Local Club Celebrates World Ice Skating Day
By Abby Farrell
Last week over 30 clubs across the country celebrated the first annual World Ice Skating Day. World Ice Skating Day is a festival presented by the International Skating Union (ISU) with the goal of encouraging greater inclusion, youth involvement and future development of all three ice skating disciplines. Two clubs were involved in the festivities: the Skating Club of Lake Placid and the High Peaks Skating Academy.
The club had tons of fun with free sessions of speed skating, public ice skating, hockey games for fans to watch and even a Christmas show!
In total the event had over 500 people come together to celebrate their passion for all three skating disciplines.
It took place at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, home of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games. You may recognize it as the home of the Miracle on Ice hockey game.
Throughout the day the Skating Club of Lake Placid hosted free Learn to Skate sessions at the Herb Brooks Arena, which was named after the legendary coach that led Team USA to the gold medal in 1980.
It also hosted a public speed skating session on the outdoor Olympic Speed Skating Oval. The weather was beautiful which made for an enjoyable day of skating outside.
That night, local high school students and members of the High Peaks Skating Club put on a performance of The Polar Express, which was a hit among spectators! Proceeds from admissions were donated to the North Elba Christmas Fund, an organization created to provide support to families during the holiday season.
“We thought it was important that we participated in this inaugural event. We are proud to have our Olympic Speed Skating Oval ready so early for the first time in 15 years,” Megan-Jean Manson, marketing manager for the Lake Placid Olympic Center said.
The Lake Placid Olympic Center is looking forward to hosting even more events early next year.
“In a little under six weeks, we will be hosting the 2023 World University Games where figure skating, speed skating, short track speed skating and ice hockey will be taking place at our venue,” said Manson. “It just made sense to be a part of this celebration being who we are.”
How did your club celebrate World Ice Skating Day?
