THE ICE ABLE TO MELT COMPETITION

In ice skating scores, the season has been a 6.0 for The Ice, a local ice skating team which calls the Plaza Galleria ice rink its home.

In other words, The Ice has been perfect in its first two meets of the season. The team, coached by Ashlee Hale, captured first place in the 14-team Sweetheart Open last weekend in St. Louis. The win made The Ice 2-for-2 in meets this season. In January the squad proved to be the cream of a 14-team field at the St. Peters Gateway Invitational in St. Peters.

The two wins have Hale, in her fourth year of coaching The Ice, excited about her 15-member team.

"I don't think people around here realize how talented these kids are," said Hale. "Our kids are doing double jumps like they're doing on TV."

Four of the team members, which range from age 4 to 55, are performing regular axles and three are completing the double Sal-Chow.

Along with the wins, the every-four-year `Olympic Fever' is adding excitement.

"It's a mad house over there," said Hale. "It's bad for me because I have to try to find room to give lessons."

But Hale will gladly give up a little space in order to see her sport thrive. As would be expected, the Olympic ice skating events have her team more focused than ever.

"The big thing now is the quad," said Hale, laughing about the near-impossible four-rotation jump that professionals are just now attempting. "But they are more eager to learn."

There are also a lot of Tara Lapinski wanna-bes.

"She's the youngest and she's the easiest to relate to," said Hale of the 15-year-old American figure skater.

In the Olympic year, Hale said she has an increase in inquiries about private lessons. She said individuals must first learn the basics of figure skating before becoming a team member.

The team still has several competitions planned this year. The Ice plans an in-house competition on Feb. 28 that is open to the public. The program will start at 5 p.m.

Also, the The Ice will compete at the World meet in St. Louis Aug. 3-8. The six-day meet will be held in two to three rinks and will reportedly feature over 1,800 routines.