HAMILL CAMP, SUN VALLEY EARN HIGH PRAISE by LEXI ROHNER THIRD INSTALLMENT IN THREE-PART SERIES


Cathy Janssen, 47, Houston, Texas Austin FSC, Adult silver, bronze judge


Te second time around the block for Cathy


Janssen has been an even more pleasurable expe- rience than the first time. Janssen skated from age 4 to 22, practicing while her mother coached. “Te ice was


my babysitter,” Jans- sen said. Returning to


the ice at age 42, Janssen recognizes


Dorothy Hamill and Cathy Janssen


her gain in confidence, and like many adult skat- ers, thrives on the therapeutic recharge for mind, body and soul. “I’m grateful that I skated young, but I enjoy


it more as an adult,” said Janssen, who is coached by Stacy Gail Shoeman. Her three years at Dorothy Hamill’s Fantasy


Skating Camp in Nantucket, Mass., have rein- forced that. “Daily challenges seem simpler,” said Jans- sen, who annually vacations at the camp. Offering jump and spin training and more,


Hamill’s world-class instructors teach different as- pects and levels of skating. “Edge and stroking basics have taught me


how to beautifully interpret elements,” Janssen said. “At this stage my body and I are not inter- ested in complicated skating.” Janssen enjoys the camp experiences of


private and group lessons and stations of small skater groups. Exercises build to a camp conclu- sion group number, from which Janssen has come away exhausted but exhilarated, with the antici- pation of returning.


Camp has impacted Janssen’s regular train- ing in element details and “feeling” the ice, not just skating on it. Skating for Dorothy Hamill, she said, creates


a comfort zone for performing in front of anyone. Janssen’s non-skating life involves the young-


est of her three children’s activities and the family business, with skating falling lower in priority. “One day I’ll be able to practice more,” said


Janssen, who also enjoys her 6-month-old grand- son with grandson number two on the way. “Be- ing a grandmother is the thrill of my life.” Janssen enjoys making audiences and judg- es laugh, and is proud of her three U.S. Adult Championships trophies.


“I laugh at myself all the time on the ice,” she said. 34 APRIL 2012


Sun Valley Adult Skating Seminar, Sun Valley, Idaho Lisa-Marie Allen, Judy Blumberg & Rhea Schwartz


Sun Valley, Idaho, is a magical place where adult skaters come to play and relax. “Tere is a ton to do in the summer,” said Rhea Schwartz, former Adult Skating Commit-


Dorothy Hamill Fantasy Camp coaches and campers


Dorothy Hamill Fantasy Camp, Nantucket, Mass. Dorothy Hamill, creator; Randy Gardner, coach


Olympic champion Dorothy Hamill’s sup-


port of adult skaters has led to the continued suc- cess of the Dorothy Hamill Figure Skating Fan- tasy Camp. Held on Nantucket Island, Mass., the camp


offers private and group lessons with a roster of world-class coaches including Peter Carruthers, Tim Murphy, Nathan Birch and Randy Gardner. “I love adult skaters,” said Hamill, who


started her camp in 2008. “You’re never too old to skate. It’s healthy exercise, creative and a great activity.” Gardner, Olympian and World and U.S.


champion, created his Performance Plus class (all ages) in 1997. “I’ve done Dorothy’s camp since its incep-


tion,” Gardner said. “I got hooked on adults.” Hamill’s camp requires months of planning,


covering everything: skating, specialty classes, pri- vate lessons, guest speakers and social events. “When we coaches come in we know what is


expected of us,” Gardner said. “A compatible and complementary coaching staff is essential.” When he's not helping out at Hamill's


camp, Gardner’s favorite place to conduct his per- formance class is ICE in Santa Monica, Calif. “Tree blocks from the beach, fresh open- air skating in 65-degree weather, and beach and holiday shopping afterward is unbeatable,” Gard- ner said. His first adult students were friends needing help with basics. Gardner enjoys the work ethic most adult skaters display. Tey skate for a variety of reasons, but most of all because they love it, he said. Gardner takes advantage of skaters’ mutual


support, having them critique or offer tips to each other. “It’s amazing the advice they give each oth-


er,” said Gardner, noting that frequently friend- ships result between clinic attendees. “Skating is a wonderful world, and I’m so


lucky to be part of it,” Hamill said. “I hope we inspired the skaters, because they inspire us.”


Sun Valley Adult Skating Seminar coaches and staff


tee chair and Sun Valley Adult Skating Seminar attendee. “Camps are a fun way to pick up new pointers, and in a place like Sun Valley, the friend- ships and attractions make it well worth the trip.” Te location is incomparable, offering an outdoor summer rink, a mountain setting, free symphonies, craft shows, outdoor activities and art gallery walks. Te professional staff includes U.S. medalist,


World and Olympic competitor Lisa-Marie Al- len, who has coached at every Sun Valley summer adult skating seminar.


“Te folks attending share respect for skills


they’re learning,” Allen said. “Learning later in life is difficult, skating is more difficult, which makes skill-mastering more rewarding.” A Sun Valley resident, Allen appreciates the


resort’s history. “You never know who might be skating,” Al- len said. “Coaching brings a sense of coming full circle. Keeping skaters motivated and progressing is my constant goal.” Five-time U.S. ice dance champion, three-


time World medalist and two-time Olympian Judy Blumberg also resides in Sun Valley. She has coached at several adult camps at the resort. “I take away new learning experiences each


time,” Blumberg said. “I love sharing knowledge I’ve acquired with the adults. Tey are always will- ing to try new things.” A single mom to 6-year-old Etienne, Blum-


berg travels worldwide coaching, consulting and as a technical specialist. Her enthusiasm is evident as she learns how to best share information by lis- tening to skaters’ concerns and desires. “Adult skaters are appreciative of the time spent in the process,” Blumberg said.


A D U L T corner


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