster will be closed to motor vehicle traffic. Meet at Fähenrdamm, where booths with refreshments and information will be available during the event. Skating is free of charge until 15:30. Contact Michael Garvs, Tokimeki GmbH, Harkortstraße 121, 22765 Hamburg, tel (040) 306859-0 or email garvs@tokimeki.de. For more information, see www.alsterrun.de and www.inline-skating-schule.de.

Skateboarding

Kin to these sports is, of course, skateboarding. You might have seen the kids skateboarding at the Alster near Jungfernstieg, or at their half pipe across from Grindel cinema. The greatest place is, of course, I-Punkt Skateland e.V. at Spaldingstr. 131, tel 23 44 58, www.i-punktskateland.de. Entry is free. Open all year round. This is the most amazing place, something you wouldn’t expect in Hamburg. It was originally built by Thomas Friese, owner of the Thomas I-Punkt fashion shop at Gänsemarkt, after he realized that his 13-year-old son had no place to go skateboarding without “hanging around” sinister streets at all hours with no supervision. Recently, with the help of the city of Hamburg, they have opened a new arena.

Ice Hockey

The city finally got a professional ice hockey team, the Freezers (at the Color Line Arena, see www.hamburg-freezers.de for more information). Perhaps a first-class skater from Hamburg is not far off.