Daisuke's home skating rink will be closed at end of April.

Wel Sunpia Kurashiki Skating Rink will be closed at end of April, 2008 at Daisuke's home town of Kurashiki in Okayama Pref. Daisuke and many figure skaters bought up with this home rink since he began to skate at 8 years old. The people of Kurashiki, many figure skaters and users would like to continue to skate this rink. We hope the continuance of Wel Sunpia Kurashiki Skating Rink.

"Wel Sunpia Kurashiki Skating Rink is my home in Kurashi. I've been skating for 10 years at this rink." Daisuke added. "This place set me off my skating life. I'm very sad about the news that it will be closed. I just go on my skating life for getting good results. And if it make the continuance of rink, I'll be grateful."
Daisuke and some skaters who bought with this rink will attend the Charity Gala on March 31st, 2008 at this home rink.

March 31st, 2008(Mon) 18:00～19:00 Charity Exhibition in Kurashiki
Wel Sunpia Kurashiki Exhibition
http://www.a-sky.info/008.html

If you wish it, you can support Wel Sunpia Kurashiki Skating Rink by doing a donation for bellow site. All your donations will guarantee the continuance of this rink.

Hope to the continuance of Wel Sunpia Rink Site
http://www.a-sky.info/index.html

Donation for the Rink
http://www.a-sky.info/004.html

Daisuke's pics
http://www.a-sky.info/005.html

Wel Sunpia Kurashiki Skating Rink
http://www.kjp.or.jp/hp_77/

Awww, this is so sad, Leode. This skating rink can basically even be considered legendary since Daisuke (the three times Japanese champion) and other skaters trained there before. It will be a real shame if it closes down. I wish that some really rich person (maybe a fan of Daisuke) would give a big donation to this rink. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Leode.

I really like the picture of Daisuke as a little boy standing on a podium with the gold medal.
http://www.a-sky.info/005.html

Thanks for the comment, UMgal!
If I am a rich person, I will give a big donation to Daisuke and this rink. I know that he is practicing at a good rink of Kansai University. I'm always dreaming that Daisuke and every figure skaters are keeping a good condition at good facilities.

That's too bad about Dai's home rink. Hopefully, they can raise enough money. It is really unfortunate that in a country where skating is so popular, there aren't enough rinks.

On March 31st, 2008 at Wel Sunpia Kurashiki Skating Rink which will be closed at end of April, 2008, Daisuke and 50 figure skaters performed at the charity gala for continuance of this home town rink. And He jumped triple jumps and triple axcel completely at his short program "Swan Lake".
At the press conference, "This rink is my home." Daisuke added."I performed more than I could do for continuance of this rink. And we just need a lot of supporting from everyone."

閉鎖の危機に立つ保養施設「ウェルサンピア倉敷」（倉敷市連島町）内にある岡山県唯一の公式スケートリンク存続機運を盛り上げる催しが31日夜、同リンクであった。高校時代まで練習したフィギュアスケートの高橋大輔さん（関西大、岡山・倉敷翠松高出）ら約50選手が演技を披露した。高橋さんは３回転ジャンプやトリプルアクセルなどで、約800人の市民らをうならせた。
会見した高橋さんは「このリンクは原点。存続の思いを込めて力いっぱい滑った。これからは皆さんの力が大きい」と訴えた。（中国新聞より）

リンク存続へ高橋選手が演技　
Daisuke performed for the continuance of home town rink (Including pic)
http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn200804010046.html

http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn200804010046.html

This Charity Gala will be on air at KCT Cable TV as bellow schedule:
April 3rd, 2008 19:00-
April 4th, 2008 22:00-

尚、チャリティーエキシビジョンの様子はＫＣＴ(倉敷ケーブルテレビ)にて下記の放送予定とのことです。
4月3日19:00～
4月4日22:00～

倉敷のスケートリンクの存続を願う会
Hope to the continuance of Wel Sunpia Rink Site
http://www.a-sky.info/index.html

なんとか存続するように私も微力ながら協力させていただきたいと思います。
I'll support for the continuance of this rink soon!

Champs posted the video about Daisuke's performance and interview in the video topic. Thank you!
Here you can find the video, with some more parts, from youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU-cFaO5czQ&feature=user
You can also see his perfect 3A...
He seems to be very involved.

Hello everyone.
I found the video of this exhibition,from YouTube.
It is a very wonderful performance.

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=JCJDsn3s5bg

Thank you for posting a link to the long version of the video, sana-ryo!

What a moving performance Daisuke's given! He's a great guy (but I knew that already ). I wish those cute little kids could continue to skate there.

Like many others, I've signed the petition against closing of this rink while in Sweden. I don't know if this helps or not. I guess, a big-name corporation could do more.

Thank you for the link, sana-ryo!

Thank you for the link of vid, sana-ryo!
Accroding to advertised program "Japan Open" interview, Daisuke said with a smile "I recognized many people's a lot of supporting me again, when I was at home rink. It was so warm atmosphere and my pleasure to perform at this rink."
I'm really glad to see his smile again after the Worlds!!

Thanks a lot for the link, sana-ryo!
He looked fine and I hope the ice link will be able to survive anyhow....

I found the Website of Kurashiki Well Sun-pia was updated.
You can see lots of nice pictures of Daisuke performing in Charity Exhibition here


http://www.a-sky.info/033.html


Sadly, no news about the restration of the rink...

Thank you, Yshion!
Very nice pictures!

Good news!!

An educational corporation Kake Gakuen announced they bought Wel Sunpia Kurashiki on 24th. The president of Kake Gakuen said they would use it as a facility of Kake Gakuen's university but also share it with local people.
The head of the citizens' group for Wel Sunpia ice rink survival said "Thanks to the cooperation of many people, the continuance of the rink has come true."
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/okayama/news/20090224-OYT8T00956.htm

Dai-chan would be so happy to hear the news.
Now both of the rinks, Rinkai(Osaka) and Wel Sunpia(Kurashiki), for whose continuance he has worked, will survive.
Congratulations, Dai-chan!!

Thanks for the news, miyu! I'm glad the rink will stay open.