Skaters find joy mixing business and pleasure BY LEXI ROHNER


MAUREEN BROTHERTON, 47 FORT COLLINS, COLO., FORT COLLINS FSC JUVENILE/RECREATIONAL


Maureen Brother-


VENTURA, CALIF., CHANNEL ISLANDS FSC ADULT SILVER FREE SKATE


DENISE PENDLETON, 39 Denise Pendleton considers herself the


epitome of an adult skater, having never skat- ed as a child but being mesmerized anytime skating was on TV growing up. “It was pure magic and beauty,” Pendleton


said. “Now it’s a passion and lifestyle.” Initially her daughter’s cancer, retinoblasto-


ma, brought Pendleton to skating. “I was searching for an avenue to decrease


stress in 2002, while watching my baby girl go through horrible, challenging treatments to make her healthy again,” she said. She tried group lessons but found her


daughter’s care too demanding. “Three or four lessons were all I could man-


age, but I fell in love with the cold-air sport that left me feeling exhilarated,” she said. A year after her daughter’s treatment fin-


ished, Pendleton slowly returned to skating. “I wanted to learn as much as possible and


see how far my body could take me,” Pendleton said. “Skating pushes all my boundaries.” In 2013 after repeat injuries, she was diag- nosed with an autoimmune disease that had a profound effect on her body. Pendleton and coach Cindy Bortz-Gould are continually learn- ing to train without inducing illness or delay healing. The results of her cumulative seven years


of skating are evident. Pendleton routinely performs well and clearly enjoys herself. At the 2014 U.S. Adult Championships, she achieved a major milestone by claiming the bronze free skate title. Pendleton parlayed a background in mar-


keting and image consulting into a marketing job with her ice arena. While no longer em- ployed there, she continues to connect young- er populations and families via social media to rink activities. She is most grateful for her supportive hus- band and her daughter’s health. “Maybe we could have traveled, but he


loves seeing how happy skating makes me,” said Pendleton, who serves as club test chair and recently became a bronze judge. “I love watching my daughter experience everything life has to offer, and this big, yet small world of skating and the many skaters all over who are part of my life.”


38 NOVEMBER 2014


ton’s passion for skat- ing has taken her be- hind the scenes with a website to help skat- ers in Northern Col- orado and Wyoming with their apparel and supply needs. With three chil-


dren, of whom two skate, Brotherton found it difficult to find skating clothes and equipment for them. This dilemma prompted her to start “Go Figure Skating” in 2007. “We had two local pro shops (now closed)


focused on hockey, with limited figure skating items,” Brotherton said. “After spending a fruit- less afternoon looking for a practice dress for my daughter online — neither pro shop had her size — I thought there had to be a better way.” Combining her retail, apparel and manage-


ment experience, she helped to launch the on- line store. “My goal is to have whatever you require to


skate, plus the fun stuff,” said Brotherton, who is pleased her skating background assists clients. “I pride myself on being your one-stop shop.” Representing three boot manufacturers


and four major blade companies, the business has become a family affair. Her oldest daugh- ter, Brianna, a novice-level skater, helps with booths at competitions; her husband Brent ac- commodates loyal customers who drive in for sharpening, mounting and repair needs. Her son Sean skates with his coach Shelby Lyons’ daughter Sylvie. Brotherton’s involvement in skating ex-


tends beyond her business, having served on her club board and participating in successful bids for two Midwestern Sectionals and the 2015 Southwestern Regionals. On the ice, Brotherton considers herself an


enthusiastic recreational skater. “I’m not able to skate as much as I’d like,


but I’ve loved skating for most of my life. It’s a part of every day,” she said. “I remember that I begged my mom to enroll me at 12 when I saw a news story on Tai (Babilonia) and Randy (Gardner).” During a 2013 visit to California, Brianna


received a lesson from her mother’s childhood coach, Gary Visconti. “Gary never settled for less than your best,”


Brotherton said. “I look for that same quality for my children.” Brotherton herself took a class with child-


hood idol Gardner. “I’d like to get my Lutz back someday,” she


said. “I entertain the idea of competing again.” When not in a rink, Brotherton enjoys watching her nonskating child play baseball.


NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., NORTH JERSEY FSC ADULT SILVER FREE SKATE


TIM DAVID, 34


Tim David is his own toughest critic. The skating director at Lasker Skating Rink


in New York’s Central Park, David has spent two decades pushing himself to be the best he can be on the ice. “Skating used to be all competitive in my


head,” David said. “Nowadays, it’s all about mu- sic interpretation.” A regular at the U.S. Adult Championships,


David is adamant about testing himself regu- larly. His goal for the past decade has been to pass his adult gold free skate test and compete in the championship gold men’s event at the U.S. Adult Championships. His close circle of skating friends and he-


roes include 1994 Olympic champion Oksana Baiul and 1995 U.S. champion Nicole Bobek. “Ever since Oksana told me it’s all in my


head, I’ve tested myself on the ice, firing off ele- ments by just stepping on and doing one lap or less,” David said. His has a formula for weekly training in ad-


vance of a competition or show: three months beforehand — three days; two months before- hand — four days; the month of the event — five to six days. “Skating’s much harder as an adult when stamina and metabolism slow down,” he said. “I have to work three times harder on and off the ice.”


When he does compete at the U.S. Adult Championships, he can count on coaching support from Doug Mattis and Doug Razzano. David began skating immediately follow- ing the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and the Tonya Harding–Nancy Kerrigan saga. He has invested much effort to succeed through his involvement in skating, including founding, di- recting and producing a figure skating benefit for the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children in 2010 and 2011. “I love having so much support from the


figure skating community, my friends and fam- ily,” David said. When not skating, David enjoys taking


scenic photographs on walks around New York City.


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