Whether you are young or old, a casual or a serious skater, a novice or a champion, there’s something for everyone at Glenburn Figure Skating Club.
Set up in 1982, the club has promoted the sport of figure skating ever since, catering to the needs of skaters of all levels and abilities. The club is based at Avondale's Paradice Ice Skating.
Figure skating may be something of a minority sport in New Zealand. However, the members of the Glenburn Figure Skating Club are dedicated and enthusiastic and simply love what they do. ‘Rather than having parents sitting on the sidelines, we aim to involve the whole family,' says Life Member Melanie Anderson. In fact, a contingent of Glenburn’s adult skaters competed at the recent World Winter Masters Games held in Italy. The club is very proud of Vice President Sheryl Squier, who placed third in the free skate category.
While club, national and international competitions are a key focus for the club, there are plenty of opportunities for social figure skaters who just want to have fun. There’s also synchronised skating on offer for those looking to take to the ice with a group of friends.
Thanks to funding of $6,880 from the Your West Support Fund, the club designed a special programme offering different levels of coaching. National and international skating representatives received extra coaching. And those new to the sport also enjoyed expert tuition to get them off to a flying start.
Furthermore, the funding covered the hire of Paradice for several informal club togethers. Skaters of all ages and abilities mixed and mingled on the ice, sharing their knowledge and expertise. ‘The sessions helped build a sense of community, and members were able to learn from each other,’ says Melanie.
The hugely popular programme was offered at a nominal fee, so as many people as possible could get involved.
Melanie adds that a growing trend sees girls dropping out of sports as they get older. Figure skating is very popular among girls, and clubs like Glenburn are helping to keep more young women active. 'We are very grateful to the Your West Support Fund for helping us reach even more people interested in figure skating,' says Melanie.
The competition season runs from April to October. However, Glenburn Figure Skating Club runs sessions throughout the year. So, if you want to try out this fun sport, check out the club's website for all you need to know.