Basic Skills

One part of skating no one talks about enough (in the media at least) is basic skills. I know it seems like some of the lil' jumping beans we see on TV axeled and salchowed their way out of the womb, just born with the skills perfected. But that couldn't be farther from reality.

They all had to start somewhere, and that "somewhere" was basic skills lessons. Learning to march, swizzle, snowplow stop and yes, even fall. (Learning how to fall is very important!)

Both United States Figure Skating and Ice Skating Institute have robust programs (and have had for decades), and there are sanctioned basic skills programs all over the country—and very probably at a rink near you. You don't have to be a kid, either. Basic skills programs are designed for folks of all ages.

The reason I bring this up is that the country's largest USFS basic skills competition, the 16th Annual Wollman Open, was held this past weekend. Well, it was half-held...Wollman is a gorgeous outdoor rink in the middle of Central Park in New York, and Sunday's snowy weather made the conditions for skating less than ideal as the afternoon progressed. As a result, some of the events were rescheduled for this coming Sunday. But last week, dozens of skaters took turns on the ice. They may not go on to be champions, but they had the chance to feel that way at a competition designed just for them.

Friends of mine from the Skating Club of New York (the competition's home club) were there and took some fantastic pictures of the winter wonderland that took over Wollman Rink last Sunday.

Audrey Leung / SCNY

Audrey Leung / SCNY