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NEWS
Ice Bowl benefits local food bank
Disc golfer's take to the hills of Rotary Park during the second round of the 12th annual Huntington Ice Bowl Saturday, January 31, 2009, at the Rotary Park disc golf course.
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HUNTINGTON -- Tables full of canned goods and discs were signs of a good, if cold, day at the 12th annual Huntington Ice Bowl at Rotary Park this weekend.
Each year the event seems to grow, and this year was no disappointment, according to local Ice Bowl organizer Don Kleppe.
About 63 players attended this year's local Ice Bowl, raising more than $2,400 and an estimated 500 pounds of food for the Huntington Area Food Bank.
Rain or shine, the international event known as Ice Bowl invites dedicated disc golfers to unite one day each year to raise funds for local charities and have fun. While last year's event may have been dreary and damp, this year's event was actually covered in ice, Kleppe said.
Many people in winter hats and layers of sweatshirts and coats were waiting outside in 20 degree temperatures for the competition to begin before 9 a.m. Saturday.
"They're out here to have some fun in the middle of the winter," Kleppe said.
This year the group aimed to raise $5,000 and 150 pounds of food for the Huntington Area Food Bank. Kleppe said the local Ice Bowl has raised about $30,000 and 35 tons of food for the food bank since the event's inception. Last year the group took fourth place in the international competition as one of the top fundraisers.
Kleppe said co-sponsor The Independent Order of Redmen-Mohawk Tribe #11 also donated funds.
Johnny Sias of Lavalette was one of many disc golfers bundled up for the event on Saturday. Sias not only designed the two 18-hole disc courses at Rotary Park, he's also a former world champion in the sport.
Sias said he has been playing disc golf for 30 years and he was happy to support the food bank as part of the game.
"It's a great cause," he said.
Sias also has designed courses in Fairmont and Ripley, W.Va.
Another resident, John Thomas of Huntington, started playing disc golf about two years ago. Thomas said he often plays with his 7-year-old son Jacob and 9-year-old daughter Morgan. It's something fun they can do together, and it's good exercise, he said. He said the local course is easily the best around.
Kleppe said Ice Bowl is also a chance to remind area residents about the disc golf sport and of the good that local disc golfers do for the community. He said the local group is very eclectic, with people from all walks of life.
While Ice Bowl gives gifts of food and funds each year, it also gives to Kleppe as part of his birthday.
"It's my way of giving myself a little birthday gift and giving back to the community," he said.
More information is available at www.huntingtondiscgolf.com or www.icebowlhq.com.
