Last week, I attended the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2012.

It was an experience I'll never forget since I served as a volunteer during the competition.  I was able to meet some of the world's greatest skaters and their coaches.  My own children participated in the ladies event awards ceremony (my daughters got to carry the gold and bronze medals, and my son raised the Japanese flag), and my two older children also skated in the Skating Spectacular exhibition with other local skaters from the Broadmoor Skating Club.

In addition, on Saturday night, I was able to sit right next to the "Kiss and Cry" during the men's free skate. I ended up sitting right behind Christy Krall and Kathy Johnson as they coached Patrick Chan during his warm-up. I have never been that close to "the action" before.  Being that close gave me the opportunity to see the delight in Patrick's face when he skated so well and won.

I do think the look on Ashley Wagner's face when she won Four Continents and the look on Mr. Nicks' face sums up what a fun competition Four Continents 2012 was!

• ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2012 Recap and Highlights

_{Coach John A.W. Nicks With Ashley Wagner - She Won the 2012 Four Continents Skating Championships! - Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images}

I received a call yesterday from a very frustrated adult ice dancer.  For three years, she's been trying to purchase ice dance music for practice that is reasonably priced.   She has searched and searched, and called me hoping I could direct her to the right source.

After our call, she inspired me to do some research.  It's just not that easy to find or purchase pattern ice dance music. I've put together a list of the options I've used. I hope my list helps.

If you know of other sources, please comment or add your suggestions to my list.

Happy Skating and Happy Ice Dancing!

• Where Can Figure Skaters Purchase Pattern Ice Dance Music?
• How To Become an Ice Dancer
• "Learn to Ice Dance" an Instructional DVD Review
• Join Ice Dancers Online - Ice Dancers Forum

_{Ice Dancers - IceDancers.com Photo/Copyright © IceDancers.com}

The 2012 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships is about to begin.  Today, as an official volunteer, I played music for some of the best figure skaters in the world as they practiced on the official practice ice before the event.  

As I watched the skaters practice, I began thinking about all that has happened since Four Continents was in Colorado Springs in 2007.  For example, little did Evan Lysacek know, when he won the gold at the 2007 Four Continents competition, that he would win the most prestigious gold medal of all at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. ....read more

_{Jeremy Abbott and Evan Lysacek Smile After the Awards Ceremony At the 2007 Four Continents Championships - Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images}

This past Tuesday, as I walked through the San Jose airport, I realized I left San Jose with over a week of wonderful memories of a great "Nationals."  I'm so glad I attended.  "Nationals" is not only the most prestigious and exciting figure skating competition in the United States, but it is also the best figure skating reunion and celebration ever!

• Some Memories From the 2012 US National Figure Skating Championships
• 2012 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships Event Page - From icenetwork.com
• 2012 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships Final Results Summary

_{2012 U.S. Pair Skating Champions John Coughlin and Caydee Denney Smile and Wave To the Crowd After Doing Their Freeskate At the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Championships - Photo by Pool/Getty Images}