MANKATO — When talking about the upcoming Battle of the Blades, Mira Glaser is all smiles, bubbly even, when she expresses how she as a figure skater is partnering up with a hockey player for an on-ice routine. She marveled at his willingness and abilities.
Isaac Ulman, Glaser’s Mankato West Scarlets skating partner, takes a more laid-back approach. Much like you would expect from a high school guy. He’s casual about it, but also determined he won’t let his partner down … unless that’s what she has choreographed for him to do.
One important thing they have in common, however, is that they’re having fun with their new collaborative endeavor.
Natalie Casper is the woman behind Battle of the Bands, as well as the sponsoring organization, the Southern Minnesota Skating Club. She started with the old TV show of the same name and combined it with local fundraising events such as Dancing with the Mankato Stars.
“Those have always been fun, and I wasn’t sure how to go about bringing the two together,” she said, seated in the remodeled concessions area of All Seasons Arena where rehearsals were taking place. “And then I had friends in the skating club in Onalaska who did it last fall. And I was like, ‘All right, tell me all about it.’”
Part exhibition/part competition/part fundraiser, it brings together five young women from the club with five members of the Mankato West boys’ hockey team for performances and skills exhibitions. In addition, one middle school pair and one elementary school pair round out the program.
In addition to the skills competition voted on by a panel of top skaters, people can vote for their favorite pair up through intermission of the show. The $1 donation through Venmo and all ticket proceeds will be split between the club and the West hockey program.
The lineup evolved through an open registration process, Casper said. Pairing was determined by age and ability, mostly. Each was then offered the chance to choreograph themselves or have coaches help. The results are a mixed bag, with some taking coaching and others borrowing ideas or using the let’s-see-how-this-works approach.
Ulman got involved through his friend, Brodie Cox, who had already signed up when he reached out to his friend.
“He texted me and said, ‘Do you want to figure skate?’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’ And when I said yes, I honestly didn’t really know what I was signing up for,” Ulman said. “And I honestly think it’s really fun.”
Glaser, who is one of the original members of the skating club, is glad she decided to take part and has been impressed by everyone.
“I’ve had some of the most fun I have had in skating recently just watching these numbers,” she said. “We have such creative minds and such creative talents. I have been so surprised by some of the talents I’ve seen from these hockey players.”
Figure skaters and hockey players are more alike than they are different, Casper said. But other than battling for limited ice time, there wasn’t much interaction. Events like Battle of the Blades brings them together to share a love of skating.
The final element pulled into the collaboration is theater. It brings another performance aspect to the show, Casper said.
While limiting the details they shared, Casper and Glaser said some of the hockey players will wear their jerseys and all will wear hockey skates, while figure skaters will wear traditional skates and costumes. They have found some differences in skates make some moves more difficult for the guys, but players have been willing to try and adjust as needed.
“The one thing he’s having a little bit of trouble with is there’s kind of like a dance sequence where we’re not skating as much as we are dancing,” Glaser said. “So, I’m like stepping on my toe picks but then he’s on the blades.” While Glaser can stop, Ulman can’t.
But his willingness to try things like jumps and spins helps make the adjustments, she said.
“I’ve definitely caught myself jumping on ice (in games), getting away from people,” Ulman said. “I don’t think these figure skaters thought we would be as good as we are.”
“I knew they were gonna be good,” Casper countered.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
Pairings who can be vote for up through intermission are Brodie Cox and Cecelia Casper; Isaac Ulman and Mira Glaser; Jakobe Tosch and Olivia McGowan; Isaac King and Annie Long; and Andrew King and Livi Casper
Also appearing are Todd Casper and Sully Lecy (Aspire team), and 5-year-old George Casper and 6-year-old Lillian Willaert.
The judges brought in for Battle of the Bands is an impressive collection of hockey and figure skating experts.
Surya Bonaly: French figure skater with three silver world championship titles, three-time Olympian. The first woman to attempt a quadruple jump at the Olympics, she is infamous for landing an on ice backflip on one foot during the 1998 Olympics. She coaches figure skating at Shattuck St. Mary’s.
Peter Biver: Six-time USFS gold medalist, former Holiday on Ice performer, director of the Shattuck St. Mary’s Figure Skating Club where he coaches national and international competitors.
Danny Heath: Former Mavericks hockey player, founder and developer of Project Hockey.
Curtis Doell: Former UMD Bulldog player, former Louisville Panthers AHL Player, former Mankato West hockey coach of 20 years, current West teacher.