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GROWING UP IN LAKE PLACID: Welcome home, Skate America

BARBARA KELLY

POSTED: November 16, 2009

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Skate America, returning to Lake Placid this week for its 30th anniversary, will provide a special opportunity for spectators to view some of the best figure skaters in the world, just before the Olympic teams are chosen from each country represented. The history of Skate America began here in 1981 and was so successful; it returned again in 1982. These two competitions were held under the auspices of the Town of North Elba Park District, the Skating Club of Lake Placid and the United States Figure Skating Association. Skate America ‘82 took place just days before the contract between the Town of North Elba and New York State was signed creating ORDA, the Olympic Regional Development Authority.

How it all began

    The story of Skate America actually begins with an international competition in 1979 called Norton-Skate, which was held prior to the 1980 Olympics at the Olympic Center, then referred to as “The Field House.” It proved to be a succesful event and so, after the 1980 Olympics, a skating official named Edward Lewi suggested to Ardelle Sanderson the idea of a “Skate America” to be patterned after Skate Canada, a competition which was already established. Ardelle, a respected world class judge and an official in the Skating Club of Lake Placid, contacted the Canadian Figure Skating Association and was invited by president David Dore to attend the 1980 Skate Canada in Ottawa. She traveled to Canada to observe the competition and then discussed with Dore details of running a similar international competition in Lake Placid. After returning home, she contacted the USFSA and the Town of North Elba and began appointing heads of committees. With a large and well-trained list of volunteers who knew their jobs, the work began.

The people who

made it work

    In 1981, with Sanderson as chairman and volunteer committees composed of figure skating officials and supporters from around the world (many who had worked the 1980 Olympics), the first Skate America was deemed a success. Among the many letters received by Ardelle after the event was a letter from the president of the Canadian Figure Skating Association which expressed the feeling of those officials who participated. “You are all, of course, to be congratulated on the very fine organizational ability shown during your first Skate America.”

    In 1982, Nancy Archie Meyer took over as chairman with Anne Gerli as vice chairman and Ardelle Sanderson serving as technical advisor. The honorary chairman position was awarded to Ocsar Jobst Jr., then president of the USFSA. It is interesting to note that Denny Allen, who is currently the general manager of the Olympic Center for ORDA, was in charge of building operations and ice control. Gene “Butch” Martin, who was and is still director of Parks and Recreation for the Town of North Elba, was in charge of finance and security. Marcia Brooks, who is in charge of beautification for the site this year, was in 1982 assisting Ardelle with awards.

The competitors

    In 1982 the United States had 18 skaters competing in Ladies and Men’s Singles, Pairs and Dance. Other nations represented in ’82 included Australia, Austria, Canada, Czecholovakia, Federal Republic of Germany, Finland. France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the USSR and Yugoslavia.

    Scott Hamilton, who placed 5th in the 1980 Winter Olympics, was the men’s gold medal winner for both 1981 and 1982. Rosalynn Sumners, who was the silver medalist in 1981, took the gold medal for the women, and Elisa Spitz and Scott Gregory won the gold in Ice Dance. In pairs, the world bronze medalists from the United States, Kitty and Peter Carruthers, were unable to compete and were forced to withdraw because Kitty developed chicken-pox. Two Russian teams placed first and second and the U.S. team of Lee Ann Miller and Bill Fauver managed a third place with their fine artistic program.

Comparing 1981-82

scoring with today

    One of the biggest differences in 1981 and 1982 in scoring for the singles was the fact that school figures were still required and accounted for 30 percent of the final mark with the short program counting 20 percent and the free skate 50 percent. This meant that a skater could be the greatest free skater and still lose the competition if their compulsory school figures were marked too low. This happened to one of our best artistic free skaters of all time, Janet Lynn, who was not able to win an Olympic championship because her school figures brought down the score. Another difference in scoring today is the new judging system that the ISU embraced a few years ago, which displaced the familiar 0.0 to 6.0 for a point system based on marks for required elements.

The sponsor

    The Campbell soup company was the official sponsor of Skate America ‘82. Accorrding to Oscar T. Jobst Jr., the U.S. Figure Skating president, “Campbell’s sponsorship of the event will give Skate America the promotional support it deserves as one of the Worlds premier skating competitions.”

    Welcome home, Skate America!

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