KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Getting just the right edge and sharpened blade is critical for skaters at the Ice Factory, an Olympic-class ice skating center in Kissimmee.

What You Need To Know

  • The Ice Factory is a cool place for ice skating, hockey and curling

  • The Olympic-class skating center is located in Kissimmee

  • Former Olympian Calla Urbanski teaches ice skating at Ice Factory

  • The facility is open seven days a week, but hours vary

No one knows that better than coach and athlete Calla Urbanski, who teaches at the rink.  

“Tighten it up, arms through and up,” Urbanski says.

“There you go. Arms need to come through and in. Now after the exercise, give me the jump, OK?"

Urbanski, a former Olympian who has skated since she was a child, turned that childhood passion into a livelihood teaching the next generation at the Ice Factory.

The center also offers curling, ice hockey leagues and instruction in those sports.

Prior to teaching ice skating, Urbanski competed internationally and was a professional figure skater.

She still can show off a few of the pins she collected over the years at competitions worldwide. 

“So this one was from Albertville (France), and mine would have said ‘figure skating’ right here, but I tried with someone else for one of the curling pins." 

“There is a Bulgaria one right there.” 

The Albertville pin was from the 1992 Winter Olympics, where she and skating partner Rocky Marval finished 10th in pairs skating for the United States. 

Now she takes pride instructing the upcoming young skaters of tomorrow,

“You need to give me need to give me more height, OK?” Urbanski says. “I want to see that axel again.”

The Ice Factory is open seven days a week, but the hours vary so it’s best to call ahead or check out its website, which also provides information on summer classes and other activities.