Cool times ahead for kids

The icerink is back in Matamata, just in time for the winter school holidays.

This time it is being used as a fundraiser for Matamata Intermediate.

Teacher Debbie Curry said they had come up with the idea after Walton School used the popular icerink as a fundraiser.

The rink opened recently to the public and will be operate from 3pm to 8pm, July 6 and 8. It will then be open from 10am to 5pm on July 9.

Entry fee is $7 for kids (under 16) and $13 for adults with ice skates included.

During school hours Matamata Intermediate students will have ice skating lessons.

The Ice Skate Tour travels around with a mobile ice rink in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Auckland Region.

All events are open for general public, not just schools. Most events are in school halls though and it’s an all weather activity.

Walton was the first school in the Matamata district to have an ice skating rink set up for five days in April to help with its fundraising campaign.

The Ice Skate Tour company’s ice rink is 10m x 16m and can take 30 people at a time. It also has a sound system, bubble machines and lights.

The artificial rink is easier to learn to skate on than a real ice rink as it is less slippery and has more glideability.