Wing & Lowe Retire
After skating together for 20 years, Canadian ice dancers Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe announced their retirement from eligible skating. The ten-time National Champions and five-time Worlds competitors won a berth on the 2006 Olympic team and placed 11th in Torino. Wing and Lowe, aged 30 and 31 respectively, are both from Vancouver and live in Windsor, Ontario, where they will finish their master's degrees. They both serve as athlete representatives in different capacities for Skate Canada and will continue to contribute to the sport in the form of organizing, coaching and choreography.
Silverstein & O'Meara Take Time Off
In US headlines recently, ice dancers Jamie Silverstein and Ryan O'Meara have decided to take time off from competitive figure skating. Silverstein is returning to Cornell University as a junior in the fall. O'Meara will be dance director at Alltell Ice Den in Scottsdale, Arizona. According to both skaters, there is a possibility they will return to competitive skating in the future.
USFSA Governing Council Meeting
After the national anthem, sung by 2006 U.S. juvenile ice dancing bronze medalist Taylor Elliott, World Champion Kimmie Meissner spoke to the delegates at the 2006 USFSA Governing Council annual meeting at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. The sixteen-year-old received a standing ovation before thanking her support team for her recent success. Meissner was joined by Rena Inoue & John Baldwin, Ryan O'Meara and Matt Savoie, who signed autographs for the delegates later that day. The Executive Committee and Governing Council met earlier in the week. Attendees could partake in seminars and open forums on specific skating disciplines, nutrition, and judging.
US & Canadian Events
Over thirty skating events are scheduled to take place in the US this month, so check your local skating club bulletin board for the competition nearest you. The public is welcome to attend these events, and volunteers are usually in short supply. This is a great opportunity for up-and-coming competitors to learn about the atmosphere and what happens behind the scenes.
ISU Updates
The International Skating Union announced clarification and amendments to single and pairs levels of difficulties for the 2006-2007 skating season. The ISU has summarized these commission decisions on the judging system in Communication No. 1384, available on their website.
