India have confirmed that they would be participating in the first ISU World Ice Skating Day (WISD) on December 4, 2022 organized by the Ice Skating Association of India.
The World Ice Skating Day (WISD), a part of vision of International Skating Union, is dedicated to popularizing and spreading the spirit of ice skating amongst children worldwide. India is gradually making its presence felt in the arena of ice skating with growing number of children taking part in this sport and even representing the country in many competitive events worldwide. In order to foster involvement of anyone having passion for this sport, it was time to bring Ice Skating to the doorstep of Indians. Thus, Ice Skating Association of India with support from International Skating Union and Govt of Himachal Pradesh, has planned to organize a 3-day festival of Ice Skating at Sissu, Manali in Himachal Pradesh from December 3rd-5th, 2022.
© Ice Skating Association of India
President, Ice Skating Association of India, Mr. Amitabh, Sharma announced that WISD will be held at Sissu, Manali from December 3rd-5th, 2022. He further stated that as part of this overall vision for the sport, his main focus will be to develop infrastructure for Ice Skating in all states and union territories of India and bring Ice Skating to the forefront of the sports in India.
Sissu is a small town in the Lahaul valley located in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is situated 3120 metres above sea level, is a picturesque location filled with rich natural resources and spectacular views being a popular tourist destination in all seasons. The Sissu ice rink is the best example of a natural ice skating rink that can easily accommodate 500 people at a time.
© Ice Skating Association of India
Sissu in Manali, Himachal Pradesh is a quaint township nestled in the picturesque valley of Lahaul, in The Himalayas. Sissu is known for its rustic charm and all-around sun-kissed Himalayan Mountain range. Due to its proximity to Manali, it is a famous day trip destination in Himachal. Snow lovers can experience snowfall in winters while in summer you can enjoy the green landscape dotted with trees of willows and poplars. The township is located at a distance of about 40km from the City Centre of Manali. The beautiful Chandra River flows through this majestic town and gets frozen during winters adding to the charm and beauty of the place. The approach to Sissu is through the state-of-the-art Atal Tunnel which connects Lahaul Spiti valley with the rest of India.
A vast swathe of the Lahaul Valley gets readied each year with its very own natural ice-skating rink. This natural ice-skating rink will be the venue for the festivities of SISSU 2022. As temperatures begin to fall since November in this area, the lake gets frozen and gets converted into an open-air ice-skating rink which gets thronged by ice skaters and becomes home to a carnival like atmosphere.
Mr Vasudeo Tandi, India’s first figure skater; Mr Avadhut S. Tawade, India’s 1st short track ISU World Cup qualifier; Mr. Aditya Pun, India’s 1st long track speed skater who qualified for ISU World Championships. All of these skaters spend considerable amount of time practicing in the Sissu region.
Other notable skaters include: Shruti Kotwal, Vishwaraj Jadeja, Stephen Paul & Akash Aradhya.
Ice Skating Association of India extends an open invitation to all Ice Skaters of India of any age group to visit this festival on ice from December 3rd to 5th, 2022 through their respective State Associations who have a very large role to play in the promotion of this sport at the grassroot level.
The World Ice Skating Day is one day dedicated to Ice-Skating all over the world. The International Skating Union (ISU) announced the festival to celebrate the sport, with plans for it to be held annually on the first Sunday of every December. The event will see ice skaters - professionals, amateurs, beginners, and newcomers - reunite to break social, economic and cultural boundaries.
Focus on greater inclusion, youth involvement and future development of all ice-skating disciplines are planned during WISD. Another aim of the event is to make the sport more accessible in a fun and safe environment for skaters of all levels and experience, by involving their families.
See what is happening at this event- https://www.worldiceskatingday.com/event-locator/india