Photo Credit: Brian Byllesby
By Abby Farrell
Back in January, kids and adults from underrepresented communities in the San Jose, California area were invited to the 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships to see figure skating for the first time. This past month, they were brought together once again with more than 70 skaters ages 4-65 being treated to a day of skating activities, including the opportunity to take the ice for the very first time.
Organized by U.S. Figure Skating, members of Black Girls Surf, Kids with a Dream, Perfect For Your Purpose, Piedmont Middle School and the Kapor Center were invited to the SAP Center in San Jose on April 8 to watch the NHL’s San Jose Sharks take on the Edmonton Oilers. Afterward, it was their turn to get on the ice to participate in an hour-long free skate session with a half hour of instruction at Sharks Ice, a recreational ice facility in the Bay Area and the official practice facility of the San Jose Sharks.
"For us to be able to go back and host an event so that the local community could get on the ice after seeing some of the best skating that we have in the nation to me is the start of a transformative relationship, so it’s not just a drop in and drop out,” said Kadari Taylor-Watson, U.S. Figure Skating’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion. “An important question that guides my work is, how do we actually build sustainable relationships with these communities that are new to our sport? This was our way of starting to do that."
Also in attendance were a few recipients of the Toyota Learn to Skate USA® Scholarship: Jarrett Guo, Anaya Malone, Maggie Melone, Dallas Vandyke and Peyton Johnson. These scholarships awarded Learn to Skate memberships to kids who demonstrated an interest in wanting to learn to skate after watching the competition at U.S. Championships.
Participants left the event with a U.S. Figure Skating membership and were provided with information on how to join their local Learn to Skate USA® programs so that they can improve their skills and build on the foundation that was laid at this event, encouraging them to stay involved in figure skating.
Parents were grateful for the opportunity for their kids to participate, especially since some kids had previously expressed an interest in figure skating.
“[My daughter] just told me today that she wants to be a U.S. figure skater, and I didn’t know that about her,” parent Sandy Johnson said. “She does roller hockey, but it’s so nice to have events like this for the community because it just offers different opportunities for people.”
The importance of these types of events goes beyond just skating by growing participation and representation in the sport with athletes who reflect all communities. Doing this demonstrates that skating is for everyone.
“There needs to be a lot more diversity in the sport because other cultures and nationalities can bring so much more to the sport,” Jasmine Small, whose daughter participated in the event as an assistant coach, said. “We’re in America with all different kinds of people, so we should have that competition. I would love to see diversity with music, outfits, hair – in everything!”
For many athletes, the spark that ignites their desire to participate and ultimately excel in sports starts from watching other athletes compete and wanting to be just like them. For those in underrepresented communities, it’s even more impactful to have role models to look up to that look just like them.
“This event is inspiring my daughter to re-love ice skating because she is seeing people that represent her, the Bay Area and the United States.” Small said.
