Believe it or not, there’s an alternative to baking in the desert-like conditions dominating East Lansing - and it isn’t sitting around in an air-conditioned room.
The Lansing Skating Club is holding its 27th Annual Howard E. VanCamp Invitational Competition today through Saturday at the ARC IceSports rink, 2810 Hannah Blvd., behind the Michigan Athletic Club.
The event, which will feature 325 skaters, is free and open to the public.
“(The competition) is a fun, cool thing to do when the heat index is 106 degrees,” said Kathy Prange, president of the Lansing Skating Club’s board of directors. “It’s even a little warm in the ice rink. Hopefully, the ice won’t melt.”
Prange said the competitors vary in skill level and will convene in Lansing from around the state, as well as Washington, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Canada. The Lansing Skating Club has 48 participants in this year’s VanCamp Invitational.
“The younger skaters, especially at the beginning level around age 8, are always hopeful (of being Olympians),” Prange said.
One such skater, 9-year-old Dylan DeWitt, of Lansing, said he wants to be like his skating idol, Michael Weiss, a member of the U.S Men’s Figure Skating National Team.
“I want to be in the Olympics someday,” Dylan said. “I like skating, being on the ice and having fun.”
DeWitt has been skating for two years and has competed in 18 competitions. He’s also a member of the youth introductory team Rising Stars - the Lansing Skating Club’s synchronized skating team.
Dylan’s mother, Gina DeWitt, said the VanCamp Invitational provides good experience and practice for young skaters, especially those with aspirations to go further in figure skating.
“Absolutely, all the competitions are helpful,” said Gina DeWitt, who’s also the vice president of the Lansing Skating Club’s board of directors. “They help (the skaters) with skating in front of judges and crowds.
“Plus, it lets coaches know where we’re at and what we’re doing. It helps build reputations.”
The Lansing Skating Club’s Correspondence Secretary, MaryJane Wagner, said the VanCamp competitions have always had good crowds.
“Since we have so many skaters from out of state, their family members come too,” Wagner said.
The VanCamp event is one of the last major skating competitions before regionals, which are in Alabama this year. The regional competitions are one of the steps toward the Olympics.
Next year’s regional competition will be held in East Lansing at ARC IceSports, which excites Prange.
“We expect maybe double or triple the number of skaters next year because of regionals,” Prange said. “With the increased popularity of figure skating, we try to get it out as much as possible to let people know that there is figure skating in the area.”
