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Don’t be fooled by the title.
The Grand Junction Figure Skating Club does offer competitive skating. But the club’s also about kids getting exercise along with learning new skills. And, hopefully, developing a lifelong attachment to the sport.
Currently, the two-year old figure skating club consists of 25 members.
“For a community this size, that is extraordinary,” said J.R. Heathcoat, who augments the Glacier Ice Arena’s professional staff as a volunteer coach.
Ages of club members range from 4 to adult.
While many of the club’s skaters participate in competitions across the state, some prefer just to take lessons. Or skate in one of the rink’s show productions.
No matter what a skater is looking for the club has an outlet.
“The biggest thing, we try our best as a facility to make kids to come and learn,” rink General Manager Sean Flynn said. “As a facility and a club, the coaches and us are in charge of the parents’ two most valuable possessions — their children and their money. So if we can put out a great product and their kids are having fun, we’re happy.”
One of Flynn’s missions is to keep programs affordable.
As an example, the rink’s “Learn to Skate” program, which is where most of the club’s competitive skaters started, costs $100 per person. Fees include 10 weeks of instruction and skate rental.
As skaters improve, the decision for private lessons with the professional staff and to compete is left up to the individual.
“Competitive skating demands a lot more commitment and a lot more work. Not only are there lessons on the ice, but off the ice too.” Heathcoat said.
Off-ice training for those skaters can include training sessions to improve strength and stamina plus ballet and dance lessons and costuming.
The club has just started to address skaters’ expenses. A skateathon has been scheduled at the rink on May 17 to help raise funds. In addition, the club’s board is also trying to put together a group to solicit sponsorship from local businesses.
All of the Glacier’s five professional coaches are members of the Professional Skaters Association. To become an certified instructor, each coach must pass that organization’s testing process at levels ranging from youth through Olympics levels.
Martin Forrest, who also operates the rink’s skate shop as his own business, is a former Scottish National Champion and spent more than five years as a performer with Disney on Ice. Bonny Forrest, Martin’s wife, skated with Disney for eight years and has been a professional coach since 2006.
Alyssa Johnson and Meaghan Miller moved to Grand Junction after competing, then coaching at rinks in Salt Lake City. Ciji Green competed in Utah, Colorado and Nevada before becoming a full-time coach six years ago.
As a group, the coaches are impressed with the skaters’ progress.
”It’s weird to see so much potential on one sheet of ice. People are achieving so much so fast here. I don’t know what it is in the air here, but we’ve got so much potential,” said Martin Forrest. “I can’t believe there’s so much talent in one place.”
“The kids love it,” Bonny Forrest added. “Everyone seemed to pick up thing really quickly. They seemed to excel on the ice,” Johnson said.
Reach Phil Sandoval at psandoval@gjfreepress.com.
The Grand Junction Figure Skating Club does offer competitive skating. But the club’s also about kids getting exercise along with learning new skills. And, hopefully, developing a lifelong attachment to the sport.
Currently, the two-year old figure skating club consists of 25 members.
“For a community this size, that is extraordinary,” said J.R. Heathcoat, who augments the Glacier Ice Arena’s professional staff as a volunteer coach.
Ages of club members range from 4 to adult.
While many of the club’s skaters participate in competitions across the state, some prefer just to take lessons. Or skate in one of the rink’s show productions.
No matter what a skater is looking for the club has an outlet.
“The biggest thing, we try our best as a facility to make kids to come and learn,” rink General Manager Sean Flynn said. “As a facility and a club, the coaches and us are in charge of the parents’ two most valuable possessions — their children and their money. So if we can put out a great product and their kids are having fun, we’re happy.”
One of Flynn’s missions is to keep programs affordable.
As an example, the rink’s “Learn to Skate” program, which is where most of the club’s competitive skaters started, costs $100 per person. Fees include 10 weeks of instruction and skate rental.
As skaters improve, the decision for private lessons with the professional staff and to compete is left up to the individual.
“Competitive skating demands a lot more commitment and a lot more work. Not only are there lessons on the ice, but off the ice too.” Heathcoat said.
Off-ice training for those skaters can include training sessions to improve strength and stamina plus ballet and dance lessons and costuming.
The club has just started to address skaters’ expenses. A skateathon has been scheduled at the rink on May 17 to help raise funds. In addition, the club’s board is also trying to put together a group to solicit sponsorship from local businesses.
All of the Glacier’s five professional coaches are members of the Professional Skaters Association. To become an certified instructor, each coach must pass that organization’s testing process at levels ranging from youth through Olympics levels.
Martin Forrest, who also operates the rink’s skate shop as his own business, is a former Scottish National Champion and spent more than five years as a performer with Disney on Ice. Bonny Forrest, Martin’s wife, skated with Disney for eight years and has been a professional coach since 2006.
Alyssa Johnson and Meaghan Miller moved to Grand Junction after competing, then coaching at rinks in Salt Lake City. Ciji Green competed in Utah, Colorado and Nevada before becoming a full-time coach six years ago.
As a group, the coaches are impressed with the skaters’ progress.
”It’s weird to see so much potential on one sheet of ice. People are achieving so much so fast here. I don’t know what it is in the air here, but we’ve got so much potential,” said Martin Forrest. “I can’t believe there’s so much talent in one place.”
“The kids love it,” Bonny Forrest added. “Everyone seemed to pick up thing really quickly. They seemed to excel on the ice,” Johnson said.
Reach Phil Sandoval at psandoval@gjfreepress.com.
