Debbie O'Leary Helbig
I have been living in the Los Angeles area since 1989.  Unfortunately, I never took on coaching, but I keep busy working in City Government.  I have many fond memories of my skating days with Little Sun Valley Club and wish all the new skaters the very best of luck. 
 

 
 

Karen Ferrara retired from skating in 1996 after a successful career, especially in Pairs and Ice Dance.  After '96 Karen attended Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts and graduated with a degree in Religion and Art History.  At Wheaton she met her fiancé, Skye Paine. 

 

Karen and Skye reside in California and are to be married this summer.  They will be moving from Oakland, California, to Santa Barbara where Skye will pursue a doctorate in French Language and Culture. 

 

Karen's interests are many.  Those of you who remember the little girl who skated at LSV will remember her energy.  She has used that prodigious enthusiasm to follow her new passion.  Karen is a helicopter pilot and works towards getting all of her certifications so that she can begin to teach this September as a flight instructor.  She is an able and skillful pilot and the whole idea keeps Mom and Dad just a little nervous. 

 

As to skating, Karen rarely dons the blades and when she does it is just for the pleasure of movement and the joy of the feel of the ice, something she says gets lost in skating competition but was always present at Little Sun Valley.