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November 2009
This is exciting because it is one of the few times the SVFSC has
earned two medals at Regionals. For the 2010-2011 season,
Alex plans to move into qualifying competition at the
Intermediate level.
The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter – November 2009 Page: 2
Claire Siderman Awarded Showcase Trophy
During the 2009 Sun Valley Summer Championships,
Community School 7th grader, Claire Siderman,
entertained the audience with a slapstick rendition of a
cleaning woman who has an accident with a bucket. Her
efforts were rewarded with the "Best Overall Showcase
Trophy" for Nontest through Pre-Juvenile level skaters.
Claire is coached by Michele Monnier and her program
was choreographed by Gia Guddat.
Regarding the show, Scott Irvine, Director of the Sun Valley Skating Center, commented:
“I’ve started working on the Christmas show and we’re going to try to be organized well
in advance this year. We are also planning on holding the dress rehearsal earlier in the
evening so that it’s not so cold and the kids aren’t out too late. As more information
becomes available I will post it at the rink.”
From all of the parents of the younger children: “Thank you, Scott!!!”
(Note: This article is also posted on the SVFSC’s board and web site along with the
“Singles Free Skate Competitive Levels” chart. In addition, the chart is attached to the
newsletter email.)
The Rules of the Sport
The elements necessary to pass a free skate test are much simpler than the elements a
skater will need to be competitive at the same free skate level. This is why skaters often
take Moves in The Field tests as soon as they are ready to pass them, but, unless they are
no longer actively competing in free skate, they will hold back on taking free skate tests
until they have mastered the elements they need to compete at that level. (Example: An
axel is permitted at the Pre-Preliminary level of competition, but it is not a required free
skate test element until the Juvenile free skate test. To be competitive at the Juvenile
level, however, a skater must have mastered most of his/her double jumps!) That is why
it is not unusual for a skater’s highest Moves in The Field test to be several levels higher
than their free skate test/competition level. Once a skater passes a USFS free skate test,
the skater may never again compete at a lower level. (Note: The optional testing
performed by clubs as part of a Basic Skills Program are not official USFS tests. Official
USFS testing requires a panel of qualified USFS judges. Basic Skills tests are informal
tests administered to determine Basic Skills competition level.)
Many competition applications require parents and skaters to affirm that they have read
and understand the USFS Rules and the Competition Rules applicable to the skaters’
event. Do not hesitate to ask your coach detailed questions so that you may better
understand what elements you or your child will need to have mastered to successfully
compete at a given level. There are times when a skater is ready to pass a USFS free
skate test, but might not be prepared to compete at that free skate level. In addition, age
restrictions come into play at the Juvenile and Intermediate levels. Your coach can help
you decide when to test and what competitive level is best.
The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter – November 2009 Page: 4
Skating News & Travels
Gia Guddat Choreographs Scott Hamilton Show
SVFSC coach and choreographer, Gia Guddat, will be
going to Washington D.C. this month to choreograph
"KALEIDOSCOPE," a show that celebrates skating,
songs and survivorship.
Kristi Yamaguchi, Nancy Kerrigan, Johnny Weir, Rachael Flatt and ice dance champions
Meryl Davis & Charlie White will also perform. The show will air nationally on FOX on
Thanksgiving Day (Nov.26th) from 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST. (2:00-3:30 p.m. here).
This special is the latest incarnation of last year’s “Frosted Pink.” “I'm excited to be part
of a show that informs, entertains and inspires," commented Gia.
The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter – November 2009 Page: 5
The Nationals were held in December, and the Reykjavik Club had much success,
winning the Senior, Junior, 12 and 10 and under ladies divisions. The club then sent four
of the skaters on to the Nordic competition last winter, where they competed against
Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. This fall, Dawn returned for a clinic to help
prepare the competitive skating and basic testing programs for this season.
Dawn mentions that it was an interesting time to experience such a unique country. With
the economic failure of all three of the country's banks, Iceland's currency, the krona,
became worthless beyond its shores, becoming one of the strangest economic failures of
the global financial crisis.
Another Sun Valley club member, Marie Matthews, came to visit Dawn in early
November of last year (see picture above). Both Dawn & Marie experienced the U.S.
presidential election and Iceland's economic crisis together on this tiny island in the
Atlantic.
Thirty years later, 2009 Skate America is again being held in Lake Placid and will serve
as a precursor to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The event will be Nov. 13–15th and
you can watch highlights on NBC the afternoon of Nov. 15th.
The club is in the process of updating its bylaws. All voting members will receive a
postcard in the mail with details. Copies of the old and new bylaws will be posted on the
SVFSC website for review. Please call the club office at 622-8020 if you would like to
have copies mailed to you. The basic reason for updating the bylaws is to bring the club
more current with the rules and bylaws of US Figure Skating and to generally update our
ability to conduct business electronically (via email, conference calls etc.).
All club members are invited to attend the annual SVFSC meeting on December 8th at
5:30 p.m., at the Elkhorn home of Kathy Crossen (203 Blue Bell St., Sun Valley). The
agenda will include an annual update on Club business, the treasurer’s report, and annual
The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter – November 2009 Page: 6
elections. By now you should have received an elections packet from Lisa Broderick,
chairperson for the 2009 Nominating Committee. The packet outlined the three
committee-recommended nominees: Peggy Baker, Brad Cleveland and Rod Harten,
please see information from each nominee below:
Peggy Baker has been in the valley for 12 years and has three children. Blair, her oldest
child is the member of the SVFSC. She is 11 and has been skating for 4 years and
competing since she was in 3rd grade. She enjoys her life at the rink very much. Peggy
would like to help make the club even more sound so that the kids who skate get the most
out of their experiences involving skating. She would like the members to continue to
support each other and care about each other. Peggy would like the coaches to work
together and support each other as well. She believes that the shows that the club puts on
are great fun for the community and that it is great for the community to see what these
girls can do no matter what age or level they are skating at.
Peggy has been very involved at The Community School in their development office.
She was one of the co-chairs of the Annual Fund for three years in which they reached
100% (last year they reached 99.5%) participation from families and staff. She is a
strong supporter of the YMCA as well.
Peggy feels passionate about helping our children, giving them goals and safe places to
go and hang out after school.
Brad Cleveland moved to Ketchum full-time in June with his wife, Kirsten and daughter,
Grace (7) from Annapolis, Maryland. He and his family have been part-time summer
residents for several years and Grace has enjoyed skated in the summer ice shows for the
last two summers.
Brad will bring a tremendous amount of professional experience to the Club. An original
partner in and former President and CEO of the International Customer Management
Institute (ICMI), Brad grew the firm into a global industry leader that is now part of
United Business Media (London: UBM.L). He now serves as a Senior Advisor to ICMI,
and is an award-winning author and in-demand speaker. Brad is excited to serve our
community and our club as a member of the SVFSC Board and looks forward to working
with all the members of the local skating community.
Rod Harten moved to the valley with his wife, Andrea, when their daughter, Alex, was a
newborn. Rod’s experience with figure skating began when Alex entered SVFSC’s
Learn-To-Skate classes at age 5. Rod saw Alex, now 12, through Basic Skills, countless
competitions and USFS tests, numerous Club Shows and Christmas Shows and three
Regional Championships. Somewhere along the way, Rod figured he might as well learn
to skate himself. Now he plays B-League hockey as well as working on his first adult
Moves in the Field test.
The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter – November 2009 Page: 7
Over the years, Rod has served the Club as a volunteer at nearly every club event, most
recently as an interim Board member. He holds an AB in History from Harvard and is
currently employed at Marketron, Intl. as a database programmer and administrator. Rod
enjoys serving on the Board and looks forward to implementing new ideas for increasing
volunteer and fundraising participation.
Congratulations!
Elena Khalyavina & Andrzej Dostatni Get Married in Poland
Congratulations to SVFSC coaches Elena Khalyavina and Andrzej Dostatni who were
married on September 18th in Gdansk, Poland. The ceremony was held in the Oliwa
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Bernard’s Church where
Andrzej’s parents were married, where he
and his sister were baptized, and where his
sister also was married.
Elena & Andrzej’s wedding was followed by a party in another historical location called
the “Grand Hotel” in Sopot. Then the couple spent their honeymoon in Italy: Taormina
and Palermo (in Sicily), Rome and then Tuscany where they enjoyed wonderful wine,
pasta and risotto during porcini mushroom season!
More Information
More information can be found on the Sun Valley
Figure Skating web site.
Questions about the club can be emailed to: info@sunvalleyfsc.com.
The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter – November 2009 Page: 8
Newsletter submissions are due on the last day of the month to be included in the
next month’s edition. Suggestions are greatly appreciated! Please send
comments and submissions to: coleenc@hotmail.com.
The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter – November 2009 Page: 9