Gallatin Ice

WRITTEN BY PAM O’DOUGHERTY

This is my third winter in Montana, and my goodness am I looking forward to all the fun things I get to do with my family this time of year. A few years ago, we spent Christmas Eve in Santa Cruz, California. It was only a half-hour drive from our house, and at the time we thought that was living. The sound of the ocean, my children playing on the beach, the warmth of the sun on my face... what could be better than that? I’ll tell you what, winter in Montana!

Skating, skiing, sledding, snow…I love it all. Especially skating!

I used to be a professional athlete representing Great Britain. My husband and I toured the world as professional figure skaters. We both grew up in small towns in the UK, and we both loved watching American TV shows – all of which made California look like the most amazing place in the world. So, when we were ready to settle down and transition into coaching, we emigrated to America and made the Bay Area our home. And we thought we had it all... until COVID hit.

Like many other families, we really questioned our priorities in 2020 and 2021. We had become Americans in 2014, because we both believed in the American dream. We were doing pretty well, too. We had great jobs, two beautiful children and a home full of love, but the fast pace of a busy city no longer felt like it made sense. Then, an opportunity landed in my inbox. The ice rink at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds was looking to grow their figure skating programs. With nothing but time on my hands, I learned everything I could about Bozeman, the most livable place, and it seemed like the perfect place to raise my family. And you know what? That has most certainly turned out to be the case.

Three years later, with my daughters now both in a wonderful school, I have time to take on a more active role in stepping things up a notch or two as the new Director of Figure Skating. My goal is simple: Run all classes and programs in a way that would make me want to skate in them myself, or that I would want my children to skate in.

Gallatin Ice offers Public Sessions and Group Lessons that are open to everyone. There are classes for children, adults, hockey players and classes specifically designed for those who want to learn how to figure skate – the Rising Stars program.

Rising Stars classes are for children who want to perform in Gallatin Ice shows. Those with a more competitive mindset, when they are ready, will then graduate to the Travel Team – this season those skaters will be competing around Montana. Next season, maybe even farther afield.

From December 16 through January 3, there will be indoor Public Sessions every day. Then, starting January 8, Wednesday night and Sunday afternoon Group Classes start again. And for those who like watching hockey, there are games pretty much every Friday and Saturday night through March. Nearly all of them feature performances by the Montana State Figure Skate Team, the Ice Girls.

Depending on when you are reading this, there may still be time to catch the Christmas Show on December 15. From 1:30 to 3 p.m. figure skaters will perform a free show for those in attendance, followed by a community Skate with Santa session at 3 p.m. ($10 fee). There will be a hot chocolate bar and bake sale with all proceeds going to support Gallatin Ice programs.

If you don’t make it to the show this holiday season, that’s OK, there will be plenty more throughout the year. For more information visit www. gallatinice.org.

Pam O’Dougherty is the Director of Figure Skating at Gallatin Ice.