WPCNR RINK SIDE. By Edges Bailey. October 23, 2007: The Ebersole Rink opened in White Plains for the season Tuesday evening with the first skate of the White Plains Figure Skating Club. Thirteen advanced skaters of the 32 member club, an organization of serious skaters ranging in age from girls of 11 to a gentleman in his 70s, took the ice in 72 degree weather at good Ol’ Ebersole. 

Ebersole Skating School Director, Kirsten Fuerst announced that Friday, the 26 will start the first regular day of Figure Skating Classes.  

Back on the Ice Again: White Plains Angels of the Ice on the Great White Stage of Ebersole Rink Tuesday Night.

Ice Angel Jen Bisignano – glad to be back on the ice again – spinning like a spinning top.  Ms. Bisignano had a great first night –  with a great start! She landed her Double Lutz jump for the first time – with a smile you had to see!

Hollahan arranges test sessions, books judges,  negotiates contracts with the rink.  Her dedicated efforts have helped the build the club into a tradition. She said she was pleased with the thirteen skaters showing up for the very first session and said all could not wait to get back on the ice again.

The Figure Skating Club this year has 32 members, up from last year’s 25, Hollahan reports. Membership in the club is $405, made up of $30 Club Dues, $35 dues to United States Figure Skating, plus $350 for the ice on Tuesdays for the entire skating year.  The $350 for ice works out to about $15 for each 1 hour and 45 minutes of uncrowded ice time. One hour of ice on a jam-packed comparable rink costs $20, so skating moms and dads know their daughters are getting a great ice buy and a great experience their daughters will treasure always with the White Plains Figure Skating Club.

Membership entitles club skaters to the privilege of skating in the three White Plains Figure Skating USFS Test Sessions for a Test Fee,  in which United States Figure Skating Official judges evaluate skating skills  as the skaters advance through the skill levels set by the USFS. This year Hollahan has scheduled test sessions for December 5 , February 26 and March 26.

Last year, Hollahan said the club conducted 60 Tests and said 95% of skaters passed the sessions, attesting to the quality of the instruction at Ebersole Rink  and dedication of the Club skaters.

In addition to Test Session eligibility, membership in the WPFSC entitles members to participate in United States Figure Skating competitions around the country under the auspices of the club.

At the Club's Tuesday evening "Elite Ice," members can schedule lessons with Ebersole Figure Skating Instructors. Here Skating School Director Kristen Fuerst (right) conducts a lesson Tuesday night with a Club member.

Serious Ice: The Club Session provides plenty of wide open “elite” ice to practice skating programs to skaters’ custom-cut music, and perform and practice the axels, spins and jumps of  the figure skater’s trade where moves can be staged at top speed in uncrowded ice conditions. It's serious ice. Skaters said the ice was beautifully laid down and supportive with good bite, despite the warm weather, saluting the extra effort put in by the Ebersole Zamboni Ice Technician.

The club makes sense for serious skaters  who have passed the Freestyle 1 level. It provides a courteous, friendly atmosphere where skaters respect each other’s ice space and look out for each other, making friends for life. The Club skaters get valuable solo performance opportunities in the Holiday and the End of Year traditional Ebersole ice shows, and get their performances showcased to the world on The CitizeNetReporter.

Kristen Fuerst, Ebersole Skating School Director for over a decade, said that there is still time to sign up your  young skaters for all the skating class Group Lessons. Eight-Week sessions are offered from Tots 1 (ages 4 to 6) to Advanced Figure Skating (Beta Level and above. Cost is $95 for White Plains residents per 8 week session and $150 for a non-resident per 8-week session. Skating levels are sequential of course. For more information on what skating class is best for your children,  contact Ms. Fuerst at Ebersole Rink 948-6696.

For information joining the White Plains Figure Skating Club, contact the Club at  761-6259.

Public Ice Skating Sessions begin  today at 10 A.M. to 2; Thursday, 10 A.M. to 2 and 3 to 5 PM; Fridays, 10 A.M. to 2, 3 PM to 4:45 PM, and 8 PM to 10 PM (the closest thing to a teen center White Plains has when a hundred teens take to the ice),  Saturdays, 12 Noon to 4 PM and Sunday, 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. Sunday mornings from 10:20 A.M. to 11:45 PM is for adult skaters.

The Group Lesson Schedule of the Ebersole Figure Skating School