Above: Youngsters take the ice, many for the first time, as part of the Learn to Skate USA program at The Rinks and Great Park Ice in Southern California. Photo credit: Great Park Ice
By Troy Schwindt
Figure skating director Alex Chang’s enthusiasm grows when describing the culture behind the seven bustling facilities that make up The Rinks and Great Park Ice in Southern California.
“Our mission is to provide quality experiences to skaters of all different levels and aspirations,” Chang said. “It’s also about sharing our love for ice sports in general, between hockey and skating. It’s a big honor to work with the two communities together.”
That synergy between each of the rinks and the cohesiveness of ownership, leadership and more than 160 coaches enabled The Rinks and Great Park Ice to earn top Learn to Skate USA designation with more than 4,000 skaters registered for the 2023–24 season. More than 1,000 programs nationwide offer Learn to Skate USA.
Learn to Skate USA classes are conducted at five of the seven rinks: Great Park Ice (Irvine): Leadership team: Courtney Walker, Jacqie Shaffer, Jacqui Palmore, Sharon Smith, Zach Sidhu and Matt Reiner; Anaheim ICE: Chris Pottenger; Lakewood ICE: Braden Overett; Poway ICE: Kristen Perdue; and Yorba Linda ICE: Shari Jude. Candice Clifford runs the artistic roller program at Irvine Inline.
Each rink, Chang said, is unique and different from each other, but there’s a consistency throughout when it comes to delivering quality instruction.
“We are always reviewing methodology, encouraging coaches to grow their craft by attending seminars, webinars, workshops,” Chang said. “We help develop the right qualities —whether it’s in a young skater, adult, recreational, elite, competitive, or show skater, etc. We offer different programs that make sense for each particular building, while providing a baseline of excellence and customer experience across the boards.”
Henry and Susan Samueli, owners of the Anaheim Ducks, Honda Center and the seven Rinks facilities, are the catalysts behind this skating movement in Southern California.
“This was part of their vision to grow and foster figure skating and hockey in SoCal,” Anaheim Ducks & The Rinks publicist Samantha Glantz said. “What we have now is a testament to their efforts to invest in the community.”
Four times a year, all employees — from Zamboni drivers to coaches to concessionaires — come together for a team-building retreat, where best practices and ideas are shared.
“It’s about understanding our place in the larger effort in the sport,” Chang said. “The company provides a clean and positive environment for growth and has reinvested in our employees. When you have engaged, energized employees, you have a better customer experience.”
The more than 4,000 Learn to Skate members at The Rinks and Great Park can be inspired on any given day, with national and world-class skaters training and roaming around the facilities.
Olympians such as Nathan Chen, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, and Mariah Bell; and star players with the Anaheim Ducks have or do train at Great Park Ice, while other top national-level athletes hone their skills at some of the other Rinks facilities. On average, more than 50 skaters from these rinks qualify for the U.S. Championships and National Development Camp each year.
“We have kids who are junior Ducks and youth players who go up and watch [Anaheim Ducks] practice, and they watched Nathan Chen and coach Raf [Rafael Arutunian] coach him up, Glantz said. “I think having that open experience in the most beautiful facility is amazing. It’s special for everyone.”
Hommocks SC Top New Learn to Skate USA Program
The Hommocks Skating Club in Mamaroneck, New York, hit the ground running as a new member of the Learn to Skate USA family, registering a new program high 737 skaters in 2023–24.
Sara-Beth Carbonaro, skating director at Hommocks Park Ice Rink, and Matthew Angst, general manager of the Hommocks Park Ice Rink, organized six sessions during the season which started in October and ended in early June. Classes were held on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons, as well as Sunday mornings.
“We were able to hold a successful skating competition this year as well as a wonderful end-of-the-year exhibition for our skaters,” Carbonaro said.
Carbonaro has taught Learn to Skate for more than five years and skating in general for 19 years.
“We changed our program to LTS last year to help grow figure skating in our community,” Carbonaro said. “We are so happy for the success and the fun it has brought to the kids in our program. We also have a great coaching staff and rink staff that helps carry such a great program.”
