Chris Bowman, dead at age 40

[jskater49]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/20080110/SPORTS17/80110087/1065

He was always a favorite of mine

[dbny]

Corrected Link to Story (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080110/SPORTS17/80110087/1065)

How tragic!

[singerskates]

I wonder if it was a reaction to a sleeping pill that he took to go to sleep? Time will tell with the autopsy. So sad.

[jazzpants]

Very VERY sad, though not that surprised to hear the news. :cry: I'd put money on him OD'ing on the drugs!!! He died way too young. (I mean he's my age here!!!)

RIP Bowman the "Showman"!!! :cry:

[SharonDudd]

How terribly sad. I used to love watching him perform! What a showman he was.

RIP Christopher...be at peace.

[Terri C]

When I read the headline on MSN this morning, for some reason I suspected it was him.
What a damn shame. Christopher, you will be missed. :(

[Helen88]

Don't recognise him personally, but tragic nevertheless. Thoughts with his family and friends.

[Patsy]

. . . . so sad. . . . for so long . . . .

Here's his long program from 1991 Skate America--awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7O073KWClY

[Isk8NYC]

Very VERY sad, though not that surprised to hear the news. :cry: I'd put money on him OD'ing on the drugs!!! He died way too young. (I mean he's my age here!!!)

RIP Bowman the "Showman"!!! :cry:
The news report I heard on WCBS AM (NYC) this morning at 7am said that it was a drug overdose.
(ETA: The AP reports are calling it a "possible overdose" so maybe this morning's report was misread by the reporter.)

I hope it was accidental.

What a shame, what a loss. I hope he finally finds peace.

[NoVa Sk8r]

And the death occurred right after it was announced that Eldredge and Wylie--Bowman's skating rivals--were inducted into the USFS Hall of Fame (http://usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=40262). I do hope this is merely a coincidence.

RIP, Bowman. How we loved your skating and showmanship!

[AnnM]

He was one of my favorite skaters from that era. :(

Sadly, as soon as they mentioned his passing on the news last night, my immediate thought was he OD'd.

[Isk8NYC]

I do hope this is merely a coincidence.:o I hadn't thought about that - aww. I hope there's no connection.

[Artemis]

I hope there's no connection.

I hope so too. Esp. since it sounds like there were good things happening in his life, with his return to acting.

It's always a shame when the bright lights burn out too fast.

I hope he's at peace now.

[Jeanne D]

He was one of my favorites. I always considered him the Andre Agassi of figure skating, a real showman.

Terrible loss. How sad.

Thanks to the poster for the URL, great program.

[dbny]

. . . . so sad. . . . for so long . . . .

Here's his long program from 1991 Skate America--awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7O073KWClY

Thank you for the link. What a great program and fabulous skate. This is how I will remember Christopher Bowman.

[Schmeck]

Yes, that was a nice skate to remember him by.

[Isk8NYC]

Bowman was quite heavy, according to several people, so he might have had health problems. Latest news reports said no illicit drugs were found, just a prescription of his own. The news reports are backing away from the overdose theory.

Very nice article here: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/OPINION03/801120317/1334/OPINION0334

[ibreakhearts66]

i was devastated to hear the news. my whole rink was. i skate in van nuys, california, and he had been teaching and working at my rink. i have had enough conversations with him to know what a kind man he was (wow that is weird to type--the past tense i mean). the first conversation i had with him was actually about skating boots, and he talked to me for a good 45 minutes about skates, skating, and life in general. he loved to tell stories and entertain us. he was genuinely a nice guy. i knew about his struggles, and we had actually talked a bit about mine as well. but still, it seemed like he was really doing well. people from the rink said he seemed happy. i still don't really know what to say. i only knew him for about 5 months, but he definitely made an impact in my life. in death, too, he affects me

RIP Chris, you will be missed.

[mikeandjeanne]

Chris, I've Known You As Long As I Knew Anyone In Skating. We Had The Best Times Together, Always Being The Life Of The Party. Although Our Lives Went In Different Directions, We Will All Be Skating At The Same Rink Again Someday. Rest Easy My Friend, You've Earned It.

Michael Verlich

[Samskate]

I haven't posted about this 'til now because I wasn't sure if I had anything new to say. I was just remembering impressions I had of Chris and how many times I enjoyed watching him perform and how many times he made me laugh because of his approach to his sport and how he drove coaches crazy and everyone else who never knew what to expect from him. He was just sooo very talented and so fantastic to watch.

I am so saddened by his passing. He will be missed by those of us who remember what a great skater he was and by anyone whose life he touched.

MikeandJeanne, what a lovely tribute. You must have loved him.

[Isk8NYC]

Now that the hoopla surrounding Bowman's death has died down, you can get on his website.

The best feature (and the one I always think of when I think of Chris Bowman) is the online game. In it, you have to shoot Dick and Peggy heads.

Give it a try, have some fun, and think fondly of Chris - it's like an Irish wake!
http://christopherbowman.e-sk8r.com/christopherbow man/main.html

[SynchroSk8r114]

Information from the USFSA on Bowman's funeral service: http://www.usfsa.org/Story.asp?id=40308