RENO, Nev. (KOLO) -Three of Reno Ice’s figure skaters have recently qualified for nationals, marking a significant milestone in their skating careers. Ivy Landgraf, Erith Endicott, and Anthony Benetti, who have all been skating for three years, have shown remarkable progress and dedication to the sport. The nationals will take place July 11 through the 14 in Boston, Massachusetts.
“This is really exciting,” said Benetti. “I worked very hard over the past few months practicing, and it’s the first time I’ve competed this year.”
Landgraf shared the excitement but acknowledged the pressure. “It’s nerve,wracking because I’ll be competing against a lot of girls from around the nation,” she said.
Some skaters begin their day as early as 4 a.m. to be on the ice by 6 a.m. After an hour of practice, they continue with moves practice, ballet, and strength training. This intense schedule underscores their passion for the sport.
“The most important thing to me about skating is that I love it,” Endicott said. “That first glide, that first step on the ice, just feels so nice.”
Benetti highlighted the challenges and rewards of the sport. “The biggest lesson I have learned from my coaches is to not overthink stuff; it never goes well when you do,” he said. “When just getting started, you have to have a positive mindset. If you are negative, it just doesn’t go as well. Try your best and don’t get mad at anything. It’s just for fun.”
Laura Galindo, an international and national figure skating coach, expressed pride in her skaters’ accomplishments. “As a coach, it’s very fulfilling to see the kids achieve their dream,” she said. “They work hard for me. To make it to nationals is a huge accomplishment, so it makes me proud of each and every one of the skaters.”
Endicott emphasized the importance of mindset. “Without my coaches Laura Galindo and Rudy Galindo, I don’t think I would’ve made it to nationals,” she said. “They have really pushed me.”
The hope for all three athletes is to remain competitive and continue advancing in the sport. Galindo emphasized the strong program at Reno Ice. “We have Learn-to-Skate sessions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. I recommend all little ones to come in and try it. That’s where these guys started. They end up falling in love. Bring them to Reno Ice. This is just a great and exciting moment for each one of these kids.”
“Skating is a great fun experience that not many people know about,” Landgraf said. “Many take part in dance or gymnastics, but not many know about figure skating. It’s a great fun sport, and I think you would enjoy it.”
Reno Ice will also be beginning their latest program called The Figure Skating Academy. On July 9, on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s skaters can take part in their own ice time, off-ice classes, jump class, conditioning, and ballet. For more information, you can click here or reach out to Joanie Malarchuck- [email protected]
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