Figure Skating Club gives students the opportunity to glide, as the team has recreational and competitive opportunities for beginners and seasoned skaters alike.
While most club members have previous skating experience, President Shay Bonnell and Vice President Jacey Taylor encourage anyone interested in joining the club to show up to practice and give skating a try.
Bonnell is a senior mechanical engineering major. She said the practices are a mix of work and relaxation.
“I’m all for just trying new things because what’s the harm in trying a new sport? … But skating is challenging,” Bonnell said. “It’s good to have a knowledge of what you’re getting into, and the costs and the time commitments … but I think everyone should do it and just give it a shot.”
There is no tryout requirement to join the club, but Bonnell said those interested in competing will be evaluated on their skills first.
Recreational skaters owe $50 in dues. Competition skaters pay between $200 and $500 per competition. The team will be running a Domino’s Pizza fundraiser in January and has a year-round donation link on their Instagram to help with costs.
Skaters take the first five minutes of the practice time to catch up, talk and wake up a bit before early practices begin. Then club members can use the time to practice however they see fit. Bonnell said members will often watch each other and provide feedback as needed, although participants can practice solo, too.
Competitive Figure Skating Club members attend three competitions a year, one in the fall and two in the spring. One is always in Colorado, and the other two are in other states. Skaters can compete in four categories.
The free skate event involves a more complex routine that features jumps, spins and technical footwork. Solo dances are more artistic sequences of movement. Pattern dances follow a set pattern of pre-established maneuvers.
The last category is team maneuvers. Competitions will release a list of maneuvers they will be evaluating early in the season. Bonnell said the team will practice the list throughout the season and send their best skater to compete in each maneuver at the competition.
Figure Skating Club recently attended their Denver competition, where Bonnell said they placed ninth among roughly 20 teams.
The club hosts two showcases per year that are free for students to attend. Their holiday show happened last Sunday, and Bonnell said they plan on having an end-of-year showcase at the end of the spring semester.
Figure Skating Club usually hosts a yearly back-to-school skate that is free for UCCS students to attend, although the event didn’t happen this year. Bonnell said they had trouble communicating with local ice rinks, but the event is a fun way to connect with the community.
Bonnell’s season goal is for all competitive members to medal at a competition. Taylor hopes the team will make the top five at one of their competitions.
Taylor is excited for the team to continue growing and cultivating friendships. She would love to see at least three more members join the team. “We did start off with a little team, and it has grown a lot, and I just want it to keep growing,” she said.
“Some of my best friends have come from this club. When I was a lonely freshman, [finding this club] was my saving grace that kept me in college. Having people to lean on and people to be my friends when I didn’t have any in my classes pushed me to be better for myself. I want to offer that resource to other people,” Bonnell said.
Figure Skating Club meets on Tuesdays and Fridays at 7 a.m. at Sertich Ice Center. Practices run from 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
Photo courtesy of Shay Bonnell.