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Greetings!
The new year is well underway - and so are the many classes at the Ice Zone! We are very excited to see so many new faces as well as our returning skaters!
The Spring Splash Figure Skating competition is coming up soon! This year's competition wil be on May 16 & 17. Skaters should start private lessons in February to put a program together and practice for the competition.
For our hockey players - the Ice Zone will be offering a Mini Spring League starting in March. Look for more information coming soon!
Happy Skating!
Gaby Corcoran
Skating Director |
| February Events at the Ice Zone |
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 Valentine's Day Special: Bring your Valentine on Saturday, February 14! Public skating is 2:00 - 4:00pm and you and your sweetie can get the special rate of 2 for 1 admission. Skate rental is not included.
School's Out! Extended Public Session: Monday, February 16, 12:00 - 5:00pm! |
| SKATING TIP |
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 Stopping Backward
Many skaters find that they can skate backward much earlier then they can stop backward! You can always step forward and then stop, but sometimes you may find that you need to stop while skating backward.
The great thing about stopping backward is that it is very similar the forward snowplow stop!
While skating backward with your arms out, the skater should place one foot slightly to the side and turned out. Using the inside edge (the side closer to the big toe), press on the ice creating a skidding action (creating snow). Hold this position until you come to a complete stop. You can do this with both feet at the same time as well.
Don't forget that while skating backward, you should keep your head up and knees bent! Also to remember to look where you are going while skating backward. |
| NEW CLASS! |
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 Synchronized Skating
Learn how to skate as a team! This Synchronized Skating will work on different hand & arm holds, formations such as lines and circles and footwork patterns.
Skaters should have passed Basic 4 (or equivalent) for this class.
When: Mondays, 6:00 - 6:30pm
Dates: March 2 - April 27 (no class on April 6)
$109 for 8 weeks
If skaters take this class as a second class during the March/April session, the Synchro class is only $59!
Please sign up for this class at the rink. |
| WINTER CLASSES |
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The Ice Zone has classes for all levels this Winter!
Sign up for a Basic Skills class by Saturday, Feb. 21 & receive 8 public skating passes! Skaters will receive 4 passes after Feb. 21.
Basic Skills Classes - Weekly classes run all year long at the Ice Zone! Continue working on your skills or join for the first time!
Advanced Low and High Freestyle Classes: Learn about Moves-in-the-Field, Artistry, Choreography and the little extras that go into figure skating! Click here for more information.
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| SKATER SPOTLIGHT |
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| The following is by Caitlin Walker, a figure skater at the Richmond Ice Zone. She is getting ready for the upcoming competition season:
I started lessons when I was 4 1/2, 6 years ago in basic 1. I take private lessons from the figure skating director, Gaby. I skate 3-4 times a week. Once you skate you have to keep skating to get better and better at it. This year I am skating a spotlight - Light Entertainment program to the Harry Potter theme song. I have a wand, a cape and the whole outfit for the program. My other program is an artistic program, to "There She Goes". I have been on the production team for 4 years. This year, the theme is STOMP, OUT LOUD. During production you can talk to friends while you wait to be instructed. It is fun to skate on the ice with your friends because then the pressure isn't just on you and then you have someone to talk to if you are nervous or scared. I look forward to competing this year in Freestyle 5 in Charlottesville, Richmond, Lynchburg, and Fairfax. I am excited about the Spring Splash which is a competition they hold at the Richmond Ice Zone every Spring. It is fun to compete and see my other friends from other ice rinks at the competitions.
Skating is really fun and if you are really stressed or mad, you can just glide out onto the ice and forget about it. |
| COACHES CORNER |
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Deb Ulmer is one of the coaches at the Ice Zone. She also still enjoys practicing and performing! There is a great group of adult skaters at the Ice Zone who love to skate!
It was a crisp fall day when I came to the Ice Zone to sub for another coach's LTS class. I wasn't thinking about much other than being on time, but as soon as I walked in the door I could hear the excited voices of some of the adult skaters talking about the group number they were planning to do in the holiday ice show. They were so excited that I stopped to ask them about it and soon I was caught up in the swirl myself. Before I left that evening I had filled out the forms, written my check and joined in to have some fun with my friends. Then I started to listen to holiday music and the daring thought of doing my own solo in the show came to me. I fought it off for a long time, afraid my jumps and spins were not up to my own expectations after six years away from competing. But the more I listened to the great music and the more my fellow skaters and coach colleagues encouraged me, the more I just had to see if I could still get out there on the ice and do it! I prepared, I fretted, I lost weight, I was really scared, but oh so excited. My friends kept asking me if I had told my family that I had a solo and I squeaked out that I had not even told them I was in the group number. My girls came home from graduate school and I STILL had not told them about the ice show. Finally the day of the first show came and I sat in the locker room with my friends and tried to pretend it was just another day at the rink. But when it came time to skate, I could NOT FEEL MY FEET! The ice felt so very slippery. Helena, my coach kept talking to me and telling me all the right things. I could see her lips moving, but I could not hear a thing. Finally, I heard myself say, "Remember...your goal was just to do it! Anything else you do out there is a bonus." It was my cue. I had to go. Dawn looked me in the eyes and said, "I will be here when you are finished" and then she carefully and gingerly set me on my way. I skated out. I couldn't feel my feet. I made it through and I was exhilarated. Not my best performance, but I did it. I decided I had to tell my family because I knew the next night would be better. I told them. They came. I skated. I could see my family in the stands. Lisa was holding her breath for me, Laura was crying. My husband was grinning. I did skate better the second night and proved to myself that the fire is still there, the joy of skating never goes away, at least for me, and on most days, there really is nowhere else I would rather be. I owe it all to my adult skating friends ...the best friends in the world. | |
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See you on the ice!
Sincerely,
The Richmond Ice Zone |
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