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Passport To Gold 2010

  1. Blogs
  2. Passport To Gold 2010
  3. Morning roundup: Skaters return to a favorite venue

Morning roundup: Skaters return to a favorite venue

Rockne Brubaker lifts his partner, Keauna McLaughlin, as they work on their routine during a practice session at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. In the background in the green coat is their coach, John Nicks. (CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON)
Rockne Brubaker lifts his partner, Keauna McLaughlin, as they work on their routine during a practice session at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. In the background in the green coat is their coach, John Nicks. (CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON)

With one day to go before the start of competition in the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the pieces are falling into place, and the coverage is increasing.

Skaters practiced on the Arena ice Wednesday. Among them was Drew Gonzales, who competed in his first nationals in 2007 in Spokane. His coach, Scott Wendland, is a Spokane native who's enjoying his return to the "big little city."

Reporter Dave Trimmer takes stock of the competitors and what's changed since the last time they were in Spokane. In 2007, the city was as much a part of the story as the athletes, he writes. Fans set a record for ticket sales, and their enthusiasm was infectious for the skaters. But this is an Olympic year, and another city has to be weighing on the athletes' minds: Vancouver, B.C.

Finally, don't miss Cindy Hval's post below on Ruben Marcilla, a behind-the-scenes figure whose work millions will see. He's the guy who paints the ice.

2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships