PASADENA — Staying cool during the summer was easy at Summer Skate Camp. Some even wore gloves it’s so cold.
The intensive one-week ice skating camp in late July at Pasadena Ice Skating Center was born to get students back into training after the city-owned rink was closed down during COVID.
Parents and students wanted to return to the ice, and coaches Sunshine De La O and Talia Marin opened Summer Skate Camp, now in its second year at the center.
During the camp, campers worked on power, edge work, spins, jumps, strengthening, conditioning and even nutrition.
The 40 campers, from age 7 to 21, also learned about choreography as they end the week with a performance of “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Robbie Williams.
Their day began outside the Pasadena Convention Center, where they spread out over the concrete to warm their bodies with conditioning exercises.
They then dragged their suitcases filled with warm clothes, skates and protective crash pants and get busy lacing skates, some with help from parents. Over and over they practiced, each at their own level and with coaches to guide them.
The camp day ended with a health lesson, yoga and meditation.