Keene Figure Skating Club Glides and Spins through 11th Season at Keene Ice

When the 2026 Winter Olympics are held in February in Milano Cortina, Italy, millions of U.S. viewers will be mesmerized by the impressive gravity-defying talents of the figure skaters. In fact, a 2021 survey identified figure skating as the most-followed Winter Olympic sport among Americans. Keene Ice Arena Manager and Skating Director Beth Jasinski said the sport seems to see an uptick in interest and registrations following each Winter Olympics and she expects 2026 to follow suit. Keene Ice has been home to the Keene Figure Skating Club for 11 seasons now, having relocated from the Cheshire Fairgrounds in 2015 where it was previously called the Cheshire Figure Skating Club. The club is open to ages four through adults and involvement generally starts for youth with a "Learn to Skate" class for ages four to eight, she said. After that, around age eight, club members move into a small figure skating class and then Aspire-level classes to build on their skills. Open to both girls and boys, the competitive and recreational club members number 42 this season, she said, adding that they are always in need of more boys for pairs skating. Most members take private lessons from one of the 10-plus certified coaches at the arena, and there can often be skaters of multiple skill levels found practicing on the ice at the same time. Competitions are sanctioned through U.S. Figure Skating, the national governing body for the sport. While competitions are held year-round, Keene Ice is open seasonally, and many skaters travel to Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass., or Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Mass., to keep up their practice schedules. The Excel National Festival is held annually in February or March and is a qualifier for the national championships in July. Current Keene Figure Skating Club member Brynn Ballou placed in the Top 10 at nationals in 2024. Keene Ice will host a small competition event on Saturday, Dec. 13, starting at 4:15 p.m., welcoming competitors from Plymouth, North Adams, Mass., and Deerfield, Mass. Spectator entry is free, Jasinski said, and it's a great opportunity for the public to watch these local skaters and for parents of children who may be interested in joining the next session of classes in early January to learn more about the sport. Jasinski has been coaching skaters for 30 years and says although the club had seen a drop-off in interest that was somewhat due to COVID, it is now growing once again. Most of the skaters are in the 10-to-12-year-old age range and seem to be committed to it, which bodes well for their continued involvement through high school. It's a very inclusive and supportive sport, she said, with members participating from towns all over the region. Relative to other sports, the initial equipment cost for parents isn't extremely high, and she recommends starting with the "Learn to Skate" class to gauge their interest, which costs $129 for the six-week session. "It builds a sense of not giving up and a work ethic," Jasinski explained of the sport's benefits to young skaters. "It's difficult; you're gliding and doing tricks on a quarter-inch blade. You need to not give up and push through it. It's a life skill to learn, 'If I apply myself, I'll see results.'" For more information about the Keene Figure Skating Club, visit keeneice.com/keene-figure-skating-club or call 603-499-8873. Follow the club on Facebook @kfsciceisnice and Instagram @keenefigureskating