Welcome Skaters!
Hard Work Bears Medals for Local Skater
By Kristi PihlWhen someone thinks about Kristie Clark, of Everett, the word versatile comes to mind. It’s the word her coach, Melani Young, of the Everett Figure Skating Club, uses to describe Kristie’s dedication to figure, synchronized and speed skating.
Recently, Kristie, age 36, earned a silver medal in singles figure skating at the 2009 Special Olympics World Games in Boise, Idaho. Before she stepped onto the ice for her silver-medal winning performance, Kristie said she was ready to go. Finding out how well she did afterward only added to her excitement.
Kristie almost won the gold medal, but the last skater passed her in points, said Elaine Nave, Kristie’s mom. It was her third trip to the World Games, which are held every four years in different host countries. In 1999, Kristie competed in gymnastics at the World Games held in North Carolina. She received two silver medals and one bronze in speed skating at the 2005 Special Olympics World Games in Japan.
Kristie has done an amazing job of learning the technical aspects of skating, Melani said. “She works really hard and she’s very persistent,” she said. Kristie’s enjoyment of every moment that she spends on the ice is very apparent, Melani said. Kristie doesn’t complain or get too frustrated when something is difficult. Instead, she works harder.
That work paid off at the Special Olympics Washington Winter Games held in Wenatchee this March. Kristie received one gold medal for figure skating and three golds for speed skating, in the 300-meter, the 500-meter and the 700-meter races. Kristie said she also broke her personal speed records at state. She finished the 300-meter in 1 minute 6.4 seconds, the 500-meter in 1 minute 36.02 seconds and the 700-meter in 2 minutes 37.5 seconds.
Kristie said she enjoys figure, synchro and speed skating equally. “It keeps me busy,” she said.
With figure skating, Kristie most enjoys jumping. Her favorite is the waltz jump.
She learned how to ice skate on a pond at age 7. At the time, she and her family lived in Anchorage, Alaska.
For next competition season, Kristie will move a level up in competition and debut a new program.
Dedicated Skater Lands Fourth in World Games
By Kristi PihlVicken Ouyarian, of Mukilteo, may have found his first time competing in singles figure skating at the 2009 Special Olympics World Games both nerve-wracking as well as exciting. However, he still did his best with his program and returned from Boise, Idaho, having placed fourth in his division.
Chake Ouyarian said watching her son perform so well gave her a wonderful feeling of happiness.
Vicken, age 48, represented the United States in an international sporting event that included nearly 2,000 athletes from 100 countries. Although the World Games were held in February, Vicken has been working toward the competition since March of last year, when he discovered that he had been selected to compete.
“When he wants to do something, he really goes for it,” said Julia Inge, Everett Figure Skating Club coach. Inge has coached Vicken for more than two years. Vicken challenged himself to learn a new program after having the same one for more than five years, Julia said. Even though learning new things can be difficult, he worked hard on perfecting a new program. “Now he knows it by heart,” she said.
It was that program that Vicken performed at the World Games. It is also the one that landed him a gold medal for singles figure skating at the Special Olympics Washington Winter Games in March. Rather than keeping his gold medal, Vicken gave it to Julia.
Vicken has benefited from Julia’s patience, Chake said. Vicken is a strong, compassionate person who shows his appreciation, Julia said. His gift of his gold medal was very special.
Vicken first started figure skating about 13 years ago while living in Alabama. He enjoyed watching champion figure skating on television and had friends who skated, Chake said.
Vicken said he enjoys both spinning and jumping. His favorite moves include the spiral and the waltz jump.
Synchronized Skaters - come join the team
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Synchronized skating is group skating, consisting of
eight to twenty
skaters and is a discipline of figure skating. Synchro (which began
approximately 50 years ago in the U.S.) teaches skaters to work
together as a team, while improving their individual skating skills.
Synchro also provides skaters the opportunity to travel and compete at
levels they might not otherwise qualify for as individual skaters. The Everett Silver Blades has three separate teams: a basic skills team, these girls are just learning how to skate; the pre- juvenile team consist of girls ages 9-15 and have more developed skill, and an Adult beginning team. All the teams are part of the Everett Figure Skating Club and skate at the Comcast Community Ice Rink. The Everett Silver Blades pre-juvenile team competed at the Pacific Coast Sectional this past January 29th-31st in Westminster, Colorado. We are very proud of our skaters who placed 6th out of seven teams; it was one of their best skates this season. For more information on Everett Silver Blades Synchronized Skating Team, contact Melani Young at 425-359-1487. |
Everett Herald article on the Pacific NW Interclub Skating Championships.
There is a nice article about PNIC in the Everett Herald on May 2, 2008. Maddie and Shailyn are pictured.North County Outlook article on Shailyn Berry.
Be sure to check out the nice article on Shailyn in the North County Outlook from June 19th, 2008.HeraldNet: Skaters audition to be "flower sweepers" at Skate America championships
Local kids go through the paces to pick up the flowers and stuffed animals at the Skate America Championships being held here in Everett this coming October. See the Herald story.
Everett Silver Blades capture its first gold in Abbotsford |
 Everett,
Washington – 19 February 2008 – Two teams from the Everett Silver Blades competed in the 2008 BC/YT Section Festival Synchro Skate held in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada this past weekend. The Festival Pre-Juvenile team captured the gold and the Festival Pre-Novice team took the bronze. “Both teams, skating their personal best, ended the season with their best results to date”, said Director and Coach Melani Young. “They all worked really hard and it showed; and we can’t wait to see what happens next season!” Synchronized skating is group skating, consisting of eight to 20 skaters and is a discipline of figure skating. Synchro (which began approximately 50 years ago in the U.S.) teaches skaters to work together as a team, while improving their individual skating skills. Synchro also provides skaters the opportunity to travel and compete at levels they might not otherwise qualify for as an individual skater. The 2008 BC/YT Festival Synchro Skate, hosted by Abbotsford Skating Club and sanctioned by Skate Canada and the USFS, was held at the MSA Arena on February 17th. Twenty-two teams from Canada and the U.S. participated in seven different levels. The Everett Silver Blades and the Everett Figure Skating Club are a part of the Comcast Community Ice Rink. The Comcast Community Ice Rink is used for figure skating, public skating, local hockey leagues and much more. For more information on becoming a part of the Everett Silver Blades Synchronized Skating Team, contact Melani Young at 425-359-1487. |
More news!
Board meeting minutes . . .
. . . are available here.
Or contact Jill Peterson,
our club secretary.
New event postings
Take a look at the events
page and
you'll find skating competitions and exhibitions to keep you busy well
into summer. Plan your vacations now so you don't miss some terrific
skating. Do you have an event to post? Let Paul
know.
Our members are winning
Yes we are. We are very happy with the recent accomplishments in Illinois and Oregon. Be sure to keep an eye on the photos and events pages for updates.
Our members have benefits
Yes we do.
- Get discounted rates on freestyle session punch cards.
- Special discounts on competition and practice dresses from the Outside edge. Check out the contact page for more.
- If you need a Zuca, order it from www.wooska.com and mention EFSC. They will donate 10% of your sale to our club.
Everett is a sanctioned US Figure Skating club!Congratulations
Everett. As
of October 1st, 2006 the Everett Figure Skating club
is now an officially sanctioned club by US
Figure Skating .
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 ©
2007 U.S. Figure Skating |
Send in your club picturesIf you have some
cool images send them
to Paul so he can add them to the photos page.
Sorry, but to avoid the spam robots the address on the right is just an image and must be retyped. |
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