Kearns The Utah Olympic Oval has been in Phillip Canicks life since 2012.
He has played hockey in two of the ovals leagues and now his 6-year-old son, Cooper, is in its Learn to Skate program.
The two make the trip from Cottonwood Heights to Kearns three times a week, all year-round.
The ice is always great. The facilities, for being as old as they are, you wouldnt know it, he said. Its just a great place to be.
What keeps Canick going back to the venue, however, is the community it creates. A lot of good lifetime friends Ive gained from playing out here.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Learn to Skate instructor Cassie Gutierrez teaches a class of youths how to conduct a controlled fall on the ice, Nov. 16, 2021. Figure skating is just one of many sports to discover at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns.
The Utah Olympic Oval dubbed the fastest ice on Earth, at an elevation above 4,500 feet was built for the 2002 Winter Games. Flags from across the globe hang upon the ice rinks and running track, and the five Olympic rings remain ubiquitous images around the facility.
The space continues to host world-class races and remains a meeting point for people from all over the valley to practice sports on and off the ice.
On a given day or night, the five-acre venue can be packed with people young and old running on an indoor track, figure skating on an ice rink, playing hockey on a separate ice sheet, or gliding, slipping and stumbling on the 400-meter speedskating oval.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) A youth competitive speedskater races around the track, Nov. 16, 2021. Speedskating is just one of many sports to discover at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns.
Its beautiful ice, said Carolyn Krambule, who is a regular at the public skating sessions. We work with a lot of the coaches, and theyre all fantastic.
Krambules family goes at least four times a week to the ice rinks in the complex. Husband Dean plays hockey and daughter Leia is in the Learn to Skate program.
Its a great place to go, get something to do, said Krambule, before being interrupted by her daughter. Other than watching screens and playing video games.
For some, ice sports are sheer entertainment. For others, these activities and the discipline they require have deeper meaning.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) LeeAnn Colgan gets steadied by the hand of her speedskating instructor, Olympian Derek Parra, Nov. 16, 2021. Speedskating is just one of many sports to discover at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns.
Growing up in San Bernardino, Calif., Derek Parra found meaning in staying active.
I came from Southern California with not a lot around me to offer to a child, Parra said, especially to kind of get out of the bad neighborhood that I grew up in.
When he started speedskating, doors started to open, and stardom came. He won gold and silver medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Parra now works as a trainer and sports director of the oval.
Were a beacon of the community, he said. I can only imagine what it would be like if I was a young child, in this community with this amazing facility in my backyard.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Learn to Skate director Amie Miyagi teaches a class of youths, Nov. 16, 2021. Figure skating is just one of many sports to discover at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns.
The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation offers scholarships to provide access to programs for those who cant afford them.
While the oval attracts a lot of regulars, it is open to anyone from first-timers to veteran winter sports enthusiasts. Like the theme to the 2002 Winter Games, it welcomes the world.
Here are six fun things to do there:
From August through March, there are public skate sessions on the 400-meter oval. There are also skate lessons for various ages and abilities. Toddlers can start as soon as they turn 3.
There are leagues for youths, men and women. The oval offers hockey skills lessons, and a learn to play hockey program recommended for children ages 4 to 12. Participants learn power skating, stick handling, passing and shooting.
A 442-meter indoor track with four lanes surrounds the oval. There also is an eight-lane, 110-meter sprint zone. High schools and college athletes grace these tracks in the colder months.
Classes are available for beginners. Students use the same stones that glided on the ice in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Curling leagues are open to learners and experienced players.
Before the pandemic, the oval hosted cosmic curling sessions at night, complete with fluorescent houses, laser lights and a disco ball
Introductory classes are offered for short- and long-track speedskating. A masters camp for competitive skaters older than 30 is on pauses due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The oval has private figure skating lessons for all skill levels, along with freestyle sessions in which skaters can play their music and practice their routines and competitive synchronized skating teams.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) One youth hockey player is reluctantly helped to his feet by a teammate during practice after getting knocked down by a fellow teammate at the Utah Olympic Oval, Nov. 16, 2021. Hockey is just one of many sports to discover at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns.
Parra recommends curling for people who want to avoid strapping on skates
Not only is it fun at the oval, but it is also a safe place, Parra said. And I know from growing up in a roller rink, how that changed direction in my life.
Alixel Cabrera is a Report for America corps member and writes about the status of communities on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley for The Salt Lake Tribune. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by clicking here.
Link:
6 sports to try at the Utah Olympic Oval and you need not be an Olympian to play - Salt Lake Tribune
- The weight of gold - Anna Kiesenhofer on managing expectations after Tokyo Olympics shock victory - Cyclingnews - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Climate Crisis Forces the IOC to Rethink Winter Olympics - Greek Reporter - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Macron: "If there are security problems, the inauguration could be reconsidered" - Insidethegames.biz - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Its not only the Olympics that could be coming to Utah in 2034 - Deseret News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Jesse Mendes Says He Wont Pursue Olympics After Switching From Brazil to Italy - The Inertia - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- British teen Sky Brown targets medals in two sports at Paris Olympics - The Telegraph - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- From Stanford to Team USA, a water polo dynasty eyes an Olympic four-peat - The Athletic - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- 'Boys in the Boat' gives Hollywood treatment to rowing during an Olympic year - Denver 7 Colorado News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- USSS Nominates Stellar Teams for 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games in Gangwon, South Korea - SkiRacing.com - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Mohamad Aniq chasing fourth ranking in Olympic qualification for Paris - theSun - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Olympic Hurdler Michelle Jenneke Brought the Vibes to Las Vegas - Yahoo Life - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- France could move Paris Olympics opening ceremony over security concerns - The Hill - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Aaron Picos unknown Bellator-PFL future has him thinking Olympics - MMA Junkie - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Paris 2024: Will they regret it? >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News - Scuttlebutt Sailing News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Winter Olympics 2034: Blocks of Park City-area hotel rooms already essentially booked - The Park Record - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- 'Freezin' for a Reason': Special Olympics Polar Plunge to return to Buckhannon in February 2024 - My Buckhannon - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- How Suni Lee Refused to Let "Really Scary" Kidney Illness Stop Her From Returning For the 2024 Olympics - E! Online - E! NEWS - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Exclusive: Special Olympics New York calls on Hochul to increase funding ahead of program cuts - WXXI News - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee: Can USA Gymnastics have its own 'Dream Team' at Paris 2024? - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Olympics 2024: Event rider Ros Canter aiming for glory in Paris - BBC.com - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Jamaica's surf healer Imani Wilmot taps into ocean forces to empower women - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- Usain Bolt: My 200m world record will be broken before 100m - Olympics - December 27th, 2023 [December 27th, 2023]
- USA Basketball womens and mens 33 programs qualify for 2024 Olympics - The Athletic - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- IOC says its Olympic ban on Russia cannot be compared with Israel situation - Japan Today - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Diosdado and Jimnez win gold and secure their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics - Insidethegames.biz - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- LeBron James and Anthony Davis should forget about the 2024 Olympics - LeBron Wire - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- What could Team USA look like at the 2024 Olympics? - Hoops Hype - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Team USA: LeBron James' Olympics recruitment has fans going wild - ClutchPoints - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Gay rower Robbie Manson just qualified for the Olympics while still updating his OnlyFans page - Queerty - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- LeBron James Recruiting Stars To Play In Paris Olympics - RealGM.com - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Roundup: Mel Tucker Responds to Allegations; LeBron Wants to Play in the 2024 Olympics; Aaron Rodgers Injured - The Big Lead - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Episcopal Academy graduate Ashley Sessa has her sights set on the Olympics - The Philadelphia Inquirer - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Thompson: To rule the Olympics, Team USA needs to call in The Avengers - The Athletic - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- LeBron James to Lead Superstar Roster for the 2024 Olympics - Yahoo Life - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- LeBron James reportedly wants to play in one more Olympics, and he's already recruiting - Yahoo Sports - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- USA Basketball: LeBron James leads projected roster for 2024 Olympics - For The Win - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- LeBron James, Stephen Curry favorites to play for Team USA in 2024 Olympics - ClutchPoints - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Special Olympics as Beth-el - The Reformed Journal Blog - Reformed Journal - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Watch Peyton Manning Prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics with a ... - PEOPLE - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- Exclusive - Olympic champion Janja Garnbret speaks out on eating ... - Olympics - September 13th, 2023 [September 13th, 2023]
- What Could The USWNT Look Like At The 2024 Summer Olympics? - UPROXX - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Don't Miss the UP Pasty Olympics in Calumet! - Awesome Mitten - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Water quality concerns halt Paris Olympics swimming test in the Seine - TheJournal.ie - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Paris Olympics swimming test event cancelled over water quality fears - Yahoo News UK - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- John Devitt, Champion Swimmer With a Tarnished Gold Medal, Dies at 86 - The New York Times - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Expect a lot of players from this year's Team USA to be back for Paris Olympics - Yahoo Sports - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Emotions run high as Morgan Pearson ends 'whirlwind day' with a place at Paris Olympics - TRI247 - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- On This Day, 2008: Rafael Nadal captures gold medal at Beijing Olympics - Tennis Magazine - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- India Ends Olympics Pre-Qualifying Campaign with loss to Bahrain - Ekalavyas - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Olympic Triathlon Test Event: A huge success for athletes, a boost of ... - Olympics - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Paris Olympics swimming test event cancelled over water quality fears - Euronews - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Gender inequality will still be an issue at the Paris 2024 Olympics ... - The Conversation Indonesia - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Grant Holloway exclusive: On 'running free' at Budapest 2023 and ... - Olympics - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Minnesota Sports and Events has major announcement next week - Star Tribune - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- IOC call IBA's bluff over future without Olympics, but boxing on LA28 programme - Insidethegames.biz - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Garden Theatre gets new leaders with Disney, Olympics experience - Orlando Sentinel - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Cone frank about Gilas' World Cup chances, says goal is to qualify for Paris Olympics - Rappler - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- 2028 Summer Olympics could be coming to OKC Riversport, decision coming soon - City-sentinel - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Gay Olympic Rower Robbie Manson Joins OnlyFans - Star Observer - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Olympic-quality athletics arrives one year early in Paris - AW - Athletics Weekly - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Day for champions: Hundreds cheer on Special Olympics at SUNY - Evening Observer - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- IOC Coordination Commission chair says Paris 2024 will stage new Olympics - Insidethegames.biz - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- TCU baseball fans donated more than $23k to Special Olympics Indiana - For The Win - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- University of Minnesota Athletics - GopherSports.com - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Paris 2024 Olympic Headquarters Stormed By French Pension Protesters - SwimSwam - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Special Olympics 2023 'Flame of Hope' Lit in Athens - Greek Reporter - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Olympic Gymnasts Jordyn Wieber & Chris Brooks Tie the Knot in Arkansas Wedding - Just Jared Jr. - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- 2023 NYS Special Olympics Games This Weekend In Ithaca And Vestal - wnbf.com - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Local Special Olympics Athletes Set to Ignite the Summer Games - Eagle 99.3 FM WSCH - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Washington Co. deputy to carry the torch in 2023 Special Olympic World Games - KARE11.com - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Missing the Captain Kyle Busch - Fans Demand Exclusion of Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson in NASCAR ... - The Sportsrush - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- Special Olympics Delaware moving forward with Summer Games ... - 1150AM/101.7FM WDEL - June 9th, 2023 [June 9th, 2023]
- "If I Make the Olympics, I'll Retire at the Olympics." Surf Legend Kelly Slater Will Be ... - Latest Tweet - LatestLY - February 24th, 2023 [February 24th, 2023]
- The US should insist that Russian and Belarusian athletes be banned from the 2024 Olympics - The Hill - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Belarus coach who removed sprinter from Olympics charged - January 22nd, 2023 [January 22nd, 2023]
- Milano Cortina 2026: Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games - January 22nd, 2023 [January 22nd, 2023]
- 6 individuals from the Carolinas to participate in Special Olympics World Games in Berlin - WCNC.com - January 22nd, 2023 [January 22nd, 2023]
- Olympic Games | History, Locations, & Winners | Britannica - January 19th, 2023 [January 19th, 2023]
- Im Still in Therapy: Simone Biles Breaks Silence on Paris Olympics Appearance - EssentiallySports - January 19th, 2023 [January 19th, 2023]
- Course work on campus | The Culinary Olympics return to UConn - FOX61 Hartford - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]