Slap shot

"Stepping into ice skates and gliding around the ice-hockey rink is like jumping into another world," says Settawut, Praisupa, 17, a Mathayom 6 student from Rachawinit Bang Khen School.

"I forget everything in my daily life when I step on the ice. The puck is the only thing I concentrate on."

Settawut has been playing ice hockey at the Ice Skate Centre, Imperial Lat Phrao, for the past seven months. Every Sunday he goes to the two-hour class where he learns about stick handling, passing and scoring.

During the first hour, students practice techniques while their instructors review the game's rules and regulations. The next hour is spent playing. The Sunday class is broken into two divisions: children aged 7 to 12 years and 12 years and older.

"Ice hockey is a very tough sport," Settawut says. "You feel exhausted when you play, especially the first two or three weeks, because you use every part of your body, and you sweat a lot.

"After the class, I can't do anything except catch a taxi, go home and sleep."

But Settawut loves it.

"The sore muscles and sweat are worth it. You feel tired, but it's more fun than anything else."

Ice hockey isn't easy. It takes time to learn how to skate, control the stick and shoot the puck. Athletes can become good players in a year. For others it takes longer.

"We want everyone to have fun in class," says Sakchai Chinanuvatana, one of instructors.

"Fun is one thing, but if anyone dreams of becoming a professional, then they have to be talented and devoted to this sport."

The first step, of course, is learning to skate. "Before joining this class, you must have basic skating skills," says Sakchai, 35, a former national ice-hockey player.

"You should move fast on the ice and know how to go forwards and backwards and stop so you don't crash into other players."

Many people think ice hockey dangerous. Prateep Tangsahamaitri was reluctant to let his daughter, Ittima, join the class because players constantly collide with each other and fall on the ice.

"At first I didn't want my daughter to play ice hockey, but after talking to the coaches and researching the sport, I found that wearing proper equipment can keep her from being injured," said Prateep, whose daughter, a student at Wittaya Academy, has now played for two years.

Hockey equipment isn't cheap. However, Sakchai loans students the protective gear until they're sure they like the sport. At the outset, only a pair of skates is required.

A helmet, elbow pads, gloves, pants, shin guards and shoulder pads cost from Bt15,000 to Bt20,000. A good pair of hockey skates is between Bt4,000 and Bt20,000.

It takes a while to suit up. Most students need at least half an hour to get dressed, so they arrive at 9am for the 9.30am class.

Each student pays Bt100 per session. The class runs from 9.30 am to 11.30 am at the Ice Skate Centre on the fourth floor of Imperial Lat Phrao. The class is limited to 20 students.

Reservations are required. Call (081) 400 2004.

By Suwicha Chanitnun

The Nation