Rye Figure Skating Club Hosts First Westchester Classic Competition

WESTCHESTER, NY — Almost everyone loves figure skating, but the travel and expense required to see athletes compete at the highest levels of the sport can be prohibitive, but that won't be the case this weekend when the skaters come to us and the admission is free.

The Rye Figure Skating Club is hosting 300 skaters from the tri-state area and beyond for the first ever Westchester Classic. The competition will take place at the Playland Ice Casino from Friday through Sunday. The competitors will be between the ages of 4 to 24, and are registered for Compete USA through Senior Well-Balanced events, from beginning level to triple jumps.

The event will be free and open to the public. Competition will take place from 4:15 p.m.-9 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m. on Sunday. Playland Casino is located at 100 Playland Parkway in Rye.

“We are thrilled to have so many athletes joining us for our first major Excel Series competition,” said Rye FSC president Martha Downen. “The Westchester Classic will give local residents a chance to see up and coming stars in the sport of figure skating.”

"In addition to the tri-state athletes, we have competitors coming from as far as Georgia, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania," Competition chair Lisa Hirsch said. "We expect a truly exciting event and welcome all to enjoy the amazing performances.”

The Westchester Classic is a designated USFS Excel Series competition where athletes who are part of the Excel Series can earn points based on their result and top finishers will be invited to the Excel National Festival where they will compete against the best in the nation. The event is sanctioned by US Figure Skating.

Rye Figure Skating Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1937 with the purpose of encouraging figure skating in the local community. Celebrating its 85th anniversary, the club sponsors special skating clinics, seminars, test sessions and exhibitions throughout the year. Its 200+ club members participate in all aspects and levels of skating, including dance, freestyle and synchronized skating, ranging from beginner to national and world competitors. Volunteers maintain and support the club. Run by a Board of Directors with the help of a Junior Board, Rye FSC is well known for the excellence of its programs. Rye FSC is a member club of US Figure Skating.