Ice bound

Call it the meeting of the sit spin and the slap shots, or hairspray and helmets. Tanya West, a petite 5-foot-1, is all about figure skating. Brian Clouse, a rock-solid 6-2, is all about ice hockey. Together, they have built a relationship that, judging by the way they look at each other, is hardly on thin ice.

“She’s the best skater ever,” Clouse said meltingly, undoubtedly scoring some serious boyfriend points.

West, who grew up in Spokane, and Clouse, who is from Cheney, will be among the skaters performing at the Lilac City Figure Skating Club’s Style on Ice show June 3-5. The biennial extravaganza will be at Eagles Ice A-Rena, 6321 N. Addison St., home rink of both West and Clouse.

The show features more than 100 local skaters who are at various stages in ability.

One act sure to entertain the paying public will feature West, Clouse and his Spokane Flyer teammates. The hockey players, who compete on the Junior B level, will skate to a futuristic version of “Play That Funky Music (White Boy).” West – who skates at the highest, or senior, level – will glide and jump between the guys.

West and Clouse also will do a short “routine” during the program. The couple skated together at the Eagles’ most recent Christmas show, but this is the first time they’ll give it a go at the spring show.

(Note to 2002 Olympic co-gold medalist champions Russians Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze: You have nothing to worry about.)

“It’s hard for any hockey player to go out and do this,” Clouse said one afternoon between practice at Eagles. “We don’t have the artistic ability, and they’ve been doing it forever.”

Clouse, who earned his GED at Cheney High, and West, who graduated from Mead High, both are 19 and began skating at the Eagles when they were 6. Oddly, they never met until 2½ years ago when West and a group from the rink traveled to Eugene, Ore., to watch the Flyers compete in the Northern Pacific Hockey League playoffs.

“After the game, people were hanging out, and we stayed up all night talking,” West said.

Today, they both work part time at the rink. West works at the snack bar and as a coach. Clouse teaches youth hockey and also works as a swimming pool builder, another job he got from networking at the rink.

West said her goal is to skate with Disney on Ice, much like Kim Ryan of Spokane, who currently is skating with Disney.

Clouse, a defenseman, said his goal is to play at a higher level. He plans on trying out for the Junior A level this summer, although the closest teams are in British Columbia.

In the meantime, both skaters work with figure skating and power skating instructor Berkley Villard of Spokane.

While tension between figure skaters and hockey players, and the tug-of-war for ice time, occur at some rinks, Villard said that’s not the case at Eagles. For starters, the facility has two indoor rinks.

“It’s good here,” said Villard, three-time national skater and 1987 silver medalist. “I think it helps that I teach hockey players and figure skaters.

“There is definitely respect across the line between hockey players and figure skaters.”

Clouse said he and his girlfriend will spend the next few weeks working on skating as a pair, which also is an adjustment to single’s skater West.

Don’t expect him to do spins (too difficult), he said, or jumps (way too difficult) during the big routine.

As far as dabbing on makeup or lacing up figure skates? He’s more likely to land a quad before that happens.

Call it the meeting of the sit spin and the slap shots, or hairspray and helmets. Tanya West, a petite 5-foot-1, is all about figure skating. Brian Clouse, a rock-solid 6-2, is all about ice hockey. Together, they have built a relationship that, judging by the way they look at each other, is hardly on thin ice.

“She’s the best skater ever,” Clouse said meltingly, undoubtedly scoring some serious boyfriend points.

West, who grew up in Spokane, and Clouse, who is from Cheney, will be among the skaters performing at the Lilac City Figure Skating Club’s Style on Ice show June 3-5. The biennial extravaganza will be at Eagles Ice A-Rena, 6321 N. Addison St., home rink of both West and Clouse.

The show features more than 100 local skaters who are at various stages in ability.

One act sure to entertain the paying public will feature West, Clouse and his Spokane Flyer teammates. The hockey players, who compete on the Junior B level, will skate to a futuristic version of “Play That Funky Music (White Boy).” West – who skates at the highest, or senior, level – will glide and jump between the guys.

West and Clouse also will do a short “routine” during the program. The couple skated together at the Eagles’ most recent Christmas show, but this is the first time they’ll give it a go at the spring show.

(Note to 2002 Olympic co-gold medalist champions Russians Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze: You have nothing to worry about.)

“It’s hard for any hockey player to go out and do this,” Clouse said one afternoon between practice at Eagles. “We don’t have the artistic ability, and they’ve been doing it forever.”

Clouse, who earned his GED at Cheney High, and West, who graduated from Mead High, both are 19 and began skating at the Eagles when they were 6. Oddly, they never met until 2½ years ago when West and a group from the rink traveled to Eugene, Ore., to watch the Flyers compete in the Northern Pacific Hockey League playoffs.

“After the game, people were hanging out, and we stayed up all night talking,” West said.

Today, they both work part time at the rink. West works at the snack bar and as a coach. Clouse teaches youth hockey and also works as a swimming pool builder, another job he got from networking at the rink.

West said her goal is to skate with Disney on Ice, much like Kim Ryan of Spokane, who currently is skating with Disney.

Clouse, a defenseman, said his goal is to play at a higher level. He plans on trying out for the Junior A level this summer, although the closest teams are in British Columbia.

In the meantime, both skaters work with figure skating and power skating instructor Berkley Villard of Spokane.

While tension between figure skaters and hockey players, and the tug-of-war for ice time, occur at some rinks, Villard said that’s not the case at Eagles. For starters, the facility has two indoor rinks.

“It’s good here,” said Villard, three-time national skater and 1987 silver medalist. “I think it helps that I teach hockey players and figure skaters.

“There is definitely respect across the line between hockey players and figure skaters.”

Clouse said he and his girlfriend will spend the next few weeks working on skating as a pair, which also is an adjustment to single’s skater West.

Don’t expect him to do spins (too difficult), he said, or jumps (way too difficult) during the big routine.

As far as dabbing on makeup or lacing up figure skates? He’s more likely to land a quad before that happens.