Artistic skate camp convenes at Indiana roller rink

January-February 2015
RINKSIDER
Independent Voice of the Industry
13
Artistic skate camp convenes at Indiana
roller rink
M
ore than 65 artistic skaters
and 30 coaches from around
the country (and the world)
convened for the inaugural Skaters’
Camp at the Eastlake Skate Center in
Warsaw, Ind., this past fall. Event organizer and USARS board member Trace
Hansen noticed that numbers for free
style roller skating in the United States
was declining and wanted to renew
interest. Even though Hansen’s rink
doesn’t have a club (yet), he knew that
in order to attract artistic skaters, there
would first need to be coaches to teach
them. After floating the idea to several
art skaters at nationals, he decided to
host an intensive skaters training camp
and got to work organizing the event.
Hansen canceled two public sessions and halted birthday parties dur-
ing the four-day camp from November
7-10. World renowned coaches, Jayson
Sutcliffe and Christina Moretti, were
flown into Indiana from across the
globe, with Hansen shuttling attendees
back and forth to the airport located 45
minutes away. During the event, skaters
learned how to teach and execute multiple jumps, spins and figures. Coaches
shared different teaching techniques as
well as how to host group lessons for
clubs. The Skaters’ Camp was sponsored by Hansen with additional donations from participants and outside individuals, as well as help from David Ripp
of Skates US who provided Saturday’s
dinner for the athletes and coaches. The
ultimate goal of the camp is to get more
clubs into US rinks and raise awareness
of competitive artistic roller skating.
Melody Gardens turns 40!
Melody Gardens Skateland,
located in Marshfield, Wisc., recently
celebrated a milestone. Alvin and
Gladys Brock opened their skating rink
on November 9, 1974 and have created many memories, not only for the
Brock’s 16 children and their families,
but also the many families that visited
throughout past the four decades. While
the rink was remodeled several times,
Rinksider_JAN_FEB_15.indd 13
and changed ownership twice, Melody
Gardens remained in the family. First
taken over by daughter Deb Dietel and
her husband Dan who added an ice
cream parlor, and then again in 2012
by Margie and Dennis Schmidt (Alvin
and Gladys’ daughter and son-in-law.)
Margie grew up in the business built by
her parents and has worked at the rink
for many years.
More than 65 artistic skaters and 30 coaches from around the world attended the
inagural Skaters' Camp at Eastlake Skate Center in Warsaw, Ind.
While Hansen admitted the event took
a lot of time, money, and effort than he
expected, the results were worth it and
he plans to do it again next year.
Margie
Schmidt
celebrates
with friends
and family
members the
40th year in
business for
Melody
Gardens,
Marshfield,
Wisc.
12/21/14 7:21:32 PM