Northfield Skating School

Collaboration With:

Fun as it is, skating contributes directly to improving the most sought-after exercise goals: improved aerobic fitness, strength, endurance, and body fat reduction. Adults of all skating abilities are invited to join the Northfield Skating School and Northfield YMCA’s new Skating Lap Fitness collaboration beginning October 21st. The program will be held Tuesdays over lunch hour (11-11:45 ice time with coffee available until 12:15) Beginners are welcome! Professional instruction with coach Melanie will be followed by lap skating towards personal goals and incentives.Try something new! Bring a friend for fun and fitness! REGISTER BY OCT 16 for SESSION 1 CLASSES

View our flyer and sign up now at:
Northfield Area YMCA or: NSS Classes & Events Page

The following appeared on Northfield.org on 9/27:

On Sunday, Carey Tinkelenberg, Founder & Executive Director of the Northfield Skating School, will give a presentation on behalf of US Figure Skating at the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) national seminar in Bloomington, MN. Tinkelenberg was selected as one of ten skating directors nationwide to represent figure skating’s governing body. Others presenting include B. L. Wylie, mother of 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist Paul Wylie, and Jill Hare, US Figure Skating Basic Skills Program Manager.

Tinkelenberg’s presentation, entitled “Growing Skating,” will address the strengths and concerns facing the sport as well as marketing and collaboration tips for directors nationwide. Her experiences in Northfield will guide much of the content.

Join us for our second annual Open House!

Where: Northfield Armory, 519 Division St. S

When: Tuesday 9/23, 5:30 - 7:30 pm

This is a great chance to browse new information and chat with staff members about this season’s events. The Open House features a photo slide show, skating DVDs, and many handouts including a calendar of events and new info about our new 2008-09 staff and classes. If you haven’t yet had a chance to register, you can also save a stamp and register on Tuesday.

Join us as we kick of our season! Feel free to bring friends and neighbors. We hope to see you there.

Last Saturday morning, skaters from the Northfield Skating School and dancers from the Northfield Dance Academy teamed up to dance in the Defeat of Jesse James Days Kiddie Parade that travelled down Division Street. Led by Kristin Lauenstein, Owner/Director of Northfield Dance Academy, the group, which ranged in age from 2 - adult, danced to “Cotton Eyed Joe” for the crowd. Thanks, Kristin and NDA, for collaborating! We look forward to next year’s parade.

Ballet for Ice Skaters

Thursday evenings, July 17-Aug 14 (no classes week of July 28)

Ages 7-11: 6:30-7:30pm
Ages 12 and up: 7:30-8:30pm

Skaters, Why Should You Dance?

• Improve your strength, flexibility, grace, and style at ANY level
• Enhance your on-ice skills for faster skill-learning and improved technique and form
• Maintain the most important components of your skating skills during the season AND off-season

Why Should You Take This Dance Class?

• It was specifically designed to fit your background and skills
• NSS and NDA have similar goals: building skills, confidence, and life values to benefit you in and out of class
• Take advantage of two great local programs teaming up! Collaboration among programs means communication about your progress that can help us teach you even more effectively

Click Here for more information and registration materials

On April 12th 2008, the Northfield Skating School joined the Northfield Area YMCA and dozens of other community organizations for Healthy Kids Day at the Northfield Middle School. Healthy Kids Day is an annual event with over 1/2 a million partipants nationwide. To quote the Northfield Area YMCA, “It’s a free, fun-filled morning of interactive games, family activity, health give-aways and more…The Y is helping families play more and embrace healthy new life choices. ”

NSS Assistant Directors Liz Bonaiwtz and Kittel Evenson set up a booth of skating information and activities including photos, video demonstrations, handbooks, and a skating trivia challenge for prizes. We hope you were able to attend!

Photo: Assistant Director Liz Bonawitz at the NSS booth

On April 6, 2008, US Figure Skating held the first ever National Director’s Meeting in Scottsdale, AZ. The full-day meeting was open to Skating Directors nationwide and included presentations from arena managers, psychologists, accountants, artistry specialists, US Figure Skating and Professional Skaters Association leaders. Also on the agenda were NSS’s very own Director and Webmaster sharing a presentation entitled, “Using Modern Technology to Enhance Your Program.” Our presentation was intended to show other directors the features of this website and explain how they can create similar sites with limited computer backgrounds. We were pleased with the presentation, and so was Susi Wehrli, Director of Membership at US Figure Skating Headquarters - she invited us to fly to Chicago next month to make the same presentation at the National Association of Rinks Conference and Expo (NARCE)! We look forward to going on the road again in May.

Photos, L to R: Carey with Nancy Schricker, the Director of Basic Skills at thColonial Figure Skating Club where Carey grew up skating; Gene and Carey speak about the website; NSS Directors stand with other presenters (Back, L to R: Jill Hare, Director of Basic Skills Programs at US Figure Skating; Gene Uenishi, NSS Webmaster. Front: L to R: Susi Wehrli, US Figure Skating Membership Director; Paula Wagener, Master Rated choreographer and former Basic Skills Director; Maureen Dalton, US Figure Skating Accountant; Angie Rivielo, Professional Skaters Association Ratings Chair; Liz Bonawitz, NSS Assistant Director; Carey Tinkelenberg, NSS Director; Kittel Evenson, NSS Assistant Director.

All 3 Northfield Skating School competitors skated their way to triumphant second place finishes in their respective divisions at the Farmington Spring Festival this past Saturday 4/5. Anna Sheehan skated with a confident smile and steady determination, Hattie Ryan with her “sassy” choreography and strong landings, and Sofie Jokela with flowing grace and strength.

Congratulations, competitors, for accomplishing your goals and delivering wonderful performances on your first competition day. We are proud of you!

Below, L to R: Anna warms up outside with coach Carey Tinkelenberg; Anna, Sofie, and Hattie show off their strength; Proud coaches Carey and Melanie after Anna’s performance.

On Saturday, April 5th, three Northfield figure skaters will represent NSS in their first skating competition, the Farmington Spring Festival. The competition will take place at the Schmitz-Maki Arena, 114 West Spruce St in Farmington, and will include skaters from clubs all over Minnesota. Fans and spectators are welcome.

The skaters participating are Sofie Jokela, a Junior at NHS skating to a piece by Rodruigo; Hattie Ryan, also a Junior at NHS skating to a Santana medley; and Anna Sheehan, a 7th grader at Northfield Middle School skating to a song by Angels and Airwaves. Sofie and Hattie have been skating since 2006 and Anna has been skating since the Northfield Skating School was established in 2005. All of them also volunteer as Skating Assistants with the Northfield Skating School.

All three competitors began skating in group lessons with the Northfield Skating School. Over the past year they have trained privately by Carey Tinkelenberg, Founder and Head Coach of the Northfield Skating School, to work on polishing performance pieces and preparing mentally for competition. During the off-season when the Northfield Arena closes down, the group has travelled to Farmington, Lakeville, Prior Lake, and Edina to find ice time.
These are the first advanced skaters trained exclusively with the Northfield program, and the passion and dedication they have shown has been extremely impressive (as their coach, I can attest!) It’s a great accomplishment for them to have reached a level where they can perform in front of an audience and have a chance to win medals. Best of luck to Anna, Hattie, and Sofie on Saturday.

Photo L to R: Anna Sheehan, Hattie Ryan, Carey Tinkelenberg, Sofie Jokela

Sunday, March 9th marked the second Northfield Skating School Bring-A-Friend event of the 2007-08 season. Bring-a-Friend day takes place during the final lesson of every session and gives our skaters a chance to share their lesson with their buddies and help them learn new skills and games. Over 70 friends, moms, dads, uncles, aunts, neighbors, brothers, and sisters joined us for the event - our biggest one yet! In addition to regular classes and practice time, the event wrapped up with a set of group games and a display of skills by Northfield Skating School coaches and the director.

For more photos, see our photo page

Skaters, please feel free to share this link with your friends! If you came to Bring-A-Friend Day and would like more information or registration materials, please contact us and we’ll add you to our email list.