Ice rink launches competition to discover fresh young talent

Inspired by the new Torvill and Dean show on ITV - Ice Rink on the Estate - bosses at Hemel Hempstead’s Planet Ice want to discover young talent.

The ice rink at Jarman Square is opening its doors on Saturday, April 25 from midday to select 15 youngsters, aged eight to 14, who have no previous ice skating experience, to take part in the project called Skating Stars.

Rink manager Hannah Norton said: “Having seen the work that Chris Dean and Jayne Torvill did with young people from the community in Nottingham, we felt it was a great opportunity to get on board and try and improve the confidence of the same youngsters in our community.”

The successful applicants will be issued with an unlimited skating pass and six ‘learn how to skate’ lessons.

After six weeks the 15 skaters will be whittled down to 10 and after a further six weeks the group will be cut to just five finalists.

Planet Ice is planning a finals night gala where each of the five skaters will perform two short pieces supported by members from the rink’s figure skating club, Skate Excellence, and possibly a celebrity or two.

They will perform to an audience of family, friends and people from the community.

Hannah said: “On the finals night we will announce both a winner and a runner up.

“Both skaters will receive a brand new pair of skates with the winner also receiving a year’s free unlimited ice skating pass including skating lessons and the opportunity of featuring in a national ice show.”

To be involved visit www.planet-ice.co.uk/skatingstars and fill out an online application form.

Planet Ice will accept applications filled out on the day but cannot guarantee an opportunity at the selection process.

ITV’s Ice Rink on the Estate follows ice skating legends Torvill and Dean as they attempt to give back to their home city by encouraging young people from the deprived St Ann’s area to star in a community ice show.