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 Wrexham to create a winter wonderland – whatever the temperature.
They will be setting up the environmentally friendly, synthetic rink at the Eagles Meadow shopping centre.
It’s being officially opened on Wednesday, February 1, by the Mayor and Mayoress of Wrexham, Cllr Ian Roberts and his wife, Hilary.
To celebrate the occasion the region’s brightest young ice skating stars, Maise Jones, 13, along with Cara McGovern, 18, and her partner Tom Gregory, 21, will be putting on a spectacular show.
The Reading based manufacturers, Ice Magic, installed a skating rink on the roof of the Harrods in London’s Knightsbride for their popular Christmas TV advert and have 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.
“At Eagles Meadow, we will also have plastic penguins which toddlers can hold onto and be pushed around the rink. It’s a family friendly experience that will make shopping days that bit more fun.”
First to get her skates on at the Eagles Meadow rink will be rising British ice free skating starlet, Maisie Jones, of Mancot, in Flintshire.
Maisie, who is set to qualify for the British Championships, says she is looking forward to her first experience of skating on synthetic ice.
She said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I love Eagles Meadow at the best of times! I’ve had a terrible year with injuries including stress fractures in my feet and a nerve problem which is slowly clearing up.
“I understand synthetic ice is really good for skaters returning from injury as you have to work a bit harder to complete complex routines. I’m hoping to be 100% fit for Mid-March and April as I go to London to complete my qualification for the British Championships.
“I am home-schooled now to allow me more time for training. I spend at least 12 hours a week on the ice plus aerobics and gym work. And I’m working with a sports performance and conditioning coach at Deeside Ice Rink where I train.
“You really do have to be totally dedicated and focused to have any chance of succeeding.”
Cara McGovern, 18, of Hope will then take to the rink with her partner, security guard, Tom Gregory, 21, of Blacon, Chester.
The boyfriend/girlfriend team hope to join a professional ice touring company in the near future.
Cara, who is currently studying law and physiology at Yale College in Wrexham, said: “We perform in the Adagio style, similar to what they try to replicate on TV’s Dancing on Ice. I have been skating for just over three years while Tom has six years of skating experience under his belt.
“We train and are coached at Deeside ice rink. We are delighted to have been asked to perform at the opening of the skating rink in Eagles Meadow, which is my favourite place to shop as it happens!
“It will be our first time on synthetic ice but our coach has told us it’s brilliant. It will be an experience as more and more places are using synthetic ice rinks.”
