Olympics have you wanting to lace up some skates? Here's how. (Photo by prudencebrown121 on flickr)
by Rachael McMillan
With the Winter Olympics in full gear, and our winter hanging in there a little more tenaciously than usual, perhaps you’d like to get your family out to take part in some of the freezy fun. David Bagger of the University of Illinois Ice Arena spoke with me on his tips some tips about training your future Olympian or — probably a better place to start — simply spending some great family time on skates.
If you think “spectator” is a good starting point for your crew, Bagger recommends coming to an Illini hockey game (their regular season wraps up with a home series this weekend) or to an event such as the Learn to Skate program’s annual Ice Show this April 23-24.
“(The Ice Show) is the celebration of another successful year of classes. Individuals of all ages and skill levels perform. It’s a big community event and everyone has fun,” he said.
If you’re ready to take it to the next level, Bagger gives these tips for helping beginning skaters (or uncoordinated adults, such as myself) learn the ropes: “Bend your knees, sit slightly, and push off on the sides of your feet/skates while moving forward. Ice skate blades have an inside and an outside edge that dig into the ice.”
“And,” he adds, “don’t be afraid to fall.”
The Ice Arena offers public ice time, but if you are seeking a more formal learning opportunity for your child, the Learn to Skate program offers lessons to children as young as 4 and has sessions in the fall and spring semesters. Bagger recommends that young children wear a bike helmet and winter gloves or mittens when they are learning to skate.
He stresses that the key to becoming a good skater is practice, whether by taking lessons or simply coming regularly to public skating sessions. “Even hockey players need to work on their ice skating if they want to excel in the sport,” he states.
Speaking of hockey, there are options for having your youngster participate in the sport in our area. The Champaign-Urbana Youth Hockey Association works with children from ages 4 to 8 on learning fundamental skills. Beginning at age 5 children can also participate in house teams which compete against one another but don’t travel. More skilled players (and ambitious families) can join the travel team.
See you on the ice…
Have the Vancouver Olympics inspired you to seek out more winter sports fun?
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Two thumbs up for the U of I’s Learn To Skate program! My daughter has loved every minute of her lessons and the teachers have been fabulous. Not sure I see the Olympics in our future, but you never know! LOL