Stories from Bad Kleinkirchheim

A VISIT WITH ICE MASTER JAKOB

„Hi, I’m Jakob“, said Jakob Obergriessnig as I walked into the tennis club room. A few minutes and a cup of coffee later, I began to realize who I was talking to here: to refer to Jakob simply as a groundkeeper would be close to an insult. When it comes to ice skating, curling and tennis here in Bad Kleinkirchheim, he’s an institution. And I’m not kidding.

The fact that tennis and ice skating are intimately connected in Bad Kleinkirchheim can be explained fairly easily. There where you can swing your tennis racket in summer – in the middle of town, behind the Hotel Post – is the largest ice rink in the Nock-region in winter. And Jakob Obergriessnig watches over this very same rink.

When you get to talking with Jakob, you soon realize that taking care of the ice skating rink under which, as I mentioned, Bad Kleinkirchheim’s tennis courts slumber, is more than just his job, it’s his calling. His eyes light up when the locals and the guests glide over his perfectly groomed ice or when groups from the hotels in the area come to do some curling. Starting at 5 pm the fun starts under floodlights on the curling track. As can be expected, ice master Jakob himself can often be found with an ice stock in his hands.

„Hi, I’m Jakob“, said Jakob Obergriessnig as I walked into the tennis club room. A few minutes and a cup of coffee later, I began to realize who I was talking to here: to refer to Jakob simply as a groundkeeper would be close to an insult. When it comes to ice skating, curling and tennis here in Bad Kleinkirchheim, he’s an institution. And I’m not kidding.

The fact that tennis and ice skating are intimately connected in Bad Kleinkirchheim can be explained fairly easily. There where you can swing your tennis racket in summer – in the middle of town, behind the Hotel Post – is the largest ice rink in the Nock-region in winter. And Jakob Obergriessnig watches over this very same rink.

When you get to talking with Jakob, you soon realize that taking care of the ice skating rink under which, as I mentioned, Bad Kleinkirchheim’s tennis courts slumber, is more than just his job, it’s his calling. His eyes light up when the locals and the guests glide over his perfectly groomed ice or when groups from the hotels in the area come to do some curling. Starting at 5 pm the fun starts under floodlights on the curling track. As can be expected, ice master Jakob himself can often be found with an ice stock in his hands.

Information: The ice skating rink in Bad Kleinkirchheim is located right next to the indoor tennis courts in the middle of Bad Kleinkirchheim, about 150 meters from the Roman Baths.

Opening hours: The ice skating rink is open daily between 10 am and 9 pm.

Tip: You can rent ice skates and ice stocks.

Information and reservations: Jakob Obergriessnig Tel: +43 676 / 33 76 425

Image and text courtesy of Ed Wohlfahrt for  the editorial team of the website www.badkleinkirchheim.at