Space Coast “Frozen” Hurricanes skate to gold at Nationals (by Sue DeWerff & 321sportscast)

Space Coast “Frozen” Hurricanes skate to gold at Nationals (by Sue DeWerff & 321sportscast)

It’s been a great summer on ice for the Space Coast Theatre on Ice “Frozen” Hurricanes.

         

Last month, skaters from the Rockledge Iceplex were among 1,300 participants representing 82 teams at the US Figure Skating Theater on Ice competition, held in Birmingham, Alabama. Program director and choreographer, Katie McGovern Nyman, who along with assistant choreographer, Brielle Francis, and coach, Cammi Acosta, led three teams to medals at the 12 th annual event. Gold medal performances by the intermediate level team in both the choreograph exercise and free-skate that topped 22 teams throughout the nation was the highlight of the trip. “It’s always a unique experience to be a part of this event,” said Nyman, who has been the director of the Theater on Ice program since 2003. 

                

Both their African-themed choreograph exercise and the Haunted Mansion free-skate won top honors and melted the hearts of the judges who evaluated skaters on technical merit with emphasis on originality, costuming, artistry and musicality. “I chose extracts from the Broadway Version of the Lion King for the African themed skate. The main track; “He lives in you”, was so inspirational allowing the skaters to really get into it,” Nyman told 321 Sportscast. “It was both entertaining and fun. I used a great drum beat section within the score for a percussion Africa style dance block.” Katie Zendehrouh, 13, of Rockledge, one of the standouts in the Haunted Mansion, free-skate number that drew standing ovations from the audience, played the role of Madame Leota, with a prop that featured a “head in the table.” It was the idea and creation of Page Zendehrouh, her Mom. “I have an amazing team of Moms who shared my vision for this number and assisted in designing props and costumes”, Nyman said. Katie, who began skating four years ago, said she puts in at least three hours, five days a week. She hopes to be part of the Novice team next season. The win was a second back-to-back victory for the skaters who took gold at the preliminary level last year. They will move up to Novice in 2020. The junior team, who skated to “Cats”, scored a strong 79.88 overall points, pewter medal for fourth place. The Space Coast Hurricanes adult team, who were disguised as Disney villains, earned an overall 49.29 points to bring home a pewter medal as well. Nyman said she hopes to take a Special Olympics team, as well as a new preliminary team to the competition next year.