Creation of figure skating class at Cal has been a labor of love
BY LANEY DIGGS
was dazzled and impressed by the jumps and spins performed in the ladies event. Little did I know that moment would
M
mark a lifetime involvement with the sport. After taking two years off from competi-
tive skating to live an ordinary college student life, I came to realize how truly remarkable each athlete is for persevering with skating. No normal person would be willing to practice every day, fall on the ice hundreds of times to master an element, or undergo the pressures of performing in front of an audience and judges. Through my experiences as an under-
graduate at the University of California, Berke- ley, I’ve learned that figure skating is a valued but unknown sport to the student body; not many people know about the sport that has consumed my life. Many of my peers, though, are interested in learning the ins and outs of figure skating. I am routinely asked, “Can you do that leg up spin?” or “Can you do the flying lotus?” This led me to create an official course on the sport at Cal. With the help of two friends,
y first recollection of skating was watching the 1998 Olympic Winter Games on television when I was 5. I
I created the course for the fall 2012 semester through the Legal Studies Department. Stu- dents could enroll in the class to receive one academic unit upon completion. In the first semester, students learned about a variety of skating topics that included an analysis and overview of the international judging system, how to identify the jumps and spins, and the history of skating. My favorite class topic expanded stu-
dents’ overall creativity when they were as- signed to design a program and costume for the skater of their choice. As the course pro- gressed, students gained an appreciation for the grace and beauty this sport offers. It was rewarding to see these students learn about skating. Whether they were new in their in- volvement or retired athletes after “testing out” in high school, each person found the joy of skating. I was thrilled at the handful of students who enrolled in skating lessons after concluding the course. Since then, the class continues to be of-
fered and each succeeding leader improves the curriculum. I passed the class on to one of my best friends at the conclusion of the semester; she incorporated a field trip to the Oakland Ice Rink into the curriculum. This al-
lowed students to gain firsthand experience and practice what they learned in the class- room. Acting as an observer, I audited the field-trip portion of the class to assist, should anyone need help learning to skate. Skating on the public session with more than 20 Cal students is something I will always remember. As I watched faces light up and the air fill
with laughter, I realized how important it is to contribute my efforts into spreading skating to other people. Spring 2014 marks the third semester the
course will be offered. Once again, the class is full, with 34 students enrolled. This time, un- der the Physical Education Department, the theme centers on the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Guest speakers from U.S. Figure Skat- ing are scheduled, including international and national coaches, and committee members. My initial goal for the class was to expose
students of all experience levels to the world of figure skating. I am so excited for the future of this class. Educating and involving so many people into the skating culture is truly a labor of love. Laney Diggs is a senior-level competitor,
competes on her university’s intercollegiate team and is a member of the AAC.
Katrina Phan and Gina DeNatale teach their fellow students to figure skate. Bottom row (l-r) DeNatale, Jessica Solomon, Phan; top row (l-r) Valerie Sandoval, Savana Maglona, Katherine Zhang, Cynthia Chiu, Yvette Huizar
40 FEBRUARY 2014
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