Another Announcement - Virtual Skateoff

Oh, we showed our sense of humor all right ... too bad nobody filmed the day I fell off the ten-foot tall staircase or the time my friend missed her hockey stop and landed in the audience. That would win the "The World's Funniest Skating Video" contest. But take a look at this ...

ProSkaters is excited to announce the first of its kind in the professional skating world, A VIRTUAL SKATE OFF! In a world dominated by video games, YouTube, and Facebook, ProSkaters brings to you an exclusive competition only to ProSkaters members! For the first time ever ProSkaters will host a competition for the pro skater judged by the pro skater!

As a professional you have had the opportunity to display your humor, unique talent, creativity and all your artistic ability. It¹s time to look through your attics, steamer trucks, and your hard drive and submit your "LIFE'S BEST PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE" via the Internet. With a few simple guidelines established by the ProSkaters board of directors to bring back the magic of competition in a new modern day skating competition.

www.virtualskateoff.com

Join NOW!

Calling All Show Skaters

... or those that are thinking about it.

Boy, would I love any excuse to go to Sun Valley. For those that can make it in August, I'm sure the Annual Meeting won't disappoint. For anyone wanting to get the scoop, this would be an excellent place to test the waters, meet those already in the biz, and watch some great skating.

ProSkaters Sun Valley Annual Meeting - August 2, 2009

We welcome all of our current and perspective PS members to Sun Valley, Idaho this summer for a fun and exciting weekend!

The weekend will include presentations from board members Sylvia Froescher, Craig Heath, Frank Sweiding, Scott Irvine, Lisa-Marie Allen, Ashley Clark, Jed Hopkins and many others. The seminars will be both on and off the ice about show skating and audition tips from the producers themselves. This seminar is very beneficial and informative for any skater, professional or not.

There will also be an open meeting regarding member benefits that anyone is welcome to attend. If you have any suggestions for PS, this is the time to be heard. Also, anyone that is attending this meeting will get to participate in judging the top five skaters in our first ever Virtual Professional Competition.

If these aren't enough reasons to come and visit us in one of the most beautiful places on earth, than I don't know what is? Did I mention there is an amazing ice show on Saturday night as well? Come and cheer on the skaters and have a weekend you'll never forget, in Sun Valley!

Go to www.sunvalley.com for lodging or look online for cheap Sun Valley housing.

Helpful Hint

When showing your 5-year old Michael Jackson videos, don't show them the entire Thriller video.

Skip to the dance scene or neither of you will get any sleep that night.

RIP

I skated in two shows with Michael Jackson songs: Black & White and Smooth Criminal.

I've always said that no matter how tired you were, Smooth Criminal would pick you right back up again.

He made some great music for skating.

The Day I Was A Flower

Remember a while back when I mentioned I went to play practice at my daughter's school and everything had to be in Spanish and I felt mentally retarded?

No?

Perhaps I didn't put it so bluntly back then. Or maybe you remember me ranting about the mothers putting on the play for the kids, which seems totally insane to me, but whatever.


But, I did it. I was the stupidest looking flower ever in the play with seven lines of dialogue all in Spanish. That meant if I forgot any line, I would not be adlibbing very easily.

Hurray for me! I remembered all of my lines, even though I mispronounced a few of them. So instead of "broomsticks on the shoulders" it sounded something like 'the broomsticks were hungry'. And instead of what was suppose to be "the clown is running" it sounded more like 'the clown is getting mail'.

Were they laughing with me or at me?

Okay, Ice Charades, big deal, so you were in a play, does this have anything to do with skating?

Why yes, thanks for asking. I must say my flower costume was the most embarrassing thing I've ever worn ... but other costumes in my skating past were close.

The candy mint costume comes to mind. Dressed up in a giant mint candy (think circular sandwich boards across the body) and celephane wrap shooting out from my shoulders and knees. We couldn't even skate in them because the candy circle went down past our knees.

In my skating life, I've also been a penguin, an Eskimo, an Indian teepee, a snowflake, a piece of cake, a cat, a Japanese TV villian - that was so much fun! - a mouse, a tree, two more flowers, and a pinball flipper. Have I forgotten something?

There is no diginity when you need a paycheck.

So, I guess what I'm getting at is that I've had my share of embarrassing costumes, so what was one more.

So You Think You Can Skate?

This video is making the rounds with some of my skating friends.

Fantastic Footwork! She could lead a session on creating your straight-line footwork for your program.

But I think she needs a coach to help her with her presentation. Chin up girl - and I mean that literally.

Go Remy!

Okay, Ice Charades, what does this have to do with skating?



Not much, I've got to say, but thanks for asking.

Maybe you've heard of him before, but if not, check it out ... www.GoRemy.com

I know this is a stretch, but it's also Friday, so if you need something to help waste hours at the computer until it's time to leave work ... here you go.

Stay with me on this. I got a link to one of his videos, via You Tube, and some 17 videos and 2 hours later, my daughter and I have made it through most of his repertoire.

Does this guy still have a day job?

A lot of his videos have the local flavor of the Washington DC Metro area, so Required Elements is going to love it, but the rest of you may not get all of the jokes.

My personal favorite is the Tabbouleh Song. It's kind of what I had in mind when I responded to Axels, Loops, and Spins about a Bollywood number for a pair or dance team to skate to. Of course, you would have to take out the lyrics. But the instrumental is great.

I also like the Hockey Song. Again, it's a local song all about the Washington Capitals. But with McDonald's, Turbo Tax or 2% Milk, there is probably something for everyone.

So, finally, getting around to skating ... Let's see if we can get him to do a figure skating song.