Sunday, February 8th, 2009 at
2:20 pm
Figure skaters are able to dazzle the audience with their elegance, athleticism and grace when they perform their routines on ice. When people go to see the professional skating shows it is easy to forget how hard these elite skaters have had to work in order to earn a spot with a touring company.
There are many young ice skating students practicing at this very moment. They train and work hard so that they will one day be chosen to compete in a national competition. Winning a major skating event is just one of the goals for any serious skater. The top prize that they all dream about is to be selected to compete in the Olympics. The talented few who make it to the world championships are asked to join the touring skating shows and perform as a professional ice skater.
The Ice Skating Tours are events that let these athletes shine and they can perform the routines of their choice. This means that the audiences are treated to some remarkable performances by the top ice skaters in the world. The atmosphere is always bristling with excitement and the energy level is so high that it seems to take on a life all its own. There are always plenty of top figure skaters on the program and the costumes, lighting, music and routines are spectacular. Individuals will have their spotlight moments but the skaters perform as teams as well. Because the skaters are now professional performers there are no rules that restrict how the dances and on ice exhibitions need to be handled. These champions can now dazzle the crowds with some truly amazing gymnastics and acrobatics that are not allowed in amateur events, not even the Olympics.
Skaters have many different paths that they take to become a champion. They have to be committed and passionate about training and practice. In many instances, families have to juggle huge costs in order to give a talented child the coaching and equipment necessary to become a top skater.
Ice skaters give up much of their free time and personal life in order to achieve their dream of becoming one of the elite performers on ice. It is common for a middle school or high school student to train before school, after school and on weekends. The intensity of the training is so high that even when skaters have sniffles, colds or muscle strains they will still head out for as long a practice session as possible. They are aware of the high stakes that are involved and they know how fierce the competition is. The desire to become a champion and a professional skater keeps these individuals eager to get out every day and practice on ice.
To qualify as a top skating star an individual must prove themselves by winning one or more medals in the top major championships. Among the professionals that have earned the right to perform with one of the figure skating shows are some of the most famous faces of past Winter Olympics.
Oksana Baiul is only one of the Olympians that can be seen on tour. She became a top champion although she had to overcome many problems including being orphaned at an early age. Oksana has been the 93 World Champion and won an Olympic gold medal in 94. One of her most endearing performances is an interpretation of “Swan Lake”.
Elena Bechke is another top Olympian who tours professionally. She and her partner Denis Petrov won a silver medal in the 92 Olympics and then won the World Pro Championship in 96.
Elena Berezhnaya is another professional skater who can be seen performing with Anton Sikharulidze. These two won the 02 gold at the Winter Olympics and have captured 2 World Championships and 4 Russian Championships. Elena’s head was gashed when she was hit be a skate blade years earlier, but she fought back and regained her championship form. The routines by Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze are known for beauty, artistry and intense emotion.
Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur are ice dancers who have won the US National championships twice and claimed the World title in 97. Shortly before one competition, they were disqualified from the 94 Olympics due to a misunderstanding. Some athletes may have let this disappointment turn them against skating but not this amazing duo. They continued to skate and perform and their ice dancing is always a delight to audiences around the world.
Elvis Stojko is a Canadian who has been called the King of Quads. Stojko has the ability to perform the difficult quad multiple times in one single competition. He has always been one of the most exciting of all skaters to watch on the ice and his incredible feats of athleticism have astonished both audiences and judges. This figure skater won the Canadian Championship 7 times, the World Championship 3 times and has 2 Olympic silver medals.
Sarah Hughes won gold in the 02 Olympics with a come from behind victory that surprised the world. This great skating star also owns a US silver and a bronze medal that she claimed in the World Championships.
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