Week 2 we met Briana Lackenby, Cape Cod Rehab Physical Therapist and Yarmouth Ice Club coach. Weeks 3 and 4 we featured two of our local
skaters: Dawn Feest and Becky Hamlin. This
week, we will be learning about the other side of figure skating as we meet
Carolyn, co-chair for the 2014 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships and
United States Figure Skating (USFS) Judge.
skaters: Dawn Feest and Becky Hamlin. This
week, we will be learning about the other side of figure skating as we meet
Carolyn, co-chair for the 2014 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships and
United States Figure Skating (USFS) Judge.
About Carolyn
Carolyn Pierce has been a
judge for United States Figure Skating for nearly 35 years. She is the Vice President of the Yarmouth Ice
Club and the Co-Chair at this month’s Adult Nationals alongside Donna Wunder,
President of the Yarmouth Ice Club.
judge for United States Figure Skating for nearly 35 years. She is the Vice President of the Yarmouth Ice
Club and the Co-Chair at this month’s Adult Nationals alongside Donna Wunder,
President of the Yarmouth Ice Club.
Carolyn has been around
the sport of figure skating for almost her whole life. She started skating at the old Kennedy Ice
Rink in Hyannis. The facility was built when Carolyn was a
freshman in high school and she has been hooked ever since it was built. At the time, there were no coaches on the
Cape so Carolyn had to travel to Boston
for lessons. Carolyn noted, “My skating
was forgettable but that’s when I fell in love.”
the sport of figure skating for almost her whole life. She started skating at the old Kennedy Ice
Rink in Hyannis. The facility was built when Carolyn was a
freshman in high school and she has been hooked ever since it was built. At the time, there were no coaches on the
Cape so Carolyn had to travel to Boston
for lessons. Carolyn noted, “My skating
was forgettable but that’s when I fell in love.”
Carolyn’s career as a
figure skater ended when she attended college in Florida but her involvement in the sport
continued. “Our family was absorbed in
skating,” said Carolyn. She became a
judge for USFA after watching her daughter, a nationally ranked figure skater. Carolyn’s niece was an 11-time National
Competitor, competing in both singles and pairs and went on to become a World
and Olympic Judge and National Chair for Technical Skating for USFS.
figure skater ended when she attended college in Florida but her involvement in the sport
continued. “Our family was absorbed in
skating,” said Carolyn. She became a
judge for USFA after watching her daughter, a nationally ranked figure skater. Carolyn’s niece was an 11-time National
Competitor, competing in both singles and pairs and went on to become a World
and Olympic Judge and National Chair for Technical Skating for USFS.
Physical Therapy & Barnstable Fitness
The ties between the
Yarmouth Ice Club and Cape Cod Rehab continue with Carolyn. She has been a patient of Cape Cod Rehab, a
member of the Barnstable
Fitness Center
and was even a judge for Cape Cod Rehab’s physical therapist Briana when she
was a kid.
Yarmouth Ice Club and Cape Cod Rehab continue with Carolyn. She has been a patient of Cape Cod Rehab, a
member of the Barnstable
Fitness Center
and was even a judge for Cape Cod Rehab’s physical therapist Briana when she
was a kid.
A retired Barnstable High
School Accounting and Law teacher, Carolyn now faces strenuous hours on her
feet during competition weeks followed by long flights and long hours of sitting
in the cold ice rink when she’s judging all over the country. Over the years she’s had her fair share of
injuries and surgeries. She had both
knees replaced, has two bad hips, two bad shoulders that can’t be fixed, along
with severe osteoarthris.
School Accounting and Law teacher, Carolyn now faces strenuous hours on her
feet during competition weeks followed by long flights and long hours of sitting
in the cold ice rink when she’s judging all over the country. Over the years she’s had her fair share of
injuries and surgeries. She had both
knees replaced, has two bad hips, two bad shoulders that can’t be fixed, along
with severe osteoarthris.
Carolyn spends a few
months at a time in physical therapy with Briana before meeting with Eric
Chandler, Barnstable Fitness Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for
personal training. Eric sets Carolyn up with
an independent exercise program based on The Burdenko Method in the pool.
She truly believes that “the pool is saving my life!”
months at a time in physical therapy with Briana before meeting with Eric
Chandler, Barnstable Fitness Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for
personal training. Eric sets Carolyn up with
an independent exercise program based on The Burdenko Method in the pool.
She truly believes that “the pool is saving my life!”
Yarmouth Ice Club Hosting a Major Event
Carolyn and Donna will
co-chair Adult Nationals this month at the HYCC in Hyannis, MA. Carolyn has been the chair or co-chair at
every single Yarmouth Ice Club event and has judged 5 Adult National
Competitions.
co-chair Adult Nationals this month at the HYCC in Hyannis, MA. Carolyn has been the chair or co-chair at
every single Yarmouth Ice Club event and has judged 5 Adult National
Competitions.
Adult Nationals is one of
four National Championships held in the United States. The others include U.S. Championships (which
was held in Boston
to decide the 2012 Sochi Olympic Team), U.S. Collegiate Championships (which
the Yarmouth Ice Club hosted in 2012), and U.S. Synchronized Skating
Championships.
four National Championships held in the United States. The others include U.S. Championships (which
was held in Boston
to decide the 2012 Sochi Olympic Team), U.S. Collegiate Championships (which
the Yarmouth Ice Club hosted in 2012), and U.S. Synchronized Skating
Championships.
To host a major
competition, the Yarmouth Ice Club submitted a bid to USFS 18 months ago. To submit a bid, the rink, hotels, and all
the details had to be under contract and in place if they were chosen. Carolyn and Donna have met at least 2 times
per week for the last 18 months and more recently every day to plan and discuss
the details of the event. In 2012, they
ran not one but three major figure skating competitions. “Yeah, we’re crazy!” said Carolyn.
competition, the Yarmouth Ice Club submitted a bid to USFS 18 months ago. To submit a bid, the rink, hotels, and all
the details had to be under contract and in place if they were chosen. Carolyn and Donna have met at least 2 times
per week for the last 18 months and more recently every day to plan and discuss
the details of the event. In 2012, they
ran not one but three major figure skating competitions. “Yeah, we’re crazy!” said Carolyn.
Since interviewing
Carolyn, the Yarmouth Ice Club has announced they will be the host of the 2015
Theatre on Ice.
Carolyn, the Yarmouth Ice Club has announced they will be the host of the 2015
Theatre on Ice.
Adult Nationals
Carolyn says that adult
figure skaters are amazing. They are competing
because they want to be there. “It’s
crazy and fun but also very intense. You
will see former competitive skaters performing double axels and triples and
then there are lower levels where adults show their love for skating.” She said these skaters will surprise a lot of
people and added, “Everyone is cheering and the camaraderie between the skaters
is incredible.”
figure skaters are amazing. They are competing
because they want to be there. “It’s
crazy and fun but also very intense. You
will see former competitive skaters performing double axels and triples and
then there are lower levels where adults show their love for skating.” She said these skaters will surprise a lot of
people and added, “Everyone is cheering and the camaraderie between the skaters
is incredible.”
Blog post by Jen Skiba.
