Former Olympian joins neighbors on Germany Park’s de facto rink
A former Olympian glided across Germany Park last month — not on a track, but on a sheet of ice that transformed the practice field into Dallas’s most unlikely skating rink.
Ksenia Gonchar has competed as an ice dancer in some of figure skating’s most prestigious events, including the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
University Park’s rink didn’t exactly adhere to international standards. (“There is no rink at Germany Park!” Gonchar said. “We just got lucky with the freezing temperatures and sleet, which created a skateable surface.”)
But the field was fit to purpose for building friendships on January’s sunny snow days.
Highland Park resident Stacey Hail discovered the Germany Park rink on Jan. 26. At first, she was skeptical that the field’s grass would have a firm undersurface. But she found that, while the frozen field wasn’t as smooth as an actual rink, the experience of skating on it was just as fun.
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“It was the biggest ice skating rink I’ve ever been on, and all by myself,” she said. “Every ice skater dreams of having an ice skating rink that big to themselves.”
After Hail shared a video of her unlikely skating experience on social media, Gonchar arranged to join her the next day.
Gonchar started skating at age 5. In her Eastern European family, it wasn’t an option to not do a sport.
Ice skating eventually taught her much more than jumps and spins. She learned from an early age how to push through procrastination while practicing twice every day, six days a week. That dedication led her to top international finishes while still a teen — she placed 10th in the Junior Worlds at age 14 and won another international competition, the Golden Spin of Zagreb, at 17.
Gonchar represented Armenia in the Winter Olympics as an 18-year-old. She and her partner were the first ice dancers from their country to ever skate at the Olympics, and their participation helped open the door for future Armenian competitors.
“The atmosphere at the Games is unreal and unlike anything else,” she said. “Everyone is supportive and friendly, it really feels like one big community, regardless of what’s going on in the world politically.”
Gonchar hasn’t had much opportunity to skate since her family relocated to the Park Cities in 2012. When she saw Hail’s post, the former Olympian was impressed by both Hail’s skating skill and her positive attitude.
“Honestly, the conditions were pretty bad,” Gonchar said. “Skating on snow and sleet takes a lot more effort and balance. But it was still so much fun, and I am very glad Stacey came up with this idea. I felt like a kid sledding in a laundry basket. I love when people get creative and work with what they have.”
By Wednesday, temperatures were rising and the Germany Park ice was starting to thaw. But Hail’s video had started a movement.
Park Cities resident Taylor Morrison arrived at Germany Park with her husband and two small children Wednesday morning. The rink was deteriorating, but still skateable. The snowy field even had one added benefit — Morrison’s 5-and 3-year-old could run on it without slipping.
The three Germany Park skaters plan to continue their friendship by meeting up to skate in Farmers Branch and at Galleria Dallas. Gonchar hopes to take the experience one step further — she would like to start a skating club for all levels of adult skaters.
“Skating in Germany Park with Stacey and Taylor was a sign for me,” she said. “It reminded me how much fun ice skating really is.”
