and the sculptures Local family cuts the ice

‘BLADE RUNNERS’ show their metal

Forty six years ago Ruawai farmers, Ross and Nell Blong swapped dairying in the country for ice skating in the city. They didn’t know then that a yen to do something different would turn into a long-standing family business. HELEN PERRY talked to the second generation owners about ongoing plans for Paradice Entertainment, the only place in east/south Auckland where one can ‘chill out’ on ice.

Paradice Ice Skating rink in Botany is likely to arouse warm memories with visitors even if their fun experiences were often ‘frosty’.

It’s been the North Island home of many a competitive skater, the Ice Blacks (men’s national ice hockey team), the Ice Fernz (women’s national ice hockey team), the women’s Black Ice Synchro team and international figure skating reps as well as a place of entertainment for thousands of youngsters and their parents.

However, the Paradice rink of yesteryear has evolved into a much larger concern thanks to the vision of second generation owners, Chris Blong and his sister, Rosie (Rosanna) Armstrong who are supported by the wider family.

“It was my parents who started the whole thing. They bought the Glen Innes rink in 1974 and before long they were totally immersed in ice skating,” says Chris who, as result, was skating at five years old and taking lessons from the age of nine. His sister Rosie and brother Darren followed on his heels.

“It was inevitable that we would take to the ice,” Chris says.

“It was great fun and, although I was fairly wobbly when starting out on skates with a wooden sole, I loved it and, actually, it took only a few hours to learn to stay upright.

“There were lots of falls but we were always trying to push the limits. We kids might have swapped grass paddocks for an ice rink but we thought skating rink was a lot more exciting.” From the outset it could be said the siblings never looked back. By the time Chris was 13 he was representing New Zealand in figure skating, competing in Australia for the first time.

“Because mum and dad worked at the rink, we were always there, too. For three to four years we just skated casually in the sessions. There were ice sports too but not as organised as they are today.”

Competing in his first figure skating competition at age 10, Chris progressed through to junior world championships, senior internationals and then senior world champs.

At 19 he was looking well beyond our shores and from then, until he was 23, he spent several stints in Ottawa and Edmonton, Canada. “At that stage I was looking at a very high-level training environment which was good enough to get me to the world champs,” he says. “Naturally, there were many highlights including multiple New Zealand titles and competing at international competitions all over the world.

“But then there was a real low point when I was unable to compete at the 1991 Worlds in Munich due to illness. That was pretty devastating.”

Achieving on ice has also been a given for Rosie, who is an accomplished coach.

“I started skating at four years old because it was fun but after taking lessons from seven years, I soon found I enjoyed performing at competitions, events and ice

COLD POWER FAMILY AFFAIR

While Chris Blong and sister, Rosie Armstrong aren’t sitting on ice when it comes to the future of Paradice Entertainment, brother Darren Blong is hardly out in the cold.

After he and Chris both represented New Zealand playing for the Ice Blacks, he has continued to contribute to ice hockey nationally and internationally. “Darren represented New Zealand for 14 years, 10 as team captain,” Chris says. “As a result of his achievements, he is in the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada. That’s quite something!” Although Darren and his wife, Marina, own a sports retail company selling skating/hockey and softball/baseball equipment, Darren still devotes massive energy to coaching ice hockey.

He develops programmes for grass roots ice hockey right through to national representatives and co-ordinates ice hockey development camps around the country. He also mentors coaches from around New Zealand in the capacity of the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation’s national coaching co-ordinator. also followed in the family’s ice skating tradition. Last year, at just 14, she won an ice hockey team gold at the Youth Olympics in Lucerne, Switzerland, the first Kiwi to do so.

“Katya trains at Paradice but was in her second year of high school at the Ontario Hockey Academy in Canada before Covid changed things and she returned to New Zealand,” Chris explains.

“The whole family is extremely proud of her achievements, especially mum and dad, who, although retired, still turn up at the rink to help whenever needed.”

“There were lots of falls but we were always trying to push the limits. We kids might have swapped grass paddocks for an ice rink but we thought skating rink was a lot more exciting.”

shows. I’ve always liked doing well and my competitive nature meant I was always aiming for first place!” she laughs.

Representing New Zealand in figure skating between 1986 and 1998, Rosie competed at nine international competitions, once at junior worlds and three times at world championships. Subsequently, her career is peppered with winning performances.

“When competing internationally, I trained at elite centres in Ottawa and Edmonton, Canada and was tutored by world and Olympic level coaches. Naturally, there were many amazing experiences particularly when junior and senior international competitions took us to Eastern block countries.

“I remember entering East Germany, and the former Czechoslovakia, through Checkpoint Charlie when I was just 15.”

However, Rosie says one of her biggest thrills came long after her competitive skating years when she was one of five Kiwi torch bearers ahead of the Torino Winter Olympics in 2006.

“Our section was run just out of Venice in the winter time. We stayed in the Bauer Hotel on the Grand Canal and while there it snowed; the whole experience was magical.”

By that time [2006], Rosie’s coaching career was well cemented, having taken hold after she returned home from competing at the 1992 World Senior Championships in Prague.

“I started coaching in earnest in 1993,” she says. “I love sharing my knowledge and passion for ice skating and coaching skaters. Whether they’re first time on the ice or learning double and triple jumps, it is so satisfying.

“I’ve been lucky to teach novice, junior and senior skaters who have represented New Zealand at international competitions in Australia, Japan, Croatia and Canada.

“In 2017 and 2018, I also took the then NZ Senior Ladies champ, Brooke Tamepo and my daughter, Mirika to train with elite level coaches at the US Olympic Training Centre in Colorado Springs.”

And, like her mum, Mirika has embraced ice skating. Now in her mid teens she is a highly accomplished, medal-winning figure skater and is on the New Zealand Figure Skating A Squad competing internationally.

With ice skating continuing to gain ground in this country, Rosie says all the ice sports are striving to compete at the Winter Olympics.

“There is great energy from coaches with clubs and national ice sports programmes helping skating to progress here.’

Of course, these days, Chris and Rosie are also focused on what they hope will be an exciting new era for Paradice.

Having rebranded as Paradice Entertainment, and initiated several additional entertainment options over and above the ice skating rink, they have further plans in the pipeline. “We can see a bigger future for Paradice especially as we have diversified,” Chris says.

“Having set up a successful temporary ice rink in Aotea Square during the winter months we continued to explore fresh ideas hence the addition of escape rooms, mini golf, conference facilities, laser tag and more at the botany rink. Now we’re looking to expand some elements across the country.”

Rosie adds: “We are enjoying evolving the business to provide even more fun-friendly entertainment with something for all ages be it gliding on the ice or participating in a slice of social entertainment. We are proud to be carrying on mum and dad’s legacy.”

Chris and Rosie Blong

Photo Wayne Martin

KIDS BOOKS

THE KING’S NIGHTINGALE

THE HATMAKERS JESSIE AND THE MONSTER

Sherryl Jordan takes readers to a land of sultans, kings and pirates in this epic novel best suited to teens aged 14 and up. Despite being sold into slavery, Elowen lives a life of luxury serving as the king’s nightingale. However, even those who sing most gracefully can make costly mistakes, as this fantastic fantasy story reveals.

Sherryl Jordan: The King’s Nightingale | RRP $24.99 | Scholastic NZ Sometimes a hat is more than just a hat. Weaving a supernatural narrative, Tamzin Merchant tells the story of Cordelia (ideally suited to readers aged eight and up), who comes from a long line of magical milliners. From hats, cloaks and boots to watches and gloves, enchantment is crafted into every item she produces and, with war set to rage, Cordelia’s magic could help spell the difference between victory and defeat.

Tamzin Merchant: The Hatmakers | RRP $35 | Puffin We all feel a little anxious from time to time but feeling extremely anxious most of the time presents a struggle that, thankfully, most of us do not have to face. Through its protagonist, Jessie, this book is intended to help youngsters (especially aged 8 to 15 years) tackle the monster of anxiety, providing an insightful, yet fun, story along the way.

Mark Stevenson: Jessie and the Monster | RRP $19.99 | Calico Publishing

Online bookstore – Gordon reads market

In efforts to bring children’s book authors and their readers closer together, Kate Gordon has come up with a simple, yet imaginative plan. Through the Kiwi Kids Read Kiwi Books online store, readers are now able to purchase the latest home-grown children’s books direct from their authors.

So far, the website features books by more than 20 authors; Kiwi Kids Read Kiwi Books assists authors in selling and distributing their books direct, cutting costs in the process. “I don’t want to take away from the fantastic work done by bookstores, many of whom offer significant support to NZ authors, but they have only limited shelf space and there’s a whole world of books to choose from,” Kate explains. “Our books are [also] available through the big online retailers, which is great for reaching overseas readers.”

Kate devised the idea soon after independently publishing her first middle grade novel, Lily and the Unicorn King, last year. “I love being an independent author and part of an ever-growing community of indie authors. It’s exciting and humbling to have so much support from the authors involved with Kiwi Kids Read Kiwi Books,” adds Kate. “Sometimes it still feels like such a simple idea, but that’s often good, isn’t it? To know your core focus and run with it?”

To view the full range of books available through the online store, visit www.kiwikidsreadkiwibooks. nz.