New Ulm Figure Skating Club member Evalyn Altmann practices her routine performed to the tune of “Sister Suffragette.” Staff photos by Clay Schuldt

NEW ULM — The second day of the New Ulm figure skating competition glided through with grace and style.

The two-day fall figure skating event featured around 180 skaters from over 10 skating clubs in Minnesota and South Dakota. The majority of New Ulm’s Figure Skating Club competed, but Hutchinson and Sioux Falls had a strong showing in the weekend. Brookings, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Buffalo, Minneapolis Augsburg and White Bear Lake also brought in their share of skaters.

Volunteers and coaches said this year’s fall competition was up from last year’s competition owing to the recent Winter Olympics.

Coaches for the New Ulm Figure Skating Club were excited with their skater’s performance this year. On Saturday, they won the Theater Production event, which included a skating interpretation of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Pro Coach Gabriella De La Cruz said it was exciting because the theater production event feature the majority of New Ulm’s skaters.

Kathy and Katrina Bjorkstrand served as coaches for the Wizard of Oz production.

On Sunday, the ice skaters continued to show of their artistic side. Certain events allowed them to wear costumes and use props associated with their songs.

Evalyn Altmann, dressed as a suffragette, skated to a “Mary Poppins” tune. Matalyne Jones had an Arabic-themed costume to match the “Aladdin” soundtrack.

The Fall Festival Ice Skating Competition is the winter kickoff event for area figure skating. The ice competition draws many out of town skaters to New Ulm’s Civic Center. The New Ulm Figure Skating Club’s 2019 Ice Show is February 23 and 24, with the theme “Blades on Broadway.”