http://www.jif.com/promotions/most-creative-peanut-butter

Figure skating is a sport that is largely unrecognized unless the Olympics are occurring, but members of the skating community are trying to change that. National Skating Month, held during January of each year, should have a profound effect on the visibility of figure skating in 2012. The U.S. Figure Skating Association created the month-long celebration as an opportunity for local skating clubs, associations, and rinks to promote the exciting world of figure skating.

The event began in 2002 and has continued to grow and evolve each year since that time. The U.S. Figure Skating Association encouraged local organizations and groups to organize activities during National Skating Month so that members of the community can come see what figure skating is all about. Examples of activities included free skating lessons and skating games at rinks throughout the country. They also encouraged individual and local organizations to get the media involved in the celebration, which lead to increased coverage of the month long celebration.

Here locally in Memphis, there are plenty of opportunities to take up figure skating. The Figure Skating Club of Memphis offered great deals, games and lessons throughout January, helping to build local interest in the sport. Local clubs and rinks offer an alternative to a lazy afternoon in Memphis apartments and homes, instead promoting staying active through the fun of figure skating.

The idea has already had an impact on the amount of people interested in taking up figure skating, or learning how to ice skate in general. Skating rinks have certainly seen large amounts of people coming through their doors and being interested in learning how to skate. Individual organizations have also seen a small rise in the number of people interested in joining their groups, which means more long term viability and events for programs

Overall, National Skating Month was a great success in 2012 and hopefully into the future. More people being involved means higher revenues for skating rinks, more competitions within the community, and a greater interest from the population in being a spectator of the sport. The success of 2012 will hopefully continue to build the effect and visibility of National Skating Month in the coming years.

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Emma Crawford is a recent graduate from Murray State University with a degree in Creative Writing.  Thank you, Emma, for your contribution!

• Free Introductory Lessons taught by Trained Professionals
• Games, like Hokey Pokey and Limbo Rock
• Exhbitions from some Figure Skating Club of Memphis Skaters
• Giveaways, including Car Decals, Gloves and SKATING Magazines
• Information about our Skating School

Public Session $8.50 | Skate Rental $2.50

For more information, contact Jeremy or Tifanny Lehmann at (901) 652-2147.  They are also able to create a 14-page personalized photo book of the event for $50.  An example is available here.

Vote here: http://www.jif.com/promotions/most-creative-peanut-butter

Register for our classes online or at the rink and receive the Early Bird Special!  All students registering by January 8th will receive (4) Public Skating passes, not including skate rental, to use during any Public Skating session, expiring at the end of the class, in addition to:

• 8-weekly 30 minute group lessons (Home School lessons on designated public session)
• 8-weekly 30 minute practice sessions on Saturday 11:15-11:45.  Currently, Tuesday classes receive 4 public admission passes in lieu of practice ice after class, due to schedule conflicts.
• Class and Basic Skills practice session skate rental
• US Figure Skating Basic Skills membership and year badges
• Basic Skills record book with stickers to track progress
• Badge for each level passed during the 8-week session
• Sports accident insurance
• Subscription for the Basic Skills Edition of SKATING Magazine
• Certificate of Participation, chance to compete and be in ice shows

Basic Skills
Tuesday Night – 6:00 to 6:30 PM – Begins January 10
Thursday Home School – 2:00 to 2:30 PM – Begins January 12
Saturday Morning – 10:15 to 10:45 AM – Begins January 14

Skate Academy
Monday – Off Ice Jump Technique – 6:15 to 6:45 PM – Begins January 9
Saturday – Moves in the Field | Intro to Edges – 10:45 to 11:15 AM – Begins January 14