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Friday afternoon, Ashley Bowlds and her family were getting into costume and preparing for their family skate at The Edge Ice Center’s 14th annual Living on the Edge ISI Invitational Skating Competition.
For Bowlds, being on the ice is almost as normal as walking. Bowlds practically grew up at the old Owensboro ice skating rink and said she has family memories from skating at The Edge.
“Me and my brothers used to get dropped off (at the old ice rink), and we spent many Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays” there, Bowlds said.
“The rink is very special,” Bowlds said of The Edge. “We got engaged right on the ice, so it holds a very special place in our hearts.”
The Bowlds family, including Ashley’s father, were all scheduled to skate during this weekend’s competition. Over the weekend, more than 170 skaters will take to the ice to showcase their talents.
The event is free and open to the public.
Tina Lynch, recreation facilities manager for the city Parks and Recreation Department, said six clubs were competing in the event, with one team coming from as far as Alabama. The Owensboro Figure Skating Club is the sole Kentucky participant, with other teams coming from Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri.
The event is open to skaters of all skill levels, from beginner on up. Lynch said the Owensboro Figure Skating Club is drawing a great deal of interest this year.
“It’s an Olympic year, and in an Olympic year, everybody’s eyes are on the ice,” Lynch said.
Bowlds, her husband Chris Bowlds, their children and a niece were dressed as characters from the children’s TV show “Bluey.” The youngest competitor in the family to take the ice in the family skate, Cameron, is 2 years old.
Lynch said the skaters are judged based on their individual skill levels. The event is meticulously planned, which it has to be because of the large number of skaters involved.
“Any hiccup can cause us to be behind schedule,” Lynch said. “When you look at our schedule, it’s like, ‘at 3:04, this is happening’ (and), ‘at 3:22, this is happening.’ ”
Bowlds, who is vice president of the city Figure Skating Club, said the family competition is for families with different skill levels.
Amelia Bowlds, who is 9 years old, “is capable of doing an axel,” Ashley Bowlds said. Meanwhile, “my husband is lucky if he can stand up on the ice,” she said.
Chris Bowlds said his level of skating expertise is, “I can skate in a straight line,” adding that the time on the ice with the family is important to him.
“I have fun out there, but I’m not the greatest,” he said. “It’s a nice way to bond as a family, and the kids are taking to it.”
Cameron, the 2-year-old, “was pretty much raised here,” Chris Bowlds said.
The event runs from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Lynch said she hopes people interested in skating will come, ask questions of the staff and become involved.
Lynch said her goal is “to make people aware of ice sports in Owensboro.”
The skaters who started with lessons as toddlers are largely still skating today, Lynch said. The ice rink becomes an important place in families’ lives, Lynch said.
“We have hosted wedding events, gender reveals,” Lynch said. “This is their home.”
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For Bowlds, being on the ice is almost as normal as walking. Bowlds practically grew up at the old Owensboro ice skating rink and said she has family memories from skating at The Edge.
“Me and my brothers used to get dropped off (at the old ice rink), and we spent many Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays” there, Bowlds said.
“The rink is very special,” Bowlds said of The Edge. “We got engaged right on the ice, so it holds a very special place in our hearts.”
The Bowlds family, including Ashley’s father, were all scheduled to skate during this weekend’s competition. Over the weekend, more than 170 skaters will take to the ice to showcase their talents.
The event is free and open to the public.
Tina Lynch, recreation facilities manager for the city Parks and Recreation Department, said six clubs were competing in the event, with one team coming from as far as Alabama. The Owensboro Figure Skating Club is the sole Kentucky participant, with other teams coming from Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri.
The event is open to skaters of all skill levels, from beginner on up. Lynch said the Owensboro Figure Skating Club is drawing a great deal of interest this year.
“It’s an Olympic year, and in an Olympic year, everybody’s eyes are on the ice,” Lynch said.
Bowlds, her husband Chris Bowlds, their children and a niece were dressed as characters from the children’s TV show “Bluey.” The youngest competitor in the family to take the ice in the family skate, Cameron, is 2 years old.
Lynch said the skaters are judged based on their individual skill levels. The event is meticulously planned, which it has to be because of the large number of skaters involved.
“Any hiccup can cause us to be behind schedule,” Lynch said. “When you look at our schedule, it’s like, ‘at 3:04, this is happening’ (and), ‘at 3:22, this is happening.’ ”
Bowlds, who is vice president of the city Figure Skating Club, said the family competition is for families with different skill levels.
Amelia Bowlds, who is 9 years old, “is capable of doing an axel,” Ashley Bowlds said. Meanwhile, “my husband is lucky if he can stand up on the ice,” she said.
Chris Bowlds said his level of skating expertise is, “I can skate in a straight line,” adding that the time on the ice with the family is important to him.
“I have fun out there, but I’m not the greatest,” he said. “It’s a nice way to bond as a family, and the kids are taking to it.”
Cameron, the 2-year-old, “was pretty much raised here,” Chris Bowlds said.
The event runs from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Lynch said she hopes people interested in skating will come, ask questions of the staff and become involved.
Lynch said her goal is “to make people aware of ice sports in Owensboro.”
The skaters who started with lessons as toddlers are largely still skating today, Lynch said. The ice rink becomes an important place in families’ lives, Lynch said.
“We have hosted wedding events, gender reveals,” Lynch said. “This is their home.”
Continue reading...
