Going for a spin at Coney Island

In the aftermath of the 2008 Steeplechase Ice Skating Show, held at the Abe Stark Rink in Coney Island, it was time to spin. While dressed in my Aladdin show costume and thinking about the boardwalk and Cyclone roller coaster outside, it seemed fitting to show how spinning can feel like a carnival ride.

So here is a scratch spin from the outside.

And here is a scratch spin from the inside. 

Rockefeller Center Skating Performance 2005

Skating on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval, Lake Placid NY

For many years I would visit Lake Placid New York to compete at the Lake Placid Open, which was held every summer. I would skate in the Olympic Arena, but never the speed skating oval. I have never been to Lake Placid in the winter until recently when I visited for a synchronized skating competition. Much to my delight the speed skating oval was open not only to speed skaters training, but (and most importantly) to public skaters. Ironically this rink does not possess the same "rules" that other public skating sessions have. As you can see one can skate around however you like. So I did!

Gotham City Synchro, 2009

This year I decided to skate with a synchronized skating team in the New York City area. Gotham City Synchro is an adult synchronized skating team that practices once a week and competes about 3 times in the skating season. This year the team won 2 Gold Medals, one at a competition in Connecticut and the other in Massachusetts. The team competed at Eastern Sectionals held this year in New Jersey and won a Silver Medal. Gotham City Synchro will be performing an exhibition on April 5th at Wollman Rink in Central Park.

Rockefeller Center Skating Performance 2006

Lake Placid Open Figure Skating Competition

This competition was held in the 1932 Olympic Arena. This was the first year (of many) that I travelled to Lake Placid NY to compete. I'm pretty sure that this event was Preliminary girls. I remember my mom had made my dress and decorated it with bugle beads and mirrors. 

Lake Placid Open Figure Skating Competition

I have had the good fortune of unearthing some video footage from my earlier competitive skating days thanks to my dad! This competition clip was from the Lake Placid Open. If I remember correctly this must have been the Intermediate Ladies event, which is a 2:30 minute program. This was the only arena that I have skated in where the judges were actually seated on the ice! The 1932 olympic arena has an extra wide ice surface and very little stadium seating.