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Spo-can-do for the 2010 U.S. Nationals!
2008-04-23 06:03:00
Mr. Frick, skating extraordinaire and Debi Thomas' idol, dies at 92. [NYTimes] Kristi Yamaguchi and YouTube co-founder Steve Chen will be honored today at the 2008 JCPenney Asian Excellence Awards. [USAsian Wire] Meet Kassy Kova and Justin Ross, the only African-American ice dancing team in the country. [SignOnSanDiego] Ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto leaving Michigan to go to Pennsylvania. [Freep.com] Did you know the Japan Open is the final skating event of the season? Japan came out on top. [icenetwork] Review of PIC skates (see right): Are they really like figure skates?  [Ice Mom's Adventures in Figure Skating] Today's Parent features Jamie Salé and David Pelletier and adorable Jesse Joe (19 months). [Today'sParent] I don't understand these U.S. Figure Skating 2008-09 Team Envelopes. Maybe Aaron can explain it. [Axels, Loops, and  Spins] Spo-can-do for the 2010 U.S. Nationals ! [Chicago Tribune]

Clip of the week - Judy Blumberg & Michael Seibert
2008-04-19 07:03:00
I didn't know much about ice dancing, and I still don't. What I did know years ago was that I loved watching it, simply because there's nothing more prettier than watching two people close together dancing on ice. When I became more knowledgeable about the actual discipline of ice dancing, I realized how difficult it was and how much more creative the skaters had to be. Several years ago at Sky Rink in Chelsea Piers (which is where I skate when Rockefeller Rink closes), I used to see a woman at the freestyle sessions teaching and/or skating by herself, and thought, "Wow, if I can skate 1% like her, that would be my dream." Wouldn't you know it, why did I have to pick a Judy Blumberg to aspire 1% to? When I was told who she was, of course I read up on her and realized that I should shoot for skating .000001% like her, which is far more realistic. I'm gettin' there! Judy Blumberg and Michael Seibert were five-time (1981-1985) U.S. champions in ice dancing, three-tim...
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ESPN interviews alleged mastermind of 2002 Winter Olympics skating scandal
2008-04-18 13:31:00
Can't get enough of the new ISU Judging System? Why did they do away with the 6.0 scoring system anyway? On Sunday, ESPN's Outside the Lines program will revisit the seminal, scandalous event in skating history at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City that prompted a complete overhaul of the judging system. ESPN correspondent John Barr will have an exclusive interview with Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov (see below right), who is accused of being the mastermind of the conspiracy to fix the pairs and ice dancing competitions. I recently had a chance to speak with Barr about his report. In Salt Lake City, a French judge was bribed into giving lower marks to Canadian pairs team Jamie Salé and David Pelletier, such that Russian team Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze (the latter now a politician) won the gold, with the Canadians winning the silver. When an investigation revealed the bribery, the Olympic Committee awarded Salé and Pelletier their deserved gold medal (link to ...
More About: Interviews , Scandal , Skating

Brian Boitano, Carlo Fassi & Carol Heiss Jenkins to be inducted into U.
2008-04-17 06:26:00
The U.S. Olympic Committee announced the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2008. The Hall of Fame  recognizes the achievements of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, coaches and teams. Every Olympic year, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame inducts a new class. This year, three figure skating legends comprise part of the class: 1988 Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano; 1960 Olympic gold medalist Carol Heiss Jenkins; and skating coach Carlo Fassi, who coached Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, John Curry, Robin Cousins and Jill Trenary, among many others. Fassi died of a heart attack in 1997 while attending the World Figure Skating Championships. For 2008, the complete list of inductees are: Individuals: Karch Kiraly, Bruce Baumgartner, Joan Benoit, Brian Boitano, Oscar de La Hoya, J. Michael Plumb, David Robinson, Amy Van Dyken, Lones W. Wigger, Jr. Paralympian: John Morgan Coach: Carlo Fassi Veteran: Carol Heiss Jenkins Team: 1996 Women’s Gymnastics Team – Amanda Borden, Amy Ch...

Do ya have the stomach to watch this?
2008-04-16 06:20:00
Getting to know 2008 World Junior champion Rachael Flatt. [Golden Skate] The tax man cometh. [Current Skate of Mind] Kimmie still the sweetest, most down-to-earth, 18-year-old. [Carroll County Times] How to compete with the big leagues. [courant.com] Johnny Weir to perform in 100% Russian show. [icenetwork] Finally! Johnny also has his own reality show (not in Russia). [Salt Lake Tribune] British skater Cecilia Colledge (see right), inventor of camel and layback spin, dead at age 87. [icenetwork] Love this photo of Dorothy Hamill from the Figure Skating in Harlem benefit gala. [ESPN] Yu-Na Kim to headline ice show in Seoul. [Korea Times] There are no stunt doubles here folks. [Boot and Blade]
More About: Watch , Stomach

Do ya have the stomach to watch this?
2008-04-16 00:00:00
Getting to know 2008 World Junior champion Rachael Flatt. [Golden Skate] The tax man cometh. [Current Skate of Mind] Kimmie still the sweetest, most down-to-earth, 18-year-old. [Carroll County Times] How to compete with the big leagues. [courant.com] Johnny Weir to...
More About: Watch , Stomach

Advice from a pro: Breaking in new boots
2008-04-16 00:00:00
Our guest columnist is Rikki Rendich Samuels, an instructor at Rockefeller Rink in NYC for over 25 years. As a four-time USFSA national competitor, Rikki received her gold medals in figures and freestyle, and is a former two-time Middle Atlantic...
More About: Advice , Boots , Breaking

2008 U.S. Adult Nationals: Purest expression of the love of skating
2008-04-16 00:00:00
What an amazing experience I've had attending the 2008 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships in Lake Placid, New York! I've just returned back home to New York City, and the last few days have been a blur. The four-day event,...
More About: Love , Nationals , Expression

Advice from a pro: Breaking in new boots
2008-04-15 12:52:00
Our guest columnist is Rikki Rendich Samuels, an instructor at Rockefeller Rink in NYC for over 25 years. As a four-time USFSA national competitor, Rikki received her gold medals in figures and freestyle, and is a former two-time Middle Atlantic Senior Ladies Champion. As a professional, she has been awarded the highest awards from the Professional Skaters Association, a master's rating in figures and freestyle, and a master's rating in program administration. Everyone agrees that breaking in new boots can be time-consuming and painful. But experts disagree on how to make the process easier. Here are some suggestions: If you've been a once a week skater, allow six to eight hours of practice time for breaking in new boots. Start with short sessions, a half-hour at most, and build gradually to your usual practice time. Competitors should time their purchases so they can break in new boots in the summer, before the competition season starts. Begin breaking in new boots off th...
More About: Advice , Boots , Breaking

2008 U.S. Adult Nationals: Purest expression of the love of skating
2008-04-14 04:55:00
  What an amazing experience I've had attending the 2008 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships in Lake Placid, New York! I've just returned back home to New York City, and the last few days have been a blur. The four-day event, from April 9 - 12, is packed with skating warm-ups and competition starting at 6 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. This is the most fun I've had watching singles, pairs, ice dancing and interpretive free skate. The parking lot is also a hoot, with the most vanity license plates having to do with skating in one place. At Adult Nationals , I met skaters competing at an unbelievable level, who are 21 and over, into their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, and one thing is crystal clear: every single skater epitomizes the spirit of what the joy and love of skating is all about. No corporate endorsements or Olympic aspirations to speak of -- just the love of skating and the tremendous support of fellow skaters, friends and family, who recognize that if...
More About: Love , Expression

Clip of the week - Roberto Riva, roller skating champion
2008-04-12 06:11:00
Below is a clip from the 51st Senior World Roller Figure Skating Champion ships in 2006. Roberto Riva from Italy came in second (his teammate Luca D'Alisera came in first), and won the event for the 2007 Championships. This was pretty amazing for me to watch. I was fascinated by the spins -- he spins on his heel for part of the camel and he's also doing all the triple jumps that we would see in figure skating. How great is that!
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Be a hockey cheerleader and be the envy of your dormmates
2008-04-12 00:00:00
If you're an avid figure skater and off to college, do you lament that your skating days will come to an end because, you know, you're off to college? Perish the thought! If you're a University of Minnesota Gopher Hockey ...
More About: Envy , Cheerleader

Clip of the week - Roberto Riva, roller skating champion
2008-04-12 00:00:00
Below is a clip from the 51st Senior World Roller Figure Skating Champion ships in 2006. Roberto Riva from Italy came in second (his teammate Luca D'Alisera came in first), and won the event for the 2007 Championships. This was pretty...
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Catching up with...Randy Gardner
2008-04-12 00:00:00
When you only have to mention a skater's first name, you know that athlete has left an indelible mark on the sport and its fans. Doubly so for Tai and Randy . Although I was too young to clearly remember the...
More About: Gardner

Catching up with...Randy Gardner
2008-04-11 06:30:00
When you only have to mention a skater's first name, you know that athlete has left an indelible mark on the sport and its fans. Doubly so for Tai and Randy . Although I was too young to clearly remember the height of their competitive amateur career, their impact in pairs skating is pretty evergreen. In short, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner were three-time World medalists (won Worlds in 1979 in Vienna, Austria, link to long program), five-time U.S. champions (1976 - 1980), and were heavily favored to win the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, but had to withdraw due to an injury sustained by Randy. They were also the first pair to successfully land the throw triple Salchow and to date, are the only American pairs team to win Worlds. After retiring from amateur competition in 1980, they began an illustrious professional career, which is how I got to know them, through TV specials and professional competitions. (I remember watching them and thinking, "I wanna be like Tai!&...

Be a hockey cheerleader and be the envy of your dormmates
2008-04-10 06:10:00
If you're an avid figure skater and off to college, do you lament that your skating days will come to an end because, you know, you're off to college? Perish the thought! If you're a University of Minnesota Gopher Hockey Cheerleader , chances are, you'll be skating more than ever.The Gopher Hockey Cheer Team at the University of Minnesota offers students the chance to combine individual and synchronized skating skills, dance and cheerleading, all into one unified sport. The 12 members (see above) perform skating routines in between hockey periods at Golden Gopher Hockey team's home games, and during the games, trade shoes for skates, and cheer and dance in the stands. During hockey season (October - March), the girls have three morning ice practices, along with two off-ice conditioning sessions. The members also balance a full course load with practices, games and events. Each member is expected to be a full-time student, maintain 13 credits and a 2.0 GPA.What sets this team apa...
More About: Envy

If Obama is Kerrigan & Hillary is Harding, that makes McCain Oksana
2008-04-09 06:11:00
Skating legend Dorothy Hamill honored at Figure Skating in Harlem benefit gala: "I still skate every day." [icenetwork] Fastest spinner in the world Lucinda Ruh now designing ice rinks. [wbay.com] An adult skater's concussion story. [AssociatedPress] 2002 gold medalist in pairs Anton Sikharulidze now a politician. I find this refreshing. [Komsomolskaya Pravda] Partnership with marketing firm increases skating's visibility. [icenetwork] 2003 ice dancing world champion Shae-Lynn Bourne carving her own niche. [ice-dance.com] Marlee Matlin of Dancing with the Stars' got nothing over this skater. [thenewsherald] Kristi Yamaguchi (see right) survives to dance another day as she and partner place among the top two teams in DWTS! Hillary Clinton pursuing "The Tonya Harding Option." [abcnews]
More About: Obama , Kerrigan

If Obama is Kerrigan & Hillary is Harding, that makes McCain Oksana
2008-04-09 00:00:00
Skating legend Dorothy Hamill honored at Figure Skating in Harlem benefit gala: "I still skate every day." [icenetwork] Fastest spinner in the world Lucinda Ruh now designing ice rinks. [wbay.com] An adult skater's concussion story. [AssociatedPress] 2002 gold medalist in...
More About: Obama , Hillary , Kerrigan , Harding

U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships kick off tomorrow
2008-04-09 00:00:00
My bags are packed and I'm off to Lake Placid, New York, to cover the 2008 U.S. Adult Championships ! Hosted by the Olympic Regional Development Authority and The Skating Club of Lake Placid, the event runs from April 9 -...
More About: Tomorrow , Figure Skating , Figure

2008 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships kick off tomorrow
2008-04-08 06:30:00
My bags are packed and I'm off to Lake Placid, New York, to cover the 2008 U.S. Adult Championships ! Hosted by the Olympic Regional Development Authority and The Skating Club of Lake Placid, the event runs from April 9 - April 12 and affords an opportunity for the best adult (age 21+) skaters from around the country to compete for national titles in singles, pairs, ice dancing and interpretive free skating. The very first U.S. Adult Championships were held in 1995 in Wilmington, Delaware and this year marks the fifth time that the Lake Placid Olympic Arena in Lake Placid will hold the event. Approximately 600 skaters/couples are expected to enter the competition. Competitors are grouped in events by age, and there are five age categories: Class I: 21-28 years old Class II: 29-35 years old Class III: 36-45 years old Class IV: 46-55 years old Class V: 56 years old and over Competitors are also divided into three skill levels: gold, silver and bronze, and then also into two tr...
More About: Tomorrow , Figure Skating , Figure

Westminster FSC of Erie: Celebrating 50 years
2008-04-07 06:24:00
Fifty years is a long time for a club to exist and be successful! Just ask Dottie Vassar, one of the founders as well as the first president of Westminster FSC of Erie . In 1958, Dottie, along with others in the Erie area, started the club to promote greater interest in figure skating in the Erie area, in the hopes that one day, the need for an artificial rink would be realized. The club's members skated outdoors on Dauphin Park Pond from 1959 to 1963 (see below right, Dottie is far left), with the club paying boys and girls $1/hour to clear the snow from the pond! In 1964, their dream was realized when construction was completed on the J.M. Cochran Ice Arena. The club has been a member of United States Figure Skating since 1965 and Dottie, now at age 88, continues to be actively involved in the club's success. In addition to being an active board member, Dottie attends Professional Skaters Association seminars, coaches, and runs the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills program. The ...
More About: Years

Advice from a pro: Putting a program together
2008-04-07 00:00:00
Our guest columnist is Rikki Rendich Samuels, an instructor at Rockefeller Rink in NYC for over 25 years. As a four-time USFSA national competitor, Rikki received her gold medals in figures and freestyle, and is a former two-time Middle Atlantic...
More About: Advice , Putting , Program

Westminster FSC of Erie: Celebrating 50 years
2008-04-07 00:00:00
Fifty years is a long time for a club to exist and be successful! Just ask Dottie Vassar, one of the founders as well as the first president of Westminster FSC of Erie . In 1958, Dottie, along with others in...
More About: Years

Advice from a pro: Putting a program together
2008-04-06 06:15:00
Our guest columnist is Rikki Rendich Samuels, an instructor at Rockefeller Rink in NYC for over 25 years. As a four-time USFSA national competitor, Rikki received her gold medals in figures and freestyle, and is a former two-time Middle Atlantic Senior Ladies Champion. As a professional, she has been awarded the highest awards from the Professional Skaters Association, a master's rating in figures and freestyle, and a master's rating in program administration. The following guidelines are helpful to putting a program together, whether you are a beginner or an Olympic skater! After you have chosen your music (and select music you love because you will be listening to it a hundred times), the next step is to work out a plan. There are two ways of doing this, but in each case, you are going to start by making a list of the skating moves you want to include. If you are making up your program for a test or competition, you have little choice as to your moves -- you will do the mo...
More About: Advice , Putting , Program

Clip of the week - Brian Orser
2008-04-05 06:41:00
When I watch the young phenoms, like 14-year-olds Mirai Nagasu or Rachael Flatt, I often am curious about their coaches as well. Sometimes I'm even more interested in the coaches because nowadays, a coach has to balance the demands of an elite skater, which includes agents (a whole marketing team actually), sports psychologists, trainers, choreographers, etc. while keeping in mind that the skater is still a teenager who's achieved this enormous success. I previously profiled Charlene Wong, the primary coach for Mirai, who's done such a terrific job of helping Mirai's skating as well as keeping Mirai a typical, "normal" 14-year-old! This week's Clip of the week takes us down a trip to memory lane to recap the accomplishments of Canadian great Brian Orser (coach of South Korean superstar 17-year-old Yu-Na Kim), and to showcase one of my favorite program of his. Brian is one of my favorite skaters because of his choreography. I tend to remember his programs because of h...
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Clip of the week - Brian Orser
2008-04-05 00:00:00
When I watch the young phenoms, like 14-year-olds Mirai Nagasu or Rachael Flatt, I often am curious about their coaches as well. Sometimes I'm even more interested in the coaches because nowadays, a coach has to balance the demands of...
More About: Clip , Week , Brian

Results of 2008 World Synchronized Skating Championships
2008-04-04 00:00:00
The 2008 World Synchronized Skating Championships were held in Budapest, Hungary, from March 28 - March 30. Twenty-two teams (16 skaters are on a team) from 17 countries entered the event, with Finland's Rockettes (see above) winning their first Worlds....
More About: Results

"It comes down to what you do. . .wearing rhinestones and velvet."
2008-04-02 00:00:00
I'm The Slo-Mo, which one are you? [Current Skate of Mind] American Girl Doll of the Year Mia St. Clair now a computer game --what took so long!?! [USA Today] Pretty much everyone's interviewed Sasha Cohen, so let's turn it...
More About: Velvet

Ice Theatre of New York: Gitano
2008-04-01 00:00:00
Ice Theatre of New York (ITNY) was founded in 1984 by Canadian ice dancer Moira North and is dedicated to developing ice skating as a theatrical art form through performances and educational programs. Each year at Rockefeller Rink, ITNY puts...

Figure Skating in Harlem: Much more than skating
2008-04-01 00:00:00
About eleven years ago, I was skating at Sky Rink, when it used to be on 33rd Street in Manhattan. (Subsequently, Sky Rink made its new home on 23rd Street, at a sports complex called Chelsea Piers.) At the "Old...
More About: Figure Skating , Figure , Harlem , Skating