Congratulations to the Great Skate Artistic Skate Club!

Sixteen members of the Great Skate Artistic Skate Club participated in the Halloween Invitational Meet in Union, MO on October 26 and 27, 2013.  Ten of them brought home a total of 19 medals.  Categories in which the club participated are: Figure 8’s, Solo Dance, Free Skating and Beginner Stroking.  There are multiple levels of competition based on age and skill.   

 

• Kaitlin DeAngelo won 2 medals:  1^st and 3^rd in Figure 8’s
• Sara Bass won 4 medals: 1^st and 3^rd in Figure 8’s, 2^nd and 3^rd in Solo Dance
• Haley Bravsar won 3 medals: 2^nd and 3^rd in Figure 8’s, 2^nd in Solo Dance
• Chavi Khanna won 2 medals: 2^nd in Figure 8’s, 1^st in Solo Dance
• Kendra Braucksick won 1 medal:  3^rd in Figure 8’s
• Kaley Fletcher won 1 medal: 1^st in Figure 8’s
• Caleb Bass won 2 medals: 3^rd in Figure 8’s and 2^nd in Free Skating
• Jade Fletcher won 1 medal: 2^nd in Beginner Stroking
• Sarah Stewart won 2 medals: 1^st in Beginner Stroking and 2^nd in Solo Dance
• Abigail Corns won 1 medal: 1^st in Solo Dance 

 The Great Skate Artistic Skate Club is for all skaters who love to skate: beginners through advanced skaters.  All ages and skill levels are welcome to join the club.  We have approximately 30 members at this time.  Participation in competitions is determined by the skater and Coach.  Some club members choose not to compete, however they continue to improve their skill and enjoy the additional skate time that club members enjoy.


Great Skate Artistic Club dues are $35.00 a month.  Dues entitle members to all free practices and free roller skating sessions, with the exception of HOLIDAY or SPECIAL sessions. 

For more information, contact National Skating Champion and Head Coach: Bernie Gilliam at 636-441-2530

Does Roller Skating Count?

Did you know that Roller Skating is recognized and recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) as an aerobic fitness sport? Studies have shown that roller skating provides a complete aerobic workout and involves all of the body's muscles, especially the heart.

Oh! That's good news. Right? So, if I go hang out at Great Skate for two hours of fun, I'm getting a workout? Well....maybe. The number of calories burned per hour while skating at 6mph is 350, or 600 if skating 10mph. Cool! That burns off the pizza and soda I had at the concession just before skating. So, I have another hour of my 2-hour skate session left to do some real good.

Even if I don't skate continually during the next hour, I can skate an average of 30 minutes and get some heart-healthy action. I could expend about 285 calories and get my heart rate up to 148 beats. That is very good for the heart.

Skate Inquiry:

If you roller skated one day, bicycled another and swam or ran on another. You will be:

A) Passed out on the couch, not able to move

B) Feeling great having gotten all the benefits of aerobics

C) I'd never do all that

Although Great Skate has been in our community a little over twenty years, the story of roller skating dates back much, much further.  Where does roller skating come from?  There is some confusion and disputing stories behind skating, however the video "The History of Skating - Part 1" http://youtu.be/AKsR3ngpvEE provides a great introduction to roller skating history.
No matter how it started though, it's definitely not the "same ol' skates".  Going from metal wheels to plastic to rubber coated, adding ball bearings, changing the skate surface and line of wheels has had dramatic impact on the skates and agility of skaters.
Although skating started as a mode of transportation, a faster method to get from here to there, it is now a recreation sport.  Competitive sports such as:  Speed Skating, Roller Derby, Roller Hockey, Roller Dance or Artistic Skating, etc. have added a new dimension to skating.  It's the thrill of speed, agility or grace while gliding along on wheels; a sense of flying.
What is your history with roller skating?  What's the attraction?