Eighty-five Friends of Figure Skating members attended the semiannual breakfast in Kent. Nine U.S. Figure Skating athletes stopped by to thank their biggest fans and sign autographs.
FRIENDS OF FIGURE SKATING MEMBERS ENJOY THEIR ANNUAL REUNIONS, AND ALL THOSE PERKS By Mimi Whetstone
Te smell of hot coffee filled the ShoWare
Center’s club lounge on the final day of compe- tition at 2012 Hilton HHonors Skate America, where the semiannual Friends of Figure Skating (FOFS) breakfast commenced. Stravinsky’s Te Firebird echoed from the ladies free skate prac- tice as pleasantries were exchanged and members gathered to celebrate their love of figure skating. “For me, it’s like my extended family,” said Claudyne Casella Hutchinson, FOFS member for 11 years. “It’s almost like a reunion every year when you go to the breakfast at Skate America and the U.S. Championships. You see a lot of the
U.S. pairs skaters Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir sign the event program for FOFS members Edward Darr and James Fesalbonn.
same people and it’s nice to meet new people who have never been here before.” Since its inception in 2001, FOFS has provid- ed financial support to U.S. Figure Skating pro- grams and athletes through annual membership giving. Basic membership includes a subscription to SKATING magazine and the opportunity to attend members-only events, perks that Bev Hodge counts among her favorites. “I’ve been a member since 2008,” Hodge
said. “When I joined, I got tickets to come to the breakfast. We’ve all met each other at vari- ous competitions and it’s great to see everyone every year. I also really enjoy getting my SKAT- ING magazines. I don’t spend a lot of time online reading about skating, so I love getting it in the mail and catching up on the latest news.” Members-only events, such as the semian-
nual breakfasts, not only promote camaraderie among fans, but give donors the opportunity to meet the athletes who are benefiting from their support. “We met Marissa Castelli and Simon Shna-
pir in Portland two years ago,” said Linda Falcon- er, FOFS member for five years. “Tey were so nice and it gave us new people to root for. Now here we are, all together at Skate America again, and we saw them skate two clean programs. Tat’s a really fun thing that we’ve enjoyed.” While athlete appearances ranked among
OMG! WAGNER’S ONLINE CHAT DRAWS BIG CROWD By Barb Reichert
U.S. champion Ashley Wagner settled into the hot seat for her “live chat” with the Seattle Times. Te premise was simple: Online fans post questions. Wagner answers them. Te goal is 60 answers in 60 minutes. Ready? Go. How are those 3F-3T combos
doing? Should we expect to see it in your short program? And just like that, Wagner was
off and running. “Hey, Greg,” she responded, just like she was emailing an old friend.
Over the next hour, 136 ques- 24 DECEMBER 2012
tions flowed in fast and furious. Wagner leaned in close to the large screen, trying to stay ahead. And in true Wagner fashion, she held noth- ing back. Do you have any input into
your costume designs? Loved your “Black Swan” dress! Since I’m the one who not only
gets to wear them but pay for them, I am the final ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a dress, so I have a ton of input. :) No question unnerved the
reigning U.S. champion, including this:
“Is that Japanese?” she asked
those in the room. “Whoa! Tat’s a first for us,” said
Bob Wickwire, the Seattle Times’ se- nior sports producer. But it was a question from
“Cabodreaming2013” that made Wagner laugh out loud: Ashley, is it true that you plan on going whale watching while here in the Pacific Northwest? ;) “You don’t have to answer that,”
Wickwire advised. “Oh yes I do. … It’s Jeremy [Ab-
bott].”
Hello CaboDreaming! I’ve al- ways been fascinated with how warm
Ashley Wagner is all smiles during her online chat at the Seattle Times on Oct. 18. In the background is Seattle Times associate producer Lauren Rabaino, who typed in Wagner’s responses.
whale blubber keeps those majestic creatures going. LOL, for sure.
To read all of Wagner’s online chat, go to
bit.ly/WagnerChat.
the top benefits of membership, for Andy De- pew, a member since 2003, it’s the unexpected guests that tickle him most. “Parents, coaches, skaters you used to watch
but haven’t seen in years, people like that,” Depew said. “Last year at Skate America, I met Tania Kwi- atkowski and I got to talk to her. She was one of the skaters I watched as a child and I really got to see her grow up. Tat was really neat.”
As contributors upgrade their membership,
they receive additional benefits, such as U.S. Fig- ure Skating’s annual media guide, priority seating options at U.S. Figure Skating events and the ability to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the public. “Once I saw skating in the arena, wow! It’s so
different than it is on television,” said Vance Harp- er Jones, a member since 2001. “You see so much more, even if you’re sitting up in the very top seats. After that, I decided that I wanted to be a member of U.S. Figure Skating. When Friends of Figure Skating came about, I realized how much more that membership would do for me, as a fan.” New members can join anytime through-
out the year; however, the traditional mem- bership year is Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, coin- ciding with the competitive season. For more information, or to become a member, please con- tact Wallis Romzek, manager, giving programs at
wromzek@usfigureskating.org or 719.228.3424.
PHOTO BY BARB REICHERT
PHOTOS BY JAY ADEFF
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