DOUG LINNEMAN For 15 years, Friends of Figure Skat-
ing (FOFS) has supported figure skaters of all ages and abilities, from Team USA to those in the Learn to Skate USA pro- gram. For their support, FOFS members receive benefits such as a subscription to SKATING magazine, tickets to the FOFS breakfasts at Skate America and the U.S. Championships, U.S. Figure Skating ap- parel and much more. Today, we Focus on Friends and share the story of one of our generous donors. Doug Linneman is the sales and
marketing director for Linneman Associ- ates in Philadelphia, as well as a central member of the skating superfan group known as “The Splinters.” Doug lived in California for more
than 30 years, working in hotel and event management before moving to Philadelphia. He still uses his event-plan- ning skills to help coordinate members of the Splinters and get them to U.S. Fig- ure Skating events, Broadway outings
and museum tours. His love for figure skating began in
high school and he’s followed the sport ever since. He attended his first U.S. Fig- ure Skating Championships in 2005 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, and was hooked to the point that he has managed to attend every U.S. Champi- onships since. It was in 2008 that he met up with the Splinters at the U.S. Cham- pionships in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He shortly thereafter began to travel with the group to figure skating events. Doug and the Splinters will be in Kansas City in January. Doug and the Splinters’ pas- sion, support and energy help to make U.S. Figure Skating events a unique and wonderful experience. What makes you want to be a
Friend of Figure Skating? These ath- letes bring so much enjoyment to my life and I just want to give back. What is your favorite figure skat-
ing moment? Seeing Yuzuru Hanyu at the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona was
amazing; he was perfect. Javier Fernan- dez’s performance in Boston was also a fantastic performance. What is your favorite benefit in
belonging to FOFS? Meeting the ath- letes at the breakfasts is great. I have seen so many of them and many of them know me now. I just enjoy being able to show them my support. Who is your favorite figure skat-
er? It has to be Michelle Kwan. I just remember watching her and thinking “Wow, that girl is something special.”
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