The “Grandmother of Aerobics” received perfect 5s in all events

OJAI, CALIF. (Oct. 6, 2011) − International fitness guru and former Sonja Henie professional skater Sheila Cluff placed first in six events at the 2011 Ice Skating Institute Adult Championships at the Tampa Bay Skating Academy in Oldsmar, Florida.

Cluff is the owner and founder of The Oaks at Ojai, a fitness destination spa in Ojai, Calif.  The 75-year-old is known as the “grandmother of aerobics” for revolutionizing “cardiovascular dance” in the 1950s. Her fitness skills smoothly transcended to the ice as she competed with 186 contestants from 15 states.   

Following a 45-year hiatus from ice skating, Cluff returned to the ice in 2006, placing first in her age division for freestyle skating at the ISI Adult Championship in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Cluff swept the competition by skating to perfects scores and wins in six events: the Willow Waltz, Hickory Hoedown, Ten Fox, Freestyle 3 Solo, Freestyle Bronze and Spotlight Character.

Founded in 1959 as a nonprofit organization for owners, operators and developers of ice skating facilities, The Ice Skating Institute is an international industry trade association that touches all aspects of the ice skating industry. ISI not only encourages people to take up ice skating as a recreational sport by providing programs for skaters of all ages and abilities, but it provides trade and educational publications and literature for industry members such as arena managers, skating directors, instructors, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers.

In addition to these Adult Championships, ISI also holds five other annual national skating competitions plus consumer and trade shows to go along with recreational skating events. Always eager to help the sport grow, ISI also created the very first learn-to-skate initiative in the United States, weSKATE, that has introduced more than 5 million people to the wonderful world of ice skating.

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