• PAST NEWS • TV SCHEDULE   TV Figure Skating • EMPORIUM   Figure Skating Store • SUBSCRIBE   BOI Magazine • OUR HOME PAGE   BLADES On Ice Past Issues of BLADES On Ice		Welcome to the BLADES On Ice website! We hope you enjoy our pages - bringing you skating news as it happens - on the internet. Then you can read our full-featured bi-monthly magazine for the hottest interviews with today's top skating stars, the coolest people in the sport, tomorrow's stars and skating's best color photography. Be sure and check out these sources on the "Emporium Figure Skating Store" for skating related products. Apparel   • Harlick Skating Boots   • SP-Teri Books, Videos and Internet   • The World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame   • Icesport Competitions, Shows, Tours and Special Events   • Stars On Ice   • Disney's On Ice opportunities   • Silver Blade Tours, Inc.   • Champions On Ice - - - - - - APRIL 1, 2010 NEWS UPDATE - - - - - - 40th Anniversary Of Skating Show For Skating Research CAMBRIDGE – The 40th Anniversary of An Evening with Champions has a new spring date of Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17, 2010. The show will feature world-class skaters doing triple axels and toe loops to raise money for The Jimmy Fund. A silent auction will also take place 30 minutes before each show, with a prize drawing after intermission. An Evening with Champions was founded in 1970 by former US champion John Misha Petkevich and fellow Harvard University classmate John Powers. Since then it has been run entirely by Harvard University students, raising more than $2.4 million for the Jimmy Fund, which supports adult and pediatric cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. A premier skating exhibition, the show this year will feature such talent as Olympian pair skaters Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, U.S. pewter medalist ice dancers Brent Bommentre and Kimberly Navarro, Harvard student and skater Emily Hughes, as well as numerous celebrated skaters of the past and the present. On Saturday afternoon, pediatric cancer patients from the Jimmy Fund Clinic will have an opportunity to skate with the performers. Tickets will be $32 for adults, $12 for children (12 or under) and seniors (65+), and $8 for all college students. Group pricing (10+ people) is available for: $25 for adults, $10 for children and seniors. An Evening with Champions will be held at Harvard's Bright Hockey Center located on 79 North Harvard Street in Allston. For more information, updates on performers and to purchase tickets, visit www.jimmyfund.org/skating . Tickets can also be purchased through the Harvard Box Office at 617-496-2222. An Evening with Champions can also be reached through e-mail at ewc@hcs.harvard.edu or by phone at (617) 493-8172.   Kwan Receives Honorary Degree Michelle Kwan, the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history (five World Championships , nine U.S. National titles, two Olympic medals), who is also an author and U.S. diplomatic envoy, will add doctor to her already impressive resume, when she receives an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Southern Vermont College’s 83rd Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 8.   Kwan, a California native, will also address the graduating class as its commencement speaker. Named the nation’s first Public Diplomacy Envoy for the U.S. State Department in 2006, Kwan travels widely to speak with youth across the globe about America, its culture and values, and the life lessons learned through sports. She is currently a graduate student at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of International Affairs.   For more than a decade, Kwan dominated the figure skating world, winning a record 43 titles. In the nearly 100-year history of U.S. figure skating, no American man or woman has won more world titles, national titles or Olympic medals. The author of two books, Michelle Kwan: Heart of a Champion (1997) and The Winning Attitude! (1999), Kwan’s undergraduate education and degree at the University of Denver (2008) focused on international studies, a topic she continues in her graduate work. In her current role as a Public Diplomacy Envoy, she travels throughout the world to meet and speak with young people about leadership and to engage them in dialogue on social and educational issues. “I am honored to be invited to attend and participate in Commencement Exercises at Southern Vermont College,” said Kwan. “Education has and always will be a very important part of my life. I look forward to speaking to the graduating class, sharing some of my life experiences with them and congratulating them for their own academic accomplishments and success.”   “I am delighted that Michelle will address our graduates and receive an Honorary Degree,” said SVC President Karen Gross. “She is the embodiment of someone who has worked hard to pursue a dream, someone who is not afraid to fall down, get back up, and strive for excellence at each and every turn. Her personal story is compelling and inspiring for our graduates, as they enter the next chapter in their lives.”   Kwan has earned numerous awards and honors including: the 2007 Billie Jean King Contribution Award and 1998 Sportswoman of the Year Award from the Women’s Sports Foundation; 2003 U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Sportswoman of the Year; the prestigious 2001 Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in America; 2002 and 2003 Kids’ Choice Award and the 2002 Teen Choice Award as America’s favorite female athlete. She has worked at both the state and national level to encourage physical fitness among youth.   Michelle Kwan follows recent SVC Commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients author Andre Dubus III, who wrote the novel turned film, House of Sand and Fog; Awarding winning journalist Christine Dugas; now at USA Today; and ESPN sports commentator Sean McDonough.   Founded in 1926, Southern Vermont College offers a career-enhancing, liberal arts education with 22 academic degree programs for approximately 500 students. Southern Vermont College recognizes the importance of educating students for the workplace of the twenty-first century and for lives as successful leaders in their communities. SVC’s intercollegiate athletics teams are part of the New England Collegiate Conference. The College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Evgeni Plushenko Get Invite From Prince Albert Of Monaco The Prince welcomes the Russian champion to the “Star Team for Children” Last weekend in Sestriere (Italy) during the 5th edition of the “World Stars Ski Event”, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco has personally and officially welcomed the “Tzar on Ice” Evgeni Plushenko as a new member of A.S. Star Team for Children, the association raising funds for charities that allow construction of schools, hospitals, villages for underprivileged children around the world through organizing various sporting events (football, cycling, golf, skiing and motorsport).   Plushenko gladly accepted Prince's invitation and came to Italy accompanied by his wife Yana Rudkovskaya, a successful music producer, despite being unable to compete in the World Championships currently taking place in Turin due to his knee injury.   “I am proud that the Star Team for Children can now count such a valuable champion as Plushenko among its members" – commented Prince Albert of Monaco.   "I am honored by the invitation of the Prince and above all by being the first Russian member of the prestigious Star Team for Children, which has done so much for suffering children" - such were the words of the Russian superstar.   In the end of the event, the Prince also expressed his personal desire to have an Ice Show in the Principality of Monaco organized by Evgeni, who said he would be happy to try to organize an important entertainment event with the best skaters of the world next winter. U.S. Figure Skating, Smucker's Stars On Ice Form Promotional Partnership For 2010 Season Tour  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– U.S. Figure Skating announced a promotional partnership with the 2010 Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour. The new relationship will help promote U.S. Figure Skating, its athletes and the sport of figure skating. Several current and past U.S., World and Olympic medalists will appear on the 41-city tour that begins April 1 in Fort Myers, Fla.   “We are proud to have a close relationship with U.S. Figure Skating,’’ said Byron Allen, producer of the Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour. “Throughout the tour, we will promote U.S. Figure Skating and its learn-to-skate programs by showing videos at intermission, and U.S. Figure Skating is prominently recognized in our show programs.   “It makes perfect sense for Smucker's Stars on Ice, which features many of the most accomplished stars in the sport – many of whom are American skaters – to work with U.S. Figure Skating to promote the sport in an entertaining way.”   This season’s cast features 2010 Olympic champion Evan Lysacek, 2010 Olympic silver medalists and two-time U.S. ice dancing champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, 2006 Olympic silver medalists and five-time U.S. ice dancing champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, 2006 Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen, 2010 U.S. champion Rachael Flatt, 2008 U.S. champion Mirai Nagasu, two-time U.S. champion Jeremy Abbott, 2009 U.S. champion Alissa Czisny, and 2010 U.S. pairs champions Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett, among others.   “U.S. Figure Skating is excited to be working with the Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour to promote figure skating across the country,” said David Raith, executive director of U.S. Figure Skating. “The tour is a great way to better connect our athletes, U.S. Figure Skating and the sport with families at each of its 41 stops.”   Tickets are on sale now and start at $25. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. U.S. Figure Skating members will receive a special discount as part of the promotional relationship. Visit www.starsonice.com for ticket information as well as show and cast announcements. A portion of tour proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 2010 SMUCKER’S STARS ON ICE TOUR SCHEDULE   DATE CITY VENUE April 1 Fort Myers, Fla. Germain Arena April 2 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. BankAtlantic Center April 3 Orlando, Fla. Amway Arena April 4 Tampa, Fla. St. Pete Times Forum April 8 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center April 9 Raleigh, N.C. RBC Center April 10 East Rutherford, N.J. IZOD Center April 11 Boston, Mass. TD Garden April 13 Portland, Maine Cumberland County Civic Center April 14 Manchester, N.H. Verizon Wireless Arena April 16 Reading, Pa. Sovereign Center April 17 Long Island, N.Y. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum April 18 Providence, R.I. Dunkin’ Donuts Center April 20 Bridgeport, Conn. Arena at Harbor Yard April 22 Hartford, Conn. XL Center April 23 Hershey, Pa. Giant Center April 24 Albany, N.Y. Times Union Center April 25 Wilkes Barre, Pa. Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza April 27 Toledo, Ohio Lucas County Arena April 28 Grand Rapids, Mich. Van Andel Arena April 29 Pittsburgh, Pa. Mellon Arena April 30 Cleveland, Ohio Quicken Loans Arena May 2 Detroit, Mich. The Palace of Auburn Hills May 4 Cincinnati, Ohio U.S. Bank Arena May 5 Indianapolis, Ind. Conseco Fieldhouse May 7 St. Louis, Mo. Scottrade Center May 8 Chicago, Ill. Allstate Arena May 9 Saint Paul, Minn. Xcel Energy Center May 10 Kansas City, Mo. Sprint Center May 12 Austin, Texas Cedar Park Center May 14 Dallas, Texas American Airlines Center May 16 Denver, Colo. Pepsi Center May 18 Phoenix, Ariz. Jobing.com Arena May 20 Los Angeles, Calif. STAPLES Center May 21 Anaheim, Calif. Honda Center May 22 San Diego, Calif. San Diego Sports Arena May 23 San Jose, Calif. HP Pavilion at San Jose May 26 Salt Lake City, Utah The E Center May 28 Spokane, Wash. Spokane Arena May 29 Seattle, Wash. KeyArena May 30 Portland, Ore. Rose Garden Arena Photo above by: Christian Camozzi Ice Theatre Of New York Presents 2010 Home Season with Special Guest Artist, US Men’s Champion, Johnny Weir  featuring works by distinguished dance and ice choreographers. At its 2010 Home Season from April 29 to May 1 at Sky Rink, Chelsea Piers, Ice Theatre of New York will present new repertory and celebrate the visions of some of the remarkable choreographers who have shone their brilliance on the Company for many years. The performance will feature Elisa Angeli and Tyrrell Gene in Jacqulyn Buglisi’s “The Dreame”, and the Ensemble in Elisa Monte’s “Draughtsman’s Contract” and Alberto Del Saz’s “La Revolte des Enfants”. The ensemble will also perform this season’s new works, “Dare Greatly” and “Primavera”, both choreographed by ice choreographer Douglas Webster. Opening night will feature special guest star, three-time US National Men’s Figure Skating Champion Johnny Weir, fresh from his Olympic experience. The evening will be followed by a Cocktail Reception with the performers on the Sunset Terrace at Chelsea Piers. Two-time US Ice Dance Bronze Medalists, Kim Navarro and Brent Bommentre will be joining Ice Theatre's Ensemble for the Home Season. They will have just returned from participating in the World Figure Skating Championships in Turin, Italy. Skating and dance fans alike will love this year’s show. WHEN: April 29, 30 and May 1st at 7 p.m. WHERE: Sky Rink, Chelsea Piers, Pier 61 (23rd Street & the Hudson River) TICKETS: Opening Night Performance & Reception: $150; 6 p.m. Children's Meet & Greet (under 16): $75, General admission: $25, Students, seniors and groups of 10 or more: $15 TO BUY: Call (212) 929 5811 This star-studded event features prominent celebrities such as former Dancing With the Stars winner Kristi Yamaguchi, Donald Trump, Kelly Ripa, Vera Wang and Kelly Osbourne. Skating With The Stars Figure Skating in Harlem has formally announced that the highly anticipated 2010 Skating With the Stars event is scheduled to occur on Monday, April 5, 2010 from 6 P.M. ET to 9 P.M. ET in Central Park’s Wollman Rink. The event is being held to honor Olympic gold medal figure skater and winner of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, Kristi Yamaguchi. Figure Skating in Harlem Chair Emerita and actress from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Tamara Tunie, as well as Figure Skating in Harlem Board Chair, Candace Matthews, will be honored at the event as well. At the 2010 Skating With the Stars event, guests will be provided with the once in a lifetime opportunity to skate alongside Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi (pictured above) as well as other decorated athletes such as Jeremy Abbott, Sasha Cohen, Rachael Flatt, Dorothy Hamill and Viktor Petrenko. Tickets for the 2010 Skating With the Stars event start at $300 and they are currently available for purchase over the phone at (212) 675-9474. The Figure Skating in Harlem organization provides recreational skating opportunities as well as essential educational programs that help young girls to establish self-confidence and achieve optimal physical well-being. To learn more about his honorable foundation and the upcoming 2010 Skating With the Stars event, pay a visit to FigureSkatingInHarlem.org for more information. Portland, Ore. Selected To Host 2010 Skate America  Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 18, 2010) – U.S. Figure Skating announced today the selection of Portland, Ore., as the host city for 2010 Skate America. The international event is one of six stops in the International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.   The competition, presented by U.S. Figure Skating, the Oregon Sports Authority and the Rose Garden, with support from Travel Portland, will take place Nov. 11-14 at the Rose Garden Arena, which also served as the site of the 2005 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships.   “We are pleased to award this competition to Portland,” U.S. Figure Skating president Patricia St. Peter said. “The community showed its overwhelming support for the U.S. Championships in 2005, and we’re delighted that the athletes and visitors to the city will have the opportunity to experience all Portland has to offer.”   Skate America is an Olympic-style international figure skating event featuring three days of competition in ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing. The event annually attracts approximately 60 world-class figure skaters. Past competitors include 2010 Olympic champion Evan Lysacek, five-time World and nine-time U.S. champion Michelle Kwan, 2002 Olympic bronze medalist Timothy Goebel, 2002 Olympic pairs champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada, 1992 Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi and 1984 Olympic champion Scott Hamilton.   “We’re thrilled to bring 2010 Skate America to the city of Portland,” said Chris Oxley, general manager of the Rose Quarter, the district in which the Rose Garden is located. “Portland has shown that it is a very strong figure skating market, evidenced by the success of the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. With the Olympics being held in the Pacific Northwest last month, the region is ready and excited for another opportunity to host an event of this caliber.”   Other annual stops in the Grand Prix Series include Skate Canada, Cup of China, Trophée Eric Bompard (France), Rostelecom Cup (Russia) and NHK Trophy (Japan).   "We are thrilled to bring one of the world's premier figure skating events to Portland," said Oregon Sports Authority chief executive officer Drew Mahalic.  "Skate America at the Rose Garden will offer people from throughout the Northwest the rare opportunity to witness the incredible grace, drama and athleticism exhibited by the world's best figure skaters."   Portland Ice Skating Club president Barbara Neidig and vice president Dody Teachman also expressed their enthusiasm for the event. “Portland Ice Skating Club members and the skating community are proud to join with the Oregon Sports Authority and the Rose Garden to bring Portland its first international skating competition,” Neidig said. “We welcome the skaters from all over the world to the Rose City.”   – The Rose Garden at the Rose Quarter – The Rose Garden is a $267 million multi-purpose arena that opened in the fall of 1995, and serves as the home of the NBA Portland Trail Blazers. The WHL Winterhawks also call the Rose Garden home for a portion of their season. In addition to basketball and hockey, the Rose Garden hosts a wide variety of events such as concerts, family shows and other sporting events. In 2009, the Rose Garden hosted the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball 1st & 2nd Rounds. U.S. Figure Skating To Award Financial Grants To 12 Basic Skills Programs, Member Clubs COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– U.S. Figure Skating announced that it will award financial grants on behalf of the Robert V. Hauff & John F. Dreeland Foundation to 12 member clubs and Basic Skills programs. The Robert V. Hauff & John F. Dreeland Foundation was established last year with the purpose of providing grants to eligible member clubs and Basic Skills programs throughout the United States to develop community-based programs and events that will attract, involve and inspire new generations of figure skaters.   Twelve $2,000 grants will be allocated to those clubs and programs that most effectively demonstrate how they will use the grant to develop these initiatives.   U.S. Figure Skating’s Basic Skills Program is a fun, challenging and rewarding beginning ice skating program. Participation enables beginning skaters of all ages and abilities to learn fundamentals of the sport and begin a lifetime commitment to health and wellness. The program offers 12 exciting skating curriculums designed to keep skaters enthusiastic about learning from the time they begin lessons until they reach their goals. Every year, U.S. Figure Skating registers more than 110,000 Basic Skills members in approximately 900 established programs across the country.   To apply for the grants, candidates must e-mail a concise plan to Susi Wehrli, U.S. Figure Skating senior director of membership, at swehrli@usfigureskating.org, containing the following information:   Contact information •Brief history or mission of member club or Basic Skills program      requesting grant •Concise statement outlining program/event plan •How this grant will benefit the community and U.S. Figure Skating •Target audience and anticipated number of participants •Marketing strategies and tactics to be used •How success will be measured  •Timeline of program/event   The deadline for applications is April 30, 2010. Plans received by the application deadline will be forwarded to a selection committee, and grants will be awarded after July 1, 2010. Only applications submitted by e-mail will be considered. All applicants will be notified of the results. Late applications will not be considered. U.S. Figure Skating, Marlaina Stone Announce Licensing Agreement - Sales of 'Freedom Cuff' to benefit U.S. Figure Skating Team, Memorial Fund Colorado Springs, Colo.– U.S. Figure Skating announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with internationally renowned jewelry designer Marlaina Stone. The partnership’s primary focus is the Freedom Cuff, a leather fashion cuff designed specifically by Stone for U.S. Figure Skating. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the Freedom Cuff will support U.S. Figure Skating’s Team USA and the Memorial Fund.   “We are excited about this relationship with Marlaina Stone,” said David Raith, U.S. Figure Skating executive director. “Like the sport of figure skating and Team USA athletes, the Freedom Cuff combines patriotism and fashion in a unique way. With this relationship, fans will be able to show pride in their country while helping to support U.S. skaters at every level.”   The Freedom Cuff is one of eight styles in this one-of-a-kind line designed by Stone. Made in the United States, the suede-lined adjustable cuff has three layers of soft, high-quality leather. Available at www.shopusfigureskating.net and www.MarlainaStone.com, the collection, which will debut with the Freedom Cuff, is part of Stone’s Second Verse, a line of accessories that makes stylish confidence accessible for all.   “I have such appreciation for the dedication and hard work these world-class athletes demonstrate,” Stone said. “There are not a lot of instances where athletic performance and fashion coincide, so I am so honored to have this chance to design for U.S. Figure Skating.   Stone added, "It’s time for women and men to wear their inner daredevil on their sleeve." *********************** • PAST NEWS  From March 2010 The latest in figure skating news from Blades On Ice Magazine! If you're looking for anything skating - check this out! The Emporium the Figure Skating Marketplace! News Briefs & Results | Coming Up Back Issues | Subscriptions | Emporium HOME PAGE