CHAMPS CAMP
(Ginger Gober) who told me about the package and encouraged me to bid,” Edwards’ mother Vicki said.
Te package included airfare for two to
Colorado Springs, one night’s accommodation at the Olympic Training Center and two nights at the historic Broadmoor hotel, private tours of the Olympic Training Center, Broadmoor World Arena and U.S. and World Figure Skating Halls of Fame, a Team USA gift pack and the opportunity to watch performances and attend media sessions with the athletes. “My favorite part has been getting to watch
all the skating,” Edwards said. “It’s really inspir- ing to see all of my favorite skaters training in person.”
— Mimi McKinnis
Wylie gives heartfelt talk When Mitch Moyer, U.S. Figure Skating’s
senior director of athlete high performance, in- troduced the keynote speaker for Champs Camp, he joked that President Barack Obama could not make it. Tere might have been some initial dis- appointment that the leader of the free world could not attend the elite training camp for American figure skaters, but no one complained a bit when the actual speaker — 1992 Olympic silver medalist —Paul Wylie arrived. Wylie is not only a hero to many of the skat- ers, coaches and officials who were in attendance, but he was also making quite a comeback off the ice. Back in April, Wylie’s heart stopped beating. He had been working out with some buddies in his hometown of Charlotte when he collapsed. One of the men who was running with him
performed CPR for about five minutes, and it was only because of that effort and the help from paramedics that Wylie is alive today. He told his lifelong story of overcoming the odds both as a competitive skater and in his recent battle against sudden cardiac arrest. He underwent surgery to have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator
Paul Wylie
Serge Onik (in red/black shirt), a Latin ballroom dancer, works with Team USA’s ice dancers at Champs Camp.
placed in his chest. Wylie also has a device that monitors the implant and will notify his doctors in case of any mechanical issues. “By the narrowest of margins,” Wylie said,
“I survived.” At the end of his speech, Wylie apologized for concluding on a down note, talking about his health issues. Ten he had a hop in his step, smiled and said, “But I’m here.” Te speech reached everyone in the room,
a conference area in the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Mark Mitchell, a coach who was one of Wylie’s on-ice rivals, gave Wylie a hug afterward. And his message of perseverance prevailed.
Wylie spoke about dealing with the doubters during his career, and the overwhelming joy he experienced after capturing the silver medal in Albertville. “I really related to what he said,” said pairs
skater Mervin Tran, who skates with Marissa Castelli. “Especially the part about doing great things that people don’t expect. When I finished third in the world (with Japan’s Narumi Taka- hashi), we were so happy. I mean, we were ninth at our first Worlds so we were hoping for top five. Fifth would’ve been completely fine with us!” — Amy Rosewater
Special guests
In addition to the standard keynote address, photo shoots, technical feedback and packaging sessions, athletes attending Champs Camp re- ceived instruction from two special guests: Serge Onik, a Latin ballroom dancer who competed on season 11 of Fox’s “So You Tink You Can Dance” and Michael Hennessy, a professional mime and protégé of world-renowned French
actor and mime Marcel Marceau. Hennessy addressed the group as a whole
before working with each discipline separately, with a focus on using body language to express emotion. Onik, who came to Champs Camp upon
the recommendation of Olympic ice dance champion Meryl Davis, worked exclusively with the ice dancers. “Had the most epic time working with these beautiful dancers,” Onik shared on so- cial media. “Tank you for your hard work! #champscamp #icedancing #coloradosprings. — Mimi McKinnis
Mini-Max Pairs skater
Max Settlage was one of the main attractions at 2015 Champs Camp — mini-Max that is! Settlage, a tal- ented artist whose drawings are often featured in various U.S. Figure Skat- ing social media promotions, drew a miniature version of him- self wearing the 2015 Champs Camp T-shirt. Max’s mission? To take mini-Max’s photo with as many Champs Camp participants as possible. Te full gallery, featuring almost every athlete and one former athlete (Mark Ladwig), was posted throughout the week on Settlage’s Instagram feed (@max_settlage).
Gracie Gold — Renee Felton SKATING 11
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