Figure on a family affair

Parents will leave the stands and take to the ice during the Superior Figure Skating Club's annual ice show Sunday, "One Hit Wonders ... Hit the Ice." The skaters and their family members spent last Thursday learning a routine by Mariah Jeske to Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart."

"A lot of adults have not had their skates on since last year," said Karen Carkoski, one of the coaches.

There were plenty of smiles and only a few wobbles during Thursday's practice, which included twirling circles of skaters and a rotating pinwheel that took over most of the ice at Wessman Arena.

"For the first time out there, they did pretty good," said Susan Backlund, whose husband Richard and daughter Sarah were in the routine.

Even as they laced up prior to practice, many skaters were "Walking on Sunshine." Cory Bonneville headed out on the ice with his 9-year-old twins, Ivy and Jasmine.

"He used to be a hockey player," Ivy said of her father. "He can skate really fast."

The girls said they were happy to skate with their dad.

"Because he's a good skater," Ivy said before they had to "Hustle" to get in place.

For Heather Morrissey, the annual show gets her back out on the ice. She was a member of the Timberline Figure Skating Club in Wausau "many, many" years ago.

"You won't see me doing any axels, Salchows," said Morrissey, a teacher. "I can stand up, do a couple of spins." She said her daughter, 8-year-old Mya, told her on the way to practice that she likes when they skate together.

"I send my husband out there," said Backlund, of Superior. It helps promote father-daughter bonding.

"She and I do so much together it's nice for her and her dad to have that time together," Backlund said.

This year's annual ice show features 40 young skaters and a cool soundtrack of one-hit wonders. It includes tunes like "Who Put the Bomp," "It's Raining Men," "867-5309" and "Funky Town."

It got the thumbs up from both Bonneville, who runs Sounds Unlimited, and his twins.

"They know good music," Bonneville said.

The first piece of the night helps grab the audience's attention, Carkoski said.

"Usually my favorite number is the opening number with all the girls working together," she said. This year's opening is a medley that includes "Ice, Ice Baby," "The Macarena" and "Rapper's Delight."

Then the basic skills members take the ice with a routine to "Don't Worry, Be Happy." The rest of the show features group numbers, including the parent-child routine to open the second act, and solos from the two high school seniors in the club.

The Superior Figure Skating Club was established in 1955 to promote and encourage the sport of figure skating.

"It's one of the few sports that lets a child be an individual, not a team," Carkoski said.

Backlund said she likes watching as the skaters progress and grow. They go from 3-year-olds who can't stand on skates to being in an ice show, Carkoski said. Parents also appreciate the club.

"It's fun; I like it," Morrissey said. "It's a good program."

Because it's a small club skaters form a bond with each other and their coaches.

"We spend hours together a week," Carkoski said.

Sunday, they will highlight what they've learned. This will be the 18th time the club has held an ice show. They hope to share their "Achy Breaky Heart" with the entire community, along with their "Mambo No. 5," "Barbie Girl," "Rose Garden," "Venus" and more.

The show begins at 2 p.m. Sunday in Wessman Arena. General admission seats are $7 for adults, $5 for children age 4-12 and children younger than 3 attend free. A 10-pack of adult tickets is $60 and reserved seats are $10 each. Tickets are available at the door. Call Vikki (715) 392-8658 or Sarah (715) 394-6062 for more information. To learn more about the Superior Figure Skating Club, go to http://superiorfsc.org .