PICTURES: Moray Figure Skating Club return to action after 18 months off the Moray Leisure Centre rink due to Covid closure
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
IT was nice to be back on the ice for the members of Moray Figure Skating Club last week.
Their home at Moray Leisure Centre's rink had been closed since March last year, forcing skaters to try and find ice elsewhere or adapt to off-ice skates and film their moves.
Finally the club is back on Elgin ice and coaching skaters new and old skills to hone for future competitions.
Club coach Graeme Summers said: "Our skaters have shown amazing dedication during the closure, keeping their training going mostly off the ice.
"Inverness Ice Centre and Aberdeen Linx Skating Club have been very kind providing ice time for us when they could.
"It’s now full steam ahead and we’ll be working hard to produce more national gold medalists, Scottish champions and international medalists as we’ve done in the past for many years."
The club provides learn-to-skate classes every Saturday at 11.45am and Sunday at noon, which includes a 30-minute lesson plus one hour of skating tim with the first lesson free.
"We also provide free hire of high quality figure skates, not the usual plastic hire skates which really hamper progress," Summers added.
He and fellow coach Sue Summers-Farrell have produced countless local skaters who have progressed to win medals in Scottish and UK events.
A recent success saw 12-year-old Miltonduff member Dan Crowley finish second in a Level 1 men's competition at the British Ice Skating Young Stars competition in Sheffield, despite his lack of recent training because of the pandemic.
Their competitive squad members have also supported the club by helping to teach some of the newer members.
"All ages and abilities are very welcome, including complete beginners who have never skated before," Summers added.
"We’re a very friendly inclusive club and our classes are great way to have fun and keep fit.
"We cater for recreational skaters as well as those aspiring to be champions."
The club can be contacted on their website or Facebook.
