Walker Ice & Fitness Center Quarterly e-Newsletter
Our Groupon Punch Card is going on through the summer!
Summer Grilling Recipe
Terri Korfhage, Membership Specialist, shared one of her favorite summer grilling recipes that’s as easy as it is delicious.

Spicy Pineapple Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 lb mini orange, red, and yellow peppers red and yellow peppers
  • 1 onion
  • 20 oz can pineapple chunks pineapple juice reserved

Pineapple Marinade:
  • 1/4 cup pineapple juice
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Pineapple Grilling Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp sriracha sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp soy sauce

Instructions
Pineapple Marinade:
  1. Start by draining the juice from a 20 ounce can of pineapple chunks into a glass bowl. The pineapple juice will be used for both the marinade and the grilling sauce.
  2. Mix together 1/4 cup of the pineapple juice, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic powder, and olive oil.
  3. Cut each chicken breast into pieces. Place all the pieces in the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Pineapple Grilling Sauce:
In a small saucepan, mix together 1/2 cup of pineapple juice, honey, sriracha sauce, olive oil, and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat. Once it starts to boil, turn the heat down and simmer for 4-6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Spicy Pineapple Chicken Kabobs:
  1. Cut red, orange, and yellow peppers into chunks. Slice an onion into chunks. Grab the drained pineapple chunks and the marinated chicken. Thread the ingredients onto 6 kabobs, alternating items, putting 6 pieces of chicken on each kabob. Don’t forget that wooden skewers need to be soaked in for 30 minutes before using.
  2. Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Brush the pineapple grilling sauce over the kabobs. Lightly oil the grill grates and then place the kabobs on the grill. Cook over medium-high heat, turning and brushing with pineapple grilling sauce often, for 12-15 minutes, until chicken is fully cooked.
Fall Coed Youth Soccer Registrations OPEN until July 31!
  • Registrations July 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019
  • 4 yr. (NEW) group is $30 for Walker residents and $40 for non-residents
  • 5-6 yr. old age group is $30 for Walker residents and $40 for non-residents
  • 7-8 yr. old, 9-10 yr. old and 11-12-13 yr. old age groups is $40 for Walker residents and $50 for non-residents
  • There is a $5.00 discount for each additional family member registered
Personal Training
We are extending our personal training special through the end of summer! This is a great way to enhance your regular workouts.

Buy 5 sessions and get the 6 th session FREE! Stop by and get yours today!
Are you training for an event, a run, or even a hike? Trainer Joan Otte has provided us with some exercises and prep work you can do from the air conditioned comfort of WIFC if you’re planning to do some hiking. 
  1. Use the incline trainers
  2. Goblet Squats
  3. Step ups
  4. Bridge on stability ball
  5. Single leg deadlift
  6. Lunges on Bosu Ball
Senior Walk
Our Senior Walking Club is going strong this summer. On July 3, our walkers showed their patriotism by dressing in red, white and blue. 

Senior Walk meets every Wednesday from 9-10 in the WIFC main lobby. All are welcome!
Equipment Spotlight – the Dual Cable Cross
The Dual Cable Cross is an incredibly versatile piece of strength training equipment. Our newest member of the Fitness Staff, London, demonstrated his favorite ways to use it for maximum benefit.
Single Arm Cable Fly

This is an excellent exercise for targeting the middle chest and core. Set the machine to your shoulder height and grab the handle with one hand, feet apart. Hold in the abs, inhale, exhale, as you bring the arm across the body. 
Cable Face-Pull

This exercise improves posture by strengthening the upper traps and rotator cuff. Set the machine to your shoulder height. Facing a high pulley, hold handles, inhale. Exhale pulling the handles towards your face, separating your hands as you do so. Keep upper arms parallel to the ground.
Kneeling Lower Chest Fly

This is a great way to pump up the pecs. Set each machine arm to the high position. In a kneeling position, put a handle in each hand. Inhale, keeping elbows rounded, exhale crossing wrists to the closed position.
Walker Ice & Fitness is a Drop-off Location for 3 Mile Project's School Supplies Drive.

Please consider bringing in new school supplies between July 15 and August 2 to WIFC to place in the big, yellow school bus! 3 Mile Project is looking for backpacks, folders, binders, crayons, dividers, markers, scissors, glue sticks, calculators, etc. All backpacks filled with supplies will be be given to local kids right here in Walker at their 3rd Annual School Supply Event on Tuesday, August 6.
Phases of Hockey Development
Hockey is a fantastic way to keep in shape, make friends, and have fun! But if you don’t come from a hockey background, it can be difficult to navigate your kid’s hockey interest. Our Ice Director, Mike Fountain, walks us through the different levels of youth hockey here at the WIFC.
Learn to Play Hockey
The best place for getting started is our Learn to Play Hockey program. Basic skate skills are needed before starting, which can be accomplished in our Learn to Skate program. Learn to Play provides a fun and safe environment for boys and girls to develop fundamental hockey playing skills. WIFC offers Learn to Play sessions year-round, and our expert instructors are led by Coach Mike. 
Cross Ice
Once players have mastered the basics, they move onto our Cross Ice program. Every player progresses at their own pace, and if you feel your child is ready for the next level, feel free to consult with Coach Mike. Cross Ice is available for kids ages 5-13 and features practices with in-house scrimmages and Saturday morning games. Your child must be registered with USA Hockey and we must have a copy of your child’s county-issued birth certificate on file. The program begins in October and registration is available in late summer.
HAWK Hockey
Once they’re ready, your child will move up to our in-house hockey team, the Hockey Association of Western Kent (HAWK). This is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving and enhancing the quality of hockey in West Michigan. HAWK players range from 7-18 years old, and there are opportunities to be part of travel or house teams. HAWK also hosts activities throughout the year, such as Power Skates and hockey clinics, to help players work on their skills both on and off the ice.
For more information on our programs or if you need help with equipment and sizing, please feel free to reach out to Mike Fountain at (616) 735-6286 or via email at mfountain@walkericeandfitness.com .
Pro Shop Updates
In early July, the Pro-shop will be restocked with all the latest equipment from Bauer, CCM, and Warrior including:
New Bauer Vapor Skates
New Bauer Vapor Sticks
New Supreme Gloves
Supreme Equipment
CCM Jetspeed Sticks
CCM Tacks Gloves
Warrior Alpha Sticks
New Warrior Equipment
New CCM Equipment
Orange sticker sale in the Pro-Shop! Check it out today!
Meijer State Games of Michigan
In mid-June, WIFC served as a registration site and game location for the hockey portion of the Meijer State Games of Michigan. We had many exciting games in the 10U and 12U divisions. The Meijer State Games works to promote the values of participation, sportsmanship, and healthy living for Michigan residents.
Are Flip Flops Bad for your Feet?
When the weather gets hot, many of us like to swap out shoes and sneakers for a comfortable pair of flip flops. But, are they bad for our feet? According to the University of Pittsburg’s School of Health Sciences, the problem with flip flops is in the construction. They have limited ankle support, no arch support or Achilles tendon support. They can contribute to injury and balance problems, and they don’t provide protection against the natural wear and tear on feet from walking. Finally, they can worsen existing feet problems.

But, if flip flops are still your favorite summer footwear, you can help protect your feet with careful choices:
  • Shop for leather flip flops that are made from thicker, more protective, materials
  • Make sure they fit properly – your feet should not hang over the edges
  • Make sure the soles are strong enough that they don’t bend
  • Don’t wear flip flops with deteriorating soles
  • Don’t wear them while doing heavy lifting, athletics or yard work
  • Don’t wear flip flops during long walks or while on your feet for extended periods of time
Choosing Sunglasses
Sun glasses are more than just a great fashion accessory – choosing the right pair can help protect your eyes from the harmful effects of UV rays.

When buying glasses:
  • Make sure they block 100% of UV rays.
  • The color doesn’t matter, and dark lenses don’t necessarily protect better.
  • However, size matters! Bigger is better for more protection.
  • Polarized lenses cut glare, not UV light.
  • Price is not an indicator of quality – a cheap pair that has 100% UV protection is better than an expensive pair that doesn’t
When is an Avocado actually ripe?
Avocados do not ripen on the tree; they ripen or “soften” after they have been harvested. To speed up the avocado ripening process place unripe avocados in a brown paper bag with an apple or banana overnight or up to three days until they are ripe.  
July is National Park & Recreation month!

As our Walker Parks & Rec Department celebrates this month, we are encouraging you to get outside and explore local parks and enjoy some outdoor activities!
Why get active outside?
  • To increase children’s chances of success in school: kids with access to safe parks and playgrounds are more likely to engage in physical activities- kids who are physically active do better in school.
  • To contribute to the maintenance of a healthy weight: Local parks and recreation departments help promote physical activity.
  • To have a more positive outlook: Spending time outdoors reduces stress and improves mental health, it decreases stress hormones and calms aggression.
Host your party with us!
Host your next party at the WIFC and have the party that everyone remembers! Skating parties take place during our open skate sessions (usually 1 hour 50 minutes), and we have a variety of party packages to choose from. Room rentals are also available and start at just $20 per hour. Call Facility Director Mary Kay Sherman (616) 735-6286 for more details and to book.

We also offer private ice rental. For information and pricing, please contact Mike Fountain, Ice Director, at (616) 735-6286 or mfountain@walkericeandfitness.com.

For an up-to-date ice schedule visit www.walkericeandfitness.com .
Walker Ice and Fitness Center
4151 Remembrance Rd. NW
Walker, MI 49534
Phone: (616) 735-6286