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Instructors
With each new semester comes another
opportunity for our instructors to pass on their love of the sport of ice
skating to all of the Ice Chalet's students. The Ice Chalet is proud to have a
highly dedicated group of teachers, and we want you to have the chance to get
to know them. |
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Larry LaBorde
President and Manager
Hockey
Director
Skating School Director
Chalet Ice Rinks, Inc.
Couples, Dance,
Figures, Freestyle, Pairs
Born in
Chicago, Illinois, Larry LaBorde has been with the Ice Chalet since
1967. He moved to Knoxville when his father accepted a position in The
University of Tennessee College of Education.
When he started skating,
Larry planned to become a professional hockey player. However, after
experiencing a taste of professional junior hockey in Canada, he changed his
focus to figure skating.
Larry
spent five years touring with Holiday On Ice, the U.S. tour that is now
called Disney On Ice. He holds Master ratings in Group Instruction, Program
Administration, and Sports Sciences & Medicine, as well as Senior ratings
in Dance and Freestyle and Certified ratings in Pairs -- all part of the system
established by the Professional Skaters Association (PSA). He holds the
Registered rating in "Moves in the Field," and he is also rated in Hockey I and
II. Larry is a Gold Medalist in Ice Dance in the United States Figure Skating
Association (USFSA) system.
Manager
of the Ice Chalet since 1988, Larry was named Man of the Year by the Ice
Skating Institute (ISI) in 1996. He has also served on the Board of Directors
of ISI.
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Angie Skremsky
McCarter
Competition Director
Basics, Dance,
Freestyle, Synchronized
Angie Skremsky McCarterhas been skating and teaching at the Ice
Chalet for more than 10 years. Although she grew up outside of Chicago, Angie
did not begin skating until she attended a University of Tennessee physical
education class taught at the Ice Chalet. Over the years, Angie has
participated in many skating competitions, shows, and instructor seminars. She
has successfully competed the ISI gold-level judges certification test, and she
has helped coach several synchronized teams. Angie also toured with the Feld
Entertainment production of "Grease on Ice." She has a bachelor's degree in
fine art and a Masters degree in education. When she's not skating, Angie is an
art teacher for Knox County Schools. |
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Mary
Lu Shipstad
Assistant Skating School
Director
Basics, Couples, Dance, Freestyle, Pairs,
Synchronized
Mary Lu Shipstad has over 15 years
of professional show skating experience, including performances as a principal
soloist for Disney on Ice and serving as show director. She is an accomplished
skater, passing USFSA Gold Level tests in Figures, Freestyle, and Dance during
her amateur days. She also taught lessons at several rinks around the country
before joining the Ice Chalet staff in 1992. When she's not at the rink, she
stays busy with her two adorable children, Jimmy and Brandon. |
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Gina
Alexander
Basics, Freestyle
Gina Alexander began
skating at the Ice Chalet at age 10. As a member of the Robert Unger School,
she participated in several Ice Chalet performances and ISI competitions. She
has successfully passed tests in Freestyle, Couples, and Dance. She holds a
B.A. from The University of Tennessee in Political Science. Gina is excited to
return to the Ice Chalet after introducing her young daughter to the fun of ice
skating.
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Lynne
Attaway
Lynne Attaway began taking skating lessons while in college in
Ohio, and then she continued to take lessons at the Ice Chalet, passing tests
in dance and freestyle. After raising four children, she returned to skating
and passed several more test levels in dance, freestyle, and figures. She
participates in ISI competitions, Nutcracker On Ice, and the adult synchronized
team. Lynne began teaching skating in 1999 and is also an ISI gold-level judge.
She has a Masters degree in City Planning and has been a Sociology instructor
at Pellissippi State Technical Community College. In 2007, she earned her
Occupational Therapy degree. Lynne has also been a teacher in many volunteer
organizations.
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Dan
Baird
Vice President, Chalet Ice Rinks, Inc.
Basics, Freestyle
Dan Baird is a Knoxville
native who claimed North Carolina as home for ten years. He is married with
twin teen-aged sons. Dan is an Ice Chalet veteran dating back to the 1970s when
he was introduced to skating as a student in the UT class. He took lessons from
Robert Unger, passing tests in Freestyle, Dance, and Couples. Dan’s real
passion is teaching basic lessons. His teaching philosophy is “a strong
foundation of the basic fundamentals is essential in skating as well as in
life.” |
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Konstantin Baradakov
Basics, Freestyle,
Pairs
Konstantin Baradakov is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia. He
began training at the acclaimed Ubelenie Olympic Training Center in St.
Petersburg by age four. He has extensive training in Figures, Freestyle, and
Pairs skating as well as Ballet, and he has competed often. Konstantin earned a
degree in Sports Science and Physiology at the Lesgaft College of Sports in St.
Petersburg. At age 17, he began touring with the renowned “St. Petersburg
Ballet On Ice.” He has also skated as a principal performer with
Holiday On Ice and Feld Entertainment’s Beauty and the
Beast, Anastasia, Hercules, and 75 Years of Disney
Magic. He recently toured with his wife, Kathi Wolff Baradakov, who trained
with Robert Unger as well as Larry LaBorde, completing test levels in
Freestyle, Dance, Pairs, Couples, and Figures. Konstantin and Kathi appeared in
Disney’s 3 Jungle Adventures On Ice as the principal pair, and
Konstantin portrayed the role of adult “Simba” in the Lion King
portion of the show. |
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Sarah Brown Bauguess
Basics, Dance,
Freestyle
Sarah "Alie" Brown Bauguessbegan skating at the age of six at
the Ice Chalet. She has passed ISI Freestyle 6 and Dance 9 as well as USFSA
Juvenile Free, Bronze Dance, and Intermediate Moves-in-the-Field. Sarah majored
in Figure Skating Science at the University of Delaware and is studying for a
Masters Degree in Sport Psychology at UT. She has been coaching since 1999, and
is a member of the Professional Skaters Association.
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Adam
Blake
Basics, Freestyle
Adam Blake is an
accomplished freestyle skater, having passed Freestyle 8 in the ISI program. He
has been skating since he was a tot. His passions lie in creative and unusual
skating maneuvers. Adam enjoys teaching basics and freestyle, but he has a
special knack for choreography. He is currently touring with Disney On
Ice. |
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Jennifer Roberts
Bradley
Basics, Freestyle
Jennifer Roberts Bradley
has been skating for over 20 years, beginning as a tot at the Ice Chalet.
She has been teaching for several years while continuing to take Freestyle
lessons. Jennifer has participated in many ISI competitions and has enjoyed
performing in the Nutcracker on Ice since its beginning at the Ice Chalet. She
has also toured with the Ice Capades and skated with Rosstyn Ice Shows.
Jennifer has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of
Tennessee.
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Brandon
Cross
Basics
Brandon Cross joined the
teaching staff in the Summer of 2008. He has passed ISI Freestyle 8 and Dance 8
and has performed in numerous Ice Chalet shows and ISI competitions.
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Snigdha
Dhar
Basics
Snigdha Dhar has
participated in many ISI competitions and the annual productions of Nutcracker
On Ice at the Ice Chalet over the years. She has passed ISI Freestyle 5 and
Dance 7.
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Shawnda
Ernst
Basics, Couples, Dance,
Freestyle Shawnda Ernst served as the Ice
Chalet's Skating School Director and Competition Director for many years and
has been teaching at the Ice Chalet since 1990. She began skating and working
at the rink after enrolling in UT skating classes. At UT, Shawnda earned both
undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education. As a skater, she enjoyed
participating in many ISI competitions, including the ISI College Challenge.
She also passed ISI tests in Figures, Freestyle, and Dance before becoming a
teacher. Shawnda is an ISI gold-level judge. When she's not at the Ice Chalet,
Shawnda teaches first grade at Pond Gap Elementary School. Her husband Donnie
is also a skater.
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Hannah
Foust
Basics, Dance, Freestyle
Hannah Foust has been an
avid skater at the Ice Chalet since 2002. She has participated in many ISI
competitions and the annual productions of Nutcracker On Ice. She continues to
progress in the ISI freestyle and dance testing program. |
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Gisele Couture
Frantz
Basics, Dance, Freestyle, Hockey,
Pairs
Gisele
Couture Frantz is originally from Montreal, Canada, where she received
instruction from and taught with Olympic and international coaches. She
competed in Freestyle and in Pairs and performed with her partner in many shows
over the years in Montreal. She is a gold medalist in Ice Dance, Free Dance,
and Moves-in-the-Field, and she passed the sixth level in Figures and Senior
Silver in Freestyle. Gisele is certified as an instructor in the Canadian
Figure Skating Association's program. She also holds the Master rating by the
Professional Skaters Association in Sport Science and Medicine, and the
Certified level 3 rating as an instructor in Power Skating as well as Hockey 1
and 2. She is also a member of U.S. Figure Skating. Her philosophy: "What's
really important is not what I've done, but what my skaters can
accomplish." |
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Gregory
Fuller
Basics, Dance, Freestyle
Gregory Fuller, a native
of Ontario, Canada, started skating at age six, and has played hockey and
figure skated most of his life. He managed four skating rinks, teaching ISI
lessons and directing the skating schools. He has also passed the Fourteenstep
in Dance. Gregory earned a B.S. degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown
University and is also certified in K-3 education. He has been with the Ice
Chalet since 1984. |
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Julia Hardin
Basics,
Dance, Freestyle
Julia
Hardin was among Robert Unger's first students at the Ice Chalet. Skating
was sidelined while she earned her law degree and served as associate dean at
UT College of Law and later as director of a national citizenship education
program at Wake Forest University. Julia taught skating in Winston-Salem NC
before returning to Knoxville and her home rink in 1999. She is an ISI
gold-level judge and a member of the Professional Skaters Association and U.S.
Figure Skating. She served as the Ice Chalet's Skating School Director for two
years. In addition to being an attorney, Julia owns a graphics design and
consulting business, and a flexible schedule allows her to pursue her passion
for skating as both a student and a teacher. |
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Kassandra
Hazard
Basics, Dance, Freestyle
Kassandra "Kassie" Hazard began
skating late, at the age of 12, but was determined to catch up for her late
start. She is an accomplished ice dancer, and she quickly climbed the ladders
of both the ISI and the USFS skill sets. She is the 2007 USFS Junior National
Championship Bronze Medalist in Intermediate Dance. In ISI, she has passed her
Dance 10 test. She is also an ISI gold-level certified judge. Kassie also
earned gold medals in the USFS Ice Dance and Moves-in-the-Field testing
programs. She loves to work on dance, pairs, couples, figures, and freestyle,
and she enjoys performing on ice. She welcomes working with young, energetic
skating hopefuls. She is currently touring with Disney On
Ice. |
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Mary
Beth Massey
Basics, Freestyle
Mary Beth Massey is
currently enrolled in law school.
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Jessica
Marshall
Basics, Dance, Freestyle
Jessica Marshall began skating at the Ice Chalet at age 3. She
has passed ISI Dance 10 and Freestyle 6, and is an accomplished ballroom
dancer.
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Christie Barker Ragle
Basics, Dance,
Freestyle
Christie Barker Ragle teaches dance classes. Christie, who began skating
as a tot at the Ice Chalet, has passed ISI Freestyle Level 8 and Dance Level
10. She has also passed the gold USFSA Dance level. |
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Michelle Sheppard
Basics, Freestyle,
Synchronized
Michelle Sheppard passed ISI tests in Freestyle 6, Couple 6, Dance 4,
and Figure 2 while learning to skate at the Ice Chalet. She skated eight
seasons with Disney On Ice, participating in such shows as "Double Feature,"
"Aladdin," and "Hercules." She started teaching a variety of skill sets and
levels at the Ice Chalet in 2000. Michelle earned her degree in Architecture
from the University of Tennessee and is an architect at Bullock Smith and
Partners, Inc. in Knoxville.
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Theresa-Vay Smith
Not currently available
for privates.
Theresa-Vay Smith has taught at the Ice Chalet since 1981. She
has passed ISI tests in figures, Freestyle, Couples, and Dance, and has
participated in many ISI competitions. While teaching at the Ice Chalet,
Theresa-Vay earned bachelor's degrees in Finance, Latin, and Ancient Greek. She
has also earned a Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Jurisprudence
degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. When she is not at the
Ice Chalet, Theresa-Vay is a practicing attorney in Oak Ridge. |
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Laurie Valiga
Board Chair, Chalet Ice Rinks, Inc.
Basics,
Freestyle
Laurie Valiga moved to Knoxville to attend UT and to teach at
the Ice Chalet after taking lessons from Mr. Unger in Huntsville, Alabama and
beginning her teaching career there. She has been involved in teaching,
coaching, and judging ISI test levels and team competitions for over 30 years.
Laurie passed the Master rating for Group Instruction from the Professional
Skaters Association (PSA). After finishing her German degree at UT, Laurie
moved from the position of Skating School Director at the Ice Chalet to the
same position in Australia at the Macquarie Ice Rink (near Sydney) for more
than two years. She also started an ISI skating school at the rink in
Christchurch, New Zealand. After returning the Knoxville, Laurie completed her
Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UT. She now works as a
programmer/analyst for the Tennessee Valley Authority when she is not at the
Ice Chalet or working in her garden. |
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Kate
Webb
Basics, Freestyle
Kate Webb began skating at
the Ice Chalet at the age of 12. She started apprenticing as a teacher when she
was 14 and began teaching a few years later. She teaches Tots through
Freestyle. Kate is currently continuing her dance and Freestyle training. She
has competed in many ISI competitions through the years, and she has been in
the Nutcracker On Ice production since 1997. She is majoring in Physical
Therapy at the University of Tennessee. |
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Private Lessons Brochure
PDF File
Robert
Unger
Past President
Chalet Ice Rinks,
Inc.
1925-2007
Robert
Unger, a native of Nuernberg, Germany, was a highly acclaimed skater who
won titles in ice and roller skating championships in Europe. In 1941, he
passed the Master test in both ice and roller skating (equivalent to the Gold
Test of the United States Figure Skating Association). Among his many
achievements as a professional skater, Mr. Unger taught two German skating
champions and a Ladies World Champion (1954). He was a featured performer in
worldwide productions of Holiday On Ice and in European Ice Shows for 18
years before deciding to make his home in Knoxville in 1963.
He
established skating schools in Knoxville and in Huntsville, Alabama. He was a
leader in the development of the Ice Skating Institute, the international group
that promotes recreational figure skating and hockey. He pioneered recreational
ISI competitions by initiating the annual Mississippi Valley District
Invitational Team Competition (MVDC) in 1969. In 1977, this competition became
the first international ISI skating competition.
Mr. Unger earned his Masters
Degree as a Figure, Freestyle, and Group Instructor, as well as Administrator,
from the Professional Skaters Guild of America (PSGA). Twice named "Man of the
Year" by the Ice Skating Institute, Mr. Unger was elected to membership in the
Ice Skating Hall of Fame in 1983 for his contribution to the sport, and in the
year 2000 he was presented with the ISI's Lifetime Achievement Award.
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