When you think of winter sports in Berkeley, figure skating might not be the first sport to come to mind. For many years Berkeley Iceland was the hub of ice skating in Berkeley. Since Berkeley Iceland closed in 2007, the closest rink is now Oakland Ice Center. The accumulation of skaters at Oakland leaves people vying for time on the ice, which can often be expensive. This includes various ice hockey teams, University of California Berkeley’s skating team and individual figure skaters.
Lucy Wilmore, a senior at Berkeley High School, has been skating for two years. Wilmore said a major challenge to figure skating can be the cost. She additionally mentioned that making the trek to Oakland Ice Center can add a challenge to her regular practice routine. “It’s still kind of a ways to travel, especially if you can’t drive. It’s a lot of BART and public transportation,” Wilmore said.
Saya Sano-McDermott, a BHS freshman, has been figure skating for four years. What Sano-McDermott likes most about figure skating is that it can be an individual and group sport. She explained that, “When you’re on a team, you have to depend on other people too. But in figure skating, you only depend on yourself.” There is a select group of people who participate in the solo physical endeavor, one that is heavy on both self discipline and mental difficulty.
Aspiring skaters hone their skills through hard work and the help of experienced coaches. There is strong skating expertise and networks of coaches to help young dedicated skaters to improve and be successful. Amalia Walsh, a BHS sophomore, is a newer figure skater who spoke about the ease of finding reliable instruction in the area. “There’s a lot of coaches. I’ve definitely improved a lot in the short time that I’ve done (figure skating),” Walsh said.
There have been a fair amount of successful ice skaters within the Bay Area, including Mia Kalin, a figure skater from Oakland on the U.S. National Team, and Alysa Liu, the youngest Women’s National Champion who started her skating career at Oakland Ice Center.
Ice skating can be more challenging for skaters in Berkeley because of the lack of available ice rinks. It remains a niche sport, with a smaller, specialized group of people putting time and effort into the activity. It is a special sport and for athletes like Walsh, skating remains a thrilling and artful experience. “I like that you feel like you’re flying. That’s my favorite, that you can go really fast and it feels like you’re floating,” Walsh said.