KEARNS — Kavyn Childs isn't new to ice skating. He's been pushed around the rink in a stroller for years.
But Saturday, the 3-year-old got to try on a pair of skates and participate in his very first lesson for free.
"I love figure skating," said Chandra Childs, Kavyn's mom. "I just thought we should put him out there and see if he likes it."
So far, all of Childs' children have shared her affection for gliding and maneuvering on the ice. And it is great, she said, because they can do it together.
"It teaches them determination and sticking with it," Childs said. "It's something they like, so we keep doing it."
The Utah Olympic Oval offered its biannual Learn to Skate open house Saturday, giving skating hopefuls a chance to try their legs on the ice. The event also helps promote the numerous programs offered at the facility, including ice skating, speed skating, hockey and performance skating.
"Lessons on the oval are great. It feels like you're skating on a nonstop pond outside. You just keep going," said Kate Nicoll, a figure skater and skate school coordinator at the Utah Winter Olympic training site.
The Kearns oval, 5662 Cougar Lane, is one of only two of its kind in the United States, promising "the fastest ice on earth," where records are set and broken often. It boasts two international-size hockey ice sheets and the world-renowned 400-meter "oval ice," home to long-track speed skating.
Olympic athletes use the facility to train for upcoming competitions and can often be seen skating alongside community users.
Filtered water is used to make the long track at the Utah Olympic Oval the smoothest it can be, resulting in what Nicoll said is a better glide and faster skate time. The short track requires more traction and is filtered differently.
The ambient temperature in the building is around 65 degrees, but pipes under the ice keep it the perfect temperature for skating and other events.
Students hitting the ice for their first time Saturday were first taught how to properly fall.
"If you're learning, you're going to fall," said Taylor Wentz, a figure skating coach at the oval who was leading the 3- to 5-year-old group of student skaters.
Wentz used various games and songs to teach the children balance and coordination skills on the ice.
For many of the kids, their perseverance led to a smooth experience and maybe even upcoming lessons at the oval.
Stanton Smith, who recently moved his family to Utah from Idaho, said he plans to register his 4-year-old daughter, Lauren, for classes.
"Last week we took them skating for the first time, and they really showed a lot of interest," Smith said. "Our philosophy with them is if they show interest, we let them try it."
AJ Williams, of South Jordan, said Saturday was her family's first time at the oval.
"We're avid skiers, so I thought we should try skating," she said. "We'll definitely be coming back."
Williams said she likes the idea that professional skaters are on the ice with novice and amateur skaters, as it provides motivation to do well. The activity is also "such good exercise. And you don't feel like it is exercise," she said.
Having a coach offer the instruction to her young daughters was also helpful.
"When a parent is doing it, they're more likely to get angry with you and not listen," Williams said. "When there's a teacher there, they are more teachable."
Nicoll began skating after a school activity took her to a rink at age 8. She said she saw a woman performing on the ice and was "mesmerized."
"That was it for me," Nicoll said. "I've been in a rink ever since."
The oval offers beginner, intermediate and advanced level courses for hockey, free skate and performance skating. For more information, visit www.UtahOlympicLegacy.com/oval.
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