Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Skaters are top taters at National Showcase

“Famous Potatoes” piece wins on Cape Cod ice


By ROBIN SIAS

     No matter how you fry, sauté, bake or slice it—the Sun Valley Skating Club has boasted this year’s champion group at National Showcase, a highly competitive theatrical figure skating competition.

     In addition, the SVFSC crowned three National Showcase champions during a three-day meet sponsored by the Bourne (Mass.) Skating Club.

     Ten members of the club, ranging in age from 10-16, traveled to Cape Cod, Mass., Aug. 1-3 to compete in both individual and group divisions at Hyannis Youth and Community Center.

     The group number, a comical, high-energy and slightly twisted take on Idaho’s most famous export—the potato—got the audience on its feet and captured the judges’ attention and admiration.

     SVFSC’s “Famous Potatoes,” number won the gold in Large Group Production Ensemble.

     Choreographing the six-minute program was Sun Valley coach Gia Guddat assisted by Craig Heath, a longtime favorite in the Sun Valley on Ice weekly ice show at the resort.

     “We decided to do a riff on what many people most associate with Idaho,” Guddat explained, “our ‘famous’ potatoes!

     “National Showcase can be pretty traditional with a lot of show tunes and Disney princesses. Instead, we sent the girls out to perform a mash-up of synchronized jumps and spins, hip-hop dance moves and other unexpected twists, all in potato costumes.

     “The skaters loved it. I loved it. The judges loved it.”

     When the 10 athletes took their marks on the ice, the packed audience at first had no idea what to make of them.

     Wrapped in ‘tin foil’ jackets a la baked potatoes, the tater skaters emerged in full root vegetable glory to the sounds of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

     From there, it was a high-speed acceleration into controlled mayhem.

     Wearing brown potato costumes replete with eyes and roots, the girls had the audience cheering and the judges howling as they worked their way through a mélange of music including Couch Potato, Hot Potato, My Own Private Idaho and current popular music.

     The winning group was comprised of Antonia Avery, Isabella Bourret, Joyce Chan, Sage Curtis, Alexandra Harten, Blake Letourneau, Lane Letourneau, Katie Peters, Alex Stuessi and Emma Stuessi.

     “It all came together perfectly,” said Guddat. “Lucy Bourret sewed these hilarious costumes, the music was familiar and fun and the kids were amazing performers and skaters. Sun Valley got mentioned many times during the competition and noted for our amazing outdoor rink and excellent skating program.”

     After the competition, skating judge Morry Stillwell said, “This group showcase was awesome. In my opinion, it was the best group that has ever performed for National Showcase and I have been an official at every National Showcase to date.”

     Individual skaters from the SVFSC also shone during the recent National Showcase. Three SVFSC skaters returned home as reigning national champions in their divisions.

     At the Novice Level, Alexandra Harten, 16, took first place in Novice Light Entertainment with a self-voiced comical program about trying to find the perfect music for competition skating.

     Joyce Chan, 16, won the Dramatic Entertainment division at Intermediate levelwith a lyrical and graceful interpretation of Adele’s Skyfall.

     The win made Joyce Chan a two time national champ. She also took home a title in last year’s contest at San Diego, Ca.

     At the Pre-Juvenile level, Blake Letourneau, 12, took gold in Light Entertainment for a hilarious program in which she skated with a mannequin male partner with whom she wasn’t exactly getting along.

     All three skaters attend the Community School in Sun Valley and are coached by Holly Wheeler and Guddat. Guddat also choreographed all of the championship routines.

     The results qualified the Idaho girls to advance into the final portion of the Cape Cod competition—what National Showcase calls the Parade of Champions. That’s where the best-of-the-best overall skaters are considered for the top awards in the entire event. Again, Sun Valley dominated.

     In the Senior Parade of Champions, for skaters in the Intermediate level and up, local skaters claimed an impressive two of the four podium spots.

     Judges voted Alexandra Harten fourth-best overall of 125 skaters. In addition, Joyce Chan captured the coveted silver medal. Both received trophies, flowers and bragging rights for the coming year.

     They are the first SVFSC skaters to ever make the podium in a National Showcase Parade of Champions.

     Out of 236 skaters, Blake Letourneau placed fifth overall in the Junior Parade of Champions for competitors through the Juvenile level.

     All SVFSC athletes skated well in tough competition.

     In addition to the three national champions, Alex Stuessi won the bronze overall in Pre-Juvenile Dramatic Entertainment, and other skaters who advanced to the finals were:

     Lane Letourneau (Light Entertainment and Duet), Katie Peters (Light Entertainment) and Emma Stuessi (Duet).

     Coaches Wheeler and Guddat traveled with the girls to the Cape, They provided coaching, moral support, costuming and hair and makeup. Many parents also made the trip to cheer on the skaters.

     “The girls represented Sun Valley, our club and Idaho beautifully,” said Wheeler. “We couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them. We are a small club and to boast three national champions and to be reigning group champions is a tribute to everyone’s hard work and dedication.”




About Comments

Comments with content that seeks to incite or inflame may be removed.

Comments that are in ALL CAPS may be removed.

Comments that are off-topic or that include profanity or personal attacks, libelous or other inappropriate material may be removed from the site. Entries that are unsigned or contain signatures by someone other than the actual author may be removed. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or any other policies governing this site. Use of this system denotes full acceptance of these conditions. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

The comments below are from the readers of mtexpress.com and in no way represent the views of Express Publishing, Inc.

You may flag individual comments. You may also report an inappropriate or offensive comment by clicking here.

Flagging Comments: Flagging a comment tells a site administrator that a comment is inappropriate. You can find the flag option by pointing the mouse over the comment and clicking the 'Flag' link.

Flagging a comment is only counted once per person, and you won't need to do it multiple times.

Proper Flagging Guidelines: Every site has a different commenting policy - be sure to review the policy for this site before flagging comments. In general these types of comments should be flagged:

  • Spam
  • Ones violating this site's commenting policy
  • Clearly unrelated
  • Personal attacks on others
Comments should not be flagged for:
  • Disagreeing with the content
  • Being in a dispute with the commenter

Popular Comment Threads



 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.