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National Skating Month celebrated from coast to coast ‘It’s Great to Skate’ compiled by SUSI WEHRLI-MCLAUGHLIN U


.S. Figure Skating extends a sincere thank you to all participating club members, Basic Skills programs and rinks around the country that cele-


brated National Skating Month and promoted the fun and joy of skating in numerous unique and creative ways. We packaged and shipped out 470 kits this year, shattering our previous record of 420.


Te following are some of the terrific sum-


maries we’ve received. To view all submitted sum- maries, photos and news clips, please go to www. usfigureskating.org,


click on “Programs” then


“National Skating Month.” It’s Great to Skate!


Skating Club of San Francisco Te Skating Club of San Francisco hosted


the fourth annual Celebration of Bay Area Skat- ing at the Union Square Outdoor Rink in San Francisco. Te event not only kicked off Nation- al Skating Month (NSM) with performances by top local champions in pairs, singles and ice dance, but it also was a send-off for skaters com- peting at the 2013 U.S. Championships in Oma- ha. For a small region like the Central Pacific, the number of skaters competing in Omaha is impressive. To top off the evening, the Skating Club of San Francisco honored Rudy Galindo for his induction in the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.


Figure Skating Club Ice Mountain


Te Ice Mountain Figure Skating Club (IMFSC) in Burton, Mich., took part in NSM


Skating Club of San Francisco


by hosting an “Everything Skating” event at the Perani Arena & Event Center. Te event was filled with a bit of ice skating history, music, dancing, spirit and power. Te IMFSC recruit- ed a few of Michigan’s most talented skaters and teams to introduce the world of ice skating to the community — from figures and freestyle to ice dancing and Teatre on Ice. Following the special skating exhibition was a $5 public skate, where participants could meet, greet and skate with Ronald McDonald along with several of the skat- ing talents. Te first 100 skaters that stepped on the ice for public skate received a coupon for one free ice cream.


Skating Club of Vail


Te Skating Club of Vail in Colorado in- vited the community to celebrate and skate free


of charge. Te club provided the ice time, rent- al skates, homemade baked goods and a giant cake. It advertised through the Vail Daily and the Vail Recreation Department, and it asked members to bring their friends. Club members and coaches volunteered to anyone who needed help on the ice, making sure it was a fun and safe session for all. It was truly a celebratory atmo- sphere, just fun with no pressure. Parent volun- teers helped with a gear/dress swap, U.S. Figure Skating information table, giveaways from one of our sponsors, free treats and great music.


Te Skating Company Te Skating Company of McFarland, Wis.,


promoted Basic Skills competitive skating by holding an in-house team skills competition. Te hope was that the event would spark an inter- est in many of its newer and younger students. Skaters were divided into four teams. Each team had one or two skaters from each class level. Ev- ery level had one designated skill from the class that they performed in front of the judges. (Our instructors were the judges.) Te ice was divided into three sections: one end was for Snowplow to Basic-level skaters for their warm-up, the mid- dle was the competition area and the other end was the warm-up area for free skate skaters. In- structors supervised and assisted. While groups were in the competition area, announcements were made to the parents as to what level was performing and what skill they were performing. Tis enabled parents to learn the names of the skills their children were performing and to learn the names of future skills. Having the skaters perform in front of the judges as a group made it easier for all skaters to feel comfortable. Te club awarded each team a place based on their point total, and every skater won a medal. It gave treat bags with the promotional items sent in the NSM kit.


Kansas City Ice Center During its public sessions on Friday eve-


nings in January, Kansas City Ice Center in Shawnee, Kan., offered themed nights — ’80s Night, Hawaiian Shirt Night, Crazy Pants Night and School Spirit Night. On the 1st and 3rd Sat- urdays during its public sessions, it offered Fami- ly Skate Night, in which kids skated for free with a paid adult admission. During themed nights, if skaters dressed up they received admission and skate rental at a reduced rate, and prizes were given for bestdressed. Kansas City Ice Center ended its celebration of NSM with a free Basic Skills open house, which included a free lesson,


60 MARCH 2013


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