Frequently Asked Questions
What should a skater wear to
Learn to Skate class?
Skaters should dress in thin socks or tights, long pants and layered shirts/jackets. The Ice Arena is a cool 40–50F all year round, so dress warmly. Gloves are a must!
Do’s:
- Track Suits or Sweats/Fleece
- Skating Tights/Skirts/Pants
- Warm Leggings
- Sweaters/Light Jackets
- Gloves
- Thin Socks or Tights
Don’ts:
- Jeans
- Snowsuits
- Capri Pants/Shorts
- Thick Socks/Multiple Socks
How should skates fit?
If a skater does not have his or her own skates for classes, skate rental is available for an additional $1.50 per class.
Save even more with our Skating School Skate Rental Punch cards and receive 10 rentals for $10!
These cards are also accepted at Public Skate Sessions. We encourage new skaters to rent skates initially, and try skating before investing in skates. For skaters that have their own skates or are considering purchasing them, proper equipment is essential to a skater’s success. Expect to invest at least $50 in a good pair of beginning skates.
- Good ice skates have solid support through the ankle.The skate should be able to withstand pressure applied to the ankle.
- Skates should fit snugly – not tight – when a skater wears one thin pair of socks or tights with them. A skate that is too big or made out of flimsy leather or vinyl will not provide adequate support for the skater’s ankle.
- Make sure that skates are properly sharpened BEFORE wearing them on the ice. Most new skates do not come sharpened. The Skate Station Pro Shop, located at the H-F Ice Arena, is a great resource for all of your skating equipment needs.
What should a skater expect at the
first class?
Plan on arriving at least 15 minutes before class to allow time to get skates on. If you need additional assistance, ask any of our staff and we will be glad to help. At the start of class, the instructor will group skaters together and cover some topics before taking the ice. Once skaters are on the ice, they will be separated based on age/ability into classes. If a skater is moved, they should come to that class for the rest of the session.
Our classes keep a 1:12 student to instructor ratio. Most of our classes also have student instructors. These volunteers are older skaters in our program and are there to assist the instructor and students as needed
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RENEE ALBANO
• Passed ISI Freestyle 7
• Icette Synchronized Team skater for 6 years
• Professional since 1999
• Has two daughters – Kaylee, age 9, and Madison, age 3
CATHY ARMOUR
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• Gold Medal in Figures & Freestyle
• Silver Dance Test
• National Junior Champion for Holland
• Midwestern Senior Ladies – 1st place
• National Junior Ladies – 4th place
• Buffalo International Free Skating – 1st place
• Skated professional with Holiday on Ice for 2 years
• 50 years of professional experience
• Moved to USA at the age of 12
LAUREN BALEK
• ISI Freestyle 7
• USFS Novice Moves in the Field
• USFS Intermediate Freestyle
• USFS Bronze Dance
• Professional since 1996
• Graduated from UIC in 2008 with a degree in Kinesiology
JENNIFER BLUE
• USFS Gold Moves in the Field
• USFS Gold Freestyle
• ISI Freestyle 8
• ISI Gold Certified Judge
• Experienced in coaching individual skaters and synchronized skating teams in USFS and
ISI
• Professional since 1993
• Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois
• Masters Degree in Education from National Louis University
• Physical Education teacher in Orland Park
KATHY DANCU
• USFS Pre-Gold Dance Medalist
• USFS Novice Freestyle
• USFS 4th Figure Test
• Professional since 1977
• Coached students through Gold Freestyle, Senior Moves in the Field & Gold Dance Tests
• Experience coaching Moves in the Field, Freestyle, Ice Dance & Synchro
PEGGY HICKEY MARLOW
• Trained in Colorado Springs with World and Olympic Coaches
• ISI Freestyle 10
• ISI Couples 9
• USFS Figure 5
• Experienced Single, Pairs and Synchro Skater
• 20 years professional experience
• From a family of figure skaters
JULIE POUNDER
• USFS Gold Dance Medalist
• 7 years as an Ice Dance Competitor
• Dance Champion in Regional and Sectional Competitions
• Skated professionally with the Ice Capades for 3 years
• 4 years teaching experience in Canada
• 24 years teaching experience in all areas including Dance, Freestyle and Moves in the Field
• Coached skaters through Gold Level Tests.
• Trained competitive Ice Dancers who won competitions, including Lake Placid Dance
Competition
• Interests include cooking, gardening, spending time with family
CALLE RATKOVICH
• USFS Gold Medalist in Figures
• USFS Silver Medalist in Freestyle
• Upper Great Lakes Regional Juvenile Gold Medalist
• Upper Great Lakes Regional Intermediate Silver Medalist
• Midwestern Intermediate Silver Medalist
• 24 years teaching experience in Figures, Freestyle, Moves in the Field and Choreography
MARJI SCOTT
• Skated professionally with Holiday on Ice for 2 years
• ISI Gold Level Judge
• 32 years teaching experience in Moves in the Field, Freestyle, Ice Dance and Synchronized
Skating
• Currently teaching all levels of Moves in the Field and Freestyle
• Currently teaching Preliminary through Bronze level Dances
• Married with 3 children and 1 dog
NICOLE TURAY
• USFS Junior Moves in the Field
• USFS Pre Gold Dance
• Skated at H-F Ice Arena until college
• Skated for Western Michigan University on the Synchronized Skating Team at the Senior Level.
• 3 years Varsity NCAA Athlete (ice skating)
• Team USA Synchronized Skating member 2004-2005
CHRISTINA WRONKOWICZ
• Member of Bowling Green State University Synchronized Skating Team
• ISI Gold Level Judge
• More than 12 years of professional experience
• Bachelor's Degree in Human Movement from BGSU
• Masters Degree in Sports Administration from BGSU
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