World silver medallist Chan parts ways with coach AFP via Yahoo! Canada News Sat,
09 Jan 2010 09:10 AM PST OTTAWA, Ontario (AFP) - Don Laws, coach
of reigning Canadian champ Patrick Chan, will not be at rinkside when the
world silver medallist defends his national figureskating title next week in London, Ontario.
Chan, coach go separate ways Toronto Sun Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:54 AM PST Toronto's
Patrick Chan will head into the Vancouver Olympics without coach Don Laws
after the two split less than a week before the Canadian figureskating championships.
Lysacek and Kim Win Grand Prix Final in Tokyo New York Times Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:41 AM PST The
world champion Evan Lysacekwon the Grand Prix Final on Saturday in Tokyo, becoming the second consecutive American to
capture the figureskating title.
Hughes, Meno and Sand join US Hall of Fame AFP via Yahoo! Canada News Thu,
17 Dec 2009 11:22 AM PST COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AFP) - Salt
Lake City 2002 Olympic champion Sarah Hughes and three-time world pairs medalists Jenni
Meno and Todd Sand were named Thursday as inductees to the US FigureSkating Hall of Fame.
During the 1970's, my family and I watched ABC's Wide World of Sports every weekend. One day,
in 1974, the US Championships were on, that afternoon Dorothy Hamill skated right into my heart. I was hooked! (Ms. Hamill
has since "apologized" for getting me into this!) I loved her and her sport...following her through her Olympic and World
victories... and into the Ice Capades. Home from school due to a broken leg and subsequent surgery. I read everything I could
about skating, and began to follow skaters such as Linda Fratianne, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner more closely.
In 1981, the World Championships were held in Hartford, CT, USA about three hours (by car) from my home on Long Island.
My mother said we could make a "one time only" trip. Through my dear friend, the late Barbara Cassella, I was able to meet
the lovely and gracious Ms. Hamill. I also met such skaters as JoJo Starbuck and Judy Blumberg. It was the trip of a lifetime...or
so I thought!
Somehow, my Dad decided I had to do this again the next year...in Copenhagen, Denmark? it was there that I made my first
true skating buddies: Elaine Zayak, Rosalynn Sumners, Kitty & Peter Carruthers...They are the reason I love skating...For
me, they were the beginning but not the end.
I continue to respect skating as a sport, and spend way too much money on travel expenses, because people such as: Kurt
Browning, Susie Wynne, Debi Thomas, Nicole Bobek, Michelle Kwan, Dick Button, Jirina Ribbens, Peter Burrows, Mary-Lynn Geldermann,
John Nicks, Ron Ludington, Peggy Fleming, Jill Watson, Jill Trenary, Peter Oppegard, Tonia Kwiatkowski, Nancy Kerrigan, Scott
Hamilton, Kyoko Ina, Jason Dungjen,Yuka Sato, Kristi Yamaguchi, Jenni Meno, Todd Sand, Christopher Bowman, Carolyn Kruse,
Carol Heiss-Jenkins, Lea-Ann Miller, Bill Fauver, Shae Lynn Bourne, Victor Kraatz, Brian Orser ...and many more to numerous
to list...have not only represented their sport with honor on the ice...but have also contributed to the quality
of my life off the ice. I don't attend many skating events anymore, but I will be forever grateful for all they have
done for me.
US, World & Olympic Champ, Miss Dorothy Hamill
With US Ice Dance Champs, ;Tannith Belbin & Benjamin Agosto, 2004 Grand Prix Final Silver Medalists; and special Congrats
on their 2005 World Silver Medal:More here.
... @ 2004 US Championships with 2-time Olympic Medalist, Nancy Kerrigan
...Debi Thomas, US & World Champion; Olympic Medalist
Backstage w/ Olympic & World Champ Oksana Baiul (Stars On Ice Phoenix: January 2004)
with 2003 World Ice Dance Champions, Shae-Lynn Bourne & Victor Kraatz (Skate America 2001: Colorado Springs,
CO)
With Kristi Yamaguchi @'91 U.S. Championships, Minneapolis, MN
With Rosalynn Sumners and Kurt Browning backstage @ STARS ON ICE
Kitty & Peter Carruthers @ 1982 Worlds: Copenhagen, Denmark. JHB Online Photo by Jeanne Baker-Poggensee
Hi John, Thanks
for the nice congratulations for us on your website. I just stumbled upon your site and man its the biggest website I have
ever seen. The congratulations go to you my friend. Best, Peter Carruthers
(4-time US Pair Champion; 1982 World Bronze Medalist, 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist, and star of "Ice Capades"
and "Stars On Ice"-- with his sister Caitlin (aka "Kitty"). Currently, a skating commentator for ABC/ESPN.
John!!
I LOVE your site(s) -- what an amazing set of stories about Kurt -- and oh (!) all the skaters you've met!
I
was thrilled back in 1996 when I did a skating special with Ekaterina Gordeeva -- she skated the role of Belle while I sang
live ... sooo cool. And as I told you at the concert --- meeting Robin Cousins was beyond wonderful -- I always adored
his artistry. A few years back Sarah Hughes did a TV special -- and i learned later that she sang to my recording of
I'M FLYING in her Peter Pan segment! That was such an honor, too -- being such a skating fan!
Thanks so much
for sending me the links. =)
It was, as always, wonderful seeing you and your mom!! Have a great holiday, John!!
xo, Sus
Susan Egan, Tony-award nominated star of "Disney's Beauty & the Beast" on Broadway (Broadway star of "Cabaret"
& "Throughly Modern Millie") ...also voice Megara in Disney's "Hercules" film... and a former skater!
With my dear friend, Susie Wynne-Barth (US Champion, Olympic & World Team member, ABC/ESPN commentator) @
'92 US Nationals.
US Pair champs & World Medalist, Jenni Meno & Todd Sand
KURT & ME
With 4-time Canadian & World Champ, Kurt Browning @ Stars on Ice in San Diego, CA (January 2003)
To me, the most important title Kurt holds is "My Buddy." We met in 1988 at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Kurt & I may not be as close as were once were, but I hope you'll enjoy reading about our backstage adventures!
This site is constantly under construction, so please visit again soon!
...
With my dear friend, Susie Wynne-Barth (US Champion, Olympic & World Team member, ABC/ESPN commentator) @
'92 US Nationals.
