Baltimore Program Teaches Girls To Ice Skate

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- One city program makes sure girls have a place to learn by putting them in skates and on the ice.

Gigi Barnett explains it's called "Figure Skating in the City" and it's back for a third year.

From the moment these middle school girls strap on ice skates, the lessons begin.

"Be gentle on the ice. Don't be scared, because if you're scared, you're going to fall," said student Justise Fleming.

That's good advice for a beginner, but these girls aren't new to the ice. They're part of a program called "Figure Skating in the City." It opens the door for girls in Baltimore to try an expensive sport they rarely see up close.

"I wanted girls that wouldn't necessarily have the opportunity to do it themselves," said coach Natalie Estelle.

Skate coach Natalie Estelle created the program three years ago at the Patterson Park Ice Rink. Low funding forced the girls off of the ice for a year but now, with full funding from the city, the girls are back.

"These girls are good. I definitely see a couple of diamonds in the rough and I really would like to take them under my wing and train them to compete," Estelle said.

The ice rink at Patterson Park usually hosts hockey games but Figure Skating in the City hopes to add more girls to the ice. This year, it has more funding, which means longer hours at the rink.

The program runs for about four weeks and organizers are taking on new students. For more information, click here.