$660,000 Loan To Kingston Paid Off Ahead Of Schedule

Thursday, December 28, 1995 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1C 





Learning to skate can be a butt-numbing experience. Expect some shaky
moments and a few close encounters with that cold, hard iceThen the fun
starts. Really. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Recreational skating isn't all that difficult to learn, says Patti Mravcak,
skating instructor at Wilkes-Barre's Ice-A-Rama at Coal Street Park. "And
there is nothing like being out there on the ice," says Mravcak, 22, a skater
since she was 8 years old. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mravcak suggests these first-timer tips: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Walk around with your skates on before you step on the ice. Taking a stroll
on a non-slippery surface is a good introduction to those quarter-inch-wide
blades. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Keep your arms forward (to help you balance) and your head up (also to keep
your balance). A lot of new skaters look down at their feet, which is a good
way to wobble, trip and wipe out. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Before you skate, march. Take little steps, up and down, to move forward.
When you're comfortable marching, try to push and glide with each foot. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If you're falling, land on your behind. Resist the urge to hold out your
hands and arms; landing on them can really hurt and potentially break some
bones. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kids as young as 2-years-old can learn to skate, Mravcak says. The youngest
children -- say, between 3- and 6-years-old -- often learn the quickest,
because they are less afraid to fall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "You're free when you're out there," says Mravcak. "It's a free and
wonderful feeling." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Learning To Skate Can Be A Butt-numbing Experience. Expect Some Shaky Moments And A Few Close Encounters With That Cold, Hard Ice.