Venturing out on the ice

The Winter Olympics have been America’s trending headline for the past couple of weeks. Although the Blade Angels have been all the rage, there is actually a figure skating community as well as a competitive atmosphere just a few miles away in Troy. Instead of waiting every four years to tune into the global phenomenon, anyone could pick up a passion for skating any time at Hobart Arena.

One athlete in particular who can speak on picking up the sport is twenty-two-year-old Audrey Mahaney. During the week of February 14, Hobart Arena hosted its 2026 Albert Viviani Memorial/ Deborah Burgoyne North American Adult Competition, in which Audrey placed 2nd.

Mahaney’s experience with figure skating is both unique and inspirational to anyone who finds themselves second-guessing whether to try something new. The young skater began her journey on the ice just eight years ago at the age of fourteen. While many join sports in their early adolescence, Audrey was determined to enjoy skating while overcoming struggles that others experienced earlier on. While being a beginner in anything can be discouraging, the then Tippecanoe High School student found her interest in the sport more important than the age or progress of her competitors. She skates exclusively because she enjoys it.

Audrey recalls moving homes in her early teenage years and searching for an extracurricular activity to fill her time. When she found ice skating, it was only a matter of time before open ice sessions led to classes, and eventually competitions.

Mahaney recalls that her teenage competitions had more of an intense atmosphere than her recent experience in the adult skating world. In either situation, there is a process that goes into each movement and element of a competing piece. Audrey had to find a song that she enjoyed, cut it to fit her choreography, choreograph her piece, meet strict level-based requirements within the piece, and find a costume. And of course, practice and compete.

Despite the overwhelming planning of it all, Audrey says that she skates because she enjoys it and because she enjoys working towards a goal. Whether her goal was to compete, win, or just have a good time, she certainly impressed the judges and herself with her 2nd-place award.

When she isn’t competing, Audrey Mahaney is an integral member of the Troy Skating Club. Hobart is where Audrey found her passion, and where she also spends her time practicing, as well as coaching and teaching younger skaters and beginners through TSC. She’s now been a coach for roughly five years, after being a beginner herself just three years prior.

Audrey hopes to expose figure skating to more people, as well as continue to push herself and others to reach their goals on the ice. In the meantime, Troy Skating Club offers classes for every age group, whether you’re in elementary school, a teenager looking for something new, or an adult who just couldn’t stop watching the gold medalists this year. It’s never too late to find a passion for being on the ice.