Clubs and rinks from across the country celebrated the 16th annual
National Skating Month (NSM) earlier this year. Community events includ- ed free lessons, skating demonstrations, on-ice games and off -ice challenges, tasty treats and helpful information for families thinking about starting down the skating road. Each club or rink received a U.S. Figure Skating kit to help them pro- mote and put on their successful events. T ose kits included posters, skill cards, stickers, Learn to Skate USA magazines and other nifty items. “T ere were hundreds of highly successful events,” Susi Wehrli-Mc- Laughlin, senior director of membership, said. “Our rinks and clubs did a marvelous job promoting our sport and inviting families to participate. T anks to everyone who participated in National Skating Month.” Here are some of the reports from NSM.
T e City of Mentor held its annual Mentor Skate Day, which featured Snowplow Sam and mascot Mischief. More than 300 people attend- ed the event at Mentor Ice Arena. It included a DJ, prizes and exhi- bitions. A 50 percent discount was off ered for Basic 1 or Tot 1 classes, which attracted 30 new skaters.
THE CITY OF MENTOR (OHIO)
THE GLENVIEW ICE CENTER (ILLINOIS)
T e Glenview Ice Center hosted its annual winter car- nival, which featured special guest appearances from Skates, the Chicago Wolves mascot; Tommy Hawk, the mascot from the Chicago Blackhawks; and Spiderman. As part of the festivities, Freezin’ Fridays off ered a day camp with skating, hockey, a movie and crafts. Also fea- tured were daily family public sessions, pictures taken on the Zamboni, a charity hockey game, hockey and fi gure skating lessons, skating exhibitions and face painting.
FLINT (MICHIGAN) ICELAND ARENA
More than 300 people participated in
“Adventures in Winterland” on Feb. 4. T e community event featured free skating les- sons, exercise demonstrations, healthy kids cooking classes, on-ice games and winter nature explorations. T e Flint Iceland Arena teamed up
with Genesee County Parks & Recreation Commission, the Greater Flint Health Coa- lition and Iceland Competitive Edge Figure Skating Club to host the festivities. “We are fortunate to have partnered
with several community member organi- zations as we promote health and fi tness awareness in the coming year,” said Nancy Edwards, recreation programs and grants offi cer with the Genesee County Parks & Recreation Commission. “As a former fi gure skater, instructor and member of the pre- cision skating team Hockettes, skating was a huge part of my life for a long time and teaming with Iceland Arena was an ideal fi t.” Before the event, the public took in a hockey game, enjoyed hot cocoa and learned about the many programs that Iceland Arena has to off er. T e public met the Flint Fire- birds mascot, Hot Wing, and participated in the One Mile Skate Challenge. T e Eastern Michigan Hockey Association, home of the Flint Jr. Firebirds, also attended. “T e Adventures in Winterland event
was a wonderful opportunity to not only allow the community to experience ice skating, but to provide families tools to a healthy, active lifestyle in 2017 and beyond,” event supporter Karen Lemieux said.
The Ice Den in Scottsdale, Arizona, hosted a National Skating Day. It invited its Snowplow Sam 1 through Pre-Hockey 3 to attend the public session for a dis- counted rate to promote its public session and practice time. The Ice Den’s advanced levels were invited to a free day of skating, games, raffl e prizes, broomball and, of course, the traditional snow pile. A video showing all the fun can be seen at
https://youtu.be/Fkt0SsVUfhk.
34 APRIL 2017
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