The 2008-2009 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series kicks off with Skate America on October 24, in Everett, Washington. With preparations underway to welcome the world's top skaters, the Everett Figure Skating Club is right in the midst of the excitement. The Everett FSC was established in 2004 and was granted full club membership from the U.S. Figure Skating Association in September 2006. Since then, the club has experienced many firsts, including hosting it's first U.S. Figure Skating competition - the Pacific Northwest Interclub Skating Championships in early August of this year.
This growing club of over 70 members, ranging in age from six to sixty-six, will also take part in the success of Skate America. Many of Everett's members will be volunteering for the event and three of it's 
young skaters, Madison Barczyszyn, Shailyn Berry and Hailey Palm, have been selected to be Flower Sweepers. The club's Skating Director, Kim Derickson, will also be coordinating an on-ice press event with some of the Skate America competitors as the competition draws closer. As club president Kirsten Early puts it, "Any opportunity to participate in Skate America is a thrill for Everett Figure Skating Club."
Ms. Early further noted that,
Being such a young club we have recently passed many firsts: Justin Biringer passed his Senior Moves in the Field and Senior Freeskate, Selah Early and Julia Smith passed their Senior Moves, Selah and her former partner Mark Jahnke competed Intermediate Ice Dancing at the 2008 U.S. Junior Championships placing fourth in Compulsory Dance and sixth overall. Shailyn Berry and Hailey Palm recently placed at the Washington State Games and will go on to represent Everett FSC at the National State Games, next fall in Colorado.
In addition, in February, two teams from the Everett Silver Blades, the club's synchronized skating division, were medalists at the 2008 BC/YT Section Festival Synchro Skate held in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada. Director and Coach Melani Young said of the skaters, “They all worked really hard and it showed, and we can’t wait to see what happens next season." Well, next season is here, and my guess is that Everett FSC will shine at Skate America and beyond!
(Photos below: Ice dancers Selah Early and Mark Jahnke, Everett FSC Seussical Group, Everett Silver Blades Synchronized Skating Team)
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