It is busy at the skate shops and skate sharpeners, now that a layer of ice has been predicted. Some people take their old skates out of the grease for a sharpening, others go for new speed skates, figure or ice hockey skates,” says Remy Straver from Nieuwendijk.
Remy Straver and his father have been selling and sharpening skates in their home workshop for forty years. As soon as frost is predicted, skating enthusiasts from all over the area arrive at Straver’s doorstep. “I think I have already sharpened one hundred and fifty skates since Thursday,” says Remy. “We know the real enthusiasts well and they have all been there.”
“I didn’t leave here until after two o’clock on Thursday.”
Rono Sport in Eindhoven has also been ‘extremely’ busy in recent days. The ice skating shop, which is located next to the ice sports center, is already busy because of the Christmas holidays. But now with the predicted frost, things are really going crazy. “At the end of the afternoon on Friday, 30 to 40 skates were delivered in an hour,” says Rob Habraken.
People who want to have their skates sharpened can pick them up at the store the next day. But in recent days there were so many skates waiting that Rob worked until midnight. “We can’t make people wait days for their skates,” he says. “So we made it night work. Yesterday I left here at half past twelve at night and on Thursday only after two o’clock.”
“The moment the ice is there, they are late.”
Remy from Nieuwendijk says he still has to see whether we can really skate next week. But he thinks it is wise to have all your skates sharpened now if you want to go on the ice. “When the ice is there, they are late. Then three hundred people come to see me a day and I can’t promise that I will have your skates ready by the end of the day.”
A woman makes some practice moves in Rob’s shop. At least she gets there on time. “They fit well,” she is satisfied. “We’ve caught the skating fever,” she says. “After the weather forecast we quickly went to the store, now hopefully we are still on time, so let the frost come!”
Remy emphasizes that people should be careful in the coming days. “If it is not possible, do not go on the ice. A sharpened skate does not become dull from lying down. You can simply use it again next season.”
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