The ice has broken

“They say we don’t make a profit!..” On Tuesday, a spontaneous gathering took place in the Petrogradsky district: mothers came with their offspring, athletic and not-so-looking people of different ages. They performed for a long time and excitedly in front of the television cameras. No, this time there is no “disagreement” - on the contrary, full respect to the Smolny administration.

“We appeal to you, as an authorized representative of the authorities of our city,” says the petition addressed to the governor, “who cares for the needs of citizens (sic. - Author), with a request to help preserve the only state government accessible to everyone - for children and adults figure skating school at the Central Park of Culture and Culture..."
The figure skating school (SFC) we are talking about turns fifty years old this year. Once upon a time, Tatiana Moskvina, Alexey Mishin, Oleg Vasiliev trained and trained here. Nowadays it's mostly amateurs.
“People from all over the city come here, to Elagin,” says the mother of the aspiring young figure skater Vanya, Tatyana Lobok. – The program is more recreational than sports, and almost everyone is accepted. My son was delighted and so were we...
In good weather, all classes - not only on the ice, but also choreography and general physical training - take place outdoors. Imagine: on an island, in the middle of a park, with its unique microclimate...
– Where else can you find such prices? – asks an older student, Olga Murashova. – Classes with a professional trainer are four times a week, and a monthly subscription costs only 800 rubles...
In principle, the clouds did not gather over the forge of the skate masters today. Half of the school premises have long been occupied by a tennis club as a tenant; The territory of one of the two ice rinks was also given to him for indoor courts. The part of the building where the figure skating school is located has been in need of repair for many years: there are no funds.
However, so far we have managed somehow. And a few days ago, the school’s coaching staff was unexpectedly announced: in two months everyone would be fired due to staff reductions.
“Supposedly, an order came down from above to get rid of 45 employees,” explains coach Elena Garkusha, who worked at the school for about ten years. “So they close everything that doesn’t bring in enough income.” Not just us, by the way. For example, they are closing the so-called children's department, including the studio where children and teenagers studied music and drawing...
In winter, up to 100 people study at the ShFK, in other seasons - up to 60. Elena’s salary, net, is a little more than 7 thousand rubles (paid by the budget), and she leads at least 30 students - that is, she earns 24 thousand a month for the park. Apparently, the costs of maintaining an ice school are even higher? Teachers, students, parents are ready for any, even the most spartan conditions - just to stay here. If only they would leave their alma mater alone. “If it is so difficult and expensive, then please do not give us a separate skating rink - we will train on the common skating rink of the Central Park of Culture and Culture. They are even ready to give up the hall! But it’s all useless.”
However, the dismissed coaches were offered a list of positions to which they could move. Without students, of course.
“I tried to persuade the authorities,” continues Elena Garkusha, “to transfer at least one group to the base of the health club, where older people work out: there is a free teaching position there.” The director - no way... But so many children will suffer!
Unfortunately, it was not possible to shed light on the situation with the help of the director of the Central Park of Culture and Recreation, Pavel Seleznev. “The issue with the ShFK has not been finally resolved, so no comments yet,” he said through his secretary.
It was not possible to find out the opinion of our two famous virtuosos of the sheepskin coat and axel, Olympic champions, deputies of the Legislative Assembly Evgeni Plushenko (A Just Russia) and Anton Sikharulidze (United Russia). Sikharulidze’s assistants, whom we contacted on Tuesday, replied the next day that “Anton Tarielevich is not involved in this issue and cannot comment on anything.” Regarding Plushenko, the press secretary of the Socialist Revolutionary faction said that contacting the parliamentarian-athlete is “very difficult” and that even his closest colleagues in the faction do not know where he is now.
And the students of the school on Elagin Island, not wanting to cover their skates, are meanwhile thinking about their further plan of action. A petition to the governor is, of course, a good thing, but what if it doesn’t help?

Valeria STRELNIKOVA
Photo by Sergei ERMOKHIN