One-year countdown starts with today’s skating festivity
Organizers of the 2007 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships have added a local spin as the event reaches its one-year countdown today.
A variety of activities, from free mini-skate lessons taught by the local figure skating clubs to hourly skating exhibitions featuring local skate clubs, are planned for today from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Riverfront Park Ice Palace. The announcement was made during a “One year from today” celebration Friday afternoon at River Park Square. Spokane 2007 promoters Toby Steward and Barb Beddor of Star USA kicked off the cake-and-ice-cream gathering by reminding potential ticket buyers that Spokane’s big event will be next Jan. 21-28.
“The countdown is on,” Steward said. “We’re one year out from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships that will bring 150,000 people all over the U.S. to Spokane.”
Washington Trust Bank, the local presenting sponsor, will keep track of the countdown on several Spokane-area branch reader boards. Today, however, is the first community event planned within one year of the competition.
Mayor Dennis Hession and his wife, Janie, greeted the River Park Square onlookers and playfully announced they would begin training for next year’s competition beginning today at the city’s outdoor rink. The Hessions attended 1½ days of competition in St. Louis last week, site of the 2006 nationals.
“I don’t think it will be all that difficult,” Hession joked.
“We may have to call on Chris (Anders) and Kalie (Budvarsion) and other friends to help,” he added, referring to the Coeur d’Alene skaters who competed in the last two novice pair competitions at nationals.
Star USA won the bid for the 2007 championships on Feb. 20, 2004. So far, 74,423 tickets have been sold (in packets of 15 sessions each) for the eight-day event. The promoter’s goal is to break the ticket-sales record of 125,000 sold for the Los Angeles nationals in 2002.
At today’s community skate, information will be available regarding U.S. Figure Skating and 2007 championships, basic skills programs, the Spokane Figure Skating Club and Riverfront Park’s learn-to-skate program. For more information, call (509) 625-6685.