Photo Courtesy of River Blades Skating School – Kate Mikonowicz

By Bruce Karnick [email protected]

Hastings is home to many amazing businesses, one of those is River Blades Skating School. The school operates out of the Hastings Civic Arena and is run by Hastings graduate, Amanda Truax. Truax grew up skating in Hastings where she took her first skating lesson. She also trained at both the St. Paul Figure Skating Club and the Maplewood Figure Skating Club. Aside from figure skating, Truax also trained and taught dance at Jan’s School of Dance.

Her experience in the Figure Skating world is extensive, Disney on Ice as both a skater and a choreographer, Minnesota North Stars Dance Team, and years of competition as a singles skater just to name a few. She is also a national speaker and has worked on projects with Stars on Ice, US Figure Skating, and the Ice Sports industry. Truax also works with hockey players to sharpen their skating skills as a Hockey Power Skating Coach in Minnesota. Skills that increase speed and quickness through efficient technique.

River Blades Skating School participated in the Skate Woodbury Competition, which was held Friday and Saturday, October 23- 24, 2020 at the HealthEast Sports Center in Woodbury Minnesota. River Blades Skating School figure skating teams and soloists competed in a variety of categories earning gold silver and bronze in several events including, Team Production & Ensemble, Solo Freestyle, Solo Spotlight, Light entertainment, Character and Dramatic Events, Duets, Rhythmic Ribbon, Interpretive, Family spotlight.

Truax was extremely proud of her students and staff’s hard work and dedication to preparing for the competition.

To learn more about River Blades Skating School and to see their schedule once things re-open, visit www.riverbladesskating.com

Skaters that represented the Hastings Civic Arena & River Blades Skating School: (Left to right) Harmon Brown, Lauren Destross, Clara Girgen, Hannah Hoff, Hanna Isadore, Anna Jensen, Ella King, Aria Lingle, Lexy Marti, Avery Mikonowicz, Marissa Nitti, Gracie Olson, Katy Rogers, Katie Rother, Lauryn Schulz, Abby Stagno, Kylee Zgoda Competitors that are not pictured: Chloee Moe, Amelia Nitti, Celine Teske Team coaches & choreographers: Amanda Truax-Director, Anna Deeg Agrimson, Courtney Kuhn