Young skaters meet champions at Saturday session

Champion skaters Christine Zukowski (right), Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn sign autographs for young members of UD’s community skating class.

12:18 p.m., Feb. 10, 2004--Champion skaters Christine Zukowski, Tiffany Scott and Philip Dulebohn performed short routines and chatted informally with young fans as part of a community skating class Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Fred Rust Ice Arena.

After a five-minute free skate in which all three champions took to the ice, Zukowski, the 2004 U.S. Novice Ladies Champion, skated a choreographed routine to “Hernando’s Hideaway” from the musical “Pajama Game.”

Following Zukowski’s flawless performance, which included several camels, lutzes and airborne spins, Scott and Dulebohn, the 2003 U.S. National Pairs Champions, treated onlookers to a high-wire synchronized act. Skated to the Romantics’ hit “What I Like about You,” the energetic routine included spins, jumps, twirls and a move in which Dulebohn lifted Scott high above his shoulders.

“We’re doing this for the little kids, so they can see what they can become,” Scott, 26, said.

“It’s a way to show beginners some higher-level skating,” Dulebohn, 30, said.

Thronged by young fans as they left the ice, Zukowski, Scott and Dulebohn signed autographs, chatted cordially and had their pictures taken with several young admirers from throughout the Newark area.

2004 U.S. Novice Ladies Champion Christine Zukowski skates a routine choreographed to “Hernando’s Hideaway.”

Lisa Edler and Dawn McKersie, who attended last year’s World Send-off Skating Exhibition, brought their 6-year-old daughters to the Saturday event to give them a close-up experience with champions.

“We’ve brought Maitland and Brooke here to skate a few times before, and they wanted to learn to skate a little better,” Edler explained. “This [event] gives them a chance to see what it’s all about.”

Zukowski will be one of the skaters featured at the 2004 World Ice Skating Send-off Exhibition at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 20, at the Fred Rust Ice Arena. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for senior citizens, children 12 and under, UD faculty and staff and groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased at UD box offices and through Ticketmaster and also will be sold at the arena the day of the show. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

The News Journal is a sponsor of the exhibition.

For more information, call UD1-HENS (831-4367) or the Fred Rust Ice Arena, 831-2868.

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photos by Kathy Atkinson

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