Posted on Mar 15, 2023
There's only one pro ice rink in rural Missouri. These teen figure skaters are making the most of...
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It's already hard to become a competitive figure skater. But it's even harder in rural Missouri, where there's just one ice rink within a two hour drive: Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City.
Mylee Hawkins, 16, and Jessi Johnson, 15, are best friends. But they don’t go to school together and they don’t even live in the same city. What brings them together is their skating.
The teens are competitive figure skaters. They’ve been skating since they were toddlers, at the Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City. It’s the only ice rink in the region — with the next closest one being two hours away in Wentzville.
To get to the rink in time for practice, which is only available on a limited basis, both Hawkins and Johnson take one of their classes online so they can leave school early enough to make the 3 p.m. freestyle skate.
Mylee Hawkins, 16, and Jessi Johnson, 15, are best friends. But they don’t go to school together and they don’t even live in the same city. What brings them together is their skating.
The teens are competitive figure skaters. They’ve been skating since they were toddlers, at the Washington Park Ice Arena in Jefferson City. It’s the only ice rink in the region — with the next closest one being two hours away in Wentzville.
To get to the rink in time for practice, which is only available on a limited basis, both Hawkins and Johnson take one of their classes online so they can leave school early enough to make the 3 p.m. freestyle skate.
There's only one pro ice rink in rural Missouri. These teen figure skaters are making the most of...
Posted from kcur.orgPosted in these groups: 
Ice Skating
Jefferson City
Ice Skating Jefferson City
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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SGT (Join to see) good day Brother Charlie, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Fellow skater Johnson said she looks up to Mylee as a "not really older," good skater. Johnson competes as an open juvenile, which is a few levels behind Hawkins who competes at the novice level, but Johnson knows she’ll get there with determination and practice.
“Knowing that we probably do have more struggles that we have to come across with our rink than other people," Johnson said. "It makes me feel more fulfilled with what I’ve accomplished.”
It hasn’t been the easiest road for Hawkins and Johnson to continue the sport in a region not built for competitive skaters, but it has been a way to create their own support system."
..."Fellow skater Johnson said she looks up to Mylee as a "not really older," good skater. Johnson competes as an open juvenile, which is a few levels behind Hawkins who competes at the novice level, but Johnson knows she’ll get there with determination and practice.
“Knowing that we probably do have more struggles that we have to come across with our rink than other people," Johnson said. "It makes me feel more fulfilled with what I’ve accomplished.”
It hasn’t been the easiest road for Hawkins and Johnson to continue the sport in a region not built for competitive skaters, but it has been a way to create their own support system."
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