Ice Skating Is a "Fountain of Youth"
Some people believe that spending time in a refrigerated ice rink delays the aging process.
Think about this: A cold refrigerator makes foods last longer, so perhaps a cold ice rink preserves our bodies!
Figure skaters do look young. Even if ice skating isn't a true "fountain of youth," spending time in an ice arena will definitely keep you fit.
- Figure Skating Will Keep You Young and Fit
- How to Become a Figure Skater
- Learn to Figure Skate
- Am I Too Old to Begin Figure Skating?
Photo of the Week: Figure Skaters Sinead Kerr and John Kerr of the Great Britain Do an "Unusual" Ice Dance Lift!
Figure Skaters Sinead Kerr and John Kerr of the Great Britain Do an "Unusual" Ice Dance Lift! - Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images
Which U.S. Figure Skaters Will Make the 2010 Olympic US Figure Skating Team?
As I watched Skate America this past weekend, I began to think about which U.S. figure skaters may qualify for the 2010 Olympic Figure Skating Team. After seeing Rachael Flatt win Skate America's ladies freeskate, I think Rachael has a good chance of being an Olympian. Evan Lysacek showed that he is definately planning on competing in another Olympics. Also, of course, ice dancing's outcome is predictable: Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto and Meryl Davis & Charlie White will be there. Pair skating is the opposite: I'm not sure which of the U.S. pair skaters will be on top.
Share your thoughts. Which figure skaters do you think will qualify for the 2010 Olympic US Figure Skating Team?
Gift Idea - A Unique Figure Skating Calendar
Katie Stader Holmes is a figure skating coach based in Kansas City. She has created a very unique 2010 Figure Skating Calendar. The calendar includes photos of decorated figure skates! The funds from the sale of her ice skating calendar will help pay for medical expenses for her autistic child.
I just received Katie's beautiful calendar in the mail. It really is original! Her calendar is a great gift idea.
Figure Skaters Are Role Models ON and OFF the Ice
Last summer, I asked a very famous figure skater about what she thought about the arrest of Nicole Bobek. (Nicole Bobek was the 1995 U.S. Ladies Figure Skating Champion.) She told me that it was so very sad, but also mentioned that she and most figure skaters should know that what goes on in their lives is on display. She said, "When things go well, no one says anything, but when something goes wrong, everyone notices."
This got me thinking that figure skaters should realize that what they say or do may be noticed by someone else. Every person involved with figure skating should keep in mind that he or she may be someone's role model ON and OFF the ice.
This also means that what you do on the internet is also on display. If you take part in figure skating forums or social networking sites, keep in mind that what you do or say online is public. Also, be up front about who you are. Do not pretend to be someone else. Be honest about what you have accomplished in life and in skating.
Happy Skating!
Further Reading:
Television Thanksgiving Special Will Celebrate Cancer Survivorship Through Figure Skating and Music
"Kaleidoscope," a FOX television special that will air on Thanksgiving Day, will be celebrating skating, song and survivorship.
Olympic figure skating champions and cancer survivors Scott Hamilton and Dorothy Hamill will be performing. This will be the first television performance for Hamilton since he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and Hamill will make a return to skating following her battle with breast cancer. Olympic Champion Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic Medalist Nancy Kerrigan, and Olympic figure skating hopefuls Johnny Weir and Rachael Flatt will also appear.
The show will be taped on Monday, November 16, 2009 in Washington, D.C. at the Verizon Center. Cancer survivors may obtain complimentary tickets. Tickets are available through all Ticketmaster outlets.
John A.W. Nicks Is Coaching Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen Once Again
Yesterday, I heard that 2006 Olympic Figure Skating Silver Medalist, Sasha Cohen, is back training under her longtime coach, John A.W. Nicks. He is her primary advisor, but Rafael Arutunian, who has taught her during her comeback to the world of competitive figure skating, is still in the picture. Cohen's switch has been reported to be "the buzz of the ice skating world."
Nicks is also coaching 2008 and 2009 U.S. Pair Skating Skating Champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker. The upcoming 2010 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships that will lead up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver should be a very busy and interesting "Nationals" for Mr. Nicks!
Will Meryl Davis and Charlie White Win the Olympic Ice Dancing Figure Skating Title?
I just watched the 2009 U.S. ice dance champions, Meryl Davis and Charlie White's winning performance from the NHK Trophy that was held in Nagano, Japan. Their free dance brought tears to my eyes. Their dance spin, straight line-rotational lift with many changes of position, and a dance lift with White skating backwards on one foot while Davis balanced on his leg were incredible to watch. Their twizzles and footwork were also breathtaking.
They easily qualified for the 2009 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The crowd gave them a standing ovation. Some ice dancing fans say that they will win the ice dancing title at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
What are your thoughts? In the ever changing world of ice dancing, switching partners is the norm, but Meryl Davis and Charlie White's long-term ice dancing partnership seems to have paid off. Something wonderful may happen for them in Vancouver!
Loud Cheering, Clapping, and Figure Skating
A certain figure skating coach does everything "team style." It's common to see her skating students cheering and banging the boards when someone lands a difficult jump or completes a difficult spin. When her skaters do complete run-throughs of their short or long programs, the arena gets really loud. Sometimes there is very loud clapping. When her group goes to competition, there is a cheering section that includes that coach's skaters and families. It's fun for everyone who is in her group.
Other coaches have copied that coach. As Sectionals is getting close, there really is a lot of clapping and cheering and banging of the boards going on.
I think that is GREAT! Cheering seems to make kids skate better!
Unfortunately, not everyone is part of the groups that are doing the cheering. Some kids are not getting equal attention. I've even heard that someone complained to a rink's management that certain kids are getting too much attention.
In my opinion, hearing cheering at the rink while practicing is a good idea, since most likely, at a competition, there will be some cheering going on from the stands. Skaters need to learn how to be able to deal with cheering and clapping before the "real performance" since a lot of noise may be distracting.
What are your thoughts? How should we go about cheering for figure skaters?
Photo of the Week: Nobunari Oda - Japanese Figure Skating Champion
Japanese Figure Skating Nobunari Oda - Photo by Getty Images