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Committed to her craft: Gunderson thrives in figure skating from South Dakota

Jun. 12—MITCHELL — For most figure skaters across the United States, year-round ice access, training facilities and nearby competitions are often taken for granted.

For current Mitchell resident McKayla Gunderson, success in the sport has required something different, such as determination, sacrifice and several miles on the road.

The 2020 Pierre T.F. Riggs High School graduate recently received notification that she earned her U.S. Figure Skating Association gold medal in adult gold singles within the adult gold emotional performance showcase discipline. The achievement places Gunderson among the top-three adult figure skaters in the nation in her category.

The accomplishment makes her just the second member of the Mitchell Figure Skating Club to earn a U.S. Figure Skating gold medal honor, joining Sarah Bultje in the club's history.

While the achievement is significant on its own, Gunderson's story is unique in South Dakota, a place where figure skating has its challenges.

Opportunities for training are limited compared to traditional skating states, and in Mitchell, the challenge becomes even greater during the summer when ice is unavailable. Yet Gunderson continues to find ways to compete with some of the nation's best.

"I never thought that I would see myself as a national representative for South Dakota in general for figure skating," Gunderson said. "But now, I can walk around and proudly say that I accomplished one of the hardest things that you can do in figure skating, and it strives me to continue to work for my other gold medals, as well."

Gunderson routinely travels to Sioux Falls, Pierre and occasionally Watertown to find year-round ice and continue preparing for competition. The added travel and expenses are simply part of what it takes to pursue high-level figure skating while living in Mitchell.

And at 24 years old, Gunderson is balancing far more than skating. She works full time at the Krall Eye Clinic in Mitchell, is a part-time employee at Bradley's Pub and Grille, and serves as a coach with the Mitchell Figure Skating Club. Between work responsibilities and coaching commitments, finding time for her own training can be a challenge.

"I typically practice one or twice a week depending on my schedule with my work and everything, because I work a full-time job and I am getting married in August," Gunderson said with a laugh. "But you know, I just try to get on the ice when I can, work on my skills, and make sure that not only am I working on my routine but also continuously improving on the current skill set that I have."

Unlike younger skaters training at major academies or adults living near year-round rinks, Gunderson must juggle work schedules, coaching responsibilities, and travel while still finding time to compete against some of the nation's strongest skaters.

Gunderson credits much of her motivation to the young skaters she coaches in Mitchell. As an instructor, she has become a role model for aspiring young athletes throughout the area, proving that these accomplishments are possible even in places with limited opportunities.

"I am hoping that if I do go down to nationals and walk away with one of those national titles," Gunderson said. "But my students are my biggest inspiration by all means, because they are the ones that keep me striving and being the best person I can possibly be on and off the ice."

In the adult gold emotional performance showcase category, which she performs in, skaters perform theatrical programs designed to tell a story and portray emotional depth through movement, choreography and performance. Competitors must first achieve qualifying scores before earning the opportunity to compete at the national level. To get to nationals, you must compete in local competitions and Gunderson competed in six different local competitions under the USFSA.

Gunderson successfully reached that benchmark and has qualified for the U.S. Figure Skating Adult Championships, scheduled for Aug. 3-8 in Denver, Colorado.

But even after earning one of figure skating's top testing milestones, Gunderson is not finished.

She is currently pursuing gold medals in two additional disciplines: skating skills and patterned dance. For now, her focus remains on continuing to improve while representing both Mitchell and South Dakota on a national stage.

Regardless of what happens in Denver this August, Gunderson believes the opportunity itself is something worth celebrating. After years of balancing practices, road trips, coaching sessions and work shifts, she has already accomplished something few South Dakota skaters ever achieve.

"I never saw myself competing nationally, but here I am now, just doing something that I have always dreamed of," Gunderson said. "The No. 1 thing I would say to kids figure skating in South Dakota is that don't let other people persuade you on what you want to do. Do it for yourself because you want to do it, and your heart and mind are set on it to achieve great things."

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