Which skaters have you met?

[FSWer]

Say which skaters has everyone here met? I myself really haven't met any famous ones. Though I'm still waiting for it to happen. But I have at least met some really nice Paticipant skaters who turned out to really be be nice and talk to me. Anyone else?

[SynchroSk8r114]

Years and years ago I met Yuka Sato, and Caryn Kadavy (who now teaches at a rink I teach/skate at). Both were really sweet and gave me autographs. My mother also got a picture with Yuka Sato.

At an ice show I skated in about 4 years ago, I had the opportunity to skate with and meet John Zimmerman and Kyoko Ina. They are two of the nicest people - got their autographs as well! John was especially nice about autographing a napkin my sister found because it was the only thing she had at the time. He kind of just laughed it off. Awesome experience!

I would love to meet Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosoto. The guy who partners me on dance got to go train with them for a week and said that they are absolutely amazing skaters (Duh!) and even better in person. Oh, and I'd give anything to have a footwork lesson from Kurt Browning! :bow:

[WannabeS8r]

I've skated with Tamar Katz, Elene Gedevanishvili, Victor Petrenko, John Zimmerman, and Silvia Fontana.

Out of the coaches, I've met Zmeyievskaia (sp?); Petrenko's and Bauil's former coach, and Tarasova (in Moscow).

[Samskate]

I met Brian Boitano when he came to Pittsburgh to help officially open a new skating rink. I was thrilled since I've always really liked him. He couldn't have been nicer. He performed that night, as did Karyn Cadavy who is just north of Pittsburgh in Erie.

I don't think this will count, but years ago, I stood in line to go to a movie right behind Peggy Fleming! It was the Ice Capades or whichever show she toured with when she first turned pro and they were in town. I didn't say anything to her since I felt she should have her privacy. Now I wish I had though!

[Petlover]

Petr Barna is now part-owner of the rink I skate at, and he and his wife are very friendly, seem like wonderful people.

[Artemis]

I got to go to a "meet and greet" after Kurt's first Gotta Skate show, so I got to meet Kurt (of course), Brian O., Josée Choinard, Isabel Brasseur & Lloyd Eisler, and Stephen Cousins. Very cool, one of the best nights of my life.

I was also on a plane once with Liz Manley, and talked to her briefly.

[SynchroSk8r114]

I got to go to a "meet and greet" after Kurt's first Gotta Skate show, so I got to meet Kurt (of course), Brian O., Josée Choinard, Isabel Brasseur & Lloyd Eisler, and Stephen Cousins. Very cool, one of the best nights of my life.

Whoa...early 90s skaters. You're so lucky. I'm jealous...;)

[blackmanskating]

I've met the following:
Johnny Weir(he's awesome and hilarious)
Tanith Belbin(she is fine!! :bow:)
Ben Agosto
Sasha Cohen (she's so professional)
Evan Lysacek
Kimmie Meissner (she's cute in a little sister kind of way)
Derrick Delmore (I've trained with Derrick Delmore in the past. He's very good at what he does)

[Schmeck]

Scott Hamilton, Michelle Kwan, Steven Cousins, Christopher Dean, Yuka Sato, Peggy Fleming, Jen Robinson, Jenny Kirk, Denis Petrov, Todd Eldredge, Sarah Hughes, Roslyn Sumners, Katia, and Nancy Kerrigan. My daughter has also met Kristi Yamaguchi and Sasha Cohen.

I'm still hoping to run into Tenley Albright at the rink!

[Oracle]

It's been awhile since I spoke with any skaters & received their autographs but they were: Todd Eldredge, Michael Weiss, Michelle Kwan, Surya Bonaly, Tonia Kwiatkowski, Rudi Galindo, Phillipe Candoloro, Mandy Woetzel, Laurent Tobel, Alexander Fadeev & Irina Romanova.

[Euro_4Ever]

It's been a loooong time since I've met any. Off the top of my head, I've met Tracy Wilson, Brian Orser, Liz Manley (Awesome!), Debi Thomas, Kurt Browning, Rosalyn Sumners, and God of All Things: Elvis Stojko (twice!). I know there was a handful more than that - I had a jacket covered in autographs at one point - but most were well over a decade ago.

[Summerkid710]

I skated synchro (precision back in the day) with Nicole Bobek when we were little.

Grew up skating at the same rink as Ben Agosto.

As a teenager I skated one freestyle session with Timmy Goebel when he was like 8 or 9. I definitely had a bit of an attitude like, "oh no, another little kid on high freestyle. He's going to get in the way." Then he came out there an pulled out a ton of doubles. Let's just say that I had to get out of his way.

I currently coach at the same rink as Alexender Fadeev.

[jcookie1982]

derick delmore and micheal weiss

[sk8erel]

I've shook hands with Daniel Whiston and Lara Bingle (Australian model) and a U.K gold medalist at an ice side show of Dancing On Ice in Nottingham. I also went to see it in Sheffield too. Also i've had an autograph from an American or Canadian skater (male), but i can't find the programme with the autograph in........oh! I have also been literally 2 or 3 metres away from Jayne and Chris. Oh, by the way, my hairdresser went to the same school with Jayne Torvill! Cool!
sk8erel

[Sessy]

Karen Venhuizen, Kyra Vancrayelinghe (Dutch top skaters) and uhm their Russian/UK coach, forgot his name, but he used to skate top level too before he went into coaching. Really by accident.

Nobody *really* famous.

[FSWer]

Karen Venhuizen, Kyra Vancrayelinghe (Dutch top skaters) and uhm their Russian/UK coach, forgot his name, but he used to skate top level too before he went into coaching. Really by accident.

Nobody *really* famous.


Never heard of them? Do they have websites?

[phoenix]

I almost took out Susie Wynne once when she was choreographing on a session where I was skating. :oops:

[Sessy]

Oh and add to that Christian Gijtenbeek (http://www.martinsharrott.com/images/figureskatinggallery/DenBosch281006/seniorenshortprogram/28_10_2006--19_14_54-imk11929ps.html) to that, the current Dutch champion - I think he is for past season anyway... Well either that or he's silver medal, cuz we only have two men skating in that category, LOL! He was coaching a group of beginners this morning at an ice rink I was at (I didn't get to skate though, just sniffed the air LOL!)
He doesn't have a website, at least I haven't been able to find a serious one. Neither does Karen Venhuizen (http://www.martinsharrott.com/images/figureskatinggallery/DenBosch281006/seniorenshortprogram/28_10_2006--18_58_30-imk11859ps.html). (Click both their names for photos though)

However, Kyra does have a website since she needs one to find sponsors, since she was booted off the national team for being ill for a year like two years or so ago. She's paying for all of her skating herself now (well, presumably her parents are) and now that she actually has sponsors, claims to want nothing more to do with the skating federation for the way they treated her when she got ill. This is her website:
http://www.stichtingkyrasgoldengoal.nl/

[FSWer]

LOL,anyone know if there is an english version for both those sites?

[Sessy]

That's just one website and to my knowledge, she doesn't have one in English. But you can look here, on her personal page, but she doesn't keep that one nearly as updated as the website looking for sponsors. The last time she updated that website was 1,5 years ago. http://www.absoluteskating.com/kyra/


The other two hyperlinks are just to a photo page of some photographer trying to sell photos he or she made at a competition.

[Sessy]

But mind you, you're not going to know anybody of them. Kyra's best jump is alledgedly a triple flip, but it's not consistent at best. Triples are very rarely done in the Dutch skating world, so internationally we don't get anywhere, the Netherlands don't send anybody to the Olympics cuz that would be sort of a waste of money, our athletes end up somewhere like 25th-30th on Europeans and on Worlds, they usually don't even qualify.

As I've said before, the problem is that the skating season in the Netherlands is only 6 months, and though now there's 3 rinks open in summer, there's still only ice for clubs doing group lessons, during which it's really not that unusual to have over 50 people on the ice. That's if you're lucky enough that your club has ice. Ours doesn't, even though our girls take all the first spots in the regionals and even become 2nd in their category (like, 12 year olds, whatever that is) on the Nationals. And they have group lessons, with a group of about 8 girls, four times a week and a few private lessons and ballet and off-ice plyometrics, but that's about it. Their choreographer is one of the girls' mom. And most of all, they don't have ice in summer either.
Until we get more ice in the Netherlands (which I don't see happening as long as the skating federation's only concern is ice for speed skaters), we're not going to have anybody famous internationally.

Our national champion ladies' skating, Martine Zuiderwijk, trained and lived in Canada until a stress fracture forced her to quit last year. She only flew over for the competitions.

[sceptique]

I took a few "behind the scenes" PR shots of Pluschenko when he was in Coventry this year. A couple of candids and a "group hug" with show organizers.

[Sessy]

*drooooool* :bow:
Ohh I'd so love that man to sign my skates or something some day, considering it's his "fault" I tried jumping in the first place!

[principessa]

Lets see now,,,,Kurt Browning,Elvis Stojko,Michelle Kwan,Plushenko,Irina Slutzkaya(my Favourite), Don Jackson,Brian Orser,Victor Kraatz,Shae Lynn,Drobiatzko,Vanagas,Maurizio Margaglio,Mao Asada,Yagudin,Brasseaur and Eisler,Josee Chouinard, Dube ,Davison,Hann-Mccurdy and Coreno,Virtue Moir,Steven Cousins,Chris Maybee,Meaghan and Aaron ,Emanuel Sandhu,Mira Leung,and many many more.............

[jpeach]

I met Peggy Fleming at a reception for Olympic Torch Bearers for the 1996 Torch Relay. Both Peggy and my sister were selected to carry the torch throughout the U.S. (along with 1500 others). She was gracious to everyone and sweetly posed for a pic with my sis.

[FSWer]

I met Peggy Fleming at a reception for Olympic Torch Bearers for the 1996 Torch Relay. Both Peggy and my sister were selected to carry the torch throughout the U.S. (along with 1500 others). She was gracious to everyone and sweetly posed for a pic with my sis.


LUC-KY DUCK!!!!!!

[sceptique]

Neither does Karen Venhuizen (http://www.martinsharrott.com/images/figureskatinggallery/DenBosch281006/seniorenshortprogram/28_10_2006--18_58_30-imk11859ps.html). (Click both their names for photos though)

[/url][/B]

I had a pleasure to meet Karen yesterday. We had a bit of chat in the changing room before her coach arrived. She's training in Coventry for a short while now.

Yeah, and I met Martin Sharrott as well - the guy who took the pictures. We did photographing Junior Grand Prix in Hague together last year. He even let me try a few shots with his camera.
:D

[ouijaouija]

Is it easy to meet pro skaters, I mean do they train in public rinks and stuff so you can watch them train?

I'd love to see some pros skating, but I can't really do that right now, I don't even live in USA!

Sasha Cohen would be great to meet!!

[jazzpants]

My list:

Brian Boitano (he just had a book out about him but I had him autographed my Petrevich Figure Skating book instead. He asked if I knew that he's in the book. Yes, I know he's on it! (And I was tempted to say "That's the point, silly!!!" but resisted the temptation. :lol: :P ) I do see him on occasions at my rink when he practices at my rink, but I'm usually not skating on the days/times that he's skating.
Met Kristi Yamaguchi at an autograph signing for her Holiday rink. She is SHORT!!! 8O
I've met Derrick Delmore once when he was visiting. He was practicing with Justin Dillon at a FS session and lemme tell 'ya... it's hard to practice with those guys b/c you just want to watch them skate rather than practice yourself. (Plus they go at incredibly fast speed so there's no way for me to catch up with them. At the time, they can easily go two laps before I compete my one lap!!! :giveup: ) Very nice guy (actually both Derrick and Justin are very nice guys.)
phoenix... don't feel bad about almost taking out Susie Wynne. I almost got taken out by Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur at another FS session a few years back! (They were coming at fast speeds on a LIFT and I was in frustrating lesson mode and was trying to figure out what my coach was saying. The session was VERY crowded too!!!) They were practicing for a benefit show at my rink. :oops: Thankfully, nothing happened! :bow: I felt embarrassed about it and showed up at the benefit show afterwards with flowers for both of them. All is well with us. :lol: Gorsha is now in Europe studying law so I don't see him much. When Renee does visit the FS session at my rink, I do say hello to her though.

[techskater]

Fumie Suguri did a local comp a couple years ago here (along with her sister) getting an IJS critique
Evan Lysacek sometimes used to stop in to see his old coach
Ben Agosto and Tanith Belbin skate at my friend's rink and I've seen them when visiting her (along with Tess Virtue and Scott Moir)
Alyssa Czissny at the same local comp getting an IJS critique
Matt Savoie (same as Fumie and Alyssa)
Alexander Fadeev started teaching at our rink recently
Oleg Vasiliev at camp in 2001 and again at the local comp
T&M (same place as Fumie, Alyssa, and Matt)
Oppegard and Watson back in the 80s where I was growing up (they used to skate at my summer rink in the summer)
The Megans (Oster and Hyatt)

[skatergal]

I have met Max Zavozin because he coaches and has coached at a competition that was held at my rink. I've also met Timothy Goebel because he was the technical specialist at the same competition.

[Schmeck]

Also hoping to meet Emily Hughes - she'll be skating in our area, might see her at the rink.

[flikkitty11]

I could swear i already replied to this thread but maybe i wasnt signed in... oh well... here goes:
All the figure skaters at the 2001 goodwill games cos i was a flower retriever:
Sasha Cohen - she is so sweet, Michelle Qwan, Alexi Yagudin, Evgeni Plushenko, Fumie Suguri, Irena Slutskaya, Timothy Goebell, Maria Petrova and Aleksei Tikhonov ... the list goes on and on
http://goodwillgames.com/2001/2001_competitors_figure_skating.htm

Every international singles figure competitor from australia since 2001 (our skating community is so small that it is hard not to meet them lol)

Steven Bradbury - speed skating gold 2002 olympics (go aussies)

Flik

[Sessy]

Here's Kyra's and Karen's short programmes by the way (the skaters I talked about)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f_DCTLS31M kyra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTUKic0c8y8 karen

[Sessy]

I had a pleasure to meet Karen yesterday. We had a bit of chat in the changing room before her coach arrived. She's training in Coventry for a short while now.

:D

She's SO sweet isn't she? I was totally freaked out when I bumped into her in the changing room of an ice rink, and we ended up chatting about which educations we were doing! Say hi if you see her again, tell her that obnoxious nervous girl in the orange training suit that was practicing 3-turns in Heerenveen on the ice with her last summer has landed lutzes and has big plans. :lol:

[xofivebyfive]

Sasha Cohen, Mirai Nagasu, Evan Lysacek, Tanith Belbin, Alissa Czissny, Emily Hughes, Caroline Zhang, and KIMMIEEEE Meissner. Kimmie was so sweet, signing autographs and taking pictures with all the little girls for like an hour after Marshalls had ended. My picture with her didn't come out well(her eyes were closed) but whatever. I still have it. LMAO.

[Sessy]

Today I met Kevin van der Perren (bronze medal european championship from last year) and got a photo. :bow:
http://sessy.web-log.nl/sessy/images/070627_132246.jpg

[Schmeck]

I met Meno and Sands - forgot about that very late night encounter until now, rereading this thread! They said Hi to me first, when we were in the hotel lobby/grand staircase in Portland, at the Regency. Also saw Tara Lipinski (with Angela Nikodinov, I think?) entering through a side door, all giggly.

[lyverbird]

Once met Phillipe Candeloro in London, I thought that he always seemed taller on TV and so stared to figure out if it definitely was him, although of course I didn't realise I was doing it! Heard him speak to his friend and realised it was him, was not going to say anything but, in spite of me thinking I was being subtle, he caught me staring, said hello and I said the same, that was it.

Is it a common thing that people assume skaters are taller than they actually are, even factoring in the extra height the boots give them? Have heard Nancy Kerrigan talking about how surprised people are sometimes when they meet her in person because they think she is much taller from seeing her on TV...

[ribbon]

Kurt Browning, Josee Chouinard, and Todd Eldredge -- all are very, very nice.

Said "hi" to Ilia Kulik, Scott Hamilton, and "hi, how are you?" to Paul Wylie, if that counts as meeting them. :)

[Schmeck]

Yes, Nancy Kerrigan is very tiny, but Kristi Y is even tinier. Her mom is little as well - she's about the same size/shape as my aunts, who are all under 5' tall.

[Sessy]

Body structure's part of it I think. Skaters are generally very thin, no matter what their bone structure is. We're used to think of thin people as being people with a long, thin bone structure. So we just sort of assume that's how tall they are. When of course they're not at all, they generally have any given bone structure and are just thin from a lot of exercise.