The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter

November 2009

Upcoming Events & Calendar Notes

 Nov. 11, 2009: Sectionals Exhibition/Recital, 4 p.m. Indoor Rink.
 Nov. 13 – 14, 2009: Freedom Classic (Basic Skills Competition & Test
Session), Ogden, UT.
 Nov. 17 – 22, 2009: Pacific Coast Sectionals, Jackson, WY.
 Nov. 26, 2009: 4 p.m., FOX scheduled to air: “Kaleidoscope,” a skating
special choreographed by Gia Guddat (see article below).
 Dec. 8, 2009: Annual SVFSC meeting, 5:30 p.m., home of Kathy Crossen.
 Dec. 14 – 19, 2009: US Junior Nationals, Strongsville, OH.
 Dec. 24th 2009: Sun Valley Company’s Christmas Eve ice show.
 Jan. 14 – 24, 2010: US Nationals Championships, Spokane, WA.
 Jan. 27 – Feb. 3, 2010: Indoor rink closed due to a convention.
 Feb. 12 – 28, 2010: Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver, Canada.
 Feb. 5 – April 18, 2010: Session #2, Skate with Us - Friday afternoons.
 Feb. 20, 2010: Sun Valley Winter Games.
 Feb. 21, 2010: USFS Test Session.
 April 17, 2010: Spring Show (Tentative).
 July 22 – 25, 2010: SV Summer Championships.

Sun Valley Skaters Medal at Regionals

Congratulations to Shayna Mollenberg, Novice ladies competitor, and Alex Harten, Pre-
Juvenile girls competitor, who both brought home medals from the Pacific Northwest
Regional competition held October 8-12, 2009.

Shayna Mollenberg: Silver Medalist

Shayna Mollenberg, 15, won the Novice short program and
placed second overall in a field of 20 skaters. The top four
placements at Regionals qualify to compete at Pacific Coast
Sectionals, so now Shayna is preparing to compete November
17-21, in Jackson Hole, WY. She is coached by Lisa-Marie
Allen and her choreographer is Gia Guddat.

The Pacific Coast section includes skaters from the Northwest

Pacific, Central Pacific and Southwest Pacific regions. See
this chart for the current USFS regional map. The top four
medalists in the Novice through Senior levels at Sectionals will qualify to compete at the
U.S. National Championships, held January 14-24, 2010 in Spokane, WA. Good luck,
Shayna!
Alex Harten: Bronze Medalist
Alex Harten, 12, earned a bronze medal in her Pre-Juvenile free
skate group at Pacific Northwest Regionals. She is a seventh-
grader at Community School and is primarily coached by Holly
Wheeler. Her choreographer is Gia Guddat.

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.

More Regional information can be found in the October 21st,

2009 edition of the Mountain Express newspaper.

You’re Invited: Nov. 11th Exhibition/Recital

On Wednesday, November 11th, at 4 p.m. in the indoor rink, there will be a short
exhibition for our Sectionals competitors. Please come and show your support for
Shayna Mollenberg, Novice ladies, and Abby
Chase & Alex Sullivan, Juvenile ice dance. The
exhibition is designed to simulate a competition to
help these skaters prepare to skate their best under
pressure. SVFSC judge, David Hold, has
generously volunteered his time to offer feedback
to the skaters. In addition, hot chocolate and
cookies will be served!

Note: Abby Chase & Alex Sullivan recently

found out that they are the only Juvenile dance
team registered to compete in the Pacific Coast Section; therefore, they will bypass
Sectionals and compete at Junior Nationals.

SVFSC Skaters Win Top Showcase Awards

Alex Stuessi Wins Big at Oktoberfest
During the Cottonwood Heights’ Oktoberfest Competition held September 17-19, 2009,
Alex Stuessi (pictured with Claire below), a 9-year-old 3rd grader from Hemingway
Elementary, captured the coveted “Most Distinguished Showcase Award.” Alex, who is
coached by Holly Wheeler, skated a unique and creative Chiquita Banana program
choreographed by Gia Guddat.

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.

Coming Soon: The Christmas Eve Ice Show

Sun Valley Company will soon be sending out invitations to participate in the annual
Christmas Eve Ice show. Rehearsals will start in December. The show is produced by
Sun Valley Company and 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!!!”

Resources for Parents & Skaters

Understanding U.S. Singles Free Skate Competition
By Andrea Nelson

(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

Competitive figure skating is divided into

three disciplines: Singles Free Skate,
Pairs Free Skate, and
Ice Dancing. This informational sheet
and the accompanying chart are intended
to help skaters and their parents
understand the levels of singles free skate
competition and their USFS testing and
age requirements.
Understanding what is required and what
is permitted at each competitive level, and
how the levels relate to USFS testing, is
The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club Newsletter
 The Rules of the Sport are governed by the U.S. Figure
Skating Rulebook. CAUTION: USFS frequently changes the
requirements that govern testing and competition! The online
version of the rulebook is the most current version and reflects
all known corrections to the edited date. Find it at:
http://www.usfigureskating.org/Content/Rules%20of%20Sport.pdf
For clubs offering the USFS Basic Skills Program, the

requirements for Basic Skills Competition are found in the
Basic Skills Competition Manual located at:
http://www.usfigureskating.org/Content/2009-10%20Basic%20Skills
%20Competition%20manual.pdf
 The classes of tests in U.S. Figure Skating include:
1. Moves In The Field (standard track and adult)
2. Free skate (standard track and adult)
3. Compulsory Dance (standard track, solo, adult and masters)
4. Free Dance (standard track and adult)
– To
November
compete in2009
Singles Freeskate at thePage: 3
Pre-Preliminary level or
higher, skaters must pass the Moves In The Field and Freeskate
tests required for their level. USFS test requirements are set
forth as a separate volume within the in the U.S. Figure
Skating Rulebook. A current copy is available in the Sun Valley
Figure Skating Club office.
essential to understanding the sport of figure skating. Beyond Basic Skills, a skater’s
competitive level is determined by the highest USFS Free Skate Test he or she has
passed. Moves in The Field tests do not determine competitive level, except that a skater
must have passed the Moves in The Field test at the same level or higher to compete at
that level.

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.

What about Artistic, Showcase and Interpretive events?

The United States Figure Skating Association “USFS” permits clubs hosting
Nonqualifying Competitions, such as the Sun Valley Summer Championships,
Oktoberfest, the Boise Ice Classic and the Jackson Hole Invitational, to modify events
covered by the USFS Rulebook to include events such as Artistic, Interpretive, and
Showcase. These creative events emphasize the artistic side of the sport and keep
competitive figure skating open to a broader range of skaters longer. They are non
qualifying at all levels. (See Footnote) The requirements are up to the hosting club and
must be clearly set forth in the competition application, whereas the requirements of
Singles Free Skate, Pairs and Ice Dancing are governed by the USFS Rulebook. These
events are not offered at qualifying competitions.
Footnote: A skater who places 4th or higher in a contested Showcase or Artistic event at the Preliminary
level or higher 12 months before applications are due may compete at National Showcase. For more on
the National Showcase Competition and USFS Programs such as Theatre On Ice, Synchronized Skating
and Adult Skating, go to www.usfigureskating.org/Programs.asp. In this article, the terms “Qualifying”
and “Nonqualifying” refer to whether or not medaling qualifies the skater for Sectionals, Jr. Nationals or
Nationals.

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.

"This is a holiday variety special that features Olympic

skating champions and GRAMMY award winning
music artists,” said Gia. “The show will feature the
legendary Scott Hamilton in his first television special
since being diagnosed with a brain tumor five years ago. In addition, it will feature
Dorothy Hamill who will skate to music of fellow cancer survivor Olivia Newton John
and one of America’s foremost producers, David Foster."

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.

Dawn Peterson Coaches in Iceland

Sun Valley skating professional, Dawn Peterson, was coaching in Reykjavik, Iceland last
fall and early this fall for the Reykjavik Figure Skating Club. The club has about 300
skaters, about 100 of them competitive. Dawn also worked with the Skautafelag
Reykjavikur Youth Hockey Association coaching power skating.

While in Iceland, Dawn

focused on the competitive
levels of skating: Juvenile
through Senior, preparing the
skaters for the new testing
structure of basic tests
developed by Maria McLean
(similar to our Moves in the
Field testing, but on figure
circles) teaching skating school
classes and helping train the
junior coaches.

The skaters competed in

competitions the entire fall which included the other skating clubs throughout Iceland.

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.

Skate America History: Lisa-Marie Allen & Judy Blumberg

As mentioned in the October issue of SKATING magazine, in
1979, Lisa-Marie Allen won the ladies’ title and Judy Blumberg
& Michael Seibert competed in their first international event at
the inaugural version of Skate America held in Lake Placid,
N.Y. The invitational competition, called “Flaming Leaves
International,” served as a test event for the 1980 Olympic
Winter Games, also held in Lake Placid. Both Lisa-Marie and
Judy would return to Lake Placid to compete at the 1980
Olympics (Judy would also compete in the 1984 Olympics in
Sarajevo).

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.

Board News and Business

Update to Club Bylaws

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.).

Annual Meeting & Election

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, Board Nominee

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, Board Nominee

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, Board Nominee

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.

Andrzej provided some interesting

background on the historical church: it was
originally erected as a shrine back in the
13th century, then reconstructed in 1350
after a fire and again in 1577 after another
fire. Structurally, the cathedral is a triple-
aisle, vaulted basilica built on the plan of
the Latin cross. The Oliwa Cathedral is perhaps best known for its massive, yet splendid
organ. The organ is comprised of over 7,000 pipes and is decorated with movable angels
and brightly painted stars. When built, the instrument was the largest in Europe.

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!

Nicole Pratt Crowned Homecoming Princess

Another note of congratulations goes to SVFSC skater Nicole

Pratt (see picture at left) who was crowned freshman princess at
Wood River High School’s Homecoming 2009 celebration.

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