Gangneung, the host city of the ice sports competitions during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, boasts a distinctive passion for winter sports. The Gangneung Ice Rink (formerly known as the Gangneung Indoor Ice Rink), the venue for curling competitions during the Winter Olympics, offers skating and curling experiences year-round. While enjoying ice sports competitions as a unique summer getaway can be fun, winter sports are truly best experienced in the winter. As the cold winds blow and your body shivers, warm up with some skating.
The Gangneung Ice Rink is located within Gangneung Olympic Park, where the ice sports competitions of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics took place.
The ground floor houses a curling center, while the basement features a spacious skating rink.
At the entrance, visitors are warmly greeted by Soohorang and Bandabi, the mascots of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
As you enter through the main entrance (GATE 1), you will see a signpost pointing to the right.
As you pass through the entrance of the curling rink, you will see a staircase leading down to the skating rink.
If you go down the stairs toward the bright LED screen, you’ll find a fairly large indoor skating rink.
Though located underground, the skating rink exudes a bright and welcoming atmosphere. The relatively affordable admission fee includes the cost of skate rental. You only need to pack warm clothes, gloves, and thick socks with a light heart. If you bring your own skates, you can enter at a lower cost.
Skates are available in various sizes to accommodate children aged 6-7 to adults. Sizes range from 170 mm to a maximum of 300 mm, offering a wide selection. If you inform the staff of your shoe size, they will find it for you. You can try them on in the adjacent lounge to see if they fit well.
Once you have chosen the right skates that fit well, the next essential step for safety is selecting a helmet. You must wear a helmet to enter the skating rink. Three different sizes of helmets are available in the hallway right next to the skate rental shop. Try on various helmets to find the one that fits you best. Helmet rentals are free.
On weekdays, you can enjoy free skating or join a one-day class, requiring reservations. You can also enjoy various skating styles, such as short track and figure skating. One of the safety rules to follow at the skating rink is to always skate in a counterclockwise direction, which is to prevent collisions and ensure everyone’s safety. When you enjoy skating enthusiastically, the cold disappears before you know it.
On weekends, regular lessons in figure skating and short track are available, divided into beginner and intermediate levels. You can book a lesson that matches your skill level in advance and participate. The aspiring young figure skaters dreaming of becoming the next Kim Yuna player are adorable.
The first floor houses a curling center, the venue for curling competitions during the 2018 Winter Olympics. On weekdays, the facility is reserved for athlete training sessions and is unavailable to the public. On weekends, however, visitors can enjoy curling by booking in advance. Watching the athletes train can be enjoyable in itself.
The Gangneung Ice Rink offers various amenities, including a snack bar and a sports shop overlooking the skating rink. Even if you can’t use skates, there’s still fun in watching your companions skate. This space allows you to take a break from skates to warm up your body or enjoy some drinks and snacks. Inside the snack bar is a sports shop where you can purchase items like gloves if you forgot to bring them.
One of the key attractions of the Gangneung Ice Rink is its indoor ice rink, allowing visitors to enjoy it regardless of the weather. In particular, during the summer, it serves as an exotic getaway, while in the winter, it is an excellent spot to enjoy the cold weather and go on dates with friends, family, or a loved one. Above all, skating at the Gangneung Ice Rink will be a unique experience, as it is located in Gangneung, the host city of the ice sports competitions for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.