Thirty-three Americans Compete at 2013 ISU Adult Figure Skating Competition

18 May

By Lexi Rohner

Thirty-three adult figure skaters represented the United States last week at the ninth International Adult Figure Skating Competition in Oberstdorf, Germany. Hosted by Deutsche Eislauf-Union and held at Eislaufzentrum Oberstdorf, the event boasted the largest participation in its history with 332 skaters from 25 countries entered in free skate, interpretive, ice dancing and pairs competitions. The event also included seven synchronized skating teams.

U.S. athletes compete in 25 events (46 starts) in ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing.

Developed in 2005 by Rhea Schwartz and the late Paula Smart, both former chairs of U.S. Figure Skating’s Adult Skating Committee, along with Switzerland’s Wolfgang Stummer and France’s Barbara Standke, the event is the only ISU-sanctioned adult competition. Skaters range in age from 28-78.

Of note is the repeat appearance of Midori Ito, the 1989 World champion, 1992 Olympic silver medalist and the first woman to land a triple-triple combination and a triple Axel in competition. At the 1988 Calgary Olympics, Ito became the first woman to land seven triple jumps in a free program.

This year both face stiffer competition for the title from five additional skaters from the U.S. and Germany.

“Oberstdorf is a wonderful venue with two rinks, and is loaded with skating history,” said Schwartz, likening its charm to Lake Placid.

Activities include Program Component and Technical Component seminars, on-ice Opening Ceremonies (held on ice) Tuesday night and a final banquet to be held Saturday night.

Main page: http://www.eislauf-union.de/International-Adult-Figure-Skating-Competition_Veranstaltungendetail_Zuschauer_167_kkdetail_view_verans.html

Results page: http://www.deu-event.de/results/adult2013/

Facebook page: http://www.deu-event.de/results/adult2013/

Eissportzentrum Obertsdorf: http://www.eissportzentrum-oberstdorf.de/veranstaltungen/isu-adult-competition.html

U.S. ENTRIES AT 2013 INTERNATIONAL ADULT COMPETITION

LADIES

Leslie Amacker (Masters (Elite) Ladies II Free Skating; Masters Ladies I + II Artistic Free Skating)

Brandy Lokken (Silver Ladies I Free Skating; Silver Ladies I Artistic Free Skating)

Elizabeth McGlauflin (Masters (Elite) Ladies II Free Skating; Masters Ladies I + II Artistic Free Skating)

Jennifer JONES (Masters Ladies I + II Artistic Free Skating)

Diane STEWART (Silver Ladies II Artistic Free Skating)

Sherri HICKS (Masters (Elite) Ladies II Free Skating; Masters Ladies I + II Artistic Free Skating)

Colleen HUBER (Gold Ladies III Free Skating)

Maureen CARRIGAN (Silver Ladies II Free Skating; Silver Ladies II Artistic Free Skating)

Jill EMERICK (Silver Ladies II Free Skating; Silver Ladies II Artistic Free Skating)

Mary BULLOCK (Silver Ladies III Free Skating)

Monique LAGNERIUS (Bronze Ladies II Free Skating; Bronze Ladies II Artistic Free Skating)

Priscilla HEATON (Masters (Elite) Ladies II Free Skating; Masters Ladies I + II Artistic Free Skating)

Brenda WITTMAN (Masters (Elite) Ladies II Free Skating; Masters Ladies I + II Artistic Free Skating)

Rachael CRIM (Gold Ladies I Free Skating; Gold Ladies I Artistic Free Skating)

Terryl Lee ALLEN (Bronze Ladies III Free Skating)

Susan PUGH (Bronze Ladies III Free Skating; Bronze Ladies III Artistic Free Skating)

Trisha HESSINGER (Masters (Elite) Ladies III + IV Artistic Free Skating)

MEN

Jorge De Lima (Gold Men II + III Free Skating; Gold Men I + II + III Artistic Free Skating)

Kris FIDLER-BALLARD (Gold Men I Free Skating)

Alan EMERICK (Gold Men II + III Free Skating)

Ross LUXTON (Gold Men II + III Free Skating; Gold Men I + II + III Artistic Free Skating)

Ian CATINDIG (Silver Men I Free Skating; Silver Men I Artistic Free Skating)

Jose HINOJOS (Silver Men I Free Skating; Silver Men I Artistic Free Skating)

PAIRS

Elizabeth WEISS OZORAK / Greg FERREE

Pam DAWLING / Leo KAPLUN

ICE DANCING

Trisha HESSINGER / Chuen-Gun LEE (Masters (Elite) Pattern Dance; Masters (Elite) Free Dance)

Laura FANTARELLA / Oleg VOYKO (Masters (Elite) Pattern Dance)

Jisun BARTELS / Oleg VOYKO (Masters (Elite) Free Dance)

Alicja GALA / S.K. LEONG (Ice Dance Bronze Pattern Dance)

Elizabeth ELLSWORTH / Oleg VOYKO (Masters (Elite) + Adult Short Dance)

World Figure Skating Museum & Hall of Fame Photo Tour

8 May

The World Figure Skating Museum & Hall of Fame is located on the first floor of U.S. Figure Skating’s Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. and is the international repository for the sport of figure skating. The only institution of its kind in the world, the Museum is dedicated exclusively to the preservation and interpretation of the history of figure skating. Join us below for a tour of the museum in photos and captions. Thanks to Karen Cover for contributing to this project.

2013 AAC Gala in Photos

7 May

On Saturday night at Governing Council, the Athletes Advisory Committee held a gala fundraising event. Here are pictures taken of the event courtesy of Chuck Bigger for U.S. Figure Skating.

SKATING magazine – April Issue

6 May

Click on the cover to view the entire digital version of the April SKATING magazine.

2013  april cover

SKATING magazine – May Cover

2 May

Every month we will unveil the new cover for the upcoming issue of SKATING magazine. Here is the cover for the May issue featuring World champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

2013 may cover 4

Team USA Triumphs at 2013 ISU World Team Trophy

13 Apr

Twitter  #WTT13 | icenetwork.com Event Page  | ResultsCompetition Notes

2013 ISU World Team Trophy | Tokyo

Congratulations to Team USA as they take home the gold medal from 2013 World Team Trophy. Team Canada won silver, while Team Japan earned bronze. The Americans have now medaled in each of the three World Team Trophy events (gold in 2009, silver in 2012).

“I couldn’t be more proud of Team USA,” team captain Ashley Wagner said. “Everyone went out and skated with their hearts and really pulled it together during a difficult time. It’s not easy to compete at the end of the season and a few weeks after Worlds. But here we are and everyone skated so well. I’m very proud.”

Simply put, Gracie Gold and Wagner were on fire for Saturday’s free skate with both ladies earning their best free skating scores of the season to propel Team USA to victory.

Wagner “overcame” an undone hair bun midway through her skate to earn 128.83 points for her final free of the season. She totaled 188.60 points and was second in the ladies event behind Japan’s Akiko Suzuki.

“I’m ecstatic,” she said. “I’m tired. It’s been a long season. But season’s best at the last competition of the year, I can’t be happier. Even with the hair mishap, it was a fun program for me more than anything else.”

Gold was equally strong in her performance and finished just behind Wagner with 188.03 points (also a personal best). Her free skate was worth 127.05 points. As Gold looks toward the Olympic season, she hopes to increase her second mark and become more consistent throughout the season.

“I need to work on choreography and have more intricate programs,” she said. “I also need to work on doing the same thing at every competition with less up and downs. Just ups – good performances for next year.”

Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir finish fifth with 172.30 points. The duo attempted their first ever competitive quad Salchow. Though Castelli fell, they take the confidence with them of putting it out in competition.

“I thought it was a great program,” she said. “It’s our first time putting out the quad Salchow. I went for it, it’s been good in practice. We are happy with how we skated overall.”

Due to their schedules, Castelli and Shnapir have had the most Team USA cheer time with Castelli choreographing many of the team’s Kiss and Cry celebrations.

“The week has been great. I never expected it to be this fun,” she said. “

The 2013 U.S. pairs champs will take a few weeks off before beginning their title defense.

Said Shnapir, “We are going to take a couple weeks to relax. We will reconvene, get back into it and get our programs in May. It’s a quick turnaround. We’re ready for it though.”

Madison Chock and Evan Bates maintained their first-place standing after the short dance to win the event and earn 12 points toward Team USA’s final score. Max Aaron added nine points for his fourth-place finish and Jeremy Abbott seven for his sixth-place showing.

Team USA officially begins the offseason tonight, but there will be little rest as our athletes will soon begin, if they haven’t already, preparation for the all-important 2014 Olympic season!

“The Fabulous Ice Age” to premiere at Minnesota International Film Festival this weekend

12 Apr

The Fabulous Ice Age, a documentary film depicting the era of great American touring ice shows, is set to make its world premiere at the Minnesota International Film Festival at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, at the St. Anthony Main Theater in Minneapolis, Minn.Holiday on Ice skaters in 1944.

Produced and directed by Keri Pickett, The Fabulous Ice Age chronicles American touring ice shows as they dominated live entertainment and one skater’s quest to preserve the history of these shows for generations to come. A project seven years in the making, Pickett’s film represents an era of figure skating in which pomp and flair took center ice, delighting audiences across the nation for decades.

The film features never-before-seen footage, photographs and rare archival material that introduces its viewers to a handful of performers, producers and entrepreneurs who helped turn ice skating shows into prime family theatre.

For more information or to join the film’s mailing list, visit www.fabulousiceage.com

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