The Garden State Skating Club kicked off the figure skating season with its fourth annual Shore- Skate Basic Skills Competition that was held at Howell Ice World in Howell on March 19.
The event drew 65 skaters representing 10 skating clubs from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The skaters competed in 20 free skate events, including basic skills up through the higher-level well balanced freestyle programs.
New to this year’s competition was the solo dance, which included a preliminary exhibition of the Dutch waltz and canasta tango dances. The club’s Ice- Lantics Beginner Synchronized Skating Team also made an appearance and showcased their teamwork and intricate movements and formations with their choreographed program.
Lara Walsh, president of the Garden State Skating Club, was pleased with the event’s strong turnout and was especially proud of all the skaters’ outstanding sportsmanship and their display of high spirit and true passion for the sport. Walsh said, “Hosting our first competition at our new home rink was a total success. The move to Howell only a few months ago is allowing us to grow with a rink that has the mission and commitment to teach young skaters the basics through learn-to-skate programs for children of all ages and skating abilities. It is a terrific, modern facility and we are glad to continue our long tradition of supporting and advancing figure skating talent in the area.”
Adriana Ryan, a senior staff coach of the Garden State Skating Club and the Howell Ice World Skating Academy director, was pleased that many of her member skaters from the learn-to-skate program had the opportunity to participate, and she was excited to see many of them perform in their first skating competition.
According to a press release, the purpose of the Garden State Skating Club is to encourage and foster the instruction, practice and advancement of members in free skating, pair skating, dance, moves in the field, synchronized and other areas of figure skating.