Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club, Inc.
Welcome to New York City's Only Speed Skating Club!
Updated June 11th, 2010. GC
NOTE: Please carefully look at the directions to the rink. THE rink is NO LONGER LOCATED IN THE OLD BUILDING BY THE UNISPHERE! We are now located in the new building on the East side of the park in the same building as the Pool. Click on the directions tab to the left for more details. Click on the link to the Parks department for even more detail. Do NOT call Glenn's cell phone during the day (I work!). If you need more information, please send an email or wait until after 4:30pm to call the cell number.
Club session information is listed lower on this page... please read it.
SO, you have seen the Olympics and you're interested in trying Speed Skating! That's great. The club welcomes new members at any time of the season. However, the season ended March 25th. Read below for suggestions for summer ice.
If you are still interested in learning to speed skate over the summer, I encourage you to look into one of our sister clubs: East Penn Speed Club and Fairfield County Speedskating Club . Both clubs are holding summer ice practice sessions as well as dryland and learn to speed skate programs (LTSS). Please visit their websites to learn more information. Also check the MASA website for links and information as well. These programs change continuously, so check often for current information. As of this date, the EP club LTSS program will be ending an 8 week(end) session. There is a new 4 or 5 week(end) session that is supposed to start on June 6th. Skates are available from the club for use during these sessions as well as instruction on the ice.
While these locations require travel, the time is well worth it, and participants of all ages are welcomed. Some skating ability is strongly reccomended as it will be difficult to learn to speed skate if you cannot even skate on hockey or figure skates.
For the Flushing club, there is no summer ice. This is mainly due to the limitations of dealing with a city owned facility and the extreme expense which would need to be spread among a few.
For those on Long Island, there will be summer ice, without pads, at Bethpage Park's Town of Oyster Bay Ice facility located at 1001 Stewart Ave. Bethpage, NY 11714. 516-433-7465 for information. Skating sessions will be on Saturdays from 1-3pm, from July 17th through Sept. 5th. To my knowledge, there is no coaching, there are no pads and there is no insurance. Skating is entirely at your own risk (as it always is), so be careful!!
This is NOT a Flushing Meadows, MASA or USS sponsored or sanctioned practice.
Please note the contact info below for Glenn Corso and drop a line. There are, forms to fill out and details to learn. It is best if you have some skating ability already. For those who have never skated before...while we don't want to turn anyone away, we really must insist that you obtain some basic skating skills first (hockey not figure skates). The club only has a certain number of loaner skates available. They are handed out on a first come first served basis and right now we have a lot of people trying this out. The beginning of the new season will be on October 4th, 2010, and this is the best time to join as we will spend lots of time on speed skating basics. Practice sessions in the next season will be the same as they are were (Monday and Thursday). I encourage anyone who has an interest to come to our practices and observe and ask questions. If you feel that you want to skate and try it, then we will need to know in advance, forms will be e-mailed and questions will be asked to be as prepared as we can to make sure you get a chance to try it. Time is limited and we who will be helping you also need to skate our practice session, so please plan to arrive no later than 1/2 hour before the start of the ON ice time.
Thank you for your understanding,
Glenn
New York State Championships, ST meet was March 13th, 2010. A great time was had by all.
Go to the MASA website (link below) and click on the link to online registration. Results will be posted after March 20th.
Flushing Festival race will be held:
Thursday, December 16, 2010 - Flushing Festival, 6:30pm. This will be a session of races for all members of the club.
We will start holding practices on October 4th, 2010 . We are ON the ice at 7pm and off at 8:20pm on Thursdays and ON the ice at 8:30pm and off at 9:50pm on Mondays. In order to make the most of the session we need to be ready to put the mats on as soon as the Zamboni is done and get them off timely at the end of the session. This will require all to help. Please arrive at least a half hour early to help with moving mats, obtaining your skates or help with paperwork. If you arrive late, we may not be able to help you as we want to be on the ice and skate too!
Please contact Glenn Corso at gcorso@optonline.net for additional information or if you have questions. If your need for information is urgent, call my cell at 516-381-7734, text me, or send an email to glenncorso@gmail.com. Please do not call this number during work hours. Send an email instead and I will get back to you as soon as I can. If you must call, wait until after 4:30pm, thank you!
Sessions will start October 4th, 2010
Sessions will end on March 24th, 2011
Check the Races/Events/Results page for information on upcoming events.
Also go to the Middle Atlantic Speedskating Association ( www.MiddleAtlanticSkatingAssociation.com)
website for more information on other area clubs
as well as links to more detailed race data. More information may also be obtained from the
US Speedskating website (go to the calendar section). www.USSpeedskating.org
See important notes below!
Check back often for new information.
The Flushing practices are currently being held at the following times:
Mondays 8:30 to 9:50 pm
and
Thursdays 7:00 to 8:20 pm.
Except November 25th, December 23rd, 27th, 30th and January 3rd.
Policies:
1st time skaters one free session (for those who are new to skating).
2nd and 3rd time $25 per session.
All skaters must join FMSSC after 3rd session.
For the 2010-2011 season we had to increase club dues due to the additional sessions.
Talk with Carole Moore or Glenn Corso for more details.
All skaters must join US Speedskating for insurance purposes. This includes new 1st time skaters.
Fees for US Speedskating are:
$10 for temp. 2 month membership, $30 for full 1st year competing membership, $75 for returning competing member. Competing membership is required if you plan to participate in the Metro race series or compete at any level.
Flushing Meadows Speed Skating Club offers short track coaching at all levels, beginners through national-class racers. Even if you have limited skating experience, but are interested in trying the fastest aspect of the sport, come down and give it a try. FMSSC has a limited number of pairs of speed skates to lend out to first-timers. If you will need skates, please show up early. There is paperwork to fill out and it takes time to make sure we get a pair of skates that fit reasonably well. We want to skate too, so if there are too many who show up late, we will ask that you come back to the next practice.
Speedskating for exercise.
Speedskating is a nice way to have a low impact workout. You can have an aerobic workout by skating long distances, and you can get an anaeorbic workout by skating sprints. It's an activity that the whole family can participate in. At the Flushing club we have skaters from 4 years to 70. Many family members skate together.
Speedskating improves your balance, endurance, leg strength and general well-being. It's FUN! It's
exciting and is a great way to take advantage of one of the fastest human powered sports.
Speedskating....a sport for life.
FMSSC sessions and races are held at the New Aquatic-Ice Rink facility, located directly next to the Van Wyck Expressway on the West side of the Flushing Meadows Park, Queens (see directions below).
We offer an exciting season of training, racing and the opportunity to improve your skating skills.
Flushing Meadow Speed Skating Club is a member of the Middle Atlantic Skating Association (MASA).
Check the following link for more information: http://www.MiddleAtlanticSkatingAssociation.com/masa.htm
Flushing Meadows New Acquatic & Ice Rink facility-
For directions to the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatic Center. Go to the DIRECTIONS page.