Minnesota Ice

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Photo: Image by Ruth Eastman, The Skating Girl,
1916. Courtesy of Eugene and Marilyn DiMartino

In a state of 10,000 lakes, with winter temperatures that can easily dip into the minuses, it’s no wonder Minnesotans love to skate. Wonders on Ice: Figure Skating in Minnesota, by St. Paul writer Moira F. Harris, sends you spinning through Minnesota’s skating past with fascinating stories, colorful pictures and illustrations by champion ice skater Vivi-Ann Hultén.

For 150 years, Minnesotans have been fascinated with the simple grace of “dancing†on ice. This book chronicles stories of the great skaters of our state and famous ice shows with Minnesota ties, such as the Ice Follies, Holiday on Ice and Tom Collins’ Champions on Ice.

Wonders on Ice brings you to the days of racing to the local rink, lacing up leather skates, and tracing figure eights in the blade-etched ice. Full of memories as rich and warm as a steaming mug of hot chocolate, it’s a delightful winter read for the whole family.

Wonders on Ice is available at local and national bookstores and from Finney Company. To order or for more information, call (800) 846-7027, or visit www.pogopress.com or www.finneyco.com.


Keeping Score

A few fun facts about the U.S. Figure Skating Championships

1

Venue will host the 2008 events: Xcel Energy Center

3
Number of times Minnetonka native Jill Trenary was a National Champion (1987, 1989, 1990)

6

Number of times the Twin Cities has hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1939, 1944, 1958, 1973, 1991, and 2008)

17
Age of reigning men’s junior champion and St. Paul native, Eliot Halverson

20
Number of U.S. Figure Skating Clubs in the Twin Cities metro area

100
Pairs of donated skates to be refurbished by and donated to United Way by Riedell Skate Co. of Red Wing.

800
Volunteers signed up to assist with the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

7,000
Hotel room nights reserved over the week for the event

8,500
Registered U.S. Figure Skating members in Minnesota

125,000
Number of spectators expected to attend the 2008 U.S. Championships

$25-30 million
Estimate of dollars to be generated by visitors


Wells Fargo Learn To Skate

U.S. Figure Skating Learn-to-Skate opportunities for all ages, free and open to the public

There will be six free Wells Fargo “Learn-to-Skate†sessions conducted by local figure skating coaches on the following Saturdays from 10 a.m. – noon at the Wells Fargo WinterSkate Rink in downtown St. Paul: Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and Jan. 5.

There will also be two “Learn-to-Skate†sessions conducted by U.S. Figure Skating the week of competition:
Monday, Jan. 21 (2 p.m. – 4 p.m.)
Sunday, Jan. 27 (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Both sessions will take place at the Wells Fargo WinterSkate Rink at Landmark Plaza in downtown St. Paul.

Located in the heart of the city, the Wells Fargo WinterSkate is a free, artificially-chilled ice skating rink. St. Paul’s historic Landmark Center serves as a beautiful backdrop for this outdoor rink, providing a unique urban skating experience for all to enjoy. 

Location: Landmark Plaza, adjacent to Rice Park in downtown St. Paul at the corner of West Fifth and Market streets.
Dates: Open through February 3, 2008
Cost: FREE
Skate Rental: Skate rental is $2 per person. Receive free skate rental for you and your family by showing your Wells Fargo check card or credit card. Figure skates and hockey skates are available in adult and children’s sizes.
On-Site Amenities: Warming house, hot chocolate, snacks, and community hearth area.

For More Information:
Call the Wells Fargo WinterSkate and Rice Park Winter Wonderland hotline at 651-291-5608, or visit www.capitalcitypartnership.com/events/winterskate.


See & Do

Landmark Center

75 West Fifth Street
St. Paul, MN 55102
landmarkcenter.org
651.292.3225

Landmark Center is the 100-year-old restored Old Federal Courts Building. Site of the infamous “Gangster Trials,†it now houses public arts events, tours, five museums and non-profit organizations. Four beautiful courtrooms and a breathtaking atrium are open for viewing.  Weekday restaurant and gift shop on-site. Ice rink open. Monday – Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m; Thursday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon – 5 p.m. Free tours Thursday 11 a.m. and Sunday, noon.

 
Roseville Skating Center/Roseville Figure Skating Club
2661 Civic Center Dr.
Roseville, MN 55113
www.rosevillefsc.org
www.cityofroseville.com
651.792.7007
 
Roseville Skating Center has it all: ISI skating classes for those starting out, an USFS figure skating club for those wanting to test and compete in USFS competitions and coaches for year round private lessons at all levels and spring ice show.  Offered at the oval: hockey, bandy, speed skating and public skating.


Did You Know?

The National Sports Survey II, the largest sports and lifestyles study ever conducted in the U.S., ranks ladies figure skating as the second most popular sport in America behind NFL football.