F ATHER AND D A UGHTER SHARE UNIQUE BOND rinkside
Figure skating is a family affair for Jon Robinson and his daughter Kristie. They re- cently passed their senior supplemental moves-in-the-field tests, which were taken at the Fraser Figure Skating Club in Fraser, Mich. The duo has been taking tests together
for several years. Jon represents the Figure Skating Club of Birmingham, Mich., while Kristie is a member of the International Cen- ter for Excellence in Skating in Troy, Mich. “Skating is a sport for the whole family, as
I have definitely proven with Kristie,” Jon said. Jon began skating at age 12, but his daughter started at a much younger age.
The 2012 Basic Skills team competition held on March 25 at the Ice Den in Scottsdale, Ariz., was a dream come true for the Basic 4-prelim- inary skaters. For many, it was their first time in a competition. A total of 94 skaters partici- pated and rocked the house. No marks were posted, but individual scores went toward team totals. After the on-ice medal presenta- tions, competitors skated a victory lap to “We Are the Champions.” Once team photos were taken, all the skaters participated in the Circle of Friends, in which they formed a large circle, with everyone holding hands and bowing to each other. The youngsters then skated to- ward the middle of the circle with a scream of appreciation.
“At 9 months old, I was in skates and on
the ice,” she said. Jon believes that having great guidance
is the key to success. “I think the right coach can truly help you
discover the many joys in skating, and for me, that was the late Robert Unger,” he said. And while some skaters might not enjoy
being coached by a parent, Kristie is grateful for the extra time she gets to spend with her dad. “Lessons aren’t just 30-minute sessions
of being told what to do and how to do it,” she said. “It is also an opportunity to create a deeper bond between father and daughter.
Jon and Kristie Robinson
My dad’s skating only motivates and provides me with perpetual ambition rather than in- duces a competitive feel between us.” — Kama Korvela
Basic Skills students at Jacksonville Ice and Sportsplex and the First Coast Skating Club spent some quality ice time over Easter weekend with the cast and crew of the Feld Entertainment production of Disney On Ice presents Disney-Pixar’s Toy Story 3! More than 150 Jacksonville Blade Buddies and their families enjoyed the opening night fes- tivities at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and marveled at the skating and theatrics. From Buzz and Woody, to the Claw, all in attendance had a magical time. The next morning 35 Jacksonville Basic Skills and club skaters, ages 4 to 19, returned to the Jacksonville arena to meet the cast and crew. They spent the first 30 minutes grilling the cast of Toy Story 3 with probing questions ranging from “How can I audition for a future show?” and “Is it hard to skate in the costumes?” to “Can we skate with you?” The answer to the last question was a resounding yes as our skaters took to the ice with the cast and even learned the climactic number that ends act one in the show, the Miley Cyrus hit “Hoedown Throw- down.” Before they left the ice, Feld Entertainment Pro- ductions arranged one more surprise for the skaters — a special visit from Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear. The skaters thanked the entire cast for spending time with them and promised that next year they would bring Snowplow Sam to skate with them.
WISC ONSIN SK ATERS SHOW THEIR HEART The Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wis.,
hosted a benefit exhibition titled Skate with Heart 2012 on March 31. Proceeds from the event support the Herma Heart
The skaters taking part in the benefit show are (back row, l-r) Cora Cooley, Mackenzie Reid, Christian Erwin and Kylie Adamec. In the center are Morgan Rebholz and Jack Brabant, who are patients from the Herma Heart Center and helped promote the event.
36 JUNE/JULY 2012
Center at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Twelve soloists, the open juvenile synchronized skating team from Wisconsin Edge and members of the Wisconsin FSC performed in the show which raised $3,705. Mackenzie Reid, a Pettit Center figure skater, spear- headed the effort for the exhibition. She’s a junior-level ice dancer who was looking for a National Honor Soci- ety project and decided to put on the benefit skating show.
“My mom (Lisa) works at the Heart Center and I have spent a lot of time observing the families and
watching what some of the kids have to go through,” Reid said after a recent training session. “I am so fortu- nate to be healthy enough to participate in a sport that I love and give back something really fun to the Heart Center. We all are skating for the kids that cannot!” Many of the skaters and coaches taking part in the
exhibition have family members who have either previ- ously been treated in the Heart Center or are under care for congenital heart disease. “I have never seen a group of kids throw themselves
into a project like this, and I can honestly say that every minute of preparation was enjoyable for me,” said Lisa Reid, an ice dance coach and pediatric cardiology nurse. “It’s great to see skaters and parents involved in their community!”
PHOTO BY BRIANNA BLETCH
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