Competitive Figure Skating FAQ: Skating People and Events
Sandra Loosemore
Last-modified: 22 Oct 1998
COMPETITIVE FIGURE SKATING FAQ:
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SKATING PEOPLE AND EVENTS
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This article is part of the FAQ list for (amateur) competitive figure
skating. This section covers questions about specific skaters and
events.
This FAQ list is posted monthly to rec.sport.skating.ice.figure. Send
corrections and suggestions to san...@shore.net.
This file is available in both plain-text and HTML/Web versions. You can
get to the HTML version from SkateWeb Figure Skating Page at URL:
http://frog.simplenet.com/skateweb/
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Table of Contents
* [1] Who's this Dick Button guy, anyway?
* [2] Who was the first person to do [various jumps]?
* [3] When are upcoming competitions?
* [4] How do I get tickets for these competitions?
* [5] Why didn't [well-known skater] compete at [Skate America | Skate
Canada | NHK Cup | etc]?
* [6] What's the piece of music so-and-so is skating to?
* [7] Who are recent [US | world | Olympic | etc] champions?
* [8] How do I send fan mail to my favorite skater?
* [9] Is [some skater] on the net? What's their e-mail address?
* [10] How do I get a backstage pass for a show or competition?
* [11] Whatever happened to [some competitor from N years ago]?
* [12] How can I make a donation to help a competitor with their
training expenses?
* [13] How do you pronounce [some skater]'s name?
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[1] Who's this Dick Button guy, anyway?
Dick Button was the 5-time world champion and 2-time Olympic
champion, from 1948 to 1952. He's widely credited with introducing
the modern athletic style of skating. He was the first person to do
a double axel, and the first to do a triple jump (a triple loop). He
also invented the flying camel spin.
Here are some other people you hear about from time to time:
Gus Lussi
Dick Button's coach. Also coached Dorothy Hamill. His skaters
are known for their superb spinning technique. He died in 1993.
Carlo Fassi
Italian national champion (and European champion) during the
1950's, but better known as a coach. His skaters included Peggy
Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, John Curry, Robin Cousins, Caryn Kadavy,
Jill Trenary, and Nicole Bobek. Fassi died in 1997.
Toller Cranston
Canadian men's champion during the 1970's, now a choreographer
and coach (as well as an artist and costume designer). Known as
a dramatic stylist.
Tamara Moskvina
Russian pair coach (e.g., of Mishkutenok and Dmitriev). Her
husband, Igor Moskvin, is also a coach, and is probably best
known for his association with the Protopopovs.
Sandra Bezic
Canadian pairs champion (with her brother Val) during the 1970's,
now a choreographer (e.g., for Boitano and Yamaguchi) and TV
commentator.
Jutta Muller
coached Katarina Witt, Jan Hoffman, and most of the other
well-known East German singles skaters.
Ludmila & Oleg Protopopov
Russian pair skaters who won Olympic gold medals in 1964 and
1968. They're known for their ballet-like style. They also
invented pair moves such as the inside death spiral.
Tracy Wilson
Canadian ice dancer; with her partner, the late Rob McCall, she
won a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympics. Now a TV commentator.
F. Ritter Shumway
president of the USFSA at the time of the 1961 plane crash that
killed the entire US world team and coaching staff. He was
instrumental in rebuilding the figure skating program in the US
and setting up the memorial fund which now provides financial
support for nearly all competitive skaters.
John Nicks
former British (and world) pairs champion in the 1950's, now a
pairs coach (e.g., of Babilonia and Gardner).
Cecilia Colledge
a British skater who was the 1937 world champion. She was the
first woman to execute a double jump (a double salchow) and
inventor of the camel and layback spins.
Galina Zmievskaya
coach of Ukrainian skaters Viktor Petrenko and (formerly) Oksana
Baiul.
Uschi Keszler
choreographer for Canadian skaters Bourne & Kraatz and Elvis
Stojko.
Debbi Wilkes
Canadian pairs skater from the 1960's, and long-time commentator
for Canadian TV.
Irina Rodnina
10-time world and 3-time Olympic pairs skating champion (with two
different partners) from the (ex-)Soviet Union, now coaching in
the US.
Tracey Wainman
Canadian competitor from the early 1980's who is often cited as
the canonical example of a skater who was pushed into the
spotlight as a child and burned out on the sport before reaching
adulthood.
David Dore
Long-time head of the CFSA.
[2] Who was the first person to do [various jumps]?
Here's a partial listing.
single axel
Axel Paulsen, 1882 (on speed skates!); Sonja Henie, early 1920s
single salchow
Ulrich Salchow, 1909; Theresa Weld, 1920 Olympics (first jump
performed in competition by a woman; she was officially
reprimanded for attempting anything so "unladylike".)
single loop
Werner Rittberger, 1910
single lutz
Alois Lutz, 1913
double loop
Karl Schafer, 1925 (in practice only)
double lutz
Karl Schafer, 1926 (in practice only); Barbara Ann Scott, 1942
double salchow
Gillis Grafstrom, 1926 (in practice only); Cecelia Colledge,
1937(?) (first double jump by a woman)
double axel
Dick Button, 1948 Olympic games; Carol Heiss, 1953
triple loop
Dick Button, 1952 Olympic games (first triple jump)
triple salchow
Ronnie Robertson, 1955 World championships; Petra Burka, 1962
Canadian championships (first triple jump by a woman)
triple lutz
Donald Jackson, 1962 World championships; Denise Biellman, 1978
triple toe loop
Thomas Litz, 1964 World championships
triple axel
Vern Taylor, 1978 World championships; Midori Ito, fall 1988
Eastern Japanese championships
quadruple toe loop
Kurt Browning, 1988 World championships.
quadruple salchow
Tim Goebel, 1998 Junior Series Final
triple (toe loop)/triple (toe loop) combination
Grzegorz Filipowski, 1980; Midori Ito, 1982(?)
triple loop/triple loop combination
Eric Millot, 1996 Champions Series Final; Tara Lipinski, 1997 US
Nationals
[3] When are upcoming competitions?
Here are the major national and international events I know about.
These are all "amateur" competitions conducted under ISU rules except
the ones noted as "open", which are pro-am events.
1998 Skate America Oct 29-31, 1998 Detroit, MI
1998 Skate Canada Nov 5-8, 1998 Kamloops, BC
1998 Nations Cup Nov 12-15, 1998 Gelsenkirchen, Germany
1998 Trophee Lalique Nov 20-22, 1998 Paris, France
1999 World Juniors Nov 22-29, 1998 Zagreb, Croatia
1998 Cup of Russia Nov 26-29, 1998 Moscow, Russia
1998 NHK Trophy Dec 2-6, 1998 Sapporo, Japan
1999 Europeans Jan 24-31, 1999 Prague, Czech Republic
1999 Canadian Nationals Jan 27-31, 1999 Ottawa, ON
1999 US Nationals Feb 7-14, 1999 Salt Lake City, UT
1999 Four Continents Feb 21-28, 1999 Halifax, NS
1999 Grand Prix Final Mar 4-7, 1999 St. Petersburg, Russia
1999 Worlds Mar 21-28, 1999 Helsinki, Finland
1999 World Cup (Synch.) Apr 1-4, 1999 Goteborg, Sweden
2000 World Juniors Nov 28-Dec 5, 1999 Oberstdorf, Germany
2000 Four Continents Feb 1-6, 2000 Osaka, Japan
2000 US Nationals Feb 6-13, 2000 Cleveland, OH
2000 Europeans Feb 6-13, 2000 Vienna, Austria
2000 Worlds Mar 19-26, 2000 Brisbane, Australia
2000 Worlds (Synch.) Apr 5-8, 2000 Minneapolis, MN
2001 US Nationals Jan 13-21, 2001 Boston, MA
2001 Europeans Jan 21-28, 2001 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
2001 World Juniors Feb 25-Mar 4, 2001 Sofia, Bulgaria
2001 Worlds Mar 18-25, 2001 Vancouver, BC
2002 Olympic Games Feb 9-22, 2002 Salt Lake City, UT
For a more complete listing of events, check out the ISU's web page
at http://www.isu.org/.
[4] How do I get tickets for these competitions?
All-event tickets for US Nationals typically cost around $200-400 a
set and go on sale two or more years in advance. For 1999 Nationals,
the phone number is 801-799-2063, and there is a web site at
http://www.slcsportevents.com/. 2000 Nationals has a web site at
http://www.usnat2000.com/ that includes a ticket order form. For
information about other USFSA-sponsored events, look at the USFSA web
page at http://www.usfsa.org/.
For information about Canadian Nationals and other CFSA events, visit
the CFSA web page at http://www.cfsa.ca/.
1999 Worlds has a web site at http://www.figureskate99.fi/.
There are some travel agencies that specialize in travel packages
(including hotel and transportation as well as event tickets) for
skating competitions, including those in Europe and Asia. For
information, call SkateTours at 415-472-0505; Silver Blade Tours at
904-943-4071; or Bryan Travel at 800-234-6432.
Note: Many of the best seats at competitions and ice shows are held
for event sponsors and/or group sales. You may have better luck
getting a good seat by going with a tour or a group from your local
skating club instead of ordering your ticket directly. For touring
ice shows, you can usually order tickets by mail from the tour
promoter before they go on sale through the arena box office; or you
can check back with the box office a few days before the event to see
if any leftover tickets for the better seats have been released.
[5] Why didn't [well-known skater] compete at [Skate America | Skate
Canada | NHK Cup | etc]?
These fall international competitions are part of the "Grand Prix" or
"Champions Series". The ISU seeds the top-ranked skaters from the
previous season's world championships among the various fall
competitions, so that each of them attends a different two or three
events. Other skaters are selected for these events by their
national skating federations. The end result is that not all of the
big-name skaters will be at every event, and unseeded skaters may
wind up doing only one fall competition, or not getting a competition
assignment at all.
[6] What's the piece of music so-and-so is skating to?
There are some databases of music used by skaters going back several
seasons available on the WWW. The URLs are:
http://frog.simplenet.com/skateweb/articles/music.shtml
http://club.infopepper.or.jp/~masuda/skate/music/index.html
http://www.din.or.jp/~maeno/skate-music/index.htm
[7] Who are recent [US | world | Olympic | etc] champions?
Here are the winners since 1980. They're listed for each year in
this order: US; Canadian; European; World Junior; World; Olympic.
Men:
1998: Todd Eldredge; Elvis Stojko; Alexei Yagudin;
Derrick Delmore; Alexei Yagudin; Ilia Kulik
1997: Todd Eldredge; Elvis Stojko; Alexei Urmanov;
Evgeny Pluschenko; Elvis Stojko
1996: Rudy Galindo; Elvis Stojko; Vyacheslav Zagorodniuk;
Alexei Yagudin; Todd Eldredge
1995: Todd Eldredge; Sebastien Britten; Ilya Kulik;
Ilya Kulik; Elvis Stojko
1994: Scott Davis; Elvis Stojko; Viktor Petrenko;
Michael Weiss; Elvis Stojko; Alexei Urmanov
1993: Scott Davis; Kurt Browning; Dmitri Dmitrenko;
Evgeny Pliuta; Kurt Browning
1992: Christopher Bowman; Michael Slipchuk; Petr Barna;
Dmitri Dmitrenko; Viktor Petrenko; Viktor Petrenko
1991: Todd Eldredge; Kurt Browning; Viktor Petrenko;
Vasili Eremenko; Kurt Browning
1990: Todd Eldredge; Kurt Browning; Viktor Petrenko;
Igor Pashkevich; Kurt Browning
1989: Christopher Bowman; Kurt Browning; Alexandr Fadeev;
Vyacheslav Zagorodniuk; Kurt Browning
1988: Brian Boitano; Brian Orser; Alexandr Fadeev;
Todd Eldredge; Brian Boitano; Brian Boitano
1987: Brian Boitano; Brian Orser; Alexandr Fadeev;
Rudy Galindo; Brian Orser
1986: Brian Boitano; Brian Orser; Jozef Sabovcik;
Vladimir Petrenko; Brian Boitano
1985: Brian Boitano; Brian Orser; Jozef Sabovcik;
Erik Larson; Alexandr Fadeev
1984: Scott Hamilton; Brian Orser; Alexandr Fadeev;
Viktor Petrenko; Scott Hamilton; Scott Hamilton
1983: Scott Hamilton; Brian Orser; Norbert Schramm;
Christopher Bowman; Scott Hamilton
1982: Scott Hamilton; Brian Orser; Norbert Schramm;
Scott Williams; Scott Hamilton
1981: Scott Hamilton; Brian Orser; Igor Bobrin;
Paul Wylie; Scott Hamilton
1980: Charles Tickner; Brian Pockar; Robin Cousins;
Alexandr Fadeev; Jan Hoffmann; Robin Cousins
Ladies:
1998: Michelle Kwan; Angela Derochie; Maria Butyrskaya;
Julia Soldatova; Michelle Kwan; Tara Lipinski
1997: Tara Lipinski; Susan Humphreys; Irina Slutskaya;
Sydne Vogel; Tara Lipinski
1996: Michelle Kwan; Jennifer Robinson; Irina Slutskaya;
Elena Ivanova; Michelle Kwan
1995: Nicole Bobek; Netty Kim; Surya Bonaly;
Irina Slutskaya; Chen Lu
1994: (title vacant); Josee Chouinard; Surya Bonaly;
Michelle Kwan; Yuka Sato; Oksana Baiul
1993: Nancy Kerrigan; Josee Chouinard; Surya Bonaly;
Kumiko Koiwai; Oksana Baiul
1992: Kristi Yamaguchi; Karen Preston; Surya Bonaly;
Laetitia Hubert; Kristi Yamaguchi; Kristi Yamaguchi
1991: Tonya Harding; Josee Chouinard; Surya Bonaly;
Surya Bonaly; Kristi Yamaguchi
1990: Jill Trenary; Lisa Sargeant; Evelyn Grossmann;
Yuka Sato; Jill Trenary
1989: Jill Trenary; Karen Preston; Claudia Leistner;
Jessica Mills; Midori Ito
1988: Debi Thomas; Elizabeth Manley; Katarina Witt;
Kristi Yamaguchi; Katarina Witt; Katarina Witt
1987: Jill Trenary; Elizabeth Manley; Katarina Witt;
Cindy Bortz; Katarina Witt
1986: Debi Thomas; Tracey Wainman; Katarina Witt;
Natalia Gorbenko; Debi Thomas
1985: Tiffany Chin; Elizabeth Manley; Katarina Witt;
Tatiana Andreeva; Katarina Witt
1984: Rosalynn Sumners; Kay Thomson; Katarina Witt;
Karin Hendschke; Katarina Witt; Katarina Witt
1983: Rosalynn Sumners; Kay Thomson; Katarina Witt;
Simone Koch; Rosalynn Sumners
1982: Rosalynn Sumners; Kay Thomson; Claudia Kristofics-Binder;
Janina Wirth; Elaine Zayak
1981: Elaine Zayak; Tracey Wainman; Denise Biellman;
Tiffany Chin; Denise Biellman
1980: Linda Fratianne; Heather Kemkaran; Annett Poetzsch;
Rosalynn Sumners; Anett Poetzsch; Anett Poetzsch
Pairs:
1998: Ina & Dungjen; Sargeant & Wirtz; Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze;
Obertas & Palamarchuk; Berezhnaya & Sikharulidze; Kazakova & Dmitriev
1997: Ina & Dungjen; Savard-Gagnon & Bradet; Eltsova & Bushkov;
Hartsell & Hartsell; Woetzel & Steuer
1996: Meno & Sand; Menzies & Bombardier; Kazakova & Dmitriev;
Maksuta & Zhovnirsky; Eltsova & Bushkov
1995: Meno & Sand; Menzies & Bombardier; Woetzel & Steuer;
Petrova & Sikharulidze; Kovarikova & Novotny
1994: Meno & Sand; Brasseur & Eisler; Gordeeva & Grinkov;
Petrova & Sikharulidze; Shishkova & Naumov; Gordeeva & Grinkov
1993: Urbanski & Marval; Brasseur & Eisler; Eltsova & Bushkov;
Korshunova & Saveliev; Brasseur & Eisler
1992: Urbanski & Marval; Brasseur & Eisler; Mishkutenok & Dmitriev;
Krestianinova & Torchinski; Mishkutenok & Dmitriev; Mishkutenok & Dmitriev
1991: Kuchiki & Sand; Brasseur & Eisler; Mishkutenok & Dmitriev;
Krestianinova & Torchinski; Mishkutenok & Dmitriev
1990: Yamaguchi & Galindo; Landry & Johnston; Gordeeva & Grinkov;
Krestianinova & Torchinski; Gordeeva & Grinkov
1989: Yamaguchi & Galindo; Brasseur & Eisler; Selezneva & Makarov;
Chernishova & Sukhanov; Gordeeva & Grinkov
1988: Watson & Oppegard; Hough & Ladret; Gordeeva & Grinkov;
Yamaguchi & Galindo; Valova & Vasiliev; Gordeeva & Grinkov
1987: Watson & Oppegard; Coull & Rowsom; Selezneva & Makarov;
Leonova & Krasnitski; Gordeeva & Grinkov
1986: Wachsman & Waggoner; Coull & Rowsom; Valova & Vasiliev;
Leonova & Krasnitski; Gordeeva & Grinkov
1985: Watson & Oppegard; Coull & Rowsom; Valova & Vasiliev;
Gordeeva & Grinkov; Valova & Vasiliev
1984: Carruthers & Carruthers; Matousek & Eisler; Valova & Vasiliev;
Landgraf & Steuer; Underhill & Martini; Valova & Vasiliev
1983: Carruthers & Carruthers; Underhill & Martini; Baess & Thierbach;
Avstriskaia & Kvashnin; Valova & Vasiliev
1982: Carruthers & Carruthers; Underhill & Martini; Baess & Thierbach;
Avstriskaia & Kvashnin; Baess & Thierbach
1981: Carruthers & Carruthers; Underhill & Martini; Vorobieva & Lisovsky;
Selezneva & Makarov; Vorobieva & Lisovsky
1980: Babilonia & Gardner; Underhill & Martini; Rodnina & Zaitsev;
Selezneva & Makarov; Cherkasova & Shakhrai; Rodnina & Zaitsev
Dance:
1998: Punsalan & Swallow; Bourne & Kraatz; Grishuk & Platov;
Joseph & Butler; Krylova & Ovsiannikov; Grishuk & Platov
1997: Punsalan & Swallow; Bourne & Kraatz; Grishuk & Platov;
Oulanova & Stifounin; Grishuk & Platov
1996: Punsalan & Swallow; Bourne & Kraatz; Grishuk & Platov;
Davydova & Kostomarov; Grishuk & Platov
1995: Roca & Sur; Bourne & Kraatz; Rahkomo & Kokko;
Sharutenko & Naumkin; Grishuk & Platov
1994: Punsalan & Swallow; Bourne & Kraatz; Torvill & Dean;
Nowak & Kolasinski; Grishuk & Platov; Grishuk & Platov
1993: Roca & Sur; Bourne & Kraatz; Usova & Zhulin;
Svirina & Sakhnovsky; Usova & Zhulin
1992: Sargent-Thomas & Witherby; Petr & Janoschak; Klimova & Ponomarenko;
Anisina & Averbukh; Klimova & Ponomarenko; Klimova & Ponomarenko
1991: Punsalan & Swallow; McDonald & Smith; Klimova & Ponomarenko;
Stergiadu & Razguliaiev; Duchesnay & Duchesnay
1990: Wynne & Druar; Borlase & Smith; Klimova & Ponomarenko;
Anisina & Averbukh; Klimova & Ponomarenko
1989: Wynne & Druar; Garossini & Garossino; Klimova & Ponomarenko;
Kirkhmaier & Lagutin; Klimova & Ponomarenko
1988: Semanick & Gregory; Wilson & McCall; Bestemianova & Bukin;
Gritschuk & Chickov; Bestemianova & Bukin; Bestemianova & Bukin
1987: Semanick & Gregory; Wilson & McCall; Bestemianova & Bukin;
Melnichenko & Kaskov; Bestemianova & Bukin
1986: Roca & Adair; Wilson & McCall; Bestemianova & Bukin;
Krikanova & Platov; Bestemianova & Bukin
1985: Blumberg & Seibert; Wilson & McCall; Bestemianova & Bukin;
Krikanova & Platov; Bestemianova & Bukin
1984: Blumberg & Seibert; Wilson & McCall; Torvill & Dean;
Krikanova & Platov; Torvill & Dean; Torvill & Dean
1983: Blumberg & Seibert; Wilson & McCall; Bestemianova & Bukin;
Gladkova & Shpilband; Torvill & Dean
1982: Blumberg & Seibert; Wilson & McCall; Torvill & Dean;
Annenko & Karkachev; Torvill & Dean
1981: Blumberg & Seibert; McNeil & McCall; Torvill & Dean;
Batanova & Soloviev; Torvill & Dean
1980: Smith & Summers; Wighton & Dowding; Linichuk & Karponosov;
Batanova & Soloviev; Regoeczy & Sallay; Linichuk & Karponosov
For a more comprehensive event results database, check out the
Skatabase web site at
http://columbia.digiweb.com/~ellenbe/skating/index.html.
[8] How do I send fan mail to my favorite skater?
Your best bet is send it to them in care of the agent that represents
them professionally, the rink or skating club where they train, or
their national skating federation. If there is a web page about your
favorite skater, it will probably include a contact address.
A good source of this kind of directory information is the "Skater's
Edge Sourcebook". The cost is $39.95 plus $5 shipping; order from:
Skater's Edge Sourcebook
Box 500, Dept SM, Kensington MD 20895
(301)-946-1971
The USFSA (or CFSA, for Canadians) may also be helpful in providing
addresses and/or forwarding mail. The PSA represents many pro
skaters. For skaters in other countries, you can contact the
International Skating Union.
USFSA:
20 First Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
voice (719)-635-5200, fax (719)-635-9548
http://www.usfsa.org/
usf...@aol.com
CFSA:
1600 James Naismith Dr., Gloucester, ON K1B 5N4
voice (613)-748-5635, fax (613)-748-5718
http://www.cfsa.ca/
PSA:
PO Box 5904, Rochester, MN 55903
voice (507)-281-5122
http://users.aol.com/skatepsa/homepage.html
ISU:
c/o Member Club Information
Promenade 73
Postfach CH 7270
Davos Platz, Switzerland
http://www.isu.org/
isud...@access.ch
There is a directory of contact information for specific skaters
available at
http://frog.simplenet.com/skateweb/articles/fan-mail.shtml.
[9] Is [some skater] on the net? What's their e-mail address?
There are a number of high-level competitors and professionals who
are either known or rumored to be on the net. But very few of them
have chosen to publicize their personal e-mail addresses or set up an
e-mailbox especially for fan mail. Check web pages about the skater
in question to see if the skater has a public e-mail address listed.
Otherwise, you'll have to stick with snail mail. Please be
respectful of skaters' privacy; the accepted way to contact skaters
is through their business address, NOT through their home or personal
address.
Incidentally, it is believed that at least a few elite-level skaters
do "lurk" at least occasionally in this newsgroup, and it is
definitely the case that a number of skaters have family, friends, or
other members of their entourage who follow this newsgroup. You may
want to keep in mind that your comments about skaters may very well
find their way back to them, and exercise some discretion in what you
post here.
[10] How do I get a backstage pass for a show or competition?
In general, you CAN'T get backstage passes unless you are a member of
the press or have some other valid reason for being there. Having
lots of random people wandering around backstage during the event
could be very distracting to the skaters, as well as presenting
legitimate security and liability problems. You will get a better
view of the show from your seat in the arena, anyway.
If you want to collect autographs or offer congratulations to
skaters, you may have better luck waiting for them after the show
outside the skaters' entrance to the arena or at their hotel.
However, DO exercise some discretion. You may only want a few
minutes of the skaters' time, but if you multiply that by their many
hundreds or thousands of fans, you can see how impossible it is for
the skaters to spend time chatting with everyone. It can also be
quite intimidating or overwhelming for skaters to be mobbed by fans
wherever they go. Don't harass or hound skaters, don't be rude or
intrusive, and don't be disappointed if your favorite skater doesn't
feel inclined to stop to chat with you.
[11] Whatever happened to [some competitor from N years ago]?
Debi Thomas retired from professional skating in 1992 in order to
attend medical school. She received her degree from Northwestern
University in 1997.
Barbara Underhill and Paul Martini have now retired from skating and
are working as TV commentators; Paul also coaches. Kitty & Peter
Carruthers have also stopped touring in order to concentrate on
family life. Janet Lynn retired from skating many years ago and is
married with a number of children.
Tonya Harding still skates occasionally but has not been invited to
participate in any professional competitions or shows.
Midori Ito has once again retired from eligible competition, after
having reinstated for the 1995-96 season. She now does commentary
for Japanese TV.
Lisa Ervin retired from competitive skating and is now a student at
Hamilton College in New York state.
Jill Trenary retired from amateur competition in late 1991. (She had
missed the 1991 championships due to a severe ankle injury.) She is
now married to Christopher Dean and is no longer skating
professionally due to health problems.
Isabelle and Paul Duchesnay have also retired from skating because of
Paul's serious back problems. Isabelle does commentary for French
TV.
Robin Cousins has been concentrating on a career as a stage actor
(appearing in musical productions in London) although he still
performs occasionally as a skater and does choreography for other
skaters.
Toller Cranston now spends most of his time concentrating on his
career as an artist.
Christopher Bowman left Ice Capades when it was bought by Dorothy
Hamill, and has been working as a skating coach since then.
Linda Fratianne, Holly Cook, Tiffany Chin, Peter Oppegard, Irina
Rodnina, Suzanne Semanick, Scott Gregory, Karen Courtland, Petr
Barna, and Mark Mitchell are all working as coaches in the US.
Christine Hough and Doug Ladret have also embarked on coaching
careers. Michael Seibert is a choreographer, and Judy Blumberg still
skates occasionally as well as doing TV commentary. Jojo Starbuck is
a coach, and Ken Shelley has been a judge and held a management
position with an ice show company.
John Curry died of AIDS in 1994. 1972 Olympic champion Ondrej Nepela
and Canadian skaters Brian Pockar and Rob McCall have also died of
AIDS.
[12] How can I make a donation to help a competitor with their training
expenses?
In the US, you basically have three options:
* You can make a donation to the Memorial Fund, a charitable
foundation established by the USFSA in memory of the 1961 world
team members who were killed in a plane crash. You can restrict
your donation to go to skaters from a particular club, if you
want, but you cannot funnel your contributions to a specific
skater through the Memorial Fund. Most (all?) skaters who
compete at the national level are apparently eligible for at
least a token subsidy from the Memorial Fund. Donations to the
Memorial Fund are tax-deductable. Checks should be sent to:
USFSA Memorial Fund
20 First Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Some of the top training centers have also established their own
charitable foundations to benefit their skaters, that work in a
similar way.
Also, in Canada, the CFSA has an Athlete Trust Fund that accepts
donations to support Canadian skaters.
CFSA Athlete Trust Fund
403-1600 James Naismith Dr., Gloucester, ON K1B 5N4
* If you want to help a specific skater, the best way to do it is
just to send them a check directly as a personal gift. (Most
skaters would be intensely grateful for even a small contribution
because it's a sign that people appreciate them and have
confidence in them, as much as concrete financial assistance.)
Donations you make this way are not tax-deductable for you.
* If you want to set up a sponsorship arrangement where the skater
promotes your business or performs other services in exchange for
financial support, you have to negotiate a contract through the
USFSA rather than with the skater directly.
Figure skating is a very expensive sport. It's said that it costs
between $30,000 and $50,000 a year to compete at the national or
international level. While eligible skaters are now able to earn
good money from competing and touring, in practice only a handful of
the top competitors are being offered such opportunities. For most
other skaters, it's still a real struggle to make ends meet.
[13] How do you pronounce [some skater]'s name?
Here are some approximate hints, for English-speakers:
* Sjoukje Dijkstra: SHOW-kyeh DAY-kstra
* (Anton) Sikharulidze: seek-har-oo-LEED-zay
* (Tanja) Szewczenko: shev-CHEN-ko
* (Alexei) Yagudin: ya-GOO-din