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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. All of our instructors are Professional Members of the Ice Skating Institute. |
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Larry LaBorde
President and Manager
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 and Program
Director, as well as Senior ratings
in Dance and Free Skating 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 (USFS) 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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Julia Hardin
Skating School Director
Basics,
Dance, Freestyle, Synchronized
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 Group-certified judge. Julia is also certified as a skating instructor at both the Core (Tots through Delta) and Intermediate (Freestyle 1-5) levels in the Ice Skating Institute's Instructor Training Program. 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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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. Mary Lu is an ISI Gold-level judge and Group-certified judge. She is also certified as a skating instructor in both the Core (Tots through Delta) and the Intermediate (Freestyle 1-5) levels in the Ice Skating Institute's Instructor Training Program. When she's not at the rink, she
stays busy with her two children, Jimmy and Brandon. |
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 B.J. Pelkey
Hockey Director
Hockey Skills, Basics, Shooting, Systems
Born in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. B.J. Pelkey has been in the Knoxville area since 2007. He moved to Knoxville to further his Professional Hockey Career with the Knoxville Icebears. He has enjoying all that the city has had to offer ever since.
When he started skating, B.J. planned to one day play for a living. Along the way he decided that a Division 1 NCAA Scholarship was a new goal. He has accomplished that goal in 2002 and went on to become a 4 year letterman at Lake Superior State University in the CCHA. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management, with minors in Chemistry and Business French, in 2006 he decided to become a professional hockey player.
Now after playing in the CHL, SPHL and AIHL, he has been a member of the Regular Season Coffey Trophy SPHL Championships in 2007-08, 2008-09 and the President’s Cup Playoff Championships 2007-08 and 2008-09 with the Knoxville Icebears. He has also won the Goodall Cup in 2008 with the Newcastle Northstars. When not at the rink he enjoys free time his better half Lynette. |
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Gina
Alexander
Basics, Freestyle, Synchronized
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. She is an ISI Bronze-level judge. 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
Basics, Dance, Freestyle
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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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 is also an ISI Gold-level judge. She has been coaching since 1999, and
is a member of the Professional Skaters Association.
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Jennifer Roberts
Bradley
Basics, Freestyle, Synchronized
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, and she is a Bronze-level certified judge in the ISI program. She and husband Stephen have a baby girl, Rebecca Addison.
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Brandon
Cross
Basics, Freestyle
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.
Brandon is also an ISI Silver-level judge.
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Snigdha
Dhar
Basics, Freestyle, Synchronized
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. Snigdha is also an ISI Bronze-level and Group-certified judge.
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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 began skating at the Ice Chalet at age 12 and joined the teaching staff in 2006. She has participated in many ISI competitions and the annual productions of Nutcracker On Ice. She has passed ISI Dance 8 and continues to work towards her goal of passing ISI Dance 10. She has a B.S. in Business Administration and International Business from the Univ. of Tennessee, She is also an ISI Bronze-level judge. |
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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. Gregory is also an ISI Gold-level judge and is a certified skating instructor at the Core level (Tots through Delta) in the Ice Skating Institute's Instructor Training Program. |
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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 toured for two and a half years 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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Angie Skremsky
McCarter
Basics, Dance,
Freestyle, Synchronized
Angie Skremsky McCarter has 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 is an ISI Gold-level judge, 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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 Arianna McElyea
Basic, Synchronized
Arianna McElyea has been a member of the Ice Chalet family since she was three years old. She started apprenticing when she was 14 and began teaching in 2010. She teaches Tots through Delta. She has competed in many ISI competitions both locally and out of state and has appeared in the annual Nutcracker On Ice production for several years. Arianna has passed Freestyle 4 and Dance 5. She is also an ISI Bronze-level and Group-certified judge. |
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Michelle Sheppard
Basics, Freestyle, Synchronized
Michelle Sheppard passed ISI tests in Freestyle 6 & Couple 6 as well as Dance and Figures. She skated eight seasons with Disney On Ice. Michelle is an architect by profession and Mom to two great sons
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Theresa-Vay Smith
Board Member, Chalet Ice Rinks, Inc.
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). Laurie is also an ISI Gold-level judge. 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 started apprenticing when she was 14 and began teaching when she was 16. She teaches Tots through Freestyle. Kate has passed Freestyle 4 and Dance 5. She has competed in many ISI competitions both locally and out of state and has appeared in the annual Nutcracker On Ice production for several years. Kate holds associate degrees in both Business Management and Marketing from Pellissippi State and is an ISI Silver-level judge. |
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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.
Remembering Robert Unger
Photos of Robert Unger
For teachers, only:
Substitute Request
PDF File
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Dan Baird
