Figure Skating

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
• Colorado Springs residents took part in the 4 Continents Skating Championships

_{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}

I hate to admit it, but my daughters have caused me to become somewhat "addicted" to the Lifetime TV reality show "Dance Moms."

Then, last week,  I heard that there will be a new show that is quite similar called "Ice Moms."  Even before the announcement was made about the TV spin-off, I decided that both the figure skating world and the dance world also have some similarities.

I've put my thoughts together in quite a lengthy article. In the article, I've realized that there are many positive traits that skating parents possess. I've tried to not dwell on the negative. Enjoy!

• Figure Skating Parents Can Be Similar To "Dance Moms"

_{Young Figure Skaters Smile With Their Mother At a Figure Skating Competition - Photo by JO ANN Schneider Farris}

I've been in San Jose, California at the 2012 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships all week long!  I've already seen Dalilah Sappenfield's junior pair teams take gold, silver, and bronze.  I saw Nathan Chen do a performance that will go down in history and win the national junior men's title.  I've seen some incredible ice dancing and also huge jumps.  Now, it's time for the championship events.

If you can't physically get to San Jose, you can still "go to nationals!"  Just tune into NBC or icenetwork!

• 2012 Prudential U.S. National Figure Skating Championships Broadcast Schedule

_{2012 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships - Photo Courtesy U.S. Figure Skating}

Recently, I reviewed two different figure skating murder mysteries by Alina Adams.   The stories were told through the eyes of a figure skating researcher for sports television.  I was fascinated!  Adams based that character on her own experiences.  She worked for ABC Sports as a figure skating researcher.  She covered several elite figure skating competitions and also covered the 1998 Winters Olympics.

Until I read Alina Adams books, I had no idea how much I took for granted all those "Up Close and Personal" features that I look forward to seeing when I watch skating on television.   I had no idea that a very hard working individual sits in a competition arena for hours and hours taking notes about every skater.   I didn't know that extensive biographical information was put together by one very hard working person!

Earlier this month, Alina took the time to chat with me about her experiences. From now on, I will never watch skating on TV without thinking about how hard the media works behind the scenes.

• An Interview With Alina Adams - A Former Figure Skating Network Television Researcher Shares Her Experiences
• Review of "Murder on Ice" - A Figure Skating Mystery by Alina Adams
• Review of "On Thin Ice" - The Second Figure Skating Murder Mystery By Alina Adams
• Get Skate Crime (Multimedia Edition For Kindle)

_{Alina Adams - Photo Courtesy Alina Adams Media}

World and U.S. Ice Dance Champions and Olympic Silver Medalists, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, are getting ready to compete in the upcoming 2012 United States National Figure Skating Championships that will take place in San Jose, California from January 22 to January 29, 2012.  (By the way...I'm going to San Jose to watch...!!!)

This past Tuesday, January 10, 2012, they took the time to chat with the media via teleconference. ...read more

_{Meryl Davis and Charlie White - Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Image}

I never really have thought of skate guards as being "fun," but Rockerz® have changed my thinking.

Rockerz® figure skate blade guards are so much fun and that's all there is to it.  For example, a skater can personally design his or her Rockerz® since they come in a variety of mix and match colors.

It is common for figure skaters to forget or to lose ordinary guards, but Rockerz® are so much fun that losing them is like losing a part of yourself.

I keep hearing from skaters the following statement:

"I love my Rockerz®!"

• Guide Review - Rockerz® Figure Skate Blade Guards

_{Rockerz® Figure Skate Blade Guards - Photo Copyright © Penguin Specialty Products}

Olga Jaffae's figure skating fantasy books are treasures. They teach readers about figure skating and they also share messages.

Cammie and Alex's Adventures in the Icy Park is the fourth book in Jaffae's ice skating fantasy series. The book ends with Cammie and Alex both becoming overweight and afraid to skate due to spells put on them by evil skating witches. They finally let a magical device free them from the spells, and are not afraid to skate, but now have to get back in shape and have many challenges ahead.

• Review of Cammie and Alex's Adventures in the Icy Park

_{Cammie and Alex's Adventures in the Icy Park - Shopping Image}