Braga
Do you already know the student sports association Braga? With the Ireen Wust ice rink as our home base and Monday evenings for training together, the not-so-average members of this association always enjoy socializing. In addition to skating, we also train in the summer, have drinks, occasionally participate in competitions, and engage in various activities and travels. Curious to learn more about the association? Keep reading!
Ice skating
Braga is a student ice skating association that skates every Monday evening during the winter at the beautiful Ireen Wust Ice Rink at Stappegoor. On Mondays, training is offered at three different levels: beginners, advanced, and pro, so there is always a group you can join. Beginners often include international students who want to give this Dutch sport a try.
In the photo, we're on the ice at Thialf. It's often said to be the most beautiful ice rink in the Netherlands, and you can feel it in the quality of the ice! Many national and international professional competitions are held here. Last January, we went there for a weekend with the association. It was fun to skate there, but it was also enjoyable to make the journey to the 'far north' together.
Summer Season
We only skate in the winter, but Braga doesn't stay idle during the summer. On Monday evenings, we have summer preskating training sessions where we focus on improving our technique and fitness. During these sessions, we practice ice skating jumps, strides, turns, and sprints. In addition to these summer training sessions, members sometimes go for group runs, rollerblading, or cycling.
Furthermore, everyone is dressed in lovely purple attire in this photo. Many of the members have association sweaters, the lustrum shirt, or Braga socks. Additionally, we have sports attire, such as ice skating suits and sports shirts. It's always nice to see how we are becoming more of a cohesive unit, all dressed in purple.
“ At Braga, people are anything but ordinary. We are a diverse group in terms of backgrounds, educations, and interests, but bound together by our love for this typically Dutch sport ”
Social Gatherings
Once a month, Braga hosts a social gathering after training. The first drink is usually provided by the association; it can be hot chocolate with whipped cream or a beer, and both options are enjoyed alongside each other. During the summer when we can't skate on ice, we have ice cream training sessions, and we treat everyone to ice cream as a reward after the training. This is a great way to get to know other members outside of training because when you're training, especially on the ice rink, you don't get to interact with everyone. It's also an excellent opportunity for new members to become better acquainted with the association.
At the end of the winter, we wrap things up nicely with a closing dinner. It's a dinner full of 'gezelligheid' and delicious food, where all members come together. During this event, awards from the club championships are presented, the season is reviewed, and the new board is announced.
Competitions
Within the student ice skating world, there are competitions held in various cities in the Netherlands. At Braga, we have two competitions, the Braga Sprint Cup at the beginning of the year, and the club championships at the end of the year. The atmosphere at these events is always enjoyable and welcoming. It's primarily about having a good time, and, of course, it's also a moment to gauge your progress over the year.
At the end of the club championships this year, there was a team sprint for the first time. In this event, you start with 3 skaters and then skate 3 laps, with one person being eliminated after each lap. Because the skill levels within the association vary, it's a lot of fun to train together and eventually aim for the fastest time as a team.
Activities
At the end of the skating season, we all come dressed up for the last training session. After training, we skate one lap in the wrong direction and then run with bare feet on the ice.
In addition to all the skating, social gatherings, and competitions, Braga also organizes various activities. At the beginning of the year, there's a Cycling Dinner where all (new) members visit the homes of the board members to enjoy different courses. Moreover, some members are planning to organize a covered wagon cantus and perhaps a boat singing event during the summer.
And, of course, we hope to visit Thialf again for skating. However, that's likely not the only trip this year. There's also a cycling weekend planned with another student ice skating association and an overseas trip to another beautiful ice rink.
#verenigingen vrijdag
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