Skate Chautauqua Plays Host To Best

By John Whittaker

8/17/2007 - The list of award-winning figure skaters to compete at Skate Chautauqua includes Olympic gold medalists and world champions.

Sarah Hughes, 2002 Olympic Champion skated to victory at Skate Chautauqua in 1997 and always says that Jamestown is where her 'winning streak' began. Reigning 2007 World Champion Miki Ando won gold medals at Skate Chautauqua in 2005. Kimmie Meissner, 2006 World Champion, skated to gold medals at Skate Chautauqua in 2002 and Jennifer Kirk, the 2000 Junior World Champion, was a winner in Jamestown in 1998. Taylor Firth of the Jamestown Skating Academy competed in the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in 2006.

'This continues to be one of the outstanding amateur figure-skating events in the United States,' said Mary Handley, event chairwoman. 'It attracts some wonderful skaters and we look forward not only to seeing them this weekend in Jamestown but following their careers and watching them progress. We've had some really outstanding skaters and coaches go through Skate Chautauqua in the 12 years we've been doing it, and it's kind of interesting to kind of bet on which skater you see this year who could go on to be the next Olympic champion.'

When the annual event kicks off today at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, event organizers promise quantity to go with the quality of skating. Events start at 8:20 a.m. today and 9:15 a.m. Saturday and go until 9 p.m. both nights. There is no admission charge for the public. 'Both rinks will be packed with events,' said Mary Handley, event chairwoman. 'We've tried to really make sure everybody there has a wonderful amount of time to skate, but the days are really full this year.'

Of special interest will be the new judging system for events in Rink A both Friday and Saturday with some of the top skaters in the United States. Skate Chautauqua is presented by Chautauqua Ice and is sponsored by Quality Markets, The Post-Journal, Hagan Business Machines, Alstar EMS, the Warren Times Observer and WKSN.

For further information, visit the Chautauqua Ice Web site at www.chautauquaice.com or call 664-6609. 'This year, we're inviting the public to come and see what we do in Jamestown and try to really get the word out about the great skating we attract and that we have from our own Jamestown Skating Club,' Mrs. Handley said. 'I'm always thrilled to with what Jamestown produces and how the businesses contribute and how friendly they are to the guests coming to town. The volunteers who help us are the friendliest in the world and do an excellent job. We want to make sure the public knows the quality of this event.'

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