All Ability Skate Day brings people together

Rapid City, S.D. (KELO) — The downtown ice rink in Rapid City at Main Street Square hosted their 4th annual All Ability Skate Day today.

This event aims to bring people of all abilities together on the ice rink.

“We have exceptional skaters from Black Hills Figure Skating Club and Nugget, alongside people who are using wheelchairs. And if not for today and the adaptive equipment that is provided, might not have ever been on the ice before. So it’s really great to see,” Disability Awareness & Accessibility Committee Chair Tamie Hopp said.

Susan Utter lost her vision at the age of 14, and events like these allow her to participate as well.

“Well I just rode a sled on the ice and it was a blast, it was a lot of fun going around the circle,” Participant Susan Utter said.

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“So we have some other equipment that we’ll actually attach to the wheel chair itself that will help it glide across the ice. So that’s great and then we have the walkers that are always available to anyone that’s here,” DTRC Events Manager Destiny Cash said.

Accessible events like these are helping take down barriers in Rapid City.

“Again to address accessibility and making the city inviting and accessible for all citizens, citizens of all abilities. Ice is kind of unifying, I mean many of us don’t feel comfortable on the ice,” Hopp said.

“It’s great because I thought I would just come out here and have to just stand in the cold, but it wasn’t that way at all, it was awesome,” Utter said.

This event takes place each February and is open to all to come on down and get on the ice regardless of your abilities.