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Show I Going for the gold " I Ice rink 'slicks up' its image By JUDY JENSEN Editor BOUNTIFUL The Bountiful Recreation Center is putting its best "foot" forward for the feet of the 1990 U.S. Figure Skating Champions. Cham-pions. The center will co-host the upcoming up-coming 1990 U. S. Figure Skating Championships Feb. 4-11. And while other national champions cham-pions compete, local residents will be on hand to cheer on their hometown champion Holly Cook who "grew up" on the Bountiful ice. Holly's goal will be to finish in the top three to makt the World Cup team and to reach salification for the 1992 Winter Olympics. (See related story page 9.) In addition to serving as the practice prac-tice site for all competitions, the center will host the actual compulsory com-pulsory figures championship competition com-petition beginning on Feb. 6 and continuing through the 8th. We have made extensive repairs and upgraded the facility in preparation for the competition. We're really excited about the event," said John Miller, ice arena manager and recreation director for the center. In addition to giving the entire facility a new coat cf paint, new carpet has been added to the center. "Our preparations on the ice itself will begin on Friday when it is shaved down to the hockey lines and painted blue," said Miller. Forty gallons of "half-way blue" paint are ready to be sprayed on the ice on Saturday. The ice is painted to make the tracings of the figure skating competitors easier for the judges to see. In addition to the compulsory figures competition, tickets will also be sold for viewing the practice sessions of the other competitors. According to Miller, practices begin on Sunday morning at 6 a.m. and continue late into the night during each day of the competition. "This is a great opportunity for the spectators to get an up-close and personal view of the skaters. Our rink holds 1,500 spectators, and the audience is a lot closer to the skaters. Their parents are usually in the stands so it's fun for our local people to get a chance to talk to them also," said Miller. He said the exposure for the rink is exciting at this time. "If we get the Olympic bid, we plan to ask that the new skating rink be built here in Bountiful. I Holly Cook of Bountiful brought home a first place medal from the Pacific Coast Sectional Championships in San Diego. Cook is representing the Utah Figure Skating Club which, along with the Junior League of Salt Lake, will host the 1990 U.S. Championships in February. She qualified for the national competition by advancing through nine regionals and three sectionals held throughout the United States. |