Since 1981 figure skaters from the Midwest have been taking to the ice to compete in Omaha Winter Festival. The event started as a way for skaters to experience competition without the exorbitant costs that usually coincide with them.
The 2020 Omaha Winter festival took place this last weekend at Motto Mclean Ice Arena. Friends and families from across the Midwest support their children at Winter Fest. But the familial ties of figure skating run deep with the mother-son duo Rhonda and David Festner.
Rhonda Festner is the director of ice skating non-profit Blade And Edge. She has been heavily involved in the sport. She believes that skaters need to have a passion so they can keep on going.
“You have to really really enjoy the sport, otherwise it’s not going to work,” said Rhonda.
Rhonda Festner wanted a place where the skaters who really enjoy the sport could hone their skills and perform their routines. “Skaters want to skate and that’s where Winterfest comes in,” she said.
David Festner grew up on the ice and is now a figure skating coach. He stressed the importance of the community when hosting an event like this.
“We try to get out to the community as much as possible, we try and do social media and do everything we can,” David said.
“You’ve got to have that support from parents, friends, even schools,” said Rhonda.
Skaters are alone on the ice, but the support from their families and coaches help propel their success at competitions like the Winter Festival.
When endless support isn’t enough to calm a skater down Rhonda had some words of wisdom for skaters dealing with stage freight.
Winter Fest has been a place for those performers to shine. Since its inaugural year, the Omaha Winter Festival has evolved into a competition with over two-hundred skaters participating in this year alone.
“Go out there, make the ice your own, you’re out there all by yourself. It is your competition. This is your time to shine.”
