Looking back to the First Annual Novice Skating Competition

Founding member of the Central California Inter-Club Association, Margery Schleh, of Capital City FSC, proposed that CCIA sponsor an inter-club competition in 1967 to allow skaters the opportunity to perform their programs in front of a judging panel before the qualifying season began. At this time, the local clubs did not host non-qualifying competitions, so there was a real need for “feedback before the big qualifier”. Margery Co-Chaired the first CCIA competition with Joan Burns, who was then a member of El Camino ISC. The competition was hosted by El Camino Ice Skating Club in 1968 at the Burlingame Ice Arena offering lower level events for the most part in this first year.

 

Piecing Together the Story of the Second Annual Novice Skating Competition

Taking in to account the recollections of our founding CCIA members, as well as, filling in the holes of our history through research, we can pin point some of the details of the second CCIA Competition. CCIA held its Second Annual Novice Skating Competition in Corte Madera at the Raydine Ice Rink on May 10, 1969, and was presumably hosted by the Marin FSC, now defunct. The program for this event did not include any information regarding the LOC from Marin FSC. However, it is noted in the program the CCIA Competition Committee included Joan Burns, then a member of El Camino ISC, Nola Joy Ditmanson of Capital City FSC, and George Yonekura of St. Moritz ISC.

There were three Raydine Ice Rinks in Marin. The first one, built and owned by Ray Schramm in 1953-4, was located in Mill Valley at the present location of Goodman's Lumber. Ray Schramm then built a larger rink in San Anselmo, and later on he built the rink in Corte Madera that is now the location of Gold's Gym. By piecing together several key recollections of the history of the CCIA Competition, it is correct in assuming this second annual competition was held in Corte Madera in 1969. Please enjoy the mimeographed program below this article.

If you would like to see some pictures of the different Raydine rinks and its skaters, please follow this link- http://www.marinnostalgia.org/portfolio/raydines

 

 

 

 

Co- Hosting A Growing Third Annual CCIA Competition

By 1970 the CCIA Competition had grown to a three day event with more competitors entering these lower level events. At this stage in the development of the CCIA Competition it was still a "novice" competition for lower level skaters, and Pixie level events were even added in 1970. Pixie level is the approximate kin to the current Pre Preliminary level, and is a term rarely used in current competition announcements. As the competition had grown to three days in length, two clubs hosted the Third Annual CCIA Competition. Capital City Figure Skating Club held the first weekend of the competition in Sacramento, while El Camino Ice Skating Club took the third day the following weekend. 

 

CCIA Splits its Annual Event into Novice and Advanced Divisions

For the first time, in 1971, the CCIA split its annual competition in to two separate competitions, the Novice Division and the Advanced Division. El Camino Ice Skating Club hosted the fourth annual Novice Division CCIA Competition at the Burlingame rink on May 23-24, 1971. As in past years the Novice Division held events for the lower levels, Pixie through Pre Juvenile and events up to the Second test level. Mixed and Ladies Pairs events were included in the list of scheduled events, as well.

With the addition of the second competition, held a month later on June 27 at Belmont Iceland by the Crystal Springs Ice Skating Club, Intermediate through Senior level Singles events were competed, along with Bronze Pairs and dance events through the Senior and Championship levels. This new competition was extremely welcomed by the higher levels, and due to the large amount of entries certain events had to be eliminated from the schedule, such as, Junior and Senior Ladies Moves. By 1971, it is evident the CCIA Competition had become a prestigious event, and a great success growing in number of entrants, and in disciplines and levels of events.

Please enjoy the two competition programs below.

 

 

This program is for the 1972 Advanced CCIA Competition which was held by the Squaw Valley Figure Skating Club