2009 Adult Nationals conclude in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The 2009 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships (or "Adult Nationals" as is commonly known) concluded this weekend at the Patterson Ice Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Due to scheduling conflicts, we couldn't make it this year to Grand Rapids (sniff) and I was so looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones at the event. One thing you can say about the adult skating community -- no one's really a stranger for more than a few minutes. If anyone knows where next year's competition will be held, please drop me a comment so that I can plan ahead!

Complete results are now posted at icenetwork.com and I saw some familiar names from last year's Adult Nationals, which were held in Lake Placid, New York. In Championship Adult Pairs, Judy Sargent and Craig Joeright from the Troy Academy of Figure Skating defended their title for the second year. In Championship Adult Dance, Julie Keith and Michael Ricigliano from the St. Moritz ISC also defended their title, for the seventh straight year in a row. In Championship Masters Men, Larry Holliday from the Windy City FSC, who won bronze last year, won the gold this year. And in Championship Masters Ladies, Amy Entwistle from the Central Carolina SC, who won bronze last year, won the gold this year. If anyone has pictures they want to share, or show off, e-mail them to me at susan{AT]icedigitalmedia[DOT]net and we'll put a photo gallery together. Be sure to identify the category and your name.

2008 Adult Nationals: Index

I can't believe this but we're done producing all the 2008 Adult Nationals videos and articles! Note to self: Next time, try and complete the stories within oh, one month from when the competition ends. In all, we produced nearly two hours of video from the event highlighting these wonderful competitors, supporters and volunteers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all you attendees and non-attendees who let me know how much you enjoyed our coverage from Lake Placid. We hope to see everyone next year in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and we promise to do more stories with more skaters in all different categories. If we've inspired any new people to join the adult skating community, welcome! This is the most supportive environment in the skating world that you'll encounter.

Below is a rundown of our stories from the 2008 Adult Nationals for quick reference. You can also visit our Videos page or visit us on YouTube.

Championship Ice Dancing

• Video piece and article on Championship Ice Dancing
• Bonus interview footage with gold medalists Julie Keith and Michael Ricigliano
• Photo gallery of Championship Ice Dancing

Championship Pairs

• Video piece and article on Championship Pairs
• Photo gallery of Championship Pairs

Championship Masters Ladies

• Video piece and article on Championship Masters Ladies
• Photo gallery of Championship Masters Ladies

Championship Masters Men

• Video piece and article on Championship Masters Men
• Photo gallery of Championship Masters Men

Championship Gold Men

• Video piece and article on Championship Gold Men

Championship Gold Ladies

• Video piece and article on Championship Gold Ladies

Interpretive Free Skate

• Video piece and article on Interpretive Free Skate
• Photo gallery of Interpretive Free Skate

Category V (age 56+) Interpretive Free Skate

• Video piece on Barbara Kelly, 81-years-young
• Video piece on of Merry Neitlich, 56-years-young

Coaches

• Video piece and article on coaches at Adult Nationals

Volunteers

• Video piece and article on volunteers at Adult Nationals

Judges

• Video piece and article on judges at Adult Nationals

Barbara Kelly: Grande Dame of skating at 2008 Adult Nationals

At the 2008 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships in Lake Placid, New York, I met Barbara Kelly of the Skating Club of Lake Placid. Barbara is 81-years-old, and epitomizes the spirit of the interpretive free skate competition. At Adult Nationals, skaters can compete in singles, pairs, ice dancing and interpretive free skate. Interpretive free skate does not emphasize jumps or spins but more the creative interpretation of the musical selection.

At the very first Adult Nationals, Barbara skated as the Turkey Lady and thus, set the standard for what the interpretive free skate was all about. This year, Barbara was the Ugly Duckling and came in second in her age category! Barbara is also the awards chairperson at the competition and was on hand for every awards ceremony. This is one busy lady and I can't wait to see her interpretive program for 2009. In the meantime, below is her silver medal-winning program:

Change in adult competition age categories

New for the 2008-2009 season, U.S. Figure Skating has changed the adult competition age categories. Previously they were:

• Group I: 21-28 years old
• Group II: 29-35 years old
• Group III: 36-45 years old
• Group IV: 46-55 years old
• Group V: 56 and older

The new numbers are:

• Group I: 21-30 years
• Group II: 31-40 years
• Group III: 41-50 years
• Group IV: 51-60 years
• Group V: 61 and older

When I was up at Lake Placid for the 2008 Adult Nationals, a number of people commented that the age categories should be restructured to reflect the growing skating community in their 60s, and also to make the judging a little more fair. Under the "old system," folks in their 50s were competing with skaters in their 60s and beyond and at times, the disparity in skating ability made it difficult to really judge them properly. I think the new and improved age groups do better represent the immense popularity of adult skating. What do they say now, that 30 is the new 20 and 40 is the new 30? Who knows? Maybe in a few years, we'll have a Group VI: 71 and older.

Merry Neitlich makes us feel so young at 2008 Adult Nationals

At the 2008 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships in Lake Placid, skaters can compete in singles, pairs, ice dancing and interpretive free skate. Interpretive free skate is divided into Artistic/Dramatic Interpretive and Light Entertainment/Comedy Interpretive. Judges look for creativity, musical interpretation and oh, that special something in the program.

Skaters are further grouped into the following age categories:

• Class I: 21-28 years old
• Class II: 29-35 years old
• Class III: 36-45 years old
• Class IV: 46-55 years old
• Class V: 56+ years old

Merry Neitlich from All Year FSC near Los Angeles just made the cutoff to compete in Class V -- she turned 56 this year. In honor of her father who passed away a few years ago, she skated to You Make Me Feel So Young by Frank Sinatra, one of his favorite singers. Merry is head of Extreme Marketing, a consulting company, and also has a full skating schedule. Her secret to fitting all her passions into her life? She gets up at 4 a.m. of course! I enjoyed chatting with Merry and hope to see her at the 2009 Adult Nationals in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Below is Merry's great program: