The figure-skating club is non-competitive and aims to promote a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for skaters at all levels of experience (courtesy of the figure-skating club).
While there are many club sports at Geneseo, there are not many quite as unique as Figure Skating Club—a small club sport that highlights ice skating.
Figure Skating Club president senior Sydney Julien joined the club her freshman year and had prior figure skating experience at a competitive level.
The club is open to any student who is interested in learning how to ice skate, and Julien said that she encourages all levels to try it out.
“You don’t have to be good at it or really know how to skate. If you want to just come and skate around that’s fine,” Julien said. “A lot of us are willing to help if you have questions about different skating related things.”
The club also does not have to be a huge time commitment if students are busy, according to Julien.
“We’re pretty informal. You don’t have to come to everything,” Julien said. “I think that’s the beauty of it. You can make it what you want.”
Julien explained that during her time at Geneseo, the club has shifted focus away from a competitive lens to a more relaxed mindset.
“It’s a pretty friendly atmosphere,” Julien said. “A lot of time we’re out there having fun and just trying to still have fun on the ice. For those who grew up skating, if it’s still a part of your life, even if it’s not in your life in the same way, you still want it there. It’s nice to go have fun with your friend and kind of goof off on the ice.”
In addition to skating with one another, the members of the club also volunteer teaching kids how to ice skate, according to Julien.
“We do a lot of work with the local community,” Julien said. “Every Saturday, a bunch of us help out at the skating club in the Finger Lakes.”
Figure Skating Club provides members with access to skates, but Julien recommends that people have their own skates.
“We do have a cabinet full of old skates that no one uses that people can borrow,” Julien said. “Usually at the sessions, there’s at least one e-board member, and every e-board member has the combo to get into the cabinet so people can borrow skates.”
Julien said that while ice skating may be a lot of hard work, anyone could learn to skate if they try their hardest.
“I am a klutz. I am kind of a mess most of the time, but I still managed to learn and how to skate and be at least somewhat graceful on the ice,” Julien said. “It’s a lot of dedication if you really want to get good at it but it’s so worth it because it’s a really rewarding thing. And falling doesn’t really hurt that much.”
Figure Skating Club meets in the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena on Thursdays at 2 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m.