Our arena may be closed until September, but skating is still a year-round sport! Here are some fun opportunities to improve your skills before next season:
Private Lessons and Practice Time at other local arenas with NSS coaches – Contact Carey for details
Summer Skating Camps are available to skaters of all levels. Carey is also a guest coach at both arenas below.
Shattuck St. Mary Day Camp, Aug 10-12. Registration materials available here. Early bird registration before June 1.
St. Paul Figure Skating Club’s Reach for the Stars Basic Skills Camp, July 20-23. Registration materials here.
Dance Classes are a great way to boost your strength and posture on the ice. Northfield Dance Academy welcomes skaters and offers camps and classes for all ages and stages of dance experience. Link to NDA for schedule and registration info.
For the second year in a row, Northfield Skating School students took the podium at the Farmington Spring Festival, an annual competition featuring skaters from the southern MN region. The event took place on Saturday March 28.
Anna Sheehan, an eighth grader at ArtTech, won second place with her Indian-style routine, and Elizabeth Penny, a sixth grader at St. Dominic Elementary School, earned first place skating to music from Harry Potter. Both young ladies take private lessons with Carey Tinkelenberg, Owner/Director of the Northfield Skating School.
For more photos of the event, see our photos page
This year we have seven graduating seniors on our staff! This is a particularly special group since it is the final group of instructors who have been with NSS since I founded the program in 2005.
During their time with NSS, all of these coaches have grown tremendously and impacted the lives of hundreds of skaters. They have made huge contributions to our program as leaders, team members, and role models for our athletes. Congrats, seniors, we wish you luck and will miss you dearly!
L to R:
Amelia Shuster – St. Olaf College. Amelia has worked as a Skating Assistant and Skating Instructor with NSS for 2 years. She is organized, dedicated, and has a unique gift for connecting with and inspiring children. Amelia will pursue her interests in audiology and/or accounting.
Gao Yang – Carleton College Gao was on the founding staff of NSS. Her deep committment to our sport and her high level of skating skill have helped her impact many skaters of all levels, including beginners through advanced skaters and adults. Gao will be living in the twin cities next year and we hope to see her around at NSS!
Gene Uenishi – Carleton College Our first male coach, both hockey player and skater, Gene has worked with NSS for two years as a Skating Instructor and Webmaster. Gene has dedicated many hours of his own time to transforming the website into one of our main tools for communication and registration. He has also presented with Carey at national skating conferences. Gene hopes to join the Peace Corps and then attend graduate school.
Kat Zerebiec – Carleton College Kat has coached with the NSS staff for 3 years. During that time she has taught private and group lessons and provided great individual attention to skaters during lessons and practice. Kat’s enthusiasm and positivity have inspired skaters of all ages to have fun while learning skills.
Liz Bonawitz – Carleton College Liz, also on our founding staff, has been both a Skating Instructor and Assistant Director with NSS. Liz was hired as our first Assistant Director three years ago and has been on the front lines of much of the growth and development of NSS. Liz plans to teach social studies in the twin cities next year and will continue some work with NSS.
Not pictured:
Sofie Jokela – Northfield HS Sofie began skating with NSS and soon took on a staff role as a Skating Assistant. She has been coaches privately by Carey and earned 2nd place at the Farmington Spring Festival last year. Sofie will spend a year in Germany with Rotary before attending Beloit College.
Hattie Ryan – Northfield HS Hattie also started skating with NSS and has worked as a Skating Assistant with our younger skaters. She earned second place at the Farmington Spring Festival in her level last year. Hattie will attend Smith College in Massachusetts.
Thanks to Northfield’s extended ice season, we are pleased to announce our first Spring Skating Camp! Camp is open to skaters of all levels, ages 4 – adult, and will include on and off-ice activities and an informal performance at its conclusion.
Why participate?
- Experience SKATING Magazine’s Model Program!
- Enjoy specialized classes with professional instructors & guest coaches
- Learn new skills with individual attention
- Make friends and take part in a fun performance
- Scholarships available and $5 discount for each additional family member
Features include:
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Beginner Skaters
No experience – Basic 1
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Intermediate & Advanced Skaters
Basic 2 – Freestyle Levels
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Sat, Mar 14th 4-6pm & Tue, Mar 17th 4:30–7:30pm
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Sat Mar 14th 4-6:30pm & Tue Mar 17th 4:15-7:30pm
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· U.S. Figure Skating Membership & Sports Liability Insurance Coverage included
· Warm-up, Stretch, & Skate Lacing
· Small beginner classes using U.S. Figure Skating curriculum
· Structured practice and skating skill games
· Introductory Dance Workshop
· Parent information session
· Exhibition and Wrap-up celebration
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· Warm-up & Stretch Workshop
· Intro to Dance Workshop
· Jump & Spin Workshop
· Synchronized Skating Workshop
· Power Skating & Edge Workshop
· Practice and private lesson for every skater
· Artistry in Motion workshop
· Parent information session
· Exhibition and Wrap-up celebration
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Cost: $95
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Cost: $105
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Register online or by mail by MARCH 6, 2009
View Camp Flyer/Paper Registration Form
Our Flapjack Fundraiser on Feb 7th at Applebees raised over $200 for our scholarship fund in just an hour and a half! Special thanks to all who attended and to our staff, parents, and friends who volunteered. Our young skaters did a terrific job of helping out and showing off their customer service skills – what great representatives of NSS 
For more photos see the Photos Page
Registration materials are available for Imagine, our second annual ice show collaboration with Shattuck St. Mary Skating Academy!
Come join the fun as we skate to a medley of the Beatles and more. The show is a full blown production involving lighting, costumes, scenes, and beginner to elite level skaters. Skaters Basic 1 and up are encouraged to participate, and NSS coaches help with choreography and show production. Four rehearsals take place on Saturday mornings beginning May 2nd. Two show productions take place on Saturday, May 30th. Please download the above form for details or contact Tom Hickey, Director of Figure Skating Operations at Shattuck St. Mary at (507) 333-1516. Tom is in charge of the show (not Carey) and all forms will need to be turned in to him. Ice Show Registration Deadline is Feb 8 Late registrations accepted until Feb 15 with a $15 fee.
View more photos from last year’s ice show on our Photos Page
Each session, NSS honors the staff member with the highest student retention, that is, the coach who has the highest percentage of skaters from their classes sign up to continue skating lessons. A high retention rate is a symbol of the commitment and quality of teaching, which greatly impacts our program. This session’s retention winner was coach Laura Mansell, with an astounding 100% of her skaters signing up to continue lessons! Read on to learn Laura’s “secrets:”
Each session, I do my best to be not only a coach but a role model and friend to my students. Finding a balance between the authority figure and the friend is key; I bring both a sense of humor and element of fun to my classes but retain the learning environment so the skaters can advance their skills. I make sure to always encourage the skater and let them know what they have improved on while also providing constructive criticism. Most importantly, it is up to the skater to not only have the desire to learn the skills for a certain level but the desire to continue skating and learning! To all of my students and their parents, I thank you all for being enthusiastic about skating and for signing up for the next session. I look forward to seeing you all next year! Good luck in Session Two!
Congratulations, Laura, for your achievement – 100% is a first in NSS history – and your contributions to our school!
Check out our documentary (produced by NSS Coach Kristen Asp) to see clips of Laura in action.
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.
