The Inside Edge - Insider news at the Tampa Bay Skating Club

"Inside Edge" News.....

The 2009 South Atlantic Regional Championships were held last week (Oct. 14-19) and here are how skaters from our club placed"

Masha Leonov (Junior) - 6th Qualifying Round B, 10th in Short Program, 8th in Free Skate, 9th overall.
Alana Carnavale (Juvenile) - 14th, Qualifying Round Group D
Allyson Klovekorn (Intermediate) - 8th, Qualifying Round
Group F
Ashlyn Gaughan (Internediate) - 10th, Qualifying Round
Group C

Here's a group photos of the skaters who attended the Regionals send-off party on Oct. 1:

Competitive Edge

During our annual club meeting back in June, a trainer from Competitive Edge Performance Training and Rehabilitation was a guest speaker and did a seminar with some of our skaters (see photos below). This company located in Oldsmar offers various programs to help athletes build their bodies to help them be better competitors and help prevent injury as well as recover from sports injuries more quickly. Fox 13 News did a story on this company that appears on their web site. This story features two of our skaters, Alyson Klovekorn and April Meyerscoff. To view, click on this link: Kids Get Lesson on Healthy Competition

New TBSC Jackets

Seeing a large group of club members wearing identical club jackets or uniforms at a competition creates a certain presense a sense of unity. We are proud to announce that the Tampa Bay SC has selected the styles for the new club jackets and pants for our skaters to wear. Samples were presented at the club's annual meeting on June 21. The colors selected are black with royal blue.

There are two styles/types of jackets. The Savvy Skater jacket is intented to be worn as an every-day warm-up, but can be worn for competition warm-up or as a light weight jacket off ice. This jacket is made of a 'Florida friendly' fabric (light weight) consisting of a 4-way stretch fabric in black and contrasting insets in royal blue for a scuba-style look, with white piping and a silver zipper. The jacket has a contour cut that fits close to the body. The jacket can be ordered without embroidery or with the TBSC logo embroidered on the back and skater's name on the front. The jacket is also available in a warmer polar fleece fabric. Matching pants will also be available. NOTE: Sizing on this jacket runs a little on the large size, so it is recommended that a sample be tried on before ordering. If you want your skater to 'grow' into the jacket for longer use, then this sizing works well for that.

Please note that this jacket may not be available in the exact same fabric at this special club price on future orders. (Current price is more than half off retail.) If you want this jacket in this fabric, order today!

The second style is the Jammin travel warm-up (jacket and pants may be purchased separately).. These are ideal for wearing when the skater is off ice or over a skating costume prior to taking the ice. The jackets can be worn on-ice if a loose cut is more your skater's style. The Jammin jacket has a slight contour cut to it, but not form fitting like the Savvy Skater jacket. This is a heavier weight jacket. Though the photo at the right shows the jacket in blue with red insets, our jackets will be in black with royal blue insets and white piping. The jacket is made of a quality, soft to the touch, satin micro-fiber fabric lined in nylon, hemmed at the sleeve and waist (not elastic as shown on the photo.) Options are available for different linings and a drawstring waist.

Girls/ladies pants are low rise with a slight flare leg; pants for boys/men will have a regular waist with straight leg. Additional styling choices include: 1) mesh lining, with a full zip, elastic with drawstring waist 2) unlined with full zip, elastic waist with drawstring; and 3) inlined, no zip, elastic with drawstring waist. NOTE: Pants can be lined in nylon instead of mesh at no charge. This may work better since there is a potential that sequins or studded stones on dresses/skating pants could get caught in the mesh lining.

These are high quality uniforms that have been custom made for our club. While a little more expensive, they are still less than many other skate-wear vendors that were researched. Jammin offers warranty repairs at no charge (and will even send a shipping label!).

Jackets can be ordered with or without embroidery. Full embroidery includeds the club logo on the back and a choice of the skater's name (first or full name) on the front left chest area. Embriodery is being done locally.

To order a jacket and/or pants, please contact Carol Klovekorn at (727)945-8862 or email her at sklovek@msn.com. She recommends contacting her to discuss sizes and options and also taking a look at the www.jammin.com website and letting her know if there is anything that looks interesting to you and she can get a price quote.

For complete information, including sizing and pricing, click on this link to download and print out the order form

A big 'thank you' goes out to Carol Klovekorn and Steve Riddle for all the time they put into researching companies, styles, fabrics and cost to come up with the final choices. The jackets (and pants) will look sharp on our skaters when they attend competitions or on ice during freestyle sessions.

Important Notice To All Coaches
From US Figure Skating

Beginning July 1, 2008, all coaches will have to comply with the coaches’ registration policy in order to be allowed to instruct/coach during the following sanctioned activities during the 2008-2009 skating season:

Coaches who are under the age of 18 or instruct only Basic Skills group lessons do not have to register at this time.

U.S. Figure Skating has worked with National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) to ensure that this process is convenient, secure and confidential. The process for screening is simple and generally takes about five minutes. When U.S. Figure Skating receives a ‘Green Light’ from NCSI, and verification of coaches’ liability insurance from each coach, the registration process will be finalized and a U.S. Figure Skating registration card will be issued to the coach.

When do coaches need to begin registering?
Coaches can begin registering now. There is a link from the www.usfigureskating.org home page for coaches to begin submitting their information. If they are a qualifying level coach taking students to regionals, they must register prior to August 1 to allow enough time processing the background screen. All coaches of qualifying level skaters will also need to be current members of U.S. Figure Skating and PSA to receive a credential.

Does the registration include U.S. Figure Skating membership?
No. The registration is in addition to membership. All coaches will join U.S. Figure Skating either through home club membership or as an individual member as they have done in the past.

What is the cost to register?
$40 plus the cost of coaches liability insurance. (Liability coverage is purchased separately through a carrier of the coach’s choosing.) The coach’s registration fee will cover the cost of the background screening and a U.S. Figure Skating rulebook.

Process for the club:
Clubs should verify that coaches have successfully registered before allowing them to coach/instruct in sanctioned events.

Phase II: Those officers with access to ‘members only’ will have the option to look up a coach and verify registration. You may also ask to see their registration card at check-in.

If you have additional questions regarding this process, please contact Member Services at 719-635-5200. U.S. Figure Skating appreciates the cooperation and understanding of all members to help implement this program to ensure that the environment in all U.S. Figure Skating programs is as safe as possible for all participants.