National Skating Month | February 12, 2011

Figure Skating is something that I will always hold near and dear to my heart. When I was only 5 years old, my family and I were shopping at the Dallas Galleria during Christmas time. There was a skating show going on and I told my Mom, “I want to do that, Mommy,” as I pointed down at the beautiful skaters. At the age of 8, I got my first taste of figure skating and from that first moment, I was beyond hooked. Skating has taken me on such a wild ride. I’ve traveled to Ohio, Colorado, Kansas, Delaware, and of course all over Texas on my skating adventures. When asked where I learned self-discipline and self-motivation, I point to skating. It’s taught me a lot of skills that I hold extremely valuable to life today.

One of the first things I did upon moving to Austin was look up the nearest ice rink. Turns out, (of course) I had competed there before. The Director of Figure Skating there, Ms. Kathy Goeke found out about my title and asked me to make an appearance at their National Skating Month event. How could I say no to that?

The event kicked off with an exhibition from one of their skaters and then the rink was open to the public to come out and skate with the chance to win great prizes. It was great being able to share something I loved with other people and have the opportunity to offer them some tips if they were having trouble. I had a lot of fun talking and meeting everyone in the Austin Skating Community. I didn’t think that this was possible, but we did the Cha Cha Slide on the ice! After signing autographs in the lobby, the event came to a close and I found myself sad that it was time to leave, despite being so cold.

If you’re looking for a fun activity to do and want to stay cool in the heat (especially if you live in Texas) I encourage you to find the nearest ice rink and try it out!