VIDEO: Big Ice Rink Lures the Smallest Skaters
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Katie McDonnell is a vision in pink as she steps slowly through a doorway and onto the ice at the Ashburn Ice House.
She's wearing a pink sweater and pink pants with matching pink headgear. Her mother, Sandy, watches as her little girl heads toward her classmates and her coach.
Katie holds her arms away from her sides like a tightrope walker as she moves ever so slowly across the ice.
Video: Learning to Skate
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Then, there's Debbie; barely 5 years old with two lessons under her belt. Her classmates on this day are ages 4 and 5.
The huge National Hockey League-sized rink allows several classes to meet at the same time.
"Everybody, everybody, quick, quick, quick," said instructor Valeriy Spiridonov as he beckoned his students to join him.
Photo Gallery
An Afternoon at the Ashburn Ice House
Skating instructor Brittney Lusk hurries over to pick up one of her pupils at the Ashburn Ice House. (Bill Snead)
Sometimes skates seem to have a mind of their own when it comes to directions. Gabriela Gomez, 6, tries to gain control under the eye of her instructor, Brittany Lusk. (Bill Snead)
Skating instructor Brittney Lusk gives a ride to one of her students who took a "soft" fall on the ice. (Bill Snead)
Young skating students hang onto the the wall while they listen to their instructor, Valeriy Spiridonov. (Bill Snead)
Marissa Sarakasetrin goes over her individual charts while testing her students to see what they've learned in her class. (Bill Snead)
Young skaters carry on an animated conversation before class at the Ashburn Ice House. (Bill Snead)
Younger ice skating students often need a friend or family member to help with the skates. (Bill Snead)
Mia Park talks with her friends and her mother while she changes into street shoes. (Bill Snead)
Mia Park, 8, has been skating less than one year. Here, she hangs onto the wall while she takes a break from trips around the rink. (Bill Snead)
It's not unusual for a young hockey player to need a little help now and then. (Bill Snead)
Pedro Gomez, center, helps his daughter, Gabriela, with her skates after her lesson. (Bill Snead)
Gabriela Gomez, of Ashburn, sails slowly across the rink during her skating lesson. (Bill Snead)
Valeriy Spiridonov gives his students instructions at the Ashburn Ice House. (Bill Snead)
Skating instructor Chesney Oravec, a senior at Stone Bridge High School, talks with her students at the beginning of their class at the Ashburn Ice House. (Bill Snead)
Skating instructor Chesney Oravec shows one of her students a move. Oravec is a student at Stone Bridge High School. (Bill Snead)
Mothers and children congregate at one of the large benches at the Ashburn Ice House. (Bill Snead)
Decked out in a pink helmet, Katie McDonnell, 5, waits for the next skating drill. (Bill Snead)
Sandy McDonnell helps her daughter, Katie, 5, prepare for the trip home after her skating lesson. (Bill Snead)
Cherri Chen, 5, heads out onto the rink at the Ashburn Ice House to join other skaters for a Saturday morning lesson. (Bill Snead)
Tired of skating in a straight line, she decided to practice her 360-degree twirls. (Bill Snead)
She stood out in her bright red dress, elbow pads, knee pads and extra-long sleeves to protect her hands in case of a fall. (Bill Snead)
Determined, she got back up and continued skating. If determination and spunk determined the day's grade, she deserved an 'A.' (Bill Snead)
Chesney Oravek, a senior at Stone Bridge High School, has been teaching at the Ice House for two years. It's where she learned to skate at age 7.
"I'm just using what I've learned to help young children because skating is what I love doing," she said, hugging one of her students.
Today at age 19, Oravek practices before and after school in hopes of becoming a professional skater.
While the rink is alive with small skaters, the lobby is busy with adults and their children. They're getting out of their sneakers and into gloves and skates, which is no simple matter.
Jai Park, of Leesburg, is helping her 7-year-old daughter, Mia, change into outdoor gear.
"Mia has been skating for about five months and she loves it, " Jai said. "She's done lots of other sports but has really taken to skating."
An enthusiastic Mia proceeded to explain how to play "red light, green light" on skates.
Bill Snead can be contacted at sneadb@washpost.com
Tagged: Ashburn Ice House, ice skating, kids
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