How would you like to spend your winter afternoons in an ice rink that is 24-26 degrees Fahrenheit? That is exactly what BRF hockey players and figure skaters are doing to start their seasons.

The Black River Falls Figure Skating Club (BRFFSC) will be celebrating its 27 birthday in 2011. Members of the BRFFSC have recently begun their winter season of figure skating.

“I just started [to skate] again in September,” said sophomore Mariah Jessie.

Figure skaters as well as hockey players spend a lot of the time practicing. They have to work together in order to share time on the ice.

“Right now I skate about four hours a week, but it gets to be more later on in the season,” said Jessie.

The BRF Hockey team has started unofficial practice already.

“We started playing, but it has been optional practice. Real practice starts next Monday [November 8]”, said senior Jakub Polerecky.

Skaters from BRF have different levels of experience.

“[I have been playing hockey] since I was a squirt, so for about eight years,” said senior Ashley Gulbronson.

Gulbronson is part of the new girl’s high school hockey team combined with some players from Sparta and Tomah.

“There are 19 or 20 girls on the team,” said sophomore Mara Ransom.

The girls will also have to travel far to compete with other teams because there are not many in this area.

“We will play teams like Onalaska and Medford,” said Gulbronson.

This means travelling over an hour south-west and over two hours north-east for just these two games.

Hockey fans are encouraged to bring coats and blankets to keep warm at this season’s home games in the Milt Lunda Arena.

“The team looks very good, so I’m very excited,” said Polerecky.