Ryan Bradley remembered what it was like for him to be a young figure skater and being introduced to some of the top professional skaters.
“For me, it’s nostalgic because my coach brought in older skaters to work with us,” said Bradley, the 2011 national champion. “So for me to have that opportunity to do that — it’s an amazing feeling.”
Bradley was one of three pros — along with 2013 U.S. champion Max Aaron and 2014 Olympic team member Ashley Wagner — to appear at Skate Fest Friday, April 18, at the Albany County Hockey Facility in Colonie. Skate Fest was run in conjunction with that evening’s performance of Stars on Ice at the Times Union Center in Albany.
Skate Fest gave young figure skaters from across the Capital District the opportunity to skate up close with the three pros. The young skaters were divided into groups by ability, and the pros skated between the groups to offer encouragement and help the assistant coaches from the Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club of Troy, which sponsored the event.
“I was actually so shocked and amazed,” said Brady Hills of Berlin, who was in the beginners group. “I wanted their autographs.”
“It was fun,” added Sofia Marra of Latham, who also said she was star struck by Wagner.
Even the assistant coaches — many of them area high school students — had a difficult time not being awestruck by being in the pros’ presence.
“Definitely it’s difficult to keep your eyes on the little ones because you are definitely star struck, but it’s great because you get to show the Olympians that you’re helping the next generation,” said Tea Mottolese, an Emma Willard School student.
Hudson Mohawk Figure Skating Club president Tommie Palladino said Skate Fest came together several weeks earlier.
“When two representatives from US Figure Skating happened to be in Troy, we met for lunch and I was asked if my club would host Skate Fest,” said Palladino, a Loudonville resident. “I must say US Figure Skating and its representative, Lindsay McAllister, was in touch for several weeks laying the groundwork for this successful program.”
Though Albany was Stars on Ice’s 11th stop on its 2014 tour, it was only the second opportunity skaters from the show had to participate in a Skate Fest.
“It means a lot to me because it means a lot to give back to the sport and to give back to (the younger skaters),” said Aaron.
Wagner had the most cache with the young skaters, primarily because she was the only one of the three to have won an Olympic medal. Wagner earned a bronze medal two months ago in Sochi, Russia, in the team competition — a new addition to the Olympic figure skating competition.
“It definitely was a great experience I got to be part of, and it gives us a great platform because children are impressed when they see that medal around your neck,” said Wagner.
Each of the pro skaters had a chance to show off their signature moves at the end of the first of two 30-minute sessions. Bradley impressed the young skaters with a back flip, Wagner drew cheers for a spin combo that included lifting one of her legs over her head and Aaron demonstrated a triple jump.
Nailing those moves perfectly isn’t a top priority for the skaters on Stars on Ice these days. With the competition season over, Wagner said they are more relaxed on the tour.
“Each of us gets a moment in the show, so we set up a lot of our programs like our short programs (in competition),” said Wagner. “Beyond that, this time of the season is about getting some time off.”
The show also gives singles skaters such as Wagner, Bradley and Aaron a chance to team up with other cast members on pairs and team numbers.
“Ryan (Bradley) and I are partnered up for a lot of the tricks in the show,” said Wagner. “Ryan has pairs experience, but singles skaters like myself aren’t necessarily used to doing the lifts.”
There is a bit of déjà vu involved for Aaron, who joined the Stars on Ice tour early last week.
“When Scott Hamilton was on his last tour with Stars on Ice, I was a little boy in the cast. So, I got to skate with him in a number,” said Aaron.
Now, Aaron can say he helped the next generation of American figure skaters.
