More than medalsTHE SKATING JOURNEY HOLDS PRICELESS MEMORIES BY LINDSEY WEBER I
have spent almost 28 years in this sport. It would be safe to say it has been my life. However, as I look back on all my incredi-
ble experiences, as a young skater, a Team USA member, U.S. Figure Skating athlete chair, team leader, offi cial and coach, I am remind- ed that it’s not all about the skating and the medals. Sure, it was always fun to win a medal,
and the best feeling is getting off the ice after a great skate, but my favorite memories are those that I have shared with my skating fami- ly along the way. Skating is a unique sport, and a small
world. I have crossed paths with people from all over the world and formed amazing friend- ships with skaters, coaches and offi cials. As a coach I now see how easy it is for skaters to get caught up in one competition, and I also know how someday that one competition will seem minuscule to them. Two of my favorite memories have noth-
ing to do with winning a national medal or competing at an international competition. The fi rst one was at the Vancouver Olympics when my close friends Ben (Miller), Justin (Dil- lon), Brittney (Bottoms) and I traveled to cheer on Team USA. We may have never made it to the Olympics, but sharing that moment and being part of the crowd cheering on our USA skaters — clad in our Olympic gear — was an incredible experience and something we will never forget. Another wonderful memory was from
this past year at Governing Council in Colo- rado Springs. When I fi rst took on the job of athlete chair, I wanted to put on a benefi t
Team USA’s Christina Gao attended the 2013 Governing Council meeting in Colorado Springs and is ready to carry on the rich AAC tradition that’s evolved under the direction of Lindsey Weber.
show. I knew it was a big task and maybe even impossible to do. How- ever, three years into the project it became a reality. The minute the lights went off and I skated out to the center to welcome everyone to our show, I realized my dream had come true. It was an unbelievable moment, one I will cherish forever. So many of my close friends and family were there that night to ex- perience this dream becoming a re- ality. On top of it being an incredible night, the Athlete Advisory Commit- tee (AAC) raised almost $10,000 for our 3A Scholarship Fund! Being part of a close-knit group
like the AAC for more than 10 years has allowed me to create friend- ships that I know will last a lifetime, way beyond our skating careers. We all share a common goal of bet- tering our sport and dedicate hun- dreds of hours a year to make sure the sport moves forward for future generations. At Governing Council this past year I
AAC members Ben Miller, Lindsey Weber, Derrick Delmore and Justin Dillon prepare for the AAC benefi t show at the 2013 Governing Council meeting. The event raised more than $10,000 for the group’s scholarship program.
watched as a new generation of AAC mem- bers sat in the front row, engaged and ready to jump in. It reminded me of myself almost 10 years ago. Years of conference calls and many meetings later, I sat there excited to see that a new group was ready to step up and take over. One of the most important things in our sport is that we keep inspiring others. Looking back, so many people inspired
me to continue to love this sport long after I fi nished skating. Coaches, offi cials, family members and my skating peers have all been an important part of this lifelong journey. I can
truly say I have enjoyed each and every mo- ment, memory and experience, and I know that there will be plenty more in the future. I hope that all of the athletes out there
take the time to make new friends, enjoy the day-to-day training, traveling and experiences this wonderful sport brings to us. Just remem- ber, this sport can last a lifetime and when you are done competing, that may be the start of a new journey as a coach, offi cial or volunteer. Someday those may be the memories you cherish forever! Lindsey Weber is the chair of the AAC.
Brittney Bottoms and Lindsey Weber show their support for Team USA at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.
60 OCTOBER 2013
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