Cosby senior Josh Burton was fifth overall (for his age group) and third in the 1,500 at last year's nationals VCU student Sonia Milan transferred from Northern Michigan University so she could train full-time. Her goal is to make the 2010 Olympic squad. Even in Richmond's hot, steamy summer, there's a 100 percent chance of cold and ice in the daily forecast for some local athletes.

Central Virginia has emerged as a gathering place for the frosty activity of short-track, speed skating.

"Steve Burton has taken charge, turning Richmond into a hotbed for skating, around the nation and around the world," said Virginia speedskating coach/program director Scott Koons, a 1998 Olympian.

Burton is executive director for Virginia Speedskating (founded in 2002 as "an idea"), with activity at Chesterfield's Ice Zone and SkateNation in Henrico.

Earlier this year, the club won 23 medals (10 gold) at the U.S. National Short Track Championships in Milwaukee.

"We're opening some eyes," Koons said.

Galaxy of stars: Five club athletes, having converged on Richmond, have qualified for the Senior Division America Cup on Sept. 27-28 in Minneapolis.

They are Jim Rowdowsky (Maryland), Sonia Milan (Cleveland), Kim Derrick (Kentucky), Jordan Malon (Texas) and Landon Hatfield, who commutes from Albemarle.

"We've got the best speed skating club in America, and the Olympic Committee is freaked out," Burton said. "They can't believe what we're doing in Richmond, Virginia, of all places."

Burton hatched the idea after marveling at Apolo Ohno on television ("It was the coolest thing," he said) at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

"We're excited about the Olympics being in Vancouver in 2010,' Burton said. "We hope to have at least two Olympians on the U.S. team."

Cosby kid: An impressive list of talented skaters includes Josh Burton, 17, a Cosby High senior and son of the director.

Josh was fifth overall (for his age group) and third in the 1,500 at last year's nationals.

"I like to go fast," said the team captain.

Discovering Richmond: Milan, 21, picked the local club to mount a comeback following a year lost to spinal injury.

She has transferred from Northern Michigan University to VCU to train full-time. Her goal is to make the 2010 Olympic squad.

"I found out about Richmond on the Ohno Zone [Web site for skating]," she said. "It helped that Coach Koons was one of my first coaches.

Koons said, "Sonia chose Richmond to resurrect her career."

International flavor: Koons drills the senior level athletes. The developmental coach is Sun-Tae Chea, and the novice coach is Ji Young Chea, both from South Korea.

Virginia Speedskating is a mix of national and international skaters, along with a hoard of entry-level children as young as 6.

"Those are our future Olympians," Burton said. "They're part of our feeder system."

Come one, come all: Burton said the club is "open to anyone," and he even offers the first month free.

"We supply the skates, the coaches -- everything you need to get started," he said.