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Keith McCord ReportingTonight's NBC coverage of the Women's figure skating finals is expected to draw a huge television audience; it's typically the most watched event during the Olympics. Because of all the attention, ice skating rinks are getting busy.
Both rinks at the University of Utah have hockey going on right now, but the center has been getting more crowded the last few days. Kids watch the Olympics want to come try it out. There are a lot of young girls signing up to take lessons.
Meet six-year old Sydney Stock. She's been skating for a year and a half and she's pretty good.
Reporter: "Are you watching the Olympics?"
Sydney Stock: "UmmmHmmm."
Reporter: "When you watch them, who's your favorite skater?"
Sydney Stock: "Sasha Cohen."
You'll hear that a lot at ice rinks, not only in Utah but all across the country right now. Every four years, places like this always see a spike in the numbers as skaters of all ages sign up for lessons.
Lisa Kriley, Professional Figure Skating Coach: "Absolutely, they watch TV, they mimic what they see, and they want to imitate it. So they come to the ice a lot more enthused."
For a professional figure skating coach like Lisa Kriley, it makes her job somewhat easier.
Lisa Kriley, Professional Figure Skating Coach: "You see their desire, and they say, 'I want to try that spiral or that spin,' so they start trying new things."
At the Salt Lake Sports Complex, two new six-week skating sessions will begin next week. The numbers are already up significantly from a year ago and are expected to jump again after the Olympics.
Sixteen-year old Ashlee Johnson drives up from Riverton High School every day. She's skated for eight years and says the Olympics really gives her a boost to push just that much more.
Ashlee Johnson: "Yeah, it actually makes you more motivated. And especially after the last Olympics and we helped with the opening ceremonies. And it motivates you to work harder and get there."
Ashlee says she'd love to compete on a national level someday, and yes, the Olympic games are a dream for her as it is for so many at ice skating centers all over the country.
We assume that things will quiet down at the rinks tonight-- all those skaters will probably be home watching to see who wins the gold!
