In the wake of the winter’s first flurries, the Malden High Skate Club officially commenced their first month of gatherings in Boston the past December. New and recurring members made the trip to Boston to participate in a fun and festive activity as anticipation built for the holiday season.
The club, founded in 2023 by past Editors-in-Chief for The Blue and Gold Ryan Coggswell and Bo Stead, returned in December with new senior officers Gino Spadafora and Joseph Alayane, as well as sophomore Hannah Coggswell taking leadership of the club. The club announced they would be hosting three skates for the month; the first two occurring at Steriti Memorial Rink on December 5th and December 12th, and the third, unfortunately being cancelled due to concerns about costs, at Boston’s Frog Pond.
The club saw changes in its locations this year, holding all meetings for the rest of the season at Steriti Rink. In previous years, the club would switch between meetings at Flynn Rink in Medford and Steriti. This change reduced costs for skaters, as Flynn Rink charges a $5 entry fee alongside a $5 rental fee for skates. This change is also more convenient transportation-wise, as the rink is a seven minute walk from North Station, which can be accessed through taking the train at the Malden Center station.
“I don’t mind the events being held in Boston rather than Medford since taking the train there is really simple, but I think it would be nice to switch it up every now and then,” expressed junior Angela Lam, who returned to the Skate Club after joining last year.
“We’re happy with the turnout this year, we hope to keep the enthusiasm going and get new people to join,” shared Alayane, who is Co-President of the club alongside Spadafora.
For its third year now, the club has continued to foster an environment in which people can try out an activity for the first time with their friends, develop a new hobby, learn a new skill, or reignite their enjoyment for ice skating.
“It’s super fun. I get to learn how to ice skate with my friends; I wasn’t very good at the beginning of the year and now I am okay at it,” said junior Aya Tafraoui, who expressed that her motivation for going to the gatherings was to continue to develop her ice skating ability.
The club, despite seeing less attendance in recent meetings, still provides an opportunity for students to meet outside of school for an engaging activity that “brings everyone together and gives us a sense of belonging” according to Marenghi. “Nobody really knows how to skate. Struggling with your friends and enjoying those silly moments makes it the most fun,” she continued.
As the winter season progresses in light of one of Boston’s coldest winters, the club continues to evoke a welcoming atmosphere for those of all different skill levels and a fun time to spend with friends for its members.
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