Ice Theater competition takes Kim sisters to France

Peninsula athletes are given numerous opportunities to travel and compete  throughout the United States, from tennis tournaments at Stanford University to softball exhibitions in Colorado. This past April, sophomore Catherine Kim and freshman Elleen Kim traveled to an international ice theater competition, the Nation’s Cup France.

The sisters are members of the Los Angeles Ice Theater, a group of skaters that compete in both national and international ice theater competitions. Not to be mistaken for figure skating, ice theater integrates not only technique, but also dancing, acting and artistry. Ice theater is also more group-oriented.

“This definitely taught me about teamwork. I can’t just think about myself when I’m competing,” Elleen Kim said. “I always have to keep other people in mind. It’s about competing, but it’s also about team bonding.”

Catherine and Elleen have been members of the novice team for four years; they practice every Friday at Pickwick Ice in Burbank, Calif. for nearly four hours.

“We practice often in general, but even more so before competitions and special events,” Catherine Kim said.

To qualify for the Nation’s Cup France, which took place in Colombes, FR the team had to first compete and place in three national competitions. They received third place in Ohio, second place in Michigan and second place in Massachusetts. They were one of three US teams in the novice level chosen to compete internationally.

In France, the team performed a program based on El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.

“It wasn’t about the skating, but  the energy that they brought to the performance and the love they have for each other that shows in their skating,” Coach Danelle Cole said.

The Los Angeles Ice Theater novice team ended up placing seventh out of nine teams at the Nation’s Cup France.

“The Kiss and Cry was my favorite memory. It’s a moment in skating where a team stands together to get their score, in front of a camera that shows you on a big screen,” Catherine Kim said.

“We were all hugging and crying together because of happiness.”