Advertisement The ice skating season opened Nov. 1, with close to 200 children taking to the ice in the OmniCenter’s two arenas.
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Emily Witz and other students enrolled in the Tri-State Toe Picks figure skating club program practice staying upright during a session last week on the ice at the Onalaska OmniCenter.
Photo by Jo Anne Killeen |
This is the first year the OmniCenter has taken over ice skating programs after the city’s recreation programs fell victim to budget cuts.
Ice hockey
High school hockey practice for boys and girls is already underway as well as Tornado Youth Hockey.
The Tornado Youth Hockey Association is an organization whose purpose is to teach and promote ice hockey to children in Onalaska and Holmen and nearby communities. The group offers programs for all levels of ability, for both boys and girls, ages 4 through 18.
Team and schedule information is available online at www. tornadoyouthhockey.org.
Learn to skate programs
The Tri-State Toe Picks, a USA Figure Skating Club that now calls the OmniCenter its home rink, has picked up the learn to skate program dropped by the recreation department. The Toe Picks club offers Snowplow Sam (preschool age) and Basic Skills (school age) classes. They are a member of U.S. Figure Skating Basics Skills Program.
Classes and contract ice started Nov. 2.
Holiday on Ice
The Tri-State Toe Picks will host a Holiday on Ice figure skating show at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the OmniCenter. The show features 2010 Minnesota State Figure Skating champions Shannon Brakke, Stevie Schuessler and Ryan Santee. Also performing is the Winona Figure Skating Club synchronized skating team and local skaters Christina Blomquist, Jessica Horner, Katie Mormann, Jessica Verbist and Toe Pick Club members.
General admission tickets for Holiday on Ice are $10.
To reserve tickets or for more information, call 790-5793 or log onto www.thetoepicks.org.
New ice programs
A first for the OmniCenter, the ice rink is available to students when there is no school. There are special days for Onalaska High School and other days for combinations of Onalaska, Holmen and La Crosse high school students.
Those skate times are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dates are detailed online at www.cityofonalaska.com (click on the OmniCenter link).
With a season pass for open skate worth $30, skaters younger than 18 can buy 25 cent soft drinks at the concession stand.
Pro shop
Through Clafton Skate’s on-site Pro Shop, skaters can rent skates, get skates sharpened or fulfill other equipment needs. Hours vary on nights and weekends.
