Working the Ice

For many people, ice skating is a humbling winter rite. Donning ice skates can turn the most agile athlete into an awkward, arm-flailing klutz who feels a sense of accomplishment if he can make it around the rink a few times without grabbing the wall or falling. For a few local high school athletes, however, skating is more than an occasional winter pastime - it's an all-consuming passion, inspiring them to spend three to five hours a day, often starting at 5:50 a.m., five or six days a week training in a refrigerator-like environment. These otherwise normal kids belong to the Louisville Skating Academy (LSA), located at the Iceland Sports Complex. While Megan Conley, Kirsten Clark, and Ernie Stevens are not quite ready for the Olympics, they each have passed several tests and participated in many competitions including the Eastern Great Lakes Regional (EGLR) Championships and performances such as LSA's "Nutcracker on Ice" and "Fire and Ice." All three are honor-roll students who describe themselves as competitive and dedicated. All agree when Conley says: "Skating gives you self-confidence and teaches you that if you want something bad enough and work hard, anything is possible." Conley, a sophomore at Louisville Male, started skating 6½ years ago. For a second grade writing assignment, she wrote a 'persuasive letter' trying to convince her parents to let her skate. Two years later, they relented and she's been skating ever since. "What I like most about skating is the sense of accomplishment I feel when I achieve a goal I've set for myself, such as passing a test or landing a particularly difficult jump," she says. Conley recently passed her Senior level Moves in the Field test. (See "Elements of the Sport") According to U.S. Figure Skating (USFS), only one percent of skaters ever pass a Senior level test. Conley has also passed her Novice Free Skate test and is working on her Silver level Dances. Conley hopes to pass her Senior Free Skate and Gold Dance tests and, once she gets to college, to skate on a collegiate synchronized skating team. Clark, a home-schooled 9th grader, started skating 10 years ago when she and her dad, Dean, participated in LSA's Learn to Skate program (Dean wanted to play hockey). Kirsten has since passed her Novice Free Skate and is working on her Senior Moves in the Field and Silver Dance. "I enjoy everything about skating," says Kirsten, "but I like free skating best because it allows me to feel and interpret the music and I love jumping." Having competed in four EGLR Championships, Kirsten dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal and of landing a quadruple axel (she's already landed a double axel). Kirsten is competitive as well as creative, however. "If I didn't figure skate," she adds, "I'd play hockey." Stevens, a Trinity freshman, was originally interested in playing hockey when he attended the Learn to Skate program eight years ago, but a coach suggested he try figure skating. "I most enjoy the athleticism, speed and creative expression that skating requires," Stevens says. "Being on the ice is just the best feeling." Stevens has passed his Intermediate Free Skate, is working on his Junior Moves in the Field, and recently took up dancing and pairs. At 15, he is one of the youngest men currently to compete at the Intermediate free skate level in this region. He placed 9th in the 2008 EGLR Championships. He has medalled over 28 times representing the LSA at various USFS competitions. Through coaching and competing, Stevens hopes to change the public's perception of men's figure skating. "I really believe that figure skaters work just as hard as any football or soccer player and deserve the same respect for their accomplishments," he says. "If you think it looks easy, it just means my hard work has paid off." Elements of the Sport Figure skating combines athleticism, strength and coordination with artistry, showmanship and creativity. Skaters progress in their sport by passing a series of tests sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating (USFS), the governing body of figure skating in the U.S. These tests include: 1. Moves in the field - These are fundamental edges and turns, emphasizing edge quality, extension, quickness and power. They are similar to free throws at basketball practice or 'agilities' at football practice. 2. Compulsory Dance - This involves skating prescribed patterns to music with a defined rhythm and tempo while focusing on accuracy, placement, style, unison, timing and expression. They skate a Quickstep, Foxtrot or Tango as you might see on "Dancing with the Stars." 3. Free skating - In this event, skaters select their own theme and music, choreographing difficult jumps, spins and footwork to best display their technical and artistic skills. For more information on lessons and competitive figure skating, check out LSA's website at www.skatelouisville.org and the USFS website at www.usfigureskating.org. Jeff Filcik is an attorney working as a trust officer with Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. He and his wife, Karen, have 3 children - Kate, Samantha, and Andy. Jeff skated as a child and picked up the sport again recently. He is a member of LSA and is working on his Adult Silver level Moves in the Field and his Pre-Gold Dance.