Ice skating becomes more than a winter activity
With lack of snow and sunny weather patterns throughout Southern California, it can be hard to get into the holiday spirit that is so classically represented by a stereotypical white Christmas. However, no matter if it is two degrees or 98, the holidays bring people together in more ways than one. Whether going out with friends or family, ice skating is a great way to bond during the holiday season. Figure skating is a popular seasonal holiday for most people looking for a festive experience, and Iceoplex in Simi Valley gives people a great way to connect together with friends and enjoy the cooler weather immersively.
An avid skater, Miela Arra, junior, skates as much as she can in her free time. “I started skating in January of this year, but I didn’t start doing it more regularly until September. I hope to continue skating after high school whenever I can,” Arra said. Skating is an important hobby for Arra, one that pushes her boundaries and does not only serve as a holiday activity but a weekly one. Learning a new skill requires an immense amount of focus and patience. “My favorite thing about skating is getting to relax, listen to music, and focus on a new skill until I get it right,” Arra said. Being prepared and mentally ready for the physical demands that come with skating can set someone up for success in the future.
Clare FitzGibbon, senior, is a competitive figure skater at NPHS. She skates year round six days a week. Gibbons plans to continue skating into college. “My goal is to skate for Team USA in college and I will be trying out for the 2025- 2026 season this April,” FitzGibbon said. Skating can come with many challenges, but with enough will power and determination, goals can be achieved. “The mental part in figure skating is probably the hardest part because most of the time skaters can physically do things but they will be held back by the fear of pain or a previous injury,” FitzGibbon said. FitzGibbon competes at competitions with solo performances and her team on the rink. Competing is one of her favorite parts of this sport. “I love improving my scores after each competition, as well as gaining confidence in new skills after each year of doing it,” FitzGibbon said.
For most people, skating is a seasonal activity, and Claudia Frankfort, sophomore, likes to skate in the wintertime. Similarly to Patterson, Frankfort is not an experienced skater. “I think skating came easily to me today. I think it’s kind of similar to dancing,” Frankfort said. This winter activity was exciting for Frankfort, but it definitely did not come without difficulties. “It’s really difficult to navigate not only your own skating skills, but around all these people who also don’t know what they’re doing,” Frankfort said. Overall, Frankfort thoroughly enjoyed her experience and would return to skate again. “I really liked my experience at the Iceoplex. I had a lot of fun skating around,” Frankfort said.
When reflecting on the ice, Arra can vouch for the difficulties when starting out. “I think it’s really important to learn how to fall and stop first in order to be as safe as possible,” Arra said. Making sure you are prepared for the ice and are not susceptible to injuries is extremely important. “I think ice skating is really special for me because it’s a lot less pressure to be good at since I know I’m just doing it for fun, and it feels so rewarding whenever I finally get a new skill [that] I’ve been working on for a while,” Arra said. Not only does recreational skating promote seasonal spirit but it cultivates an environment where trial and error can become an opportunity for growth. It can often be scary trying something new for the first time, especially an activity that does not seem as popular on the West Coast, but the risk is often worth the reward.
