Mids 2012 to Feature Exclusive Seminars with ISU Technical Experts

While the sport of figure skating is no doubt imbued with artistry and grace, it's the technical aspects of the sport that are more valued in competition. And it is important for all involved in competitive figure skating to gain a maximum understanding of this year's new ISU rules.

At this year's Middle Atlantic Championships, SCNY is offering a unique chance to get on top of it all before the season of qualifying competitions begins. 

The club is sponsoring a series of seminars for judges, officials, coaches, skaters and parents on Saturday, September 8th on Sunset Terrace at Sky Rink. Each seminar will feature actual ISU Committee members, ISU Referees, World and Olympic judges and Technical Controllers.  

The first seminar, "Understanding the New ISU Technical Rules Changes and Clarification of Rules," welcomes judges, coaches and skaters from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., during which a panel of ISU Technical Committee members, World Technical Specialists and Controllers will explain the latest changes and proposals. The aim is to give all attendees a clearer understanding of the new ISU singles rules and their implications for competitors. 

The second seminar, from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m., will take a look "Inside the Headsets" of the Technical Panel. Officials, coaches, skaters and parents will get to watch from behind the panel as a mock competitive event is called live, and witness the real discussion and debate that goes on among actual ISU Technical Panel members during a live event. This is a rare peek behind the curtain and a great chance to get ahead of the competition! 

Seminar panelists include Australia's Susan Lynch, an ISU Committee member who served as the 2010 Olympic Pairs Technical Controller; and World Technical Specialist Troy Goldstein, among others.

Space is limited for both seminars, so reserve a spot now! To register online, sign in here and go to the "Merchandise" page. Entry is $25 for one seminar or $35 for both. You do not have to be a Mids competitor to attend. We hope to see you there!

Figure Skating Still Plays a Part in Summer Games

Icenetwork.com

The Olympics are here! Sure, there's no figure skating competition in the summer games, but some of the sport's biggest stars are still playing a role in London!

Notably, SCNY's very own Sarah and Emily Hughes are in London, reporting on all the Olympic fun for icenetwork.com. Follow their adventures across the pond via Sarah's chronicles on Ice Network and on her Twitter feed! 

Icenetwork.com also has a great slideshow of famous skaters who carried the Olympic torch for these London games. Torvill and Dean, Michelle Kwan and many more! 

When the Olympics are held, summer or winter, most of the figure skating community is glued to the television. Artistic gymnastics bears the most similarities in rules and athleticism to figure skating, and many figure skaters who watch it find it as compelling a competition to watch.

The scoring system for gymnastics has recently evolved similarly to that of figure skating, it seems, with open-ended scoring and emphasis on technical accuracy. The sport of gymnastics has had its share of Olympic judging scandals too, particularly at the 2008 Games in Beijing when Chinese gymnast He Kexin beat out American gymnast Nastia Liukin on the uneven bars event, despite technical bobbles and identical marks from the judges. So far in London though, the gymnastics competition has been riveting, and hopes for Team USA are high!

What's your favorite summer Olympic sport? Share with us in the comments section below.

New Rinks Open at Chelsea Piers Connecticut

Chelsea Piers in Stamford opens today! Two brand new rinks are now open seven days a week, along with dance/fitness studios and athletic training facilities.

There are no freestyle sessions set up as of yet, however if you'd like to test out the ice, there are open skating sessions every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

A few weeks ago, the Skyliners got a chance to try out the new ice as part of the facility's ribbon cutting ceremony. Check out some of their photos here!

Have you seen the new facilities yet? Let us know what you think of them! In the meantime, keep an eye on the Chelsea Piers Connecticut website for information on freestyle sessions and other skating opportunities.

Colorado Springs Wildfires Threaten Skating Community

US Figure Skating HQ

While the wildfires devastating the Colorado Springs area are thousands of miles away from the skating community here in New York, we can still help the relief efforts! The Red Cross and other relief organizations are now taking donations to help those affected by the wildfires. Go to helpcoloradonow.org to find out how you can help.

As many in the skating world have recently pointed out through tweets and social media, in many ways, the heart of US figure skating is out in Colorado. Our governing body is there, as well as one of the most influential skating clubs in the nation—the Broadmoor SC. Several skaters, coaches and officials have had to evacuate, and others remain under the threat. Please take a moment to think of them and others out west whose lives are directly affected. 

Icenetwork.com is closely following the news on the wildfires. Colorado Springs-based coach and skater Drew Meekins has shared his account there of how the fires are affecting the skating community out west on icenetwork.com. The Denver Post also has up-to-the-minute coverage and photos.

Also, Icenetwork.com has confirmed that USFS headquarters remains safe from the wildfires. It is currently open and operating during business hours. 

Get Excited for Mids!

Registration for the 87th Middle Atlantic Championships is now open! Enter online now for the competition, which will take place September 6-9th, 2012. Skaters will have until August 8th to enter. 

The entry fee includes a DVD of each skater's entire flight, as well as 15 minutes of official practice ice. There will also be a pairs critique with international judges and specialists for those interested. And remember, if you're entering as a Pre-Juvenile-level skater or below, list your home rink on your entry form to take part in the team competition! Also this year, the competition will include test track events at the Pre-Preliminary and Preliminary levels.

I remember my first time competing at Mids. To me, it was a momentous occasion. For the first time in my skating career, I had a real chance of holding my own against some very seasoned competitors in my level. I'd been training hard all summer and I was ready to test out my new programs for the competitive season. It was also my first time ever visiting New York City from upstate New York where I lived, so I was doubly excited. Skating in the big city? Sky Rink was legendary! When I walked in the East Rink for the first time and saw that beautiful view, I knew it was going to be a great competition. 

I remember skating a magically clean long program to get to finals, and a magically clean short program which vaulted me to 2nd place ahead of some very good skaters that I'd never previously been able to best. I was on cloud 9 the whole weekend. My final long program was pretty good, with a few minor bobbles though, and I ended up 5th overall. Even though I didn't win a medal, it was an experience to be proud of, for sure! And I picked up lots of valuable tips and advice from both officials and fellow competitors that I could take with me to better my chances for the upcoming competitive season. 

For higher-level competitive skaters, Mids is a great opportunity to test out your new moves and programs before regionals, and to do so against skaters from a range of regions—skaters who enter Mids come from not just the North Atlantic region but also New England, South Atlantic, Midwestern and beyond. There isn't another non-qualifying competition out there that can promise that much every year! And for skaters at the lower levels, it's a great way to build up confidence and experience in a very fun and welcoming competitive environment. 

Whether it's your first time or your 5th, whether you're a high-level competitor or a recreation skater, this year's Mids is bound to be a wonderful experience. Can't wait to see everyone at this year's competition. Sk8 Gr8!

Do you have a favorite Mids memory? Share it in the comments section!

Year-End Celebrations for SCNY

The skating year came to a close last week with a fantastic exhibition at Sky Rink, followed by a delicious bbq on the Sunset Terrace overlooking the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty!

SCNY had a lot to celebrate this year, including some fantastic finishes from club skaters in regional, sectional, national and international competitions, high-level tests passed, and seniors graduating. Over 120 club members came to Chelsea Piers to join in the fun.

The celebration began with the annual Will Sears Exhibition, featuring the club's International, National and Junior National skaters as well as group numbers from the various rinks affiliated with the club, including Sky Rink, Sport-O-Rama, The Rinx, Wollman and Figure Skating in Harlem.

Afterward, skaters and their families made their way to the terrace, where the club honored its graduating high school seniors and the skaters who passed a gold medal test.

Proud gold medalists gather for a group shot.

The graduating seniors smile for the camera!

SCNY member and Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes came to join in the festivities, posing with club skaters (and possibly future Olympians themselves)!

And now it's time to start thinking about next year! Club registration for the 2012-2013 season is now open (register online), and club officials are meeting in the coming weeks to start plans for the 87th annual Middle Atlantic Figure Skating Championships. Stay tuned and happy summer!

SCNY Members Up for Skater of the Year

'Skating' magazine has opened up voting this year for it's Readers' Choice Skater of the Year Award (aka the Michelle Kwan Trophy), and several SCNY members are nominated!

Readers have until July 15th to choose one skater or synchro team that they think had the best competitive year. Eligible skaters include the medalists (USFS members only) from Worlds, Junior Worlds, Synchro Worlds, Synchro Junior World Challenge Cup, and the top five finishers at the senior level from this year's U.S Championships and U.S. Synchro Championships. 

That means U.S. Silver medalists Adam Rippon and Maia Shibutani are up for the award, as are the Skyliners senior team, who placed 5th at this year's Synchro Nationals. 

'Skating' fans and readers have been given readers choice since 1989, when Kristi Yamaguchi received the first Skater of the Year award. Since then, the award has been named after Michelle Kwan, who won it seven times. SCNY member Johnny Weir-Voronov has won twice, in 2008 and 2010.

Voting happens at the U.S. Figure Skating website only and is open until July 15th. The winner will be revealed in August. Let's give our fellow SCNY-ers some support! Click here to vote.