RMU Island Sports Center · Logan McCoy Contributors Tiesha Potvin Coale Denny Durbin Lisa Fedick...

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

RMU Island Sports Center An Earth-Changing Partnership

Energy-SavingHVAC Tips

The Business of Coaching

Get a Competitive Edge with TechnologyIntegration

EDGE_NovDec08:•EDGE JAN/FEB 2004 10/29/08 9:53 AM

iAIM Schools Support Arena Professionals in Difficult Times . . . . . .6

Technology IntegrationA key to competitive advantage . . . . . .8by Pat Walter

Take Control of Your Energy Use, Part 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Reduce space and water heating energy consumptionby Rob McBride

The Business of Coaching . . . . . . . . . .16by Tiesha Potvin Coale

RMU Island Sports Center: An Earth-Changing Partnership . . . . .20by Dianne Powell

The 3 Most Important Rules of Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28by Denny Durbin

PublisherIce Skating Institute

EditorLori Fairchild

Editorial AdvisorsPeter Martell

Randy Winship

Print Production &Advertising Sales Manager

Carol Jackson

Art DirectorLogan McCoy

ContributorsTiesha Potvin Coale

Denny DurbinLisa FedickRob McBrideDianne Powell

Pat Walter

The ISI EDGE (USPS 017-078,ISSN 1522-4651) is publishedbimonthly; January/February,March/April, May/June, July/August, november/december,November/December; by theIce Skating Institute, 6000Custer Road, Building 9,Plano, TX 75023. AnnualSubscription Rate is $24.00per year. Periodicalspostage paid at Plano, TX,and at additional mailingoffices.

POSTMASTER NOTE: Sendaddress changes to ISI EDGE,c/o The Ice Skating Institute,6000 Custer Road, Building 9,Plano, TX 75023. Printed inthe U.S.A.

Subscriptions availablethrough membership only.

©2008 by the Ice SkatingInstitute. Reproduction inwhole or in part is prohibit-ed unless expressly autho-rized in writing by publisher.All rights reserved. Opinionsexpressed by contributors donot necessarily represent theviews of the Ice SkatingInstitute, the publisher orthe advertisers. Submissionsof manuscripts, materials,photographs, and artworkare made at mailer’s risk andmust include self-addressedenvelope with sufficientpostage for return. Noresponsibility will beassumed for unsolicitedmaterials. ISI reserves theright to edit material sub-mitted for content and spaceconsideration.

Volume 11, Number 3 November/December 2008

D E P A R T M E N T S

CrossCuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Coaches’ Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

ISI Judge Certification List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

ISIA Education Foundation Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Ice Arena Association News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Calendar ISI-Endorsed Competitions & Shows/Exhibitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

And Another Thing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

CONTENTSNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

RMU Island Sports Center An Earth-Changing Partnership

Energy-SavingHVAC Tips

The Business of Coaching

Get a Competitive Edge with TechnologyIntegration

RMU Island Sports Center Cover story, page 20


4

Dedicated to providing leadership, education and services to the

ice skating industry.

ICE SKATING INSTITUTE6000 Custer Road, Building 9

Plano, TX 75023Phone: (972) 735-8800

Fax: (972) 735-8815e-mail: [email protected]

www.skateisi.org

ISI INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Executive DirectorPeter Martell

Controller & Tradeshow ManagerKaren Schaffer

National Skating Program &Events Coordinator

Randy WinshipMembership Coordinators

Kathy ChaseAngela Tooley

Advertising Sales &Print Production Manager

Carol JacksonSenior Accountant &

Sponsorship Sales ManagerStuart SedranskyArt Director

Logan McCoyInformation Services Coordinator

Jeff AndersonAdministrative Assistant

Mary Ann Mangano

ISI OFFICERS

President Jim Hartnett1st Vice President Mike Paikin2nd Vice President Janice ForbesTreasurer Rob McBrideSecretary Margy BennettImmediate Past President Jim Lange

DIRECTORS

District 1 Scott McCoyDistrict 2 Robyn BentleyDistrict 3 Lisa FedickDistrict 4 Christine Wilson BrintonDistrict 5 Larry LaBordeDistrict 6 Toni CooperDistrict 7 Jamie BaringerDistrict 8 Alane SwiderskiDistrict 9 Brigid LaMearDistrict 10 Char MartinDistrict 11 Liz MangelsdorfDistrict 12 Debbie LaneDistrict 13 Cindy JensenDistrict 14 Paige ScottDistrict 15 Bert BlanchetteDistrict 16 Cindy SolbergDistrict 18 Glyn JonesHockey Dan SmithBuilders & Suppliers Doug PetersInstructors David SanteeCommercial Facilities Kevin McCormackSchools, Colleges,

Universities Glen DanischewskiPSA Representative Gerry LaneUSFSA Representative Homer HagedornISIAsia Representative Raul GomesAMMA Representative Trudy IvoryMIAMA Representative Dean MulsoMIRMA Representative Judy SniffenEducation Foundation Don BartelsonLifetime Honorary Member Carol Zdziebko

ISI EDGE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

CROSS CUTSARID Ice introduces new desiccant dehumidifierSAVAGE, Minn. – ARID Ice has introduced the new MS 2600 desiccant dehumid-ifier, designed for smaller recreational, practice and curling rinks. This system isdesigned to mimic the physical and power consumption profiles of typical mechan-ical refrigeration dehumidifiers. Designed to deliver 2600 scfm of dry air and runon less than 20 amps of electricity at 480 volts, the system provides increaseddrying capacity with minimal retrofit cost. Becker Arena Products Inc. is the exclu-sive distributor for the MS 2600.

NHL contracts CIMCO for outdoor Winter ClassicCONCORD, Ontario — CIMCO Refrigeration Inc. will provide customized portableoutdoor rink services for the NHL’s 2009 Winter Classic outdoor hockey game fea-turing the ChicagoBlackhawks and DetroitRed Wings at WrigleyField on Jan. 1. The agree-ment calls for CIMCO todesign and manufacturea refrigeration package, ICEHOUSE 300A, which will be installed in a 53-foot trail-er so that it may be used for future events in a variety of venues. The initial termof the agreement includes the next six Winter Classic events. CIMCO is the NHL’sPreferred Rink Equiment Supplier.

Tai Babilonia and Bear Hill Sports announce partnershipCHARLOTTE, Vt./LOS ANGELES — Kim Dow, founder of Bear Hill Sports, and U.S.and world gold medalist Tai Babilonia have partnered to create a new line of figureskating apparel for women and girls. The Tai Collection’s initial line, which will launchthis winter, will include several simple but elegant skirts, a ballet wrap style sweaterhand-woven in South America, leggings and two leotard-style tops. The line will beavailable at bearhillsports.com.

50th Anniversary ISIConference, Trade Showand Skating Championshipsset for May ’09 in OrlandoPLANO, Texas — The 50th AnniversaryISI Ice Arena Conference & Trade Showis scheduled for May 26-29 in Orlando,Fla. at the Hilton in the Walt DisneyWorld Resort. In celebration of themilestone anniversary, the ISI annualevent will be preceded by a recreationalice skating competition May 23-25 atRDV Sportsplex Ice Den, and will fea-ture a gala and other special activitiesduring conference week. Additionalhighlights will be announced in thecoming months. Watch for an e-mailannouncing the event prospectus post-ing on skateisi.org, and look for a spe-cial insert in the January/Februaryissue of ISI EDGE.

Send announcements and photos to [email protected]. Watch your e-mail Updates forfacility news, including construction and openings.

ISI President Jim Hartnett presents a certificateof completion of the ISI Judge MentoringProgram to Crystal Williams, a skating instructorat Harry J. McDonald Memorial Center in EagleRiver, Alaska. Williams served as an assistant tothe competition director, Randy Winship, andthe chief referees during the 2008 WorldRecreational Team Championships in Denver.



There is no question that 2008has ushered in one of the mostdifficult financial times our

industry has faced in many years.Despite the strains on our budgets andschedules, more arena professionalsthan ever before have committed thetime and resources necessary toachieve iAIM certification this year.

A total of 156 arena managers,operators and programmers earnedcertification at schools held in KansasCity (in partnership with IAAM),Michigan, Minnesota (in partnershipwith MIAMA) and Massachusetts.These dedicated professionals under-stand that the best way to overcomeour current challenges is to invest in

learning the best practices to loweroperating costs and increase revenues.

In recognition of the enormouspressures that high energy costs areplacing on ice arenas, the managementand operations classes were updatedto place even greater emphasis onproven methods to reduce energy con-sumption without sacrificing the qual-ity of our ice or the experience for ourpatrons. Graduates left the schoolswith an in-depth understanding ofwhere and how energy is used in anarena, along with practical solutionsfor controlling it in their own facility.

The current economic conditionswe face are also limiting our ability togrow revenues and increase participa-tion. The arena programming andmanagement schools tackled this issue

head-on with an empha-sis on high-quality,affordable introductoryand recreational icesports programming.

Students learned theproven concepts ofstrategic ice schedulingto maximize revenue aswell as linking andblending programs toincrease retention andprogression into otherarena activities. Creative marketing ofthe facility and programs, sponsorshipand ancillary revenue sources were allcovered in detail to give graduates theknowledge and tools required to have

an immediate impacton growing revenue.

Of special note aswe look back on the2008 schools is theexpanding partner-ships ISI is developingto bring professionalcertification withinreach of everyone inour industry. ISI hasworked jointly with

the International Association ofAssembly Managers (IAAM) over thelast four years to produce the School ofIce Technology (SIT). This very suc-cessful venture has brought the art andscience of produc-ing high-quality iceto hundreds of icetechnicians andoperators from pro-fessional and col-lege facilities as wellas community icearenas.

Expanding onthat success, ISIentered into a part-nership this yearwith the MinnesotaIce Arena Managers

Association (MIAMA) to provide certifi-cation schools for members at their fallmeetings. The collaboration got off to astrong start in September with more than40 graduates earning their iAIM CertifiedArena Management (CAM) or CertifiedArena Operations (CAO) credentials.

Combining the resources and assetsof both organizations proved onceagain that our industry can achieve somuch more when we work togethertoward our common goals. The IceArena Institute of Management was cre-ated by ISI to deliver industry educa-tion and ongoing support to help arenaprofessionals achieve new levels of pro-ficiency and success. We invite allindustry organizations and stakehold-ers who share that aspiration to joinforces with us at this difficult timewhen, more than ever before, ourindustry needs us to work together.

Participants in the iAIM Schools of Operations and Management,held in Minnesota in partnership with MIAMA

Participants in the iAIM Schools of Programming and Management, held in Rockland, Mass.

Participants in the iAIM Schools of Operations and Design, Construction and Renovation, held in Adrian, Mich.

Schools Support Arena Professionals in Difficult Times

• ARID-Ice by CDIMS• Athletica• Becker Arena Products Inc.• Facility Management Corp.

iAIM thanks our 2008 sponsors:



Thriving in challenging economic times is no easy task forany organization. Expanding customer demands, tight-ening budgets and competition from alternative sources

of entertainment create a daunting environment for even thebest managers.

Ice arenas are continually looking for ways to secure andmaintain a competitive advantage, and technology integrationoffers a terrific opportunity to achieve that goal.

Software solutions have been available for years to assist icearenas in addressing administrative, financial, marketing andbuilding control functions within their facilities. These solu-tions are either client-based (installed locally) or Web-hosted(delivered via Internet, using a remote host).

To truly exploit technology and achieve maximum com-petitive advantage, arenas must explore opportunities to integratevarious software applications and technologies into their facil-ities. The more integrated areas, the greater the benefit to thearena and, ultimately, the greater the customer satisfaction level.

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the advantages is to “walkthrough” a sample scenario that incorporates multiple levelsof technology integration.

Using automated scheduling tools, youschedule the ice from 8-10 p.m. onTuesdays and Thursdays, for an eight-week period. Time may be blocked outfor games, practices, etc.

You set up the parameters for theleague and create teams.

All the pertinent league informationis published on the arena’s Web site.This creates excitement for the leagueand marketing potential for attractingnew participants. At the same time,you produce a list from your databasethat contains all of the players whoparticipated in the league during thepast three years. A mass e-mail invita-tion is sent, inviting participants tosign up for the season.

In an effort to speed up the registra-tion process and reduce staff costs, youallow participants to register for theleague online and pay with a creditcard. This avoids inconvenient andcostly bad-check receipts, and ensuresthat all funds received are depositedinto your bank account in a timelymanner — typically, the next day.

You now assign players to their respec-tive teams and automatically generatetheir game schedules. Once the gamesare scheduled, you also assign thegame officials. You e-mail the sched-ule to all participants and post it onyour Web site for all to see. Anychanges to the schedule are automat-ically updated to your Web site, ensur-ing up-to-the-minute accuracy.

It’s opening night. The players enterthe arena through an unattended doorby swiping their access card, whichactivates the turnstile.

The players enter the lobby,where theyview a monitor (or monitors) display-ing their game location and lockerroom assignments (by team).

Before heading into the locker room, afew players go to the pro shop to pur-chase a stick and some tape. The inven-tory levels for those items areautomatically adjusted and a purchaseorder is prepared and e-mailed to thevendor to ship replacement items tothe arena later that week.

Thirty minutes prior to the arrival of theplayers, the following functions wereautomatically performed:

- The locker room heat was turned on.

- The lighting over the ice rink was adjusted to the appropriate level.

- The ice was set to the correct game temperature.

- The air-handling equipment was adjusted to increase air flow in the facility.

During the game, statistics are beingentered online, so when the players returnto their homes they can see their totalnumber of goals and assists.

The games conclude and you generateyour daily financial reports. This allowsyou to immediately see your profit/loss.

You prepare to close the facility for theday when you receive an e-mail fromyour manager (via mobile communica-tion device, e.g., Blackberry) asking for aquick snapshot of the day’s activities. Youhave an immediate response and can for-ward the appropriate financial reports —in seconds!

TECHNOLOGYINTEGRATION

A Key to CompetitiveAdvantage

SCENARIO: Technology’s impact on the creation of an adult men’s hockeyleague from initial setup through the first night of the games

by Pat Walter

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In the previous scenario, three keybenefits will be derived from tech-nology integration:

Revenue will increase; just look at theconvenience factor for participants andthe endless marketing/communicationopportunities. Participants may wanderelsewhere when only given the optionof walk-in registration. Now they mayregister from the comfort of their homes.Also, by having a comprehensive histo-ry for each participant, you will be betterequipped to produce targeted mailings.These mailings may greatly increase theodds of successfully enrolling partici-pants in new offerings.

Decreased costs are achieved in multi-ple areas as well. A tremendous amountof marketing can be done through yourWeb site — much more cost-effectivethan hiring additional staff/resources. Inaddition, significant energy savings canbe derived from integrating the admin-istrative and building control systemswithin a facility. Controlling the amount

of energy required for lighting, heating,refrigeration, air handling, etc., based onthe actual events taking place in thefacility may have a dramatically positiveeffect on overall operating expenses.

Ultimately, the greatest and mostimportant benefit of technology inte-gration will come in the form ofincreased customer satisfaction.Customers have many recreationalenjoyment options. Thus, it is extreme-ly important to evaluate your business.How would you respond to the follow-ing questions: Does your facility offeran enjoyable, comfortable and safeenvironment? Can customers find com-plete, accurate and up-to-date infor-mation on your facility 24 hours a day,

seven days a week? Can customers signup for events and/or activities at theirleisure — from any location?

This scenario is just one example ofhow organizations can achieve compe-

titive advantage through technologyintegration. I now challenge you to seekopportunities within your organizationto help separate you from your com-petitors and make your facility the des-tination of choice in your community.

iAIM instructor Pat Walter is president ofMaximum Solutions Inc., a software solutionprovider to the ice skating industry since 1995.For more information, visit maxsolutions.com orcontact Walter at [email protected].

T h e m o r e i n t e g r a t e d a r e a s ,

t h e g r e a t e r t h e b e n e f i t t o t h e a r e n a

a n d , u l t i m a t e l y , t h e g r e a t e r t h e

c u s t o m e r s a t i s f a c t i o n .

Decreased costs

Increased revenue

Improved customer satisfaction



While the expense of naturalgas and propane tends to belower than electricity in

most community ice arenas, it stillaccounts for a significant portion of theenergy budget and must be controlledthrough a comprehensive strategy thateliminates waste and optimizes equip-ment efficiency.

The cost of natural gas has increaseddramatically over the last 10 years — inmany areas more than tripling. TheAmerican Gas Association (AGA) recent-ly projected a 19 to 20 percent increasethis winter due to increases in whole-sale natural gas costs.

The good news is that advancementsin technology and a national emphasis

on energy conser-vation are providingarena owners andoperators withmany options toreduce consump-tion without nega-tively affectingcustomers.When compared

to electricity, natur-al gas and propaneusually cost sub-stantially less perunit of energy (the

exception being areas served by hydro-electric generators). Since natural gas iscommonly the fuel source used to gen-erate electricity, it stands to reason thatit will be less expensive in most cases atthe point of metering.

It is critical to know the current andtrend cost per unit of energy when eval-uating options for equipment upgrades.This cost, along with the efficiencyrating of the equipment under actualoperating conditions, will help youdetermine the best value for your facility.

Claims of lower-cost dehumidifica-tion or high-efficiency heating withelectric equipment should be assessedwith that information in hand. Forexample, an electric resistance heatingunit may be rated as 100 percent effi-cient in converting energy to heat, buta high-efficiency natural gas furnacethat is 90 to 96 percent efficient willalmost always be a much more eco-nomical choice.

by Rob McBride, CAE

Typical Breakdown of Energy – Varies by Arena

Natural Gas / Propane Use by Area % of Total

Space heating 57%

Hot water (domestic & ice resurfacing) 17%

Dehumidification (desiccant type) 11%

Snowmelt pit 10%

Other uses (concession, ventilation reheat, etc.) 5%

Estimate based on year-round operation, northern climate Source: IIHF

Reduce Space and Water Heating Energy ConsumptionTAKE CONTROL OF YOUR ENERGY USE


As with electricity, in order to effectivelycontrol consumption you must under-stand where and how this type ofenergy is used in your facility. The charton page 10 shows the average break-down of natural gas or propane con-sumption for a typical year-roundcommunity ice arena in the northernclimate. The total usage and percentagebreakdown will vary substantially by cli-mate, facility design and equipment, aswell as operating practices.

As the chart indicates, the majorityof fuel is used for space heating.Domestic and resurfacing hot watercomprise the second highest use. Gas-fired regeneration of desiccant dehu-midifiers averages 11 percent of use.Interior snowmelt that uses hot wateror a combustion-fired heat source con-sumes 10 percent of fuel. The remain-ing 5 percent breaks down inmiscellaneous areas.

The greatest opportunities to reduceoverall consumption would be spaceheating and hot water, which accountfor 74 percent of the total use in thistypical ice arena. Significant reductionsare also possible in dehumidificationand snowmelt pits, and should be partof a comprehensive program. We willbegin with some general concepts fol-lowed by specific measures to reduceconsumption in each area.

1. Reduce heat losses and air/moisture infiltrationThe transfer of heat and moisture inand out of the ice arena is the sourceof a significant amount of energy use.Ice arenas create and maintain sub-stantially different conditionsbetween interior spaces of the build-ing, leading to the transfer of heatand moisture loads within the facil-ity as well as with the exterior. This

should be mitigated through properinstallation and maintenance of insu-lation, air barriers and vapor retarders.

2. Upgrade to high-efficiency equipmentThe introduction of condensing heatexchangers, modulating burners, vari-able speed drives and microprocessorcontrols has led to enormous effi-ciency improvements in furnace,boiler and water-heating equipment.In low return-temperature designs, itis not uncommon for these types ofunits to achieve efficiencies in the 92to 96 percent range, while older stan-dard equipment ranges from 55 to 65percent effcient.

3. Invest in maintenanceEquipment that is well maintainedwill use less energy. According toDepartment of Energy studies, propermaintenance can lead to energy sav-ings of 10 to 20 percent for heatingsystem operation. Traditionally, main-tenance is performed to ensure relia-

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR ENERGY USEWHERE ARE YOU USING

NATURAL GAS ORPROPANE IN YOUR ARENA?

HOW CAN YOU REDUCE CONSUMPTION?



bility and maintain acceptable con-ditions. To conserve energy we mustincorporate efficiency into our main-tenance program through periodicretro commissioning, calibration andfine-tuning.

4. Install control systems to optimizeefficiency and reduce usage basedon occupancy levelsIntelligent control systems canreduce energy consumption by anaverage of 5 to 15 percent whenproperly implemented and main-tained. These systems should inte-grate setpoint scheduling, occupancysensors, monitoring, alarming anddynamic optimization control toachieve efficiencies while ensuring ahigh-quality environment for thearena patrons.

5. Recover waste heat from your icerink refrigeration plantHeat-exchange equipment and inte-grated controls create the opportu-nity to efficiently move heat aroundinside the facility rather than reject-ing it to the atmosphere. Ultimately,this is far more efficient than pro-ducing the heat with other systems.The refrigeration plant is capable ofproviding a significant portion ofwater and space-heating needs whenproperly designed and implemented.

Space heating typically represents thelargest use of natural gas or propane inarena facilities. It can range from 40 to70 percent of the total, depending onthe local climate. Arena heating sys-tems are generally composed of forced-air furnaces, hydronic systems thatutilize a boiler or heat pump or infraredradiant heaters.

Slowing heat transferfrom the conditionedspaces to the non-condi-tioned spaces or exterioris essential for reducingheating energy.

The greatest sourceof heat loss is throughinfiltration — air pass-ing through the build-ing envelope or betweeninterior spaces. This canbe reduced by caulking

or weather-stripping to sealopenings around penetrationsfor electrical and plumbing,doors and windows.

As much as 56 percent of heatloss occurs through the combi-nation of walls, floors and theroof. This can be substantiallyreduced by increasing or replac-ing thermal insulation, particu-larly in the critical roof-wallinterface of the building.

An average of 3 percent ofheat is lost through doors andwindows. Incorporating entrancevestibules will decrease theamount of airflow in and out ofthe building. Self-closing doors in open-ings to non-conditioned spaces will pre-vent excessive air exchange. Keepingopenings (windows, exterior resurfacerdoor, etc.) closed tightly as much as pos-sible will minimize losses.

Upgrading equipment is an indis-pensable aspect of a conservation strat-egy. Replacing older heating unitshaving AFUE ratings in the 65 percentrange with new condensing equipmentcapable of achieving 95 percent AFUEwill reduce heating energy by almostone-third. Most states or utilities willoffer financial incentives to help pay forthe upgrade.

Condensing furnaces, water heatersand boilers achieve higher efficiency byextracting heat from the exhaust gaseswith a more efficient primary or a sec-ondary heat exchanger. The term “con-densing” refers to the process of fluegasses giving up thermal energy whenchanging from vapor to liquid.

A lower air or water return temper-ature increases the condensing processand raises the efficiency. For this reason,outdoor air temperature resets andunoccupied setbacks are an even more

effective tool for ice arenas to reduceheating energy.

Infrared radiant heaters should beconsidered for the spectator areas of theice rink space as they provide localizedheat rather than heating the entire airmass. This efficiently places heat whereit is needed for spectator comfort, usinga fraction of the energy required to heatthe air. It also reduces heat loads on theice sheet, lowering refrigeration energyrequired to remove it.

Low-intensity tube-type infraredheaters are vented to the exterior whilehigh-intensity luminous heaters requireauxiliary ventilation and the open com-bustion contributes significant moistureload to the ice rink. For these reasons,the low-intensity units tend to be thebetter choice for ice arenas.

Infrared heaters should be evaluatedon their efficiency in converting energyinput to infrared radiant heat output.A standard rating for infrared efficiencywould be 35 percent; however, higherefficiency units are available.

Preventive and efficiency mainte-nance are important in the overall strat-egy to achieve energy savings. An annualtune-up, regular filter changes and a pre-ventive maintenance regimen canreduce energy waste by as much as 15percent. The maintenance shouldinclude a comprehensive inspection atleast quarterly during the heating season.Filters should be changed monthly tominimize the buildup dust on the heatexchanger that will reduce heat trans-fer. Ductwork should be cleaned annu-ally and be properly insulated.

Controlling thermostats is crucialin ice arenas where occupancy rates

Typical Building Heat Loss

Doors/Windows

3%

Floors10%

Walls17%

Infiltration41%

Roofs29%

Annual Fuel UtilizationEfficiency (AFUE)

This official Department of Energy rat-ing identifies the percentage of fuel

input that is converted to heat. It fac-tors on/off cycling as well as seasonaloperating conditions. A higher rating

equates to greater efficiency.

Continued on page 14

SPACE HEATING


Hilton in the Walt Disney World® Resort

Orlando, Florida • May 26-29, 2009

Celebrate History,Charge Into the New Ice Age!

Make history with us as we celebrate 50 years as the ice skating industry’s original trade association. Rediscover why ISI is the only independent association that ice arenas rely on to help them increase participation, drive revenues, improve operations, reduce expenses and deliver an exceptional customer experience.

This will be a conference and trade show week unlike any you’ve ever attended, featuring such highlights as:

ISI 50th Anniversary Skating Championships, May 23-25 at RDV Sportsplex Ice Den

A behind-the-scenes Disney tourBreakout sessions led by the Disney InstituteInnovative educational sessions and workshopsEnhanced networking opportunitiesA gala celebration

Plan now to join us in May, at a destination you won’t want to miss!The Sunshine State, home of the fi rst offi cial ISI headquarters, is an ideal place for celebrating our rich past and charging into the exciting future of our dynamic industry. An offi cial hotel of Walt Disney World® Resort, the Hilton is located just 24 minutes from Orlando International Airport, in the heart of the Downtown Disney Area.

Room rate: $139/night single-quadRoommate matching available through the ISI offi ce.

Look for the complete 2009 ISI 50th Anniversary Ice Arena Conference & Trade Show prospectus, coming soon via e-mail and in your January/February ISI EDGE.

•

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vary significantly. Intelligent controlswill lower setpoints when the buildingor spaces are unoccupied. For every 1 Fthe space temperature is lowered, heat-ing energy is reduced by approximate-ly 1 percent.

A low-cost approach is to utilize pro-grammable thermostats for each heat-ing zone that integrate motion sensorsto automatically reduce the setpointwhen the space is unoccupied. Thistype of dynamic automation is superi-or to set schedules that require contin-ual updates.

Utilizing the waste heat from therefrigeration plant offers a significantopportunity to reduce heating energy. Astandard heat-recovery design utilizes aheat exchanger on the compressor dis-charge line to recover a majority, if not

all of, the waste heat before it reachesthe condenser.

This heat can be used for space heat-ing with low-temperature hydronic con-vector and fan coil systems and floorradiation, as well as with standardhydronic systems when water sourceheat-pump technology is used to effi-ciently raise the temperature of therecovered heat. An integrated controlsystem is required to effectively alignthe refrigeration and heating needs witharena occupancy.

Two types of water heating are used inice arenas, distributed or centralized sys-tems. Distributed systems incorporatemultiple smaller water heaters or on-demand units that have no storagerequirement. The heaters are locatedthroughout the arena near the point ofuse. A centralized system heats andstores water in a single location and dis-tributes it throughout with pumps.

A tremendous amount of heat is lostthrough the piping network in a cen-tralized system, particularly when it islocated inside the ice rink space. Forthis reason it is almost always more effi-cient to choose a distributed systemwhen possible.

The term “thermal efficiency” isused to rate water-heating equipment. Itis similar to AFUE but also includes thethermal losses from the unit enclosure.

For electric water heaters, the ther-mal efficiency is typically 98 percent.Natural gas and propane-fired unitsrange from 77 to 96 percent. Thoughelectric water heaters may have a higherrating, they are normally twice asexpensive to operate as natural gas.

Condensing water heaters signifi-cantly reduce energy consumption with

the high volume ofheated water con-sumed by an icearena. Their corro-sion-resistant heatexchangers allow forshutdown duringunoccupied periodswithout damage. Thisreduces standby heatlosses in the storagetank and piping. Demand water

heaters completely eliminate standbylosses, reducing energy consumption by10 to 15 percent in comparison to stan-dard tank systems. These units areinstalled at the point of use and providehot water only when needed.

Conserving water also reduces theenergy required to heat it. Low-flowfaucets and shower heads (less than 2.5GPM) can reduce hot water consump-tion by 25 to 50 percent. Metering orsensor faucets eliminate hot water beingleft on or overused.

Excessive water temperature leads togreater standby losses and reducedheater efficiency. Health codes requireminimum temperatures of 110 to 120F at the faucet; however, many arenasneedlessly operate at higher tempera-tures, wasting energy. Each 10 F reduc-tion in water temperature will save 3 to5 percent in heating costs.

Maintaining insulation on hot-waterpipes will reduce losses. Energy is lostin the piping system (particularly inunheated rink spaces) as well as from

waiting for hot water to reach the tapbecause poor insulation allows water tocool in the lines.

Using refrigeration waste heat topreheat the makeup water supply cansignificantly reduce energy. Supplywater is often between 50 and 60 F;waste heat can raise that temperatureby 30 to 40 F, reducing the amount ofheating required.

A large portion of hot water is con-sumed for ice resurfacing. This use is aprime opportunity for efficiency, as itrequires energy to heat the water andalso refrigeration energy to removethat heat. Even small adjustments inthis area can have significant conser-vation benefits.

Heating resurfacing water is neces-sary to remove air; the temperaturerequired will vary by water quality, icetemperature and resurfacing techniques.Arenas should experiment with lowerwater and corresponding higher ice tem-peratures to find the ultimate balanceof energy efficiency and quality ice.

Demineralization of resurfacerwater in many situations will allow alower temperature. When and howthe ice resurfacer is filled is also impor-tant. Filling the resurfacer too earlyand allowing the water to cool wastesenergy. Auto-fill systems or timersshould be used to ensure overflow isminimized. Operators should estimatethe amount of water required for eachice resurface and fill only that amountto prevent water from coolingbetween resurfacings.

There are many affordable opportuni-ties to reduce natural gas or propaneconsumption in your ice arena. Theincreased cost of these fuels along withthe mass production of high-efficiencyequipment and controls is reducing thepayback period to the point that manyinitiatives can be implemented throughthe operating budget or short-term cap-ital budget.

Part three will review general buildinglighting as well as building automation sys-tems that can fully integrate control of allenergy-consuming equipment in the arenato optimize efficiency and reduce peakdemand for energy.


Thermal EfficiencyThis official rating for water heaters and boil-

ers represents the combustion efficiency of the

unit after subtracting the energy lost in the

flue and through the jacket of the unit itself.

A higher rating equals greater efficiency.

Continued from page 12

HOT WATER

CONCLUSION


Hilton in the Walt Disney World® Resort

Orlando, Florida • May 26-29, 2009

Celebrate History,Charge Into the New Ice Age!

Make history with us as we celebrate 50 years as the ice skating industry’s original trade association. Rediscover why ISI is the only independent association that ice arenas rely on to help them increase participation, drive revenues, improve operations, reduce expenses and deliver an exceptional customer experience.

This will be a conference and trade show week unlike any you’ve ever attended, featuring such highlights as:

ISI 50th Anniversary Skating Championships, May 23-25 at RDV Sportsplex Ice Den

A behind-the-scenes Disney tourBreakout sessions led by the Disney InstituteInnovative educational sessions and workshopsEnhanced networking opportunitiesA gala celebration

Plan now to join us in May, at a destination you won’t want to miss!The Sunshine State, home of the fi rst offi cial ISI headquarters, is an ideal place for celebrating our rich past and charging into the exciting future of our dynamic industry. An offi cial hotel of Walt Disney World® Resort, the Hilton is located just 24 minutes from Orlando International Airport, in the heart of the Downtown Disney Area.

Room rate: $139/night single-quadRoommate matching available through the ISI offi ce.

Look for the complete 2009 ISI 50th Anniversary Ice Arena Conference & Trade Show prospectus, coming soon via e-mail and in your January/February ISI EDGE.

•

•••••


The B u s ine s s o f Co a ch ing

ISI Membership Made Simple• Effective Sept. 1, 2008, ISI changed to a universal membership term for both

Professional and Individual members. Memberships will begin on Sept. 1 and expire on Aug. 31 of each year.

• Annual membership fees will remain the same ($75 for Professional, $13 for Individual), and will be prorated after March 1 of each year ($45 for Professional, $9 for Individual).

• Existing memberships that expire after Sept. 1, 2008 remain in effect through the end of their current membership period, then depending on that date, renew at either the full or pro-rated rate for the remainder of the 2008-09 term.

• By Sept. 1, 2009, all memberships will renew on the same date each year!

It’s about time!New universal term makes renewal tracking a breeze!

FAQsWhy a universal membership term?

We have received consid-erable feedback from our Administrative members who have told us that our “12 months from inception” membership period was

administrative challenge for many rink managers and skating school directors. This new system will eliminate those issues and streamline the process for all involved — rinks, coaches, skaters, parents and the ISI headquarters. It’s an easy date to remember, and coincides with the ISI hockey membership renewal date. It will be especially appreciated by families with multiple ISI members currently renewing on different dates.

In the future, will new members have to join at the beginning of the universal term?

No, new members are welcome to join anytime during the year. The full annual membership rate applies between Sept. 1 and March 1; the pro-rated fee applies March 1 through Aug. 31. After that, their memberships will always renew on Sept. 1.

If I renewed in April 2008, do I still get a full year?

Yes. Your membership will expire in April 2009, and at that time you may renew at the discounted rate of $9 (Individual) or $45 (Professional). On Sept. 1, 2009, you will renewat the full rate for 12 months.

When new students enroll in summer classes, they may not want to spend $9 for just a few months of membership. What is available for these skaters?

As an alternative to Individual membership, ISI offers a 13-week weSKATE club registration for $4, allowing new skaters to test up to the Alpha level. On Sept. 1, they will be ready to register for a full 12-month Individual membership for the normal $13 rate.

Questions?Contact the ISI office.


by Tiesha Potvin Coale

Coaching is a business, and suc-cess requires organization, timemanagement and special “jug-

gling” techniques to build a stellar rep-utation with your students, fellowcoaches and facility. In an ever-chang-ing industry, coaches are on the frontline to promote skating through goodbusiness practices.

The first step in this process is todefine your goals as a coach. Establish avision statement and a mission for yourcareer. A vision statement involvesdetermining your goals as a coach, andyour mission is the plan of action tomake it happen. Setting your personalcoaching goals is the firststep to fulfillment. Youneed to decide whatkind of coach you wantto be (competitive, recre-ational or specialtycoach) and where yousee yourself in both theshort and long term.

Ask yourself whatdefines success for you. Itcan be any or all of the following:income, a large student base, respectfrom other coaches, skater success,praise from skaters/parents/facility,obtaining many referrals or maintain-ing a balance between personal and pro-fessional life. After determining yourgoals, reassess them often to make sureyou are on track.

As a business, coaching goes beyondthe scope of the lesson on the ice. Goodbusiness practices start in these impor-tant areas:

• Being professional• Hard work — beyond the ice lesson

• Organization• Self-discipline• Learning from your errors• Communication• Information• Availability

ProfessionalismProfessionalism in your career can covera broad range of topics and can meanmany different things to different

people. Professionalism begins withbeing an ethical coach. Most coachesknow the black-and-white issues, buthow you handle those ethical “grayareas” will separate you from the crowdand help you gain the respect of othercoaches, skaters and the facility whereyou work.

It is important to always look pro-fessional. Your appearance is a reflec-tion of you. Ask yourself this question:If I just walked into the rink for the firsttime, would I hire myself? Being a coachis a performance, so … perform!Remember to always smile and be ani-mated so you appeal to potential and

returning customers. Continuing education and acquir-

ing certifications (iAIM, judging andweSKATE) is a must for the coaching pro-fessional. By attending conferences,workshops, educational programs andseminars, you can provide a quality ser-vice by being able to keep up to date onrule changes and important informa-tion and trends in the industry. Alwayskeep memberships and insurance cur-rent.

Hard workCoaching requires hard work, both onand off the ice. Thinking that your jobis limited to the time the skater pays tobe on the ice with you is an incredibledisservice to your career as well as toyour student. Coaches are paid for boththeir on-ice expertise and their man-agement of the skater. Managing yourskater includes other components of thesport such as: testing, competition,shows, off-ice training, camps, locatingand cutting music, parent/skater meet-ings, billing and budgeting, and assist-

ing with equipment purchases. Somecoaches bill extra for some or all of theseservices, but be aware that these othercomponents are important parts of thejob description.

OrganizationGood organizational skills are extreme-ly important, both for your own record-keeping and your outward appearanceto your skating clientele. Most coachesare aware of the obvious need for goodrecordkeeping when it comes to taxes.Organization in other areas can helpcoaches stand out and jumpstart theircareers. It all begins with being prepared

for every lesson!Have rulebooks,markers and yourschedule avail-able on the icewith you for alllessons. Knowyour scheduledlessons and

openings for theweek, and always be

on time for every lesson.Today’s coaches also find themselves

on the road traveling to multiple rinks.Being able to use that time wisely andbeing prepared when traveling can makethe most of a busy schedule. The trav-eling coach should keep in mind the fol-lowing: be sure to always maintain yourcar properly and fill up the gas tank thenight before; use the time in the car toreturn phone calls with a hands-freeheadset; keep extra items that you useregularly in the car; plan extra traveltime for heavy traffic times; listen tomusic for potential skating programs;keep extra clothing in your car for coldrinks; and use a digital voice recorderfor remembering important businessand personal tasks.

Using technologyTechnology allows for coaches to bemore organized and professional thanever before. There are many ways to usetechnology as a coach. Here are someof the more popular ways you can inte-grate technology.

Decide what kind of coach you want to be(competitive, recreational or specialty coach) and where you

see yourself in both the short and long term.



ISI Membership Made Simple• Effective Sept. 1, 2008, ISI changed to a universal membership term for both

Professional and Individual members. Memberships will begin on Sept. 1 and expire on Aug. 31 of each year.

• Annual membership fees will remain the same ($75 for Professional, $13 for Individual), and will be prorated after March 1 of each year ($45 for Professional, $9 for Individual).

• Existing memberships that expire after Sept. 1, 2008 remain in effect through the end of their current membership period, then depending on that date, renew at either the full or pro-rated rate for the remainder of the 2008-09 term.

• By Sept. 1, 2009, all memberships will renew on the same date each year!

It’s about time!New universal term makes renewal tracking a breeze!

FAQsWhy a universal membership term?

We have received consid-erable feedback from our Administrative members who have told us that our “12 months from inception” membership period was

administrative challenge for many rink managers and skating school directors. This new system will eliminate those issues and streamline the process for all involved — rinks, coaches, skaters, parents and the ISI headquarters. It’s an easy date to remember, and coincides with the ISI hockey membership renewal date. It will be especially appreciated by families with multiple ISI members currently renewing on different dates.

In the future, will new members have to join at the beginning of the universal term?

No, new members are welcome to join anytime during the year. The full annual membership rate applies between Sept. 1 and March 1; the pro-rated fee applies March 1 through Aug. 31. After that, their memberships will always renew on Sept. 1.

If I renewed in April 2008, do I still get a full year?

Yes. Your membership will expire in April 2009, and at that time you may renew at the discounted rate of $9 (Individual) or $45 (Professional). On Sept. 1, 2009, you will renewat the full rate for 12 months.

When new students enroll in summer classes, they may not want to spend $9 for just a few months of membership. What is available for these skaters?

As an alternative to Individual membership, ISI offers a 13-week weSKATE club registration for $4, allowing new skaters to test up to the Alpha level. On Sept. 1, they will be ready to register for a full 12-month Individual membership for the normal $13 rate.

Questions?Contact the ISI office.

I Membership Made SimpleSI

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Management & Operations • Feasability & Design • Vending & Food Services Marketing & Programming • Consulting & Planning

FMC is an innovative leader of public recreational facility management, specializing in ice rink operations. FMC’s team has over a century of combined experience in the industry; it is time to put their knowledge and skills to work for you.

781.982.8166 www.fmcarenas.com PO Box 93, Rockland, MA 02370

PUTTING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE RECREATION ON ICE

• Publishing software and PDF editors: Programs such as MicrosoftPublisher and Print Artist can help make professional publica-tions for your business. Print business cards, newsletters, letterheadand invoices from your home. PDF editors can edit and createPDF documents to post online and send via e-mail. If you haveobscure software, others may not be able to open your creationsunless they also have the program. With a PDF editor you canconvert these files for all to enjoy.

• Web design: Having your own Web site is a great tool for postingyour professional information. Clients can easily access yourrésumé, contact information, rink schedules, coaching scheduleand competitive schedule. Web design is easier than ever andthere are many do-it-yourself options. Many service providersoffer free Web sites when you sign up for their service. Sites likeGoogle and Geocities offer a free Web site with a site builder thatis easy to use and great looking, and setup only requires you to signup for a free e-mail account. There are also many professional do-it-yourself fee-based options if you would like to be in control ofyour site and have more options than the free sites provide.

• Music-editing and MP3 players: Being able to edit music is a skill thatis becoming more important. A variety of music-editing programsis available, ranging from basic to professional. When selecting adigital music-editing program, consider those that have free trialperiods so you can experiment and see which are the easiest to use.Always back up your musical creations and be sure to clearly labelall music with the skater name, level, program length, song titleand composer. Put your music on your MP3 player to take to therink. Use an adapter with your sound system to play your MP3 filesover your rink speakers, or connect your player to external speak-ers for easy choreography out on the ice.

• Slow-motion video and recording: Many new point-and-shoot cam-eras offer video recording with slow-motion playback. With high-speed and high-capacity flash memory cards you can record morevideo and utilize slow-motion playback to supplement your lessonsand stand out from the crowd. You can use video to documentyour skaters’ progress and help with goal setting.

• E-mail: Use e-mail to get information out quickly, including sched-ule changes, sending competition applications and sharing photosfrom events. You can send clients your MP3 and WMA music filesfor their review.

• PDA: A PDA (such as a BlackBerry) can perform many tasks tomake your life easier, with such features as phone service, a camera,video, an MP3 player and GPS.

More tips for success• Participate and volunteer; always be willing to chip in and help.• Be the FUN, but firm, coach.• Know what your job is, and do it well.• Have résumé and business cards on hand at all times.• Utilize technology (Web sites, digital video, music editing) to set

your self apart from the crowd.• Know the policies, staff and customers at your facility.• Sit in the coaches’ room and be part of the team.• Admit there is always something to learn and continue to increase

your knowledge.• Always remember: The facility cannot be successful without you,

and you cannot be successful without the facility.

Tiesha Potvin Coale is the co-owner and director of Symmetrical SkatingSchools in Connecticut, and the learn-to-skate and learn-to-play-hockeyco-director at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, Conn.




Management & Operations • Feasability & Design • Vending & Food Services Marketing & Programming • Consulting & Planning

FMC is an innovative leader of public recreational facility management, specializing in ice rink operations. FMC’s team has over a century of combined experience in the industry; it is time to put their knowledge and skills to work for you.

781.982.8166 www.fmcarenas.com PO Box 93, Rockland, MA 02370

PUTTING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE RECREATION ON ICE


20 ISI EDGE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

RMUIsland Sports Centercelebrated its 10-year

anniversary last month, but the mile-stone marked more than just a decadeof state-of-the-art recreation services onNeville Island, Pa. It also served as areminder of the power of progres-sive partnership.

From the 1930s to the 1960s, thisnow-thriving island was used as adumping ground for the PittsburghCoke and Chemical Co., earning it thenickname “Poison Park.” In the 1990s,the property owner, downtownPittsburgh-based Hillman Co., in coop-

eration with the EPA and theDepartment of EnvironmentalConservation, spent $20 million andtwo years cleaning up the site and trans-forming it into an environmentally saferecreational haven.

“The Island Sports Center is believedto be the only facility of its kind built ona Superfund site,” says Dave Hanson,the facility’s general manager. “It isoften described as a showcase for brown-field development and what can beaccomplished through a partnershipbetween government agencies and theprivate sector.”

When the original owners decidedto reclaim and reuse the property,Hanson explains, they embarked on aproject that was as extensive as it wasexpensive. “It had to go throughlengthy environmental and publicscrutiny, legalities and many otherexhausting ordeals.”

With solid short- and long-termplans developed in conjunction withthe environmental agencies and withsincere intentions to clean up andenhance the site, the Neville Land Co.presented their case to the communityand answered residents’ concerns.

R M U ISLAND SPORTS CENTER

RMU Island Sports Center is a prime example of a successful partnership between government agencies and the private sector.

AN EARTH-CHANGING

PARTNERSHIPby Dianne Powell Photography by Patrick Dixon


Positive news coverage worked in thecompany’s favor.

“Once that process was complete,millions of dollars were spent to makethe site environmentally safe and toconstruct a healthy, fun and attractivecomplex that serves the immediate andsurrounding communities as well as cur-rent owner Robert Morris University,”says Hanson.

A recreation destinationNeville Island — a 5-mile-long parcel ofland four-tenths of a mile wide in theOhio River, nine miles from downtownPittsburgh — forever shed its toxic wastesite image in October 1998 with theopening of the Island Sports Center.

Now a premier recreation destina-tion, ISC has attracted thousands ofyouth and adults to its ice skating,hockey, golf and field sports programs.The 32-acre complex features two year-round ice rinks — an NHL-size rink withseating for 1,000 spectators and anOlympic-size sheet — and two multi-purpose rinks used for ice skating, inlinehockey, lacrosse, soccer and other sports.In addition to ice sports, ISC offers anindoor golf range, a miniature golfcourse, athletic fields, a strength and fit-ness center and a pro shop.

The facility operated under the own-ership of Neville Land Co. until 2003,when it was purchased by Robert MorrisUniversity (RMU), a private school withmore than 5,000 students.

“Under the university’s guidance,ISC continues its commitment to pro-viding the highest-quality facilities,

training and instruction to both the seri-ous athlete and the casual sports enthu-siast,” Hanson notes. “We’re also hometo RMU’s NCAA Division I men’s andwomen’s ice hockey teams and the uni-versity’s men’s and women’s outdoortrack and field teams.”

The 160,000-square-foot mainbuilding on the ISC campus houses thefour ice rinks. A 330-ton refrigerationunit helps keep the ice at peak condi-tion while a state-of-the-art water purifi-cation system enhances the quality ofthe ice and a Munters desiccant dehu-midification system helps maintainoptimal skating conditions. A full-build-ing HVAC system provides comfort forskaters and spectators, and a 110-candle

power lighting system and profession-al Bose system distribute quality lightand sound.

Off-ice, visitors to ISC enjoy astrength and conditioning fitness centerstaffed by certified trainers andequipped with state-of-the-art cardio,Nautilus and free-weight equipment aswell as a cardio theater.

ISC’s pro shop offers hockey, inlineand figure skating equipment plusexpert skate sharpening and equipmentrepair. Among the facility’s many otheramenities are banquet and meetingrooms; an arcade; a bistro with oven-fired pizza stove and grill; and wirelessInternet access.

The climate-controlled indoor golfand sports dome offers golfers uniqueopportunities to enhance their game,with a 100-yard driving range (one ofthe longest indoor shots in the U.S.), 42tees on upper and lower tiers, a sandbunker, a putting green and a multi-purpose field turf surface used for flagfootball, soccer, lacrosse, Scout groupsleepovers, canine agility trials and soft-ball. PGA and LPGA professionals offergolf lessons, and videotaping and golfswing analysis are available.

For a slightly less-intense golf expe-rience, ISC offers a challenging, beauti-fully landscaped 18-hole mini golfcourse overlooking the Ohio River.

Outdoor track and field events areheld at ISC on its regulation-size soccerand lacrosse fields and its NCAA regu-lation eight-lane running track with400-meter rubberized surface. The track

RMU Island Sports Center is believed to be the only facility of its kind built on a Superfund site.

ISI EDGE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 21

AN EARTH-CHANGING

PARTNERSHIP

The 32-acre complex features two year-round ice rinks — an NHL-size rink with seating for 1,000 spectators and an Olympic-size sheet.




and field complex, locker rooms, train-ing rooms and offices have been addedsince RMU purchased ISC.

All ages and abilitiesLed by an outstanding staff of coachesand instructors, RMU-ISC offers a widearray of programs and classes for skatersand hockey players of all ages and abil-ities. The youth and adult ice hockeyprogram includes a learn-to-play cur-riculum for beginners ages 4 to 14;Island Colonials in-house league, adevelopmental hockey program; a 3 on3 summer hockey league for mites tojunior/college levels; adult hockeyleagues; and women’s learn-to-play forhigh school age and older.

The RMU Hockey Academy offerspower skating camps and clinicsthroughout the year and hockey skillsdevelopment in specialized camps. TheRMU Skating Academy’s figure and syn-chronized skating programs and classesare structured for all ages and levels.Youth and adult inline hockey programsare also available.

A long list of ice and inline skatingorganizations are based at ISC, includ-ing: the Pittsburgh Hornets, a Tier I-AAAyouth hockey program; the Arctic Foxes,a Tier II youth hockey program; threelocal high school hockey programs;RMU’s men’s and women’s NCAADivision I teams; RMU’s DI Club andDIII Club; RMU’s Synchronized SkatingClub; Steel City Blades SynchronizedSkating Club; Pittsburgh Figure SkatingClub; and Pittsburgh Curling Club.

The center has been the site of suchhigh-profile events as the JuniorOlympic Figure Skating Championship,the National Short Track Speed SkatingChampionship, the USA HockeyNational Championships, the WorldStreet Hockey Championships, the NECTrack & Field Championship, theannual International TropiCurl CurlingTournament and many other regionaland local events.

People power“When RMU purchased ISC, most of theoperational, administrative and instruc-tional staff was retained,” says Hanson,who has been general manager of ISCsince it opened. “RMU complementedISC by supplying many of its campusservices to assist in maintaining the

Dave Hanson, general manager ofRobert Morris University Island SportsCenter, has a résumé that matches hiscolorful life.

Born in Cumberland, Wis. and raisedin St. Paul, Minn., Hanson a star highschool athlete in football, baseball andhockey, and played hockey at theUniversity of Minnesota. He later playedfor 10 seasons (1974-84) with the NHL’sDetroit Red Wings and Minnesota NorthStars and the World Hockey Association’sNew England Whalers, MinnesotaFighting Saints and Birmingham Bulls.

He earned his nickname, “Killer,”with his thunderous body checks andmachine-gun fists.

In 1977, Hanson starred as “JackHanson,” one of the Hanson Brothers,in the classic hockey film Slap Shot. Hiscoach was none other than the late PaulNewman, who said that his work on SlapShot was the most fun he’d ever hadmaking a movie. Movie critic Gene Siskeldeemed it one of the greatest Americancomedies; Maximmagazine called it the“Best Guy Movie of All Time”; and TheHockey News ranked it the best hockeyfilm ever made.

Hanson reprised his famous role inthe 2002 sequel Slap Shot 2: Breaking theIce with Stephen Baldwin and GaryBusey, and the new DVD movie Slap Shot3: The Junior Leaguewith Ryan McDonell,

Hunter Elliott and Leslie Nielsen. Fans frequently recognize Hanson,

he says: “After they point and whisperand yell out lines from the movie, theyusually come to me asking for an auto-graph or to take a photo with them. Ienjoy it immensely, because peopleenjoy meeting Jack Hanson.

“The Hanson Brothers are viewed as‘hockey icons’ as well as fun and color-ful guys,” he adds. “Through the popu-larity of Slap Shot and the HansonBrothers, we’ve been able to use our‘iconic stature’ to help raise millions ofdollars for charitable and needy causesaround North America.”

As far as his career is concerned,Hanson says his movie roles have“mostly added a vehicle to have extrafun and connect with a lot of people.”

Hanson, who has 24 years of coach-ing and sports management experience,has been the general manager of IslandSports Center since the facility openedin 1998. He also coaches AAA travelhockey teams for the Pittsburgh Hornets.

Look for Slap Shot 3 and Hanson’sautobiography Slap Shot Original: TheMan, the Foil and the Legend, in stores thisfall. Hanson will launch a book signingtour from New York in November withstops in Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul,Toronto, Pittsburgh and other sites. Totrack his tour, go to slapshotoriginal.com.

Dave Hanson, left, starred as “Jack Hanson” in the classic hockey film Slap Shot,as well as its two sequels. His “day job” is managing RMU Island Sports Center.

Dave “Killer” HansonArena manager, actor, former hockey pro




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grounds and the buildings.” RMU also provides security, accountingand human resources services.

“The combination of the two entities helped strengthen the oper-ation of ISC, while having ISC as a family member of RMU helpedincrease the school’s athletic programs as well as the appeal toprospective students along with existing students and faculty,”Hanson adds.

In addition to serving the interests of the RMU student body,faculty and athletic programs, ISC continues to serve the generalpublic as it did prior to university ownership.

As many as 50 full- and part-time employees keep ISC hum-ming and its diverse customer base satisfied. With 10 years of expe-rience in managing ISC, Hanson knows what it takes to run asuccessful program.

“Our figure skating and synchronized skating program has beenat an all-time high for us,” he notes. “The biggest downturn ingrowth that we experienced was when the NHL went on strike andPittsburgh didn’t have the Penguins playing for a season. The devel-

opmental ice hockey programs experienced a dip in new enroll-ments, but as soon as Sidney Crosby got selected first in the NHL draftby the Pens and they were back playing, coupled with the excitingteam they have produced, our learn-to-skate and learn-to-play hockeyprograms, along with our skating camps, clinics and leagues, haveseen a tremendous growth.”

Hanson credits his staff — led by skating director Beth Sutton,figure skating coach Elena Valova, power skating coach Marianne

An experienced professional staff is credited with ISC’s strong skating programs.

RMU-ISC’s pro shop offers expert skate sharpening and equipment repair.



Watkins, hockey director Bob Arturo and golf director JimCichra — with the strength of ISC’s programs. Sutton is anational and junior Olympic coach, former Ice Capades skaterand member of ISI, USFSA and PSA. Valova is a 1984 Olympicgold medalist and 1988 silver medalist in pairs, a three-timeworld pairs champion and a three-time world pairs silvermedalist. Watkins is an internationally recognized power skat-ing coach with more than 20 years of experience in workingwith European players and coaches, the NHL, the NCAA andmajor junior organizations. Watkins has served as the skatingcoach for the NHL Anaheim Ducks, the Columbus Blue

Jackets, and RMU’s men andwomen’s hockey teams.Arturo has an degree in child

development and has taught morethan 100,000 youngsters thebasics of skating and hockeyduring more than 20 years ofcoaching. Cichra is a PGA pro-fessional, 2001 and 2004 Tri-StateTeacher of the Year, 1995 WestPenn Open champion and 1991Tri-State Player of the Year.

ISC and ISIISC has been an ISI member sincethe facility opened. “ISI is a greatoverall program for all levels ofrecreational skating and an out-standing base for those who wish toadvance into higher ranks of skat-ing,” says Hanson, adding that theISI skating program enables skaters

to find their niche and to explore other areas of skating whilecontinuing to develop their skills.

“The structure of the ISI weSKATE program offers cohe-siveness in developing skills, incentives and goal recognitionthrough the patches, which is a great boost to our beginnerskater,” he says.

“ISI also provides concise coaching and instructional mate-rials to our member coaches. ISI membership is excellent forour facility, our coaches and skaters because of the insurancebenefits, in addition to the continuing education for ice arenamanagers and coaches.”

The center is home to a long list of ice and inline organizations.


26 ISI EDGE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008

Some people call and ask, “So whydo I need an ISI endorsementanyway?”

For a competition, the answer is: toadd credibility to your event by lettingall participants know that you are fol-lowing the ISI policies and proceduresfor testing and competition standards.It’s not a “rinky-dink” competition —it’s been approved and endorsed by anational association.

Also, a competition, show or exhi-bition endorsement protects the eligi-bility status of your skaters, both nowand in the future.

ISI gives endorsements to currentadministrative members for:

• Intra-rink competitions (skaters from only your rink)

• Inter-rink competitions (skaters from more than one rink)

• District championship competitions

• Ice shows• Ice skating exhibitions

The competition and show endorse-ment forms can be printed off the ISIWeb site in the arena section under“Forms” (select CompetitionEndorsement Form or Show/ExhibitionEndorsement Form). Please use these newforms; some information has changedand it will slow down the endorsementprocess if old forms are submitted.

For an ice show or exhibition event,only the completed application formmust be submitted to the ISI office atleast 21 days prior to the show/exhibitionevent. Endorsement fees are doubled ifreceived closer to the event dates.

The ISI office must be notified inwriting at least 15 days before the eventif any participants are active USFSAmembers who have competed at orabove the Novice level at the USFSANational Championships within the lasttwo years. The ISI office will thenrequest approval from USFSA for thoseskaters to participate in your event.

For all competition events, a copyof all your competition entry informa-tion materials must accompany theapplication form. Competition endorse-ments must be submitted to the ISIoffice at least 60 days prior to the compe-tition event. Endorsement fees are dou-bled if received closer to the event dates.

For inter-rink and district champi-onship events, your district directormust sign the application before sendingit to ISI. For intra-rink (or in-house)events, your district director’s signatureis not required.

Also, a copy of your skater eventschedule is due in the ISI office at leasttwo weeks prior to the competition formembership and test verification. Wewill check, verify and confirm that allparticipants are current members andare competing at their current registeredtest level.

If you are organized and on time,endorsements are not difficult toprocess.

Helpful hintsAs stated on the application forms, allcompetition directors must follow therules and regulations in the most cur-rent edition of the ISI Skaters andCoaches Handbook and ISI Judge Manual.Any deviation from these manuals willvoid your approved endorsement.

The more pages you send in, themore details we will need to check.While it’s necessary to send some infor-mation with your application (see list,right), you don’t have to include allthe information that is readily avail-able in the current manuals and on theISI Web site. However, many competi-tion directors would rather be “moresafe than sorry,” so make sure yourinformation and event descriptionsmatch the latest rule changes and cur-rent ISI publications.

Most endorsements are received andprocessed the same day, and theendorsement certificate is mailed withinone to two days.

Occasionally, it’s necessary for us toask for clarification, corrections orchanges to the information that wassubmitted. When the corrections arereceived, your endorsement will beprocessed — and you’re on your way toanother successful event!

Required informationYour competition endorsement requestmust include the following:

• Current rink membership and currentprofessional membership status foryour competition director and/or chiefreferee. If the competition director hasnot passed the Gold level of the ISIjudge certification exams, then theadministrative member must employa Gold-certified judge to serve as chiefreferee for the competition. All judgesand competition directors must takeand pass the 2008 update test.

• Event details, including: eventdate(s), entry deadline, list of eventsoffered and performance rules (onlyif those events are not listed in thecurrent ISI Skaters and CoachesHandbook), entry fee prices, individ-ual/partner events entry form andteam events entry form.

Plan ahead so your event can belisted free of charge on our ISI Web siteand in upcoming ISI magazines. Try toavoid the busy “rush” periods inSeptember and January.

Endorsements are an important —and EASY — step required from ISI admin-istrative members to correctly administerthe ISI recreational skating program. Withadditional skating school and privatelesson revenues, practice ice and publicsession admissions — along with con-cession and pro shop sales prior to andduring the events — both the financialand continued participation benefits ofregularly hosting an ISI-endorsed eventwill be evident in your facility for monthsand years to come!

COACHES’CORNER

by Randy WinshipISI National Skating Program & Events Coordinator

EndorsementsMade Easy!


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oth small and large businessowners must pay close atten-tion to their modus operan-di, especially in these timesof inflation, recession and

consumer cutbacks. The key to comingout on top is paying close attention toyour customers and making them pri-ority one.

The first thing managers must do ina slow economy is get their prioritiesstraight: Do they choose to keep grow-ing the business or just make sure theysurvive the downtime? Many wise deci-sions are not based on net profits alone,but on the future of the business. Evenin times of slow spending, people stillneed recreation. Sometimes the firstthing business owners cut back on ismarketing; however, many successfulmanagers know how to focus on cre-ative marketing strategies to get thebiggest bang for their buck.

Consider the three most important rulesin any business:

You have to bring customers in thedoor to generate revenue. The keyhere is to be innovative. Never try toblend in — you want to stand up andbe noticed. It’s the edgy, innovativethings that make people point andstart talking about you and your busi-ness. If it’s a Web site that you’retrying to promote, offer somethingto every friend you have in exchangefor using their e-mail database tosend out a couple of e-mail blastsinviting people to check out your site.If you want to promote your physicallocation, you should focus on thecurb appeal, signage, landscaping,building façade and entrance. Don’ttry to look like the guy next door; trya brighter sign with giant letters thatare easily legible at 45 mph. If anempty parking lot is projecting a neg-ative image for your facility, haveyour employees park their cars outfront. If you’re selling something thatcan be promoted on the front side-walk, carry signage or props in and

out all day and keep trying newthings to look busy and fun.

Your goal should be toturn satisfied customers into loyalcustomers. You can be happy withsatisfied customers, but don’t be sur-prised if they also spend their hard-earned dollars with yourcompetitors, especially when priceis involved. Loyal customers, on theother hand, are far more focused onquality and service when decidingwhere to do business. Loyal cus-tomers will literally jumpstart yourgrassroots campaign by becomingmavens for your business and tellingeveryone they know of the pleasur-able experience of doing businesswith your facility. Essentially, loyalcustomers become a major part ofyour marketing and sales team —and the best part about it is that youdon’t have to pay them; you justhave to create and nurture them.

You’d better know what businessyou’re in. You may be surprised, butit’s rarely what you think it is. Ifsomeone asks you what businessyou’re in, your automatic responsemight be, “I’m in the ice arena (orice skating) business.” The realanswer to that question should be,“I’m in the entertainment business.”If you answer that you’re in the icearena business, there’s a good chanceyou’ll have a lot of empty ice. But ifyou’re in the entertainment business,your facility, sessions and classes arelikely to thrive.

Everyone in business should be in thebusiness of marketing. Once you knowthe three most important rules of anybusiness, the next step is to implementthem. It’s one thing to know what youneed to do, it’s another to actually do

it, and that alone can put you ahead ofthe competition.

First, it’s important that you knowthe difference between marketing andpaid advertising. A quick and simple def-inition of marketing is anything andeverything — nothing too small andnothing too big — that you do to bringcustomers in the door. These are every-day, common things that you’re proba-bly already doing, but now you’re goingto look at these daily tasks in a wholenew light.

In today’s fast-paced world, market-ing is an ongoing education that everybusiness owner should be enrolled in.New tricks of the trade pop up every day;the difference between a marketer andthose who choose to do the same thingevery day is that the marketer is a risk-taker who believes in being innovativeand testing new strategies, at the risk ofmaking a mistake. Mistakes are consid-ered necessary steps to success, and trulysuccessful entrepreneurs learn from theirmistakes. If you’re not learning some-thing every day, you’re simply notpaying attention.

A good marketing strategy encom-passes a wide variety of daily exercises.Some are paid for; some simply involvethe investment of time and cost noth-ing. A good example is grassroots mar-keting. These community driven,word-of-mouth testimonials haveproven since the beginning of time tobe the most valuable form of publicityand marketing. They have great capaci-ty to jumpstart a worthwhile product,topic or cause.

A good mention of your businessfrom satisfied customers goes a long waytoward sending you new customers.When you take a step further and con-vert your satisfied customers into loyalcustomers, it’s a guaranteed home runfor your business.

Denny Durbin is an entrepreneur andauthor of Lazy Enchiladas, RedefiningSuccess, which explains firsthand the valuesof taking risks, assessing success and addingcreativity to a career. For more informa-tion, go to lazyenchiladas.com.

The 3 Most ImportantRules of Businessby Denny Durbin


The 3 Most ImportantRules of Business



The intended author of this reportwas Mr. Boyd Wietecter. It is witha heavy heart that I fill in for him.

Since its inception in 1989, Boyd hasbeen the lifeblood of the ISIA EducationFoundation. The lasting memories ofBoyd’s calm demeanor, insight andinfectious smile will continue to inspireus to provide great opportunities forhigher education to our high schoolgraduating members.

The ISIA Five-Year Capital Fund Driveis the crown jewel of Boyd’s devotion toour industry and to our youth. This pro-gram is his legacy, one of his final accom-plishments and certainly one of hisproudest achievements. Through it, hewill continue to live with us.

The format of the ISIA EducationFoundation Five-Year Capital FundDrive was modeled after a successful ini-tiative of the St. Louis ZoologicalSociety, whose goal was to make givingaffordable for everyone.

The program allows you to cus-tomize your contribution based on a

In Memory

Longtime ISI supporter and leaderBoyd Wietecter died at the age of 68 onSept. 9 in St. Louis, Mo. following abattle with leukemia. He was a formerISIA Education Foundation president(1989-95) and ISI president (1993-97)as well as the voice of numerous ISInational skating competitions. Hereceived ISI’s Lifetime Achievement,Great Skate and Man of the Yearawards, and was elected to the ISISkating Hall of Fame in 2002.

Wietecter was a graduate ofWashington University in St. Louis anda member of the U.S. Army SignalCorps serving in Vietnam in 1966-67.He worked for 35 years for the St. LouisCounty Parks and RecreationDepartment, including 26 years asdirector of the Wayne C. KennedyComplex in South County. He servedon the Kirkwood YMCA board, the St.Joseph Hospital “Friends of St. Joe” andon the Kirkwood park board.�

Wietecter is survived by his mother,Virginia Wietecter; wife Barbara HassallWietecter; daughter Trisha WietecterHill; son-in-law Douglas P. Hill; andgrandchildren Ethan, Elliot andMeredith Hill.

A celebration of Wietecter’s life washeld Oct. 4 at �St. Luke’s UnitedMethodist Church followed by privateburial at the Jefferson Barracks NationalCemetery with full military honors.

The family requests that donationsin honor of Boyd Wietecter be madeto the ISIA Education Foundation, acause that motivated and inspired hislove and devotion. ISI members aroundthe world feel the loss, share fondremembrances and mourn the deathof an ISI great, a true gentleman, leaderand dear friend.

five-year pledge amount and paymentterms that best suit you. For example,a five-year pledge of $500 can be paid inquarterly installments of $25. Thatworks out to about $2 per week, whichis less than the cost of one cup of coffeea week. What a small sacrifice to be ableto contribute to something that makesa difference to the young people ourindustry serves!

Contributions to the Five-YearCapital Fund Drive can be made toaccommodate your personal schedule.They can be billed annually, semi-annu-ally or quarterly and can be paid bycheck or even by major credit card.

Because the Foundation is a501(c)(3) corporation (IRS #36-3638131),all donations are fully tax-deductible.What better time than the end of theyear to make a difference and get a last-minute tax deduction?

This is your opportunity to join someof our industry’s leaders who havealready made their commitment.

Boyd’s golden voice, which res-onated at many ISIlocal and nationalevents, will forever bepart of our memories.His boundless dedica-tion to our sport man-ifested itself throughthe ISIA EducationFoundation. BarbaraWietecter, Boyd’s wifeof 39 years, requestedthat memorials toBoyd be sent to theEducation Foundation.The Five-Year CapitalFund Drive gives eachand every one of usthe opportunity tokeep Boyd’s memoryclose to our hearts,while supporting theskaters he loved somuch. And the cost?As little as 27 tax-deductible cents a day!Who could say no? Formore information,click on the ISIAEducation Foundationtab at skateISI.org.

Five-Year Capital Fund Drive ContinuesMake a difference for as little as 27 tax-deductible cents a day!

by Lisa Fedick

5-Year Fund Drive PledgeI hereby pledge a total of $_________ toward the ISIAEducation Foundation Fund Drive. I understand allpledges may be paid over a period of 5 years.

q $500q $1,000q $2,000q $5,000q $10,000

__________________________________________________Name

__________________________________________________Address

_______________________ ______ _________________ City State ZIP

_________________________________________________Phone E-mail

__________________________________________________Signed

All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law(IRS #36-3638131). Mail to: ISIA Education Foundation

6000 Custer Road, Building 9 Plano, TX 75023

I wish to be invoiced:q Annuallyq Semi-annuallyq Quarterly

Boyd Wietecter



Ice Rink Owners of California (IROC)

by Bert Blanchette, President

It was a long,hot summer inC a l i f o r n i a .Public sessions

in the district survived in spite of gaso-line prices. Skating schools and learn-to-skate programs slowed a bit, with fami-lies more closely watching expenses.Long-term weekly enrollments in allactivities were down slightly. Lately, any activity requiringmultiple driving trips has suffered a decrease in enrollment,with the exception of gymnastics.

A big thank-you to Don Bartelson at Ontario Ice SkatingCenter for hosting the district’s well-attended weSKATE sem-inar. Randy Winship from the ISI office served as the pre-senter, and, as always, he did a great job.

ISI District 15 is hosting the annual ISI ArtisticChallenge competition in December at Pickwick Ice SkatingCenter in Burbank, Calif. We are anticipating a goodturnout for the event. Burbank is the home of NBC and justa stone’s throw from Universal Studios and Hollywood, soattendance at the Artistic event can double as a mini vaca-tion. We hope to see you there, having fun.

Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association(MIAMA)

by Joseph M. Balzer, President

This just in: ISI/MIAMA educationalpartnership is a hit!

I have just returned from theMIAMA fall conference, and in additionfinding it a great time to catch up withold friends, I was also reminded thatyou can teach a bunch of old arena“dogs” some new tricks. As many of youknow, ISI was selected to be our educa-tional partner for the next three to five years, starting inSeptember 2008. Well, we have just concluded year one,and it was a smashing success!

Forty-five MIAMA members (20 in the iAIMMaintenance track and 25 in the iAIM Operations track), ornearly half of conference attendees, were students at theIAIM School. The MIAMA board of directors was hoping for30 participants the first year of the partnership, so we morethan met our projections. Based on a show of hands at theconclusion of the graduation ceremony, most of this year’sgrads plan to enroll in another iAIM track in the future.

Initial school and curriculum feedback was largely posi-tive, with members finding the courses challenging, infor-mative, and, in the case of a certain president, quite “eye-opening” in terms of the volume of information that can beacquired based on a rigorous and demanding syllabus. Someof the membership feedback addressed a lack of free time or

study time in a four-day week. These concerns will be dis-cussed at the next MIAMA board of directors meeting.

I want to thank MIAMA board members Mike Sheggebyand Dean Mulso, and MIAMA member Eric Edhlund as wellas the iAIM instructors, including Dr. Jack Vivian, PeterMartell, Rob McBride and Scott McCoy, for the excellentinstruction and guidance during our week of school. Welook forward to tweaking our school week for next year andcontinuing to use this effective and cost-efficient method ofcontinuing education for MIAMA members.

Metropolitan Ice Rink Managers Association(MIRMA)

by Lisa Fedick, Secretary

MIRMA’s fall managers’ meeting andmini trade show was hosted by the NewJersey Devils at their new showcasefacility, the Prudential Center, inNewark, N.J. Attendees were impressedwith the physical plant during thebuilding tours. Special thanks go out tothe Devils’ community relations direc-tor, Mike Merolla, and event and foodservice coordinator, Dana Fabrican, and also to our ownKevin McCormack, for making this event possible.

Meeting presentations included two iAIM classes, pre-sented by Kevin McCormack and myself. Both the customerservice and promotions/special events classes were wellreceived and demonstrated to attendees the value of theiAIM educational program.

The following 2006-07 MIRMA ISI District 3 Skate forKnowledge scholarship winners were announced at themanagers’ meeting: Molly Glynn from the Wonderland ofIce, Kathryn Salerno from Montclair Inside Edge, JacquelineSullivan from the Yonkers FSC and Elizabeth Veillette fromthe Danbury Ice Arena. Each skater will receive a $1,000donation to their 529 college account.

The sixth annual Skate for Knowledge Championshipswill be held April 4-5 at the Floyd Hall Arena in Little Falls,N.J. MIRMA has once again opened the scholarship compe-tition to all ISI members. Although only events held orendorsed in District 3 will be tracked for skaters’ participa-tion, skaters from all districts are eligible to compete for thescholarships.

In 2009, MIRMA will also be awarding a full week’stuition for one of the iAIM classroom schools. Applicationcriteria for this award, as well as the competition announce-ment, will be available at skateMIRMA.org.

After being named the New York Rangers’ director of fandevelopment, Rick Nadeau wasted no time in invitingMIRMA to a pre-season game on Sept. 25. The highlight ofthe evening was seeing the MIRMA logo flashing on theMSG Jumbotron.

If your facility would like to host an educational orweSKATE Instructor Training seminar, or if you have anyquestions — technical or otherwise — or any inquiriesabout our scholarship programs, contact me at [email protected].

Joseph M. Balzer

Bert Blanchette

Lisa Fedick



I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday seasonand take this opportunity to send out the heartfelt sympa-thies of the MIRMA organization to the family of BoydWietecter, who passed away in September. Our entire industryhas lost a loyal supporter and trusted friend.

North East Ice Skating Managers Associationby Tom Morton, President

Due to the efforts of Director John Zullo,the NEISMA Web site has been substan-tially improved and expanded. Everyoneis invited to visit neisma.com.

NEISMA has also augmented its long-range planning committee. Under thechairmanship of Director Jeff Doucette,the committee has assumed responsibili-ty for recommending sites for holdingthe NEISMA Annual Spring Conference through 2011.

The NEISMA scholarship committee, chaired by DirectorEd Peduto, continues to make plans for offering annual schol-arship awards to members and their children who qualify andwho make presentations encompassing subjects involvingtheir respective facilities as well as the ice arena industry.

The NEISMA and ISI boards have begun discussions toexplore ways the organizations might work together on mat-ters of mutual interest. A three-person committee has beenappointed by NEISMA and ISI to address the matter and tomake recommendations to their respective boards. An agree-ment of understanding for this purpose is being drafted.

Fact or Fiction?ISI is the ice arena industry’s onlyindependent trade association.

Fact! Founded in 1959, the Ice Skating Institute isnot only the original trade association represent-ing the ice arena industry — it is also today’s onlyindependent organization whose primary focus ison the interests of ice arenas and the profession-als employed in and serving these facilities.Because ISI is not dependent on nor encumberedby obligations to other organizations, everythingwe do is solely for the benefit of our members.That’s why ISI is the nonprofit association thatice arenas and ice skating professionals rely on tohelp them increase participation, drive revenues,improve operations and deliver an exceptionalcustomer experience.

Watch for “ISI Fact or Fiction?” in future issues. Ifyou have a suggestion for a topic, please send it [email protected].

Tom Morton



23 Vacaville, Calif.

Vacaville Ice SportsIce Sports Champs

29-30 Skokie, Ill.

Skatium All American Team Competition

DECEMBER

5-7 Burbank, Calif.

Pickwick Ice Center

ISI Artistic Challenge

5-7 White Bear Lake, Minn.

White Bear Lake Sports Center

Holiday Open 2008 5-7 Taylor, Mich.

Taylor SportsplexTSX Winter

Extravaganza 20086-7 Centennial, Colo.

South Suburban Ice Arena21st Annual Winterfest ISI Competition

6-7 Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Pleasant Prairie IcePlex2008 Winter

Wonderland Open7 Franklin, Mass.

Franklin Blades Skating School

18th Annual ISI Team Competition

12-14 Wayne, Mich.

Wayne Community CenterArctic Adventure

13 Walla Walla, Wash.

YWCA Ice ChaletDistrict 13 Hockey

Skills Championships30 Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Rolling Meadows Park District

Frost Fest

JANUARY

15-18 Lake Placid, N.Y.

Olympic CenterLake Placid ISI

Championship16-18 El Paso, Texas

Sierra Providence Event Center

Sun City Ice Fest 200916-18 St. Peters, Mo.

St. Peters Rec-PlexDistrict 9 Championships

17-18 Centennial, Colo.

South Suburban Family Sports Center

7th Annual ISI Competition

23-25 York, Pa.

York City Ice ArenaKeystone State Games

24-25 Plymouth, Minn.Plymouth Ice CenterBlizzard Blast

FEBRUARY

6-8 Glenview, Ill.

Glenview Ice CenterFebruary Freeze

6-8 Williamstown, Mass.

Lansing Chapman RinkBay State Games

7 Franklin, Mass.Franklin Blades Skating

School18th Annual ISI Team

Competition

13-15 Dallas

Dr Pepper StarCenter

ISI Winter Classic

13-15 Oxford, Ohio

Goggin Ice Center2009 ISI Miami Open

Team Competition

CALENDAR

NOVEMBER

1 Boardman, Ohio

The Ice ZoneAutumn Fest

1-2 Yorktown, Va.

Hampton Roads IcePlex7th Annual Fall Classic

6-9 San Fransisco

Yerba Buena IceSkating Center

Skate San Fransisco7-9 Northbrook, Ill.

Northbrook Sports CenterNorthbrook Park

District Falling Leaf Open

7-10 Portland, Ore.

Lloyd Center Ice Rink 21st Annual Ice

Crystal Classic8-9 Tampa, Fla.

Ice Sports ForumISI 2008 Fall Challenge

9 Anaheim, Calif.

Anaheim ICE8th Annual

Synchronized TeamCompetition

9 Dallas

Galleria Ice Skating Center

2008 Holiday Audition Competition

16 San Jose, Calif.

Sharks Ice at San JoseIce Arts

16 Yonkers, N.Y.

Yonkers FSC 22nd Annual Holiday Classic

22 Marlboro, Mass.

Navin Skating ArenaThanksgiving on Ice

22-23 New Ulm, Minn.

New Ulm Figure Skating Club

New Ulm Fall Festival22-23 Joliet, Ill.

Joliet Park District/Inwood Ice Arena

Harvest Gold22-23 Kansas City, Mo.

Line Creek Ice ArenaCity of Fountains

Fall Fling

13-15 Anaheim, Calif.Anaheim ICE12th Annual ISI Open

Competition13-15 Blaine, Minn.

Schwan Super RinkFrosty Blades 2009

20-22 Bensenville, Ill.

The Edge Ice ArenaMardi Gras

21-22 Nashville, Tenn.

Centennial Sportsplex24th Annual ISI

Invitational28 Oak Lawn, Ill.

Oak Lawn Ice ArenaReach for the Stars

MARCH

6-8 Park Ridge, Ill.

Oakton Ice ArenaIce Breaker Classic

7-8 Minneapolis

Parade Figure Skating Club

2009 Blades of March ISI Open Competition

7-8 San Diego

San Diego Ice ArenaCalifornia State Games

13-15 Livonia, Mich.

Livonia Eddie EdgarLivonia ISI Open

Competition14 Pittsburgh

RMU Island Sports Center2009 - 9th Annual

Shamrock Skate14-15 Lewis Center, Ohio

Chiller NorthChiller Spring Classic

14-15 Natick, Mass.

Bay State Blades-Natick38th Annual ISI

Competition29 Franklin Park, Ill.

Franklin Park Ice ArenaKICKLine Synchronized

Skating Competition

APRIL

3-5 Knoxville, Tenn.

Ice Chalet40th Annual Robert

Unger ISI Competition

COMPETITIONS2009

ISI-endorsed competitions & shows/exhibitions


24-26 El Segundo, Calif.

Toyota Sports CenterSpring Fling 2009

25-26 Anaheim, Calif.

KHS Ice ArenaJump Into SpringAnnual ISI Open Competition

25-26 Franklin Park, Ill.

Franklin Park Ice ArenaSpring Fever

MAY

23-25 Orlando, Fla.

RDV Sportsplex Ice Den

ISI 50th Anniversary

Skating Champonships

23-24 San Diego

San Diego Ice ArenaISI Open Competition

JULY

27-Aug. 1

San Jose, Calif.

Sharks Ice at San Jose

ISI World Recreational

Team Championships

NOVEMBER

Thru Kittanning, Pa.

4/15 Belmont ComplexBelmont Blaze

Exhibitions1 Oldsmar, Fla.

Tampa Bay Skating AcademyFall Recital

12-13 Eugene, Ore.Lane Events Center-ICESeussical the Musical on

Ice14 Montgomery, Ala.

K Lynn Skating SchoolSanta Arrival on Ice

24 Brentwood, Mo.

Brentwood Ice ArenaHoliday Icetravaganza

28- Dallas

12/20 Galleria Ice Skating Center

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremonies

DECEMBER

3-4 Honolulu

Ice PalaceNutcracker

6 Oak Lawn, Ill.

Oak Lawn Ice ArenaHolly Day on Ice

6 Anaheim, Calif.

Anaheim ICE14th Annual Holiday

Spectacular6-7 Franklin Park, Ill.

Franklin Park Ice Arena2008 Holiday Recital

6-7 Little Rock, Ark.

Arkansas SkatiumWinter Ice Show 2008

7 Roseville, Calif.

SkatetownHoliday Spectacular

on Ice7 Nashville, Tenn.

Centennial SportsplexHoliday Show

7 Newark, OhioLou & Gib Reese Ice

ArenaHoliday Exhibition

9-13 Knoxville, Tenn.

Ice Chalet21st Annual

Nutcracker on Ice12 Plano, Texas

Dr Pepper StarCenterThe Christmas Wish

12 Dublin, Calif.Dublin Iceland2008 Holiday Show

12 Glenview, Ill.Glenview Ice CenterHoliday Exhibition

12-14 Evanston, Ill.

Robert Crown Center34th Annual

Nutcracker on Ice13 Duncanville, Texas

Dr Pepper StarCenterHolly Jolly Holiday

13 Panorama City, Calif.Valley Ice CenterHoliday Music Around

the World14 Pittsburgh

BladeRunners Ice Complex

Holiday Skate14 St. Louis

Wayne C. Kennedy Recreation Complex

Holiday Celebration20 Marlboro, Mass.

Bay State Blades-Marlboro Winterfest

20 Euless, TexasDr Pepper StarCenterIce Fest 2008

21 Bensenville, Ill.

The Edge Ice ArenaAnnual Holiday

Exhibition21 Arlington, Texas

ICE at The ParksHoliday in The Parks

29 Glenview, Ill.Glenview Ice CenterWinter Carnival

MARCH

14-15 St. LouisWayne C. Kennedy

Recreation ComplexAnnual Ice Recital

21 Springfield, Mass.Bay State Blades-Forest Park (Cyr Arena)Anything Goes

APRIL

3-5 Jefferson City, Mo.Washington Park Ice

ArenaContinental Tours

5 Brentwood, Mo.

Brentwood Ice ArenaOnce Upon the

Ice…Dreams Come True

17-18 Carol Stream, Ill.

Carol Stream Ice RinkStars and Stripes

24-25 Newark, Ohio

Lou & Gib Reese Ice ArenaSkate in High Definition

24-26 Park Ridge, Ill.Oakton Ice ArenaStill Rockin’ After 40 Years!

MAY

1-2 Downers Grove, Ill.

Downers Grove Ice ArenaStars and Stripes

1-3 Glenview, Ill.Glenview Ice Center36th Annual Ice Show

2 Marlboro, Mass.Bay State Blades-MarlboroSummer Dance Party

8-10 Northbrook, Ill.

Northbrook Sports CenterNorthbrook-On-Ice 2009

15-17 Franklin Park, Ill.

Franklin Park Ice Arena2009 Spring Show

17 Nashville, Tenn.

Centennial SportsplexSpring Show

15-17 Niles, Ill.Niles Park District IcelandBlades on Broadway

26-27 Orlando, Fla.

Hilton in the Walt Disney

World® Resort

ISI Ice Arena Conference

& Trade Show

CALENDAR

SHOWS &EXHIBITIONS


2009

for the next EDGE calendar:

Nov. 15For regular calendar

updates, see www.skateisi.org,

event info

Deadline



ISI SKATING SERVICES DIRECTOR — Full-time position atISI headquarters in Plano, Texas. Responsible for the devel-opment, promotion, delivery and supervision of all ISI skat-ing-related services. Must be ISI gold-certified judge withminimum 10 years’ experience managing a large, successfulskating school and have a thorough understanding andappreciation of the ISI philosophy. Must also possess strongleadership, oral and written communication, general officeand computer skills. Excellent compensation and benefitspackage. Send résumé and letter of interest [email protected].

FULL-TIME ICE SPORTS PROGRAMMING — NationalSports Center-Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. seekshighly motivated and creative sports-minded person aspir-ing to continue in sports market. Responsibilities includebut not limited to: marketing, recruiting, staff coordina-tion, budgets, leagues, tournaments, camps, clinics andmore. Qualifications: college degree, emphasis in sportsmanagement. Compensation commensurate with experi-ence and education. Interested applicants may contact PeteCarlson at [email protected].

GENERAL MANAGER — Glacier Ice Arena in GrandJunction, Colo. Family-owned, year-round rink gearedtoward family entertainment and youth programs. Musthave good customer-service skills and be self-motivatedand energetic, with desire to build programs and clientele.Strong business management experience necessary. Visitour Web site for details at www.theglacier.net. E-mail résuméand cover letter to [email protected].

Free Classified Advertising for ISI Members!ISI facility and professional members are entitled to FREEclassified listings (excluding retail products and services)up to 50 words. Call Carol Jackson at (972) 735-8800, faxto (972) 735-8815 or send e-mail to [email protected] for next issue of the EDGE: Nov. 10.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

American First Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Bonestroo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

CDIMS- Arid Ice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Cimco Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Facility Management Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Frontline Solutions Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Ice Rink Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

LSK Enterprises Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Maximum Solutions Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Mondo USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Naf’s Ice Paints, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Professional Skaters Assoc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Rice Specialty Risk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

RinkGuard Insurance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

RinkMusic Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

SP-Teri Co. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Valley Ice/Iceland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

VSC Sports Enterprises Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Zamboni Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

ADVERTISER INDEX

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation

1. Title of Publication: ISI EDGE 2. Publication No.: USPS 017-078. 3. Date of Filing: 9/26/08 4. Frequency of Issue: Bimonthly 5. No. of Issues Published

Annually: Six (6) 6. Annual Subscription Price: $24. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 6000 Custer Road, Bldg. 9, Plano, TX 75023

8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of the Publisher: 6000 Custer Road, Bldg. 9, Plano, TX 75023 9. Full Names and

Complete Mailing Address of Publisher and Editor: Publisher, Ice Skating Institute, 6000 Custer Road, Bldg. 9, Plano, TX 75023; Editor, Lori Fairchild, 6000

Custer Road, Bldg. 9, Plano, TX 75023; Managing Editor: None. 10. Owner: Ice Skating Institute, 6000 Custer Road, Bldg. 9, Plano, TX 75023 11. Known

Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None.

12. Tax Status: Has not Changed During the Preceding 12 months. 13. Publication Title: ISI Edge 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data: September 1, 2007-August

31, 2008 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: A. Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months (net press run): 4,250. Actual No. Copies of

Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 4,100. B1. Average Paid and/or Requested Circulation Outside-County Mail Subscriptions: 3,996. Actual No.

Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 3,948. B2. Average Paid or Requested Circulation In-County Subscriptions: 0. Actual No. of Copies

of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. B3. Average Sales Through Dealers and Carriers and other non-USPS Paid Distribution: 0. Actual No. of

Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. B4. Average No. Copies of Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 33. Actual No. Copies of Other

Classes Mailed Through the USPS: 33. C. Average Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 4,029 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing

Date: 3,981. D1. Average Free Distribution by Mail Outside-County: 0. Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. D2. Average No.

Copies Free Distribution In-County: 0. Actual No. Copies Free Distribution In-County: 0. D3. Average No. Copies Free Distribution Other Classes Mailed through

USPS: 10. Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 8. D4. Average Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 34. Actual No. Copies of Single

Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 0. E. Average Total Free Distribution: 44. Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 8. F.

Average Total Distribution: 4,073. Actual No. of Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 3,989. G. Average Copies not Distributed: 177. Actual

No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 111. H. Average Total: 4,250. Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date:

4,100. I. Average Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 98.92%. Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: 99.8%. 17. I certify



ANDANOTHERTHING...

by Peter MartellISI Executive Director

As we read the daily reports of increas-ing unemployment and interest ratescoupled with declining stock values andconsumer confidence, many of us arewondering what impact the country’seconomic crisis will have on our busi-ness. But have you considered that thisdark cloud may have a silver lining forthe recreational ice skating industry?

History has shown that during pre-vious recessions or depressions, somebusinesses have not only survived buthave actually prospered. One area thattraditionally has held its own is enter-tainment. During tough times, morethan ever, people need diversion or

recreation. Movie theaters and bowlingalleys have consistently fared wellduring recessions, and that bodes wellfor our industry.

That does not mean that we will notsee declines in some areas of our busi-ness. However, while many will not beable to afford the financial commit-ment necessary for elite competitive ortravel team sports, they will want theirfamilies to continue to participate inathletic activities. It may simply meanthat they will have to choose less expen-sive, perhaps less frequent, activitiesthat are closer to home — in otherwords, more recreational in nature.

So what does that mean for you?You may have to adjust your businessmodel to provide more recreationaland affordable programs and services.For the arena, it could mean more icetime devoted to local activities likepublic skating and group classes. Itmight be an opportunity to start orexpand your youth house leaguewhere the teams skate out of theirhome rink and only travel for occa-sional tournaments. For coaches, itcould mean more time spent teachinggroup classes and expanding your baseof private-lesson students so you havemore students taking fewer lessons

each. It may also be the ideal oppor-tunity to encourage parents to con-sider taking semi-private lessons.Rather than teaching one student for20 minutes at $20, why not teach twostudents (of similar ability) for $15each? Your students save money, andyou make more! We need to be open-minded and creative during these dif-ficult times.

With many families being forced toforego the annual ski trip or beach vaca-tion, a new word has evolved – “stay-cations.” Stay at home vacations arebecoming increasingly popular andtherein lies a host of opportunities toattract families looking for new, fun andexciting things to do close to home.Remember, however, that these“impulse” customers are not looking (atfirst) to be hockey players or figureskaters. They are looking to be enter-tained and have fun. If they do, theywill be back for more. So, let’s make thebest of the current economic situationby looking for the silver lining hiddenamong all those reports of doom andgloom. This too will pass, but our suc-cess may be determined by our abilityto react, adjust and adapt – and not justcontinue doing things “the way we’vealways done them.”

Look for the Silver Lining under the Ice


CIMCO REFRIGERATION

1-800-263-3035Hartford • Syracuse • Detroit • Mobile • Houston Dallas/Ft. Worth • Salt Lake City • Phoenix London, UK • Beijing, PR. China

Visit our website at www.cimcorefrigeration.com

ECO CHILL is an engineered solution to loweringenergy costs in your facility. Using Cimco’s 90years of expertise in the ice rink business, ECO CHILL collects and recycles the energy usedto maintain the ice surface, providing abun-dant heating for the building; and hotwater for showers, underfloor heating, iceresurfacing and snow melting, as well as air conditioning services.

ECO CHILL is modular in nature, allow-ing the designer to choose those com-

ponents that best match the needs of your facility.In all cases, quality ice is the number one priorityof an ECO CHILL system, ensuring your facilityusers' satisfaction while you benefit from greatly

reduced energy costs.

ECO CHILL systems may entitle the purchaser to municipal or other government energy grants to assist in the purchase of this high performance product.

¤

Over 4,500 ice surfaces installed around the world!

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Today the effect of greenhouse gases on our environment combined with current electrical and gas rates are the cause of serious concern

for all ice rink owners, operators and users. ECO CHILL by CIMCO® is our newest, most energy efficient system available.

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ECO CHILL Overview

•EDGE_MayJune07 4/10/07 5:51 PM Page 48


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