Skating Academy’s Hummel Up To The TestBy Scott Kindberg Becca Hummel of Warren, Pa., is the 89th Jamestown Skating Academy student in the last 22 years to pass her Gold test. She will will show off her skating skills at Excellence on Ice, which will be held May 2 at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena. Submitted photo Becca Hummel made a beeline from the main rink at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, up the stairs and through the door of the Jamestown Skating Academy office Tuesday afternoon. Still outfitted in her practice gear and her skates tightly laced, she took a seat in the conference room and smiled broadly. The session with the media had yet to begin, but Hummel looked the picture of relaxation. Life at the rink is good for the 17-year-old Warren resident. She is just weeks removed from passing the demanding Gold test and is the 89th JSA student to do so in the last 22 years. "Becca grew up in our program," said Kirk Wyse, who is the JSA co-director with Lenel van den Berg. "She started in our learn-to-skate program at Allen Park. It's a great to see a kid get their gold - it's a wonderful accomplishment." Hummel credits her Wyse, van den Berg and Lindsay Erickson for pushing her to reach her goals. Hummel is also gearing up for the annual production of "Excellence On Ice." The show, which will have two performances on May 2, will feature Wyse and van den Berg's students. Hummel can't wait. "It's like incredible," she said. "You don't even know you're in Jamestown. I'm in a completely different state of mind. ... It's nice Kirk and Lenel can bring that atmosphere to Jamestown and put it into the rink." Hummel, who has participated in "Excellence On Ice" for almost 10 years, will have the added benefit of learning a routine from longtime JSA member Ryan Coombs, another Warren resident, who has been skating professionally and is back in the area to lend a hand. "I have to learn the solo really quickly," Hummel said. The quick turnaround - she didn't begin learning the routine until Tuesday - is much like it is on the professional circuit, something Hummel wants to pursue upon graduating from Warren County Christian School in 2010. "I want to do the shows for a couple years," she said. "Having Kirk and Lenel is to my advantage because they've been in it for a very long time." "She has the potential to have an awesome professional career," said van den Berg. Hummel is also getting input from Coombs and Carl Linamen, who are also touring with ice shows. The older skaters have painted a wonderful picture of life on the road. "They say they love it," Hummel said. "Ryan would call me and tell me amazing stories. ... I just want to travel. ... I want to travel the world." Originally, Hummel had thought of professional skating for a year or two, but has considered amending that to a longer period, simply because she loves to perform so much. "College is in my plans," she said. "Doing what, I have no clue yet." One thing is fairly certain though: Expect to see Hummel performing in a professional ice show somewhere, probably sometime in 2010. Then she can really compare notes with her JSA alumni.
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