photo by Peoble Photography

These freestyle members of the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club will open their show with “V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N.” In front, from left, are Samantha Heilman, Anna Enstad, Sara Judd and Mary Wangen. Middle row: Holly Thompson, Michele Prihoda, Erin Murtaugh, Holly Wichmann, Whitney Nielsen and Allie Juntunen. Back row: Morgan Field, Samantha Jerdee, Katie Williamson, Anna Brouwers, Courtney Hemmingsen and Katie Cope.

Skaters warm up for annual show

By Geri McShane | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Saturday, February 28, 2009

The Albert Lea Figure Skating Club will present its 48th annual show, “Vacation Parad-ICE” at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at the Albert Lea City Arena.

The skaters chose the theme for the show themselves at their annual banquet last spring. The songs they’ll skate to are summer and vacation-related songs.

People who come to the show will see skaters move to such music as “V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N,” “Caribbean People,” “Love Is Like a Heat Wave,” “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” “Sunshine and Summertime,” “California Girls,” “These are the Special Times,” “Rock Away Beach,” “Surfin’,” “Summertime,” “Surfin’ USA,” “Surf City,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “So She Dances,” “One More Time,” “Walkin’ On Sunshine,” “Tiki-Tiki Room,” “Wipeout,” “California O.C.,” “Humuhumunukunukuapua,” “Under the Sea,” “Limbo Rock,” “Good Vibrations,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Vacation,” “Catch a Wave,” “Brown-Eyed Girl” and “Dream On.”

There are all kinds of acts, from solos and duets to trios and quartets to groups. The club has 48 members this year, coming not only from Albert Lea, but also Hayward, Emmons, Clarks Grove, Alden, Glenville, Hartland, Hollandale, New Richland and Twin Lakes, as well as Lake Mills and Scarville, Iowa.

This year, the club has three high school seniors: Anna Enstad, Sara Judd and Mary Wangen. Each will perform a solo and all three will be part of a senior showcase, “One More Tim.”

Skaters actually began practicing show routines in early January. The skaters are entering an intensive week of rehearsals and learning the finale, which brings them all out onto the ice. Each coach — Carol Colstrup, Suzanne Olson and Alesia Riker — choreographed numbers for both groups and solo performers in the show.

“The coaches cut music, choreograph numbers, teach routines and basically hold everything together,” said ALFSC Board President Anne Jerdee.

The show will again feature a guest skater. Alana Enabnit is a 15-year-old sophomore from Clear Lake, Iowa. She has been skating for 10 years and is a member of the North Iowa Figure Skating Club, and an associate member of the Cedar Valley Figure Skating Club. She is a regional competitor and Iowa Games champion.

The show could not happen without dedicated volunteers, all of whom are skaters’ parents. Current ALFSC board members are: President Anne Jerdee, Vice President Dan Juntunen, Secretary Jackie Williamson, Treasurer Michelle Thompson, Past President Becki Nielsen and directors Bart Berven, Nancy Cope and Mary Beth Heimendinger.

Board members and other parents do everything from designing the program, backdrop and props to setting up the show, picking out music, lighting, writing the script, helping in the locker rooms, doing publicity, selling programs and flowers and taking down the show when it’s all done.

“The show takes everyone’s effort to come together. The board actually starts planning next year’s show right away. Show dates and themes are set in April and the organizing begins,” Jerdee said. 

“Our show is a great showcase of our talented skaters,” she said. “The show is definitely the highlight of our figure skating year.”

Advance tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and are available from ALFSC members, at Celebrations in downtown Albert Lea and Doyle’s Hallmark in Northbridge Mall. Preschoolers will be admitted free. Tickets will also be available at the door for $8 for adults and $6 for students.

Find out more about the club at www.alfsc.org.

“Whether you have a child that might be interested in skating or if you like watching it on TV, we have that right here in Albert Lea. Our show is fun and highlights a great group of kids who work individually on skills as well as a team for the show,” Jerdee said. “If you have never been to an ALFSC show, this one should be good. It is a beach theme so there will be great music. Don’t worry about being cold — we are working on turning the arena into a ‘Vacation ParadICE’ just in time for the show.” 

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