Each year, area figure skaters spend more than five months working on and perfecting their skills. And, to show the community what these skaters can do with a blade, toe pick, and a sheet of ice, the International Falls Figure Skating Club hosts its annual ice show.
Last weekend, skaters transformed into a variety of jungle animals during the club’s 37th annual show, “Welcome to the Jungle.”
“This year’s ice show was a huge success,” said Erin Rousseau, IFFSC president.
Rousseau said about 105 skaters were featured in the show. The show was broken down into different group levels, ranging from the youngsters of Snowplow Sam to the more-advanced senior skaters — some who have been a part of the show for 15 years.
“Our senior club is the largest it has been in several years which means that the skaters are staying involved in skating and their love for the sport keeps growing,” Rousseau said.
During the past four weeks, long hours of practice involved coaches, skaters, parents and board members to make the ice show possible,” Rousseau noted.
“Hundreds and hundreds of long hours go into making the ice show everything that it is from the decorations, programs, flowers, ice painting and tickets to the routines, costumes and music,” she said. “We start planning for next year’s show almost immediately after ice show weekend is over. The coaches were actually discussing next year’s theme during a break in their busy weekend.”
Rousseau added that the skaters’ anticipation of the show builds as the skating season progresses. “Their love of skating shines through during the ice show and the look on their smiling faces makes all the long hard hours worth every minute,” she said.
Included in the performances were the Blade Brigade synchronized skating team that took home two first place finishes at competitions in Duluth and Moorhead this year.
Also at the show, the club recognized two graduating seniors, Kelsey Eibler and Ashley Hasbargen.
Eibler, who has spent 15 years in the club, said in the show’s program, “I can’t believe that it is my senior year ice show.”
Eibler said her favorite skating memory was morning practices experimenting with techniques she and her fellow skaters wanted to do during the ice show.
Hasbargen wrote she has been involved in the sport since kindergarten.
“So far, this season has been my favorite,” she said in the program. “I’ve gotten to spend a lot more time with the younger girls on and off the ice, which I truly enjoy.”
Hasbargen left words of advice for younger skaters involved in the program. “Have fun and give it your all every chance you get because it goes by faster than you think.”
Another part of the IFFSC’s tradition are annual awards. The awards were distributed following Sunday’s performance. The most improved skater award is given to a skater from each level as selected by their coaches based on their progress and success throughout the season. The E.F. Krienke Memorial Trophy, presented by coach Darlyss Krienke in memory of her father, is limited to skaters who have been part of the senior program for at least three years and who are dedicated to the sport of figure skating. The Krystall Memorial is an artistic creativity trophy in memory of Krystall Gustafson. The Kim Hams Sportsmanship Trophy is a traveling trophy presented to a junior skater who excels in sportsmanship. The Most Congenial Skater award is given to a skater who is selected by his/her fellow skaters for having a considerate and helpful nature. Coach Shelley Douglas donates the Most Dedicated Skater Trophy to a skater or skaters who have shown dedication to the sport throughout the season. See box for a complete list of award winners.
