The return to the ice for the 2017-18 season has been anything but gradual for Fuller Lake Skating Club members.
The Lazy Days of Summer Are Over camp last week put power skaters and figure skaters through their paces on and off the ice for five straight days Monday through Friday.
“Most of our kids don’t skate during the summer so they’re looking forward to getting back to skating,” noted Fuller Lake Skating Club head coach Shannon McKinlay. “It works well.”
On the figure skating side, there were 10 junior participants, eight intermediates and 12 seniors for a total of 30. Power skating attracted eight in the youngest group, 17 in the middle group and 10 seniors for a total of 35.
“We did lots of fun stuff,” McKinlay added of the off-ice activities.
The on-ice sessions tended to be longer, up to 2 1/2 hours at a time, rather than splitting the skaters into shorter ice times when they might have to come back again.
Registration was held Wednesday at Fuller Lake Arena, along with the start of the intermediate and senior figure skating season. Assistant training for the power program Thursday and the Canskate program Friday leads into the first day of senior power, junior figure skating, pre-Canskate and pre-power Monday.
All the skaters who were on the ice last week will be more than ready for the regular schedule.
“They’re getting more skating in the one week than they sometimes do in a month,” noted McKinlay.
“It’s a good way to break in the skates. Everyone wants that extra head start on everything and get them going.”
This is a big season for the club, with ice shows in March of 2018 commemorating the 50th anniversary of Fuller Lake Arena.
