Club Spotlight: The Panthers Figure Skating Club

The Panthers Figure Skating Club in Coral Springs, Fla. has many reasons to be proud this competition season. The relatively young club will send four skaters to the U.S. Junior Championships in East Lansing, Mich., and a junior dance team to the US Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, Calif. in January, and sent two skaters to the Eastern Sectional Championships this past November.

"Yes there is skating in Florida, and darn good skating too," club treasurer Melissa Rosenberg said. "Normally you see some of the larger clubs like the Broadmoor, Skating Club of Detroit and the Washington Figure Skating Club with multiple medalists competing, but a club from Florida? Who knew?"

The Panthers Figure Skating Club was established more than 13 years ago. The club currently has more than 150 members from Basic Skills through Olympic level. The club makes their home at the Saveology.com Iceplex (Incredible Ice) in Coral Springs, and Rosenberg credits the club's success with the help of the dedicated staff of the Iceplex and their own professional staff.

Panthers Figure Skating Club skaters pose for a cover shot. (Photo courtesy of Maureen Brodie Photography.)

"Our incredible group of skating instructors represents the U.S., Russia, Ukraine, England, Canada, Austria and Italy," Rosenberg said. "All of our instructors are champions in their own right. We are so fortunate to have all of them."

The club is also proud to host several events and competitions bringing together skaters from around the state and beyond. Their inaugural Holiday Show debuted December 4 at the BankAtlantic Center with more than 2,000 people attending. More than 100 skaters performed with Olympic and World skaters Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman and Silvia Fontana and Jozef Sabovcik. Zimmerman and Fontana are two of the club's professionals.

The Panthers Club is also proud to host a unique competition in late March, The South Florida Challenge.

"Using the IJS system the skaters can get their first set of results and use this competition as a stepping stone to further develop their programs," Figure Skating Director Nancy Mariani said. "This is also a great competition for those who may be snow bound and suffering through a long winter. Who wouldn't want to come to Florida in March and skate?"

As Figure Skating Director, Mariani works with the rink to provide a free style schedule from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day. Each program is unique and there is a skating program for every age and level.

"'Stanley C Come Skate with Me' is our introductory class designed to teach Basic Skating skills for ages three to eight with little or no skating experience," Mariani said. "Interactive games, music and activities are incorporated into each class with the emphasis on fun while learning basic skating skills."

The club also offers the Incredible Skating School Group Skating Program for ages six to adult, the 'Champion in Me' program for skaters at the Basic 5 to Pre-Preliminary level and the 'Incredible Learn to Sk8 GR8 Nite' for Adults 18 and over.

"They meet new friends and have lots of incredible fun during one of our public sessions," Mariani said.

The club is also proud of its special program, Camp Incredible.

"Camp Incredible is designed for skaters of all abilities, ages four to 12," Mariani said. "Camp Incredible includes a full day of structured supervision, snack and Camp Incredible sweatshirts for first time weekly campers. Each activity is designed keeping the children's age in mind. Camp times are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily and parents can register children for the week or per day."

From the smallest skaters wearing helmets in Basic Skills to the double Axels and triples of the highest-level competitive skaters, the Panthers Figure Skating Club is dedicated to the figure skater's development.

"From 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, figure skaters are on the ice practicing and perfecting," Rosenberg said. "Even on Saturdays you will see a flurry of excitement whether it's our Holiday Show practice, Basic Skills or our Champion In Me group classes, you will always see a blinged up Panthers Figure Skating Club jacket on the ice."

What is their secret to success?

"I think the secret to success with the Panthers Figure Skating Club is determination and dedication," Rosenberg said. "It's hard to believe that there is a club with more than 150 members in South Florida who are as determined and dedicated as Panthers, and this includes the skaters, coaches and parents."

For more information on club events contact www.panthersfsc.com or www.saveologyiceplex.com.