The registration numbers are up from last year, and the sport seems to be holding its own in the annual battle for kids’ time and attention with other winter activities.
“We’re doing better than we have in previous years,” said coach John Fish. “A lot of our ice times are earlier so the kids can get home and get to bed or do homework.”
Fish names a number of returning kids — including Stephanie Kendall, Ashley Boyes and Josh Gallipeau — who will look to improve on their past success. But the skill should be improved at every level as kids of all ages come back with another year of skating under their belts.
“They’ll have a leap in learning because they’ve been challenged a bit more,” said Fish.
Speed skating is a great way to learn your way around the ice, particularly because they feature a flat blade as opposed to a hockey skate.
“If (kids) want to try speed skates, they can rent them from the club,” said Fish. “They’re very easy to learn on, actually, maybe even easier than other skates.”
