In recent years, figure skating has begun to steadily increase with a new piqued interest in the sport. This shift is happening all over the United States, including the Pleasant Valley community.
Many people join the sport, not only for competition, but also recreational purposes. The rise could be due to a number of things, including the recent success that figure skating has had on a national and global scale. This year, the United States has already earned an Olympic gold medal in figure skating in Milan Cortina. The success that skaters have in competing at such a high-level inspires young kids and adults to pick up the hobby in hopes of seeing a similar fulfillment.
Junior Maryl Meeboer, a competitive figure skater explains her involvement with the sport. “I got into figure skating because my brother, who is Canadian, wanted to try hockey. My parents signed me up for figure skating lessons because I was too young to be home alone and they wanted me to be occupied while my brother skated. It stuck for both of us and I’m still skating eight years later,” she said.
After trying out the sport, many find a multitude of reasons to stay. Meeboer gives insight to her own experience.“I enjoy figure skating for many reasons. It’s a tight knit community because there are only around 15 advanced skaters in the Quad City area, so we are all very close. I also love my sport because of its artistic quality combined with its technical difficulty,” she said.
Even though the Quad City area is not the most accessible when it comes to competitive figure skating, there are still opportunities to get involved in the community. Not only is figure skating growing competitively, but recreationally as well. Many people have decided to spend their winter nights going to skate rinks with friends, family and loved ones. The installation of a new skating rink at Splash Landing has allowed more members of the Pleasant Valley community to get involved in the sport.
Senior JJ Garcia frequently visits the new ice skating rink. “There isn’t much to do around here and ice skating is pretty inexpensive and not far away, so even kids that aren’t driving could just have their parents drop them off and stay for many hours,” she said.
From the Olympic level to the local Quad Cities, figure skating is paving its way as an up and coming sport, influencing many in its path. Ice skating is only projected to rise as a sport with many now following their dreams and passions of mastering the artistry and beauty that the sport vitalizes.
