Summer Figure Skating

by Kendall Wyckoff

 

Just Add Ice - July 11th

Another fun week enjoyed, another successful week completed. All throughout the week of July 2 nd, smiling children could be seen lounging, playing, or sweating their butts off around the Olympic center. On one rink, skaters were diligently practicing and performing their jumps, spins, and tricks. In other areas of the arena, a different event was taking place. Synchro camp is in town! This week, the elite week, 30 skaters, from all down the east coast to San Francisco, attended the camp, which includes 5 to 6 workshops and classes (such as dance, fitness, stretch, IJS system seminar, etc.) and a final exhibition on Saturday. All the synchronized skaters enjoyed and clearly benefited from what the camp had to offer.

On Saturday night, 20 skaters performed beautifully in the weekly ice show. Some of the skaters include this week’s Freaky Friday Twin Champions, Lucy and Ruby Seavey, and last week’s seven-year-old Freaky Friday Winner, Lexi Paganini. Elena Gonzalez of Lake Placid satisfied her whole family with a mix of classical piano, Venezuelan Fiesta, and Taylor Swift Music; it was definitely a crowd pleaser.

The 2-time US Champion pairs team, Amanda Evora, 24, and Mark Ladwig, 29, was the icing on the cake after a fabulous ice show. Skating to John Legend’s “Ordinary People” and Elton John’s “Your Song” from the Moulin Rouge Soundtrack, they were awe-inspiring and unique, and many skaters’ and spectators’ first time watching live pairs.

I had the chance to have a lovely conversation with Amanda and Mark. They, as I’ve learned, are extremely hard-working. They are sometimes at the rink from 8:30 in the morning until 7:00 at night, practicing and coaching. Amanda and Mark have always loved doing lifts, because they are  elements that are to add an original twist to. In fact, every aspect of pairs makes it the most diverse and creative division of the sport. Later, Amanda sagely put in some advice while Mark commented on the summer program. She said that she lives by the motto: “hard work and a good attitude will get you far in anything.” He said that the kids in the show here in Lake Placid were “The coolest kids he’s ever skated with” and that they were tremendously enthusiastic and dedicated.

Any kid around will tell you of the splendid times they had in the scenic village of Lake Placid, whether it occurred during a camp, a show, or on a nice stroll down Main Street.

 

Just Add Ice - July 4th

 
This fall, Lake Placid will host both a Junior Grand Prix and Skate America. But the on-ice excitement has already started. The 77th Annual Miracles on Ice Summer Skating Program kicked off with the Lake Placid Summer Figure Skating Championships June 25-27. In the last five weeks, many exciting skaters have passed through the rinks, including Saturday Night Ice Show guest stars: Madison Chock and Greg Zuerlein, Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, Brandon Mroz, and Meryl Davis and Charlie White. The ice will only continue to heat up, as Johnny Weir headlines the Saturday Night Ice Show, August 1st, and the best of ice dancing convene for the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championships on August 5-8. The following week, August 15th, Rachael Flatt is scheduled to guest star.
 
For a more in depth look at the on-ice excitement, here are some notes from one of my favorite Saturday Night Ice Shows, July 4th:
 
The Lake Placid Olympic Center was decorated with more than just red, white, and blue stars.  Olympian Emily Hughes, Collegiate champion Jason Wong, and twenty other budding stars showed up to shine at the July 4th edition of the Saturday Night Ice Show.

The opening number, choreographed by the creative Scott Brown, featured robotic skating to a cutting edge remix of “Human” by The Killers. 

Skaters from near and far took to the ice to showcase their talent.  Kat Grosshans came from Virginia, Harmonee Morgan came from Ohio, and Erin Sanislo came all the way from Minnesota.  Erin, 13, started skating about a year ago after seeing the US Nationals live in her home town of St. Paul, and can already land an axel.  Soloists also included Georgia skaters Dezarae Vazquez, Ally Chebuhar, Helena Fisher and Emily Haar; Connecticut skaters Jillian Belluck, Haley Blau, Katherine Mettler, Arielle Belluck; Westchester skaters Gabrielle Newman and Lexi Paganini; local skaters, Alyssa Mahatme, Ethan Amaral, and Allison Shultes; as well as, Jennifer Rosenthal from Boston, Jamie Moschetto from New Jersey, and Hailey Blodgett from Syracuse.

Emily Hughes ended the show with Thriller, in memory of Michael Jackson.  The finale featured Ethan Amaral in a honorable Michael Jackson impersonation while skaters took their final bows to Man in the Mirror.

Once the show had ended, skaters and spectators gathered their belongings, took pictures with Jason and Emily, and set off to celebrate.  I was lucky enough to ask a few people about their past and present holiday excursions.  Six year old Hailey Blodgett loves watching fireworks every July 4th, but this year she was extra excited because she walked in her very first parade. Walking in the parade down Main Street is a tradition for Lake Placid summer skaters.  Jason Wong said he has always enjoyed going to his annual town carnival, until last year when he first came to Lake Placid for the holiday.  Being a fan of Lake Placid (and the I Love BBQ festival), Jason had a wonderful 4th of July.  Emily said she usually attends a family BBQ for the holiday, but this year she was looking forward to watching the famous Lake Placid fireworks over Mirror Lake.

Jason had some nice words to say about the training program.  He claimed that Lake Placid had the best summer skating program he had ever seen, because it provides a good environment complete with inspired skaters, weekly shows, numerous coaching options, and exemplery role models.  Emily said her favorite part of Lake Placid is skating under the Olympic Rings.

Afterwards, Jason and Emily, told me of their future plans.  They are both hoping to give it their all this Olympic year, and for Emily this includes taking the next semester off.
 
As a skater, I enjoy training in Lake Placid year-round, but I have to say the summer offers an extra special environment.  The ice thrives with skaters and coaches from around the world.