Freeze off the pounds this winter

Joy Wells burns calories with ice.

Wells, like a growing number of people in the Rio Grande Valley, uses ice skating to stay in shape. Skaters flock to the Rio Grande Valley Ice Center near the intersection of Business 83 and 26th Street in McAllen. The rink's owner, Violet Grammer, estimates that more than 1,000 people glide on the ice each week; that number includes hockey players and recreational skaters. It also includes dozens of child figure skaters. Wells teaches those youngsters and watches them get into shape.

Wells, a Michigan native who started skating at age 5, said simply standing on ice skates can prove a tough exercise for the uninitiated. And an afternoon skating in circles often leaves new skaters pouring sweat, despite the 40 degree temperature in the ice center.

Skating forces people to use their entire bodies. It takes legs to move, back to stay upright and arms to balance, Wells said.

But as skating works your body, Wells said it gives you a fun challenge. The youngsters rarely notice the work out and neither do adults.

"Skating has what we call the ‘weeeee factor,' " she said. "When you skate by, you yell ‘weeeee.'"

But Wells and her figure skaters aren't the only ones using ice to feel the burn.

There's a whole legion of pint size and adult hockey players.

Jim Sorce, a local ears, nose and throat doctor, coaches the middle school-aged Junior Killer Bees. On a recent Monday night, the players dressed in official-looking jerseys and packed the ice center.

As a Zamboni machine smoothed the ice, they stood rapt at the rink door. They began to jump up and down when the machine finished its round. The players exploded onto the ice as soon as the machine finished its work.

And Sorce said the young hockey players bring the same enthusiasm to fitness. He tells them to cut the candy. They listen. He tells them to get in shape. They do it. He tells them to do anything, emphasizing the ways it will improve their hockey game. And they comply.

Tracey Southwell and Kim Ronson have children on Source's team. Bo Ronson and Bridger Southwell play hockey along side Sorce's children Michael and Travis. The children, ages 9 through 11, became more active because of hockey.

"When he's not on the ice, he goes home and plays roller hockey," said Tracey Southwell.

Hitting the ice has infected the parents as well, Grammer said. Like other sports, hockey parents become vocal and yell advice at players. After a while, the players begin to challenge parents to skate, and the rink sees an increase of participation in the adult hockey leagues, she added.

The ice center houses adult teams ranging from all women to all winter Texans, Grammer said. And the players come out dripping sweat.

But not because they're out of shape. Wells said her husband runs miles regularly with little fatigue. On skates, it's a different story.

"He felt very out of shape for an in shape guy," she said.

Looks like shaving the ice with skates can do the same for inches on a waistline.

Zack Quaintance covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.