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july/august 2010 R IN K M A G AZ I N E 39 STARrinks.com "I really feel that the curriculum offers a great variety of challenges at every level, whether skaters wish to pursue a com- petitive track or are simply interested in being a recreational skater." Winnetka has been using the Basic Skills curriculum for nearly two years, and the transition to it for the skaters and coaches has gone smoothly. "The most positive experience has been the exchange of ideas that making a change has facilitated between our staff mem- bers and those in neighboring rinks as well," she said. As with all Basic Skills programs, Winnetka received promotional materi- als from U.S. Figure Skating, including posters, postcards and souvenirs. These tools allowed Kuechel to spread the word about Basic Skills in the community, which contributed to the program's big turnout at its first-ever National Skating Month event. "We received some local attention in newspaper articles that drew more people in," she said. "I think it was a very positive event that had good feed- back, and [we] would definitely want to do it again." Thirty miles west of Chicago, in the suburb of Naperville, Dona Bengson and her staff of 20 instructors have been coaching over 1,100 registered Basic Skills students at the All Seasons Ice Rinks since September 2008. "It was an adjustment at first, [with] lots of ques- tions and doubts, but everyone has seen what an improvement it has made to the skate school overall," Bengson said. The introduction of the Basic Skills Program, says Bangson, has helped keep things fresh on the ice. "[There are] new and exciting things to learn for both the coaches and the skaters," she said. "It's as if the sport were 'reborn' again!" While the majority of skaters in her school are just beginning to participate in Basic Skills competitions, Bengson said she looks forward to watching them transition to local figure skating clubs in the future. For now, she is just enjoying her rejuvenated program, courtesy of the Basic Skills Program and staff. "The positive reinforcement and sup- port from the Basic Skills staff [has con- tributed to] the new life that the pro- gram has brought to our 35-year old facility." ★ Eric Pringle has been an athlete, volunteer, media intern and coach, and he is a long-standing mem- ber of the Northern Blades NSC Figure Skating Club in Blaine, Minn. He has worked in both newspaper and university communications set- tings, and is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. Contact infor- mation: ericpringle7@gmail.com, or by phone at (763) 232-0656. Advertising Products Cleaning Products Dasher Components Goals & Nets Products to Keep You Operational It sAllAbout Performance! It sAllAbout Performance! It sAllAbout Performance! When it's all about the ice! Dasher Board Systems Bleachers and Benching Locker Room Components Products for Lobby Olympia Ice Resurfacers Protective Netting Protective Flooring Rental Skate Storage Scoreboards & More! Products to Build or Renovate Ice Maintenance Equipment Ice Paint & Graphics Resurfacer Parts Skate Sharpeners Vinyl Lines & More! Building Community and a Place for People to Play, Compete and Win! ' ' 800-234-5522 | www.beckerarena.com D 800-234-5522 | www beckerarena.com www oducts to Keep Dasher Components Cleaning Products Advertising Products d t to Keep Goals & Nets r Components ning Products sing Products You Operational Vinyl Lines & More! Skate Sharpeners Resurfacer Parts Ice Paint & Graphics Ice Maintenance Equipment ational Products to Build e! cs Equipment Scoreboards & More! Rental Skate Storage Protective Flooring Protective Netting Olympia Ice Resurfacers Products for Lobby Locker Room Components Bleachers and Benching Dasher Board Systems

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