The popular ITV show, Dancing on Ice has left many youngsters inspired. East Yorkshire is in the grip of this favourite show and many young people are taking on this new sport with great enthusiasm and inspiration. Youngsters are now increasingly taking to the rink.
Hull Arena in East Yorkshire has an Olympic-styled ice rink and of late, a large number of enthusiastic ice skaters are seen on the ice since the show started on January 11. With the first term holidays soon to start, youngsters are encouraged to sign up for a course at the Ice Skating Academy for coaching lessons.
Young children like Olivia Powdrell aged five have enrolled for classes here at the arena, after she was inspired watching Dancing on ice on the television. Jack Cressey another enthusiastic youngster all of eight, from Hedon is also into skating on ice ever since Christmas break. Both feel that though everything appears so easy on television, it is difficult on the skating rink.
This is the third year since the academy started and its courses have been oversubscribed. Steve Yorsten, the assistant manager of the Hull Arena skating rink says the academy teaches children to learn the basics of ice-skating within a short frame of time. He claims the coaches are all professionals who do a wonderful job and the children truly enjoy themselves skating and it helps them keep active and fit. The top coaches at the academy would be ex-show skater Adrian Jack, a star performer in Disney on ice, Peter Johnson an ice hockey coach, Vikki Wilson an international ice skater. Every participant would receive a certificate.