Volunteer ice sweepers gather gifts, keep surface clear

Teddy bears fell from the stands like a hailstorm the night Michelle Kwan skated in Spokane.

Sure, it was Kwan who wowed the audiences with her near flawless performance at Skate America four years ago. But in the end, it was the unsung volunteers like Cody Lithco who had to do the cleanup.

Along with other sweepers – the kids who pick up the stuffed animals that fans throw onto the ice – the young skater from Spokane was responsible for keeping the rink safe and clean. They’re on the lookout not just for toys and teddy bears; they also have to watch for the occasional stray bobby pin, a fallen sequin or any sort of debris that could interfere with a skater’s blade.

This week, the 14-year-old Lithco will be back on the ice as a sweeper for the 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships. He’ll be the only boy out there among this group of 28 young skaters, but he’s also one of the few with actual sweeper experience.

“It was pretty easy – all you have to do is skate and pick up stuff,” recalled Lithco, an eighth-grader at Glover Middle School. “After Michelle Kwan, we picked up about 40 stuffed animals.”

Dozens of kids between the ages of 7 and 14 signed up for the sweeping jobs, but only 28 were qualified, according to Deby Ritter, of Spokane, the volunteer in charge of recruiting and training the sweepers. While some events, including the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, required sweepers to try out for the job, Ritter picked kids who had mastered their preliminary moves by passing a standard qualifications test. Sweepers for the Spokane event also were recommended by their coaches.

“We were looking for people who could skate with control and look graceful on the ice,” Ritter said.

Young skaters from throughout Spokane and Coeur d’Alene and as far as Sandpoint and Moscow were chosen. The vast majority are members of the Lilac City Figure Skating Club, which practices daily at Eagles Ice-A-Rena in north Spokane.

Since they were chosen last fall, the sweepers have had several meetings and rehearsals to practice picking up items thrown onto the ice.

Fresh flowers are no longer allowed at these events because the petals are difficult to pick up, according to organizers. These days, fans stick to stuffed animals in a variety of shapes and sizes. While some skaters keep a few of the gifts, many donate the stuffed animals to area charities, Ritter said.

Sweepers have been instructed to pick items off the ice and put them into a large blue bag. They’re supposed to bend at the knees instead of bending over – sort of like a curtsy. They also have been asked not to wave to the crowd or otherwise draw attention.

“We’re supposed to get on and get off as soon as possible,” said Lithco, who competed in the Junior Nationals last year.

During the novice competitions, only two sweepers at a time will work the ice. For the higher-profile events, such as the ladies finals, they’ll be out in groups of eight.

In addition to their sweeper jobs, these young people will participate in opening and closing ceremonies wearing their sweeper costumes – shimmery ice-blue dresses with puffy long sleeves worn with white scarves and gloves. Lithco will wear black pants and black gloves with his blue shirt.

“It’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Michelle McGurk, mother of McKenzie McGurk, a sweeper who aspires to compete in the championships someday.

McKenzie, 12, said she’s not at all nervous to skate in front of tens of thousands of people, not to mention the TV cameras broadcasting the event to millions.

“Because of competitions, I’m used to skating in front of crowds,” said McKenzie, a student at Indian Trail Elementary.

Other sweepers exuded the same confidence during a rehearsal last week.

Scared of falling? No way, they all said.

Nervous about the crowds? Quite the opposite, actually.

“The worst thing that could happen is a costume malfunction,” Lithco said.

“Or running into another skater,” interjected Heather Plowman, a seventh-grader at Bowdish Middle School.

But neither one is likely to happen, they assured each other.

“They’re all very excited and want to be very helpful,” said Ritter. “They realize they’re not the stars; they’re the afterthoughts. But anytime a skater can get out, dress up and do something like this, they just love it.”