For most Greeley residents, summertime kicks off the transition outdoors to pools, picnics and other warm-weather activities. We embrace the sun and relish taking a break from the snow. For figure skaters, however, the winter lasts year-round. While school is out, they have more time to train, and with hockey in the off-season, they have increased access to the rink. As it turns out, more figure skating takes place in the summer than in the winter.
The Ice Haus has increased its skating programs in recent years — with more group classes and advanced technique sessions — to meet the needs of its hard-working, high-level skaters and to satisfy a growing interest in skating lessons. Their Learn to Skate (LTS) sessions run Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday for adults, covering “Basic ½” to “Basic 6” and “Snowplow 1” to “Snowplow 4.” Participants in the LTS also have access to the “Pre-Free-Freeskate” sessions on Saturdays.
Concurrent to the LTS program, the Ice Haus’ Specialty Classes are for advanced skaters who meet the prerequisites specified on the recreation website. Titles for these classes include “High Jump and Spin,” “Off-ice Jumping,” “Mobility,” “Axel” and “Artistry.” Skaters interested in competitions can register for the Learn to Compete program, which provides four lessons, edited music, two choreographed routines and coaching at two to four tournaments in August and September.
Though hockey is in its off-season, the Ice Haus also offers multiple training programs for the sport in summer, including Club Hockey, which offers its third season of the year on Sundays through September 15th.
The Ice Haus also caters to the casual skater with public skates every day from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., plus Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The disco ball and colored lights come out Friday and Saturday for the Cosmic Skate, also at 6:30 p.m. Private lessons and freestyle sessions occur throughout the week at various times, and the most up-to-date information can be found on the Ice Haus website – greeleyicehaus.com.
One young, avid skater, Bryleigh Hice, started in the Learn to Skate program at five years old, during the fall of 2019. Her parents thought skating was an important life skill to have and foster. Bryleigh herself says everyone should try skating and have some fun with it. She returned to Learn to Skate two years later, once COVID regulations allowed city facilities to reopen, and continued passed the basic skills level. The Ice Haus coaches encouraged Bryleigh to begin private lessons, which her grandmother gifted her for Christmas in 2022. Since January 2023, she’s been skating under Sarah Bott.
Sarah is a USFSA-certified coach, who specializes in freeskate, jumps, artistry, off-ice and power. She is one of many of the highly qualified staff at the Ice Haus, some of whom have trained at the World Arena and skated on Team USA. In addition to her 15-20 year-round private lesson students, Sarah teaches group classes at the Ice Haus. The rink and skating club won first-in-state in the Colorado Compete USA series the past two years, and Sarah anticipates another gold this year.
Sarah lauds Bryleigh as a bright student and fast learner, who always makes her laugh.
“It’s such an honor to be her coach,” Sarah says.
Bryleigh finds practices rewarding, despite the repetition required to master certain skills. (Figure skating “moves” are known as skills). She enjoys learning new things because, over time, she improves. A few of her favorite skills are the halt lutz, waltz jump and scratch spins. She’s currently working on backward three turns and backspins.
Ice skating, unlike soccer or basketball, is not a sport that kids can do in their backyard or at the park. Even if some of their training happens off the ice, they need a rink to practice and skates to wear. The Ice Haus provides an essential space for any child—or adult—interested in learning to skate. It offers the facility, equipment and coaching, the three biggest barriers to entering any sport.
By offering rental skates and drop-in classes, the Ice Haus reduces the financial burdens associated with entering a sport like figure skating, allowing kids to try it out before they register for a multi-week class or purchase skates. The same goes for adults, whose work schedules might prevent regular attendance.
Sarah reiterates that her primary goal is to provide the pure joy and fun of skating for her students. She believes in the importance of instilling confidence and self-esteem in her skaters, both in their sport and their lives.
Utilizing the Ice Haus facilities, Bryleigh demonstrates that children can train to achieve their desires and perform in an enormous rink by themselves, which is precisely what Sarah strives to teach her students and precisely why Greeley residents are so fortunate to have this resource here right in town.