National Showcase

By Luke Anderson

8/18/2007 - Some of the top young figure skaters in the country are competing at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena this weekend. The Skate Chautauqua competition began Friday, and a full slate of skating is scheduled for Saturday.

The annual figure skating competition has been a big success over the years, thanks in large part to the tireless work of parent volunteers and the support of the community at large, said Mary Handley, Skate Chautauqua chairperson.

'It's always amazing to me that the volunteers are lined up and ready to go. They only come to me if they have a problem,' Ms. Handley said. She said that Jamestown has developed a nationwide reputation for organizing world-class skating events.

'People talk about us all over the country,' she said.

Skate Chautauqua has historically drawn a wide array of young up-and-coming skaters, many of whom have gone on to great success in national, world and Olympic competition.

In the past, the event has hosted such notables as 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes, two world champions, one junior world champion and numerous national medalists, said Ms. Handley.

Ms. Handley attributes some of the event's success to its ability to attract top-level judges. This year, two of the judges working the event are world-level officials who have judged the Olympic Games. 'It's the top judges that attract the best skaters,' said Ms. Handley.

The reason is that the upper-echelon judges give the most sought-after critiques, evaluations of a skater's work which are vital to determining how her program or performance can be improved.

Skate Chautauqua has achieved its success in the face of some obstacles which typically hamper events like it. As a small city, Jamestown does not have convenient air service or a large hotel where all the competitors and officials can stay. Many of the judges drove here after flying into Erie or Buffalo, and competitors are housed in six hotels around the area.

Despite this, Ms. Handley said that Skate Chautauqua is continually well-regarded by United States Figure Skating, American skating's governing body.

'We have done as much as we can to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome,' she said. 'Local businesses help to strengthen our reputation by their friendliness to the skaters.' The skating begins at 7 a.m. Saturday with official practice periods. High-level competitive skaters will be featured throughout the day on Rink A.

Those who have children interested in beginning to skate may want to see the beginning skaters. They will be featured on Rink B between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Admission is free, and the skating is scheduled to continue until 9 p.m. Saturday night.

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