Photo Credit: Getty Images
By Abby Farrell
The May issue of SKATING magazine hit mailboxes this past weekend. Here are five stories to check out.
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A Delicate Balance: Olympic Pairs Skater Finds Joy in Family Life, Coaching
Since hanging up her skates in 2012, Olympic pairs skater Amanda Evora Will has kept busy with raising a family and coaching. The mom of two juggles spending time with her kids with coaching at the Artic Edge of Canton in Michigan, where she helps run a pairs program. This year, Evora Will’s athletes Valentina Plazas and Maximiliano Fernandez finished on the podium at the U.S. Championships and earned their spot on the World Figure Skating Championships Team in Montreal. In addition, Evora Will serves as an athlete representative for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, serves on U.S. Figure Skating’s DEI task force, and in 2012, she was invited to the White House for an event honoring the then-president of the Philippines, Benigno S. Aquino III in celebration of Evora Will’s Filipino heritage.
Good Hair Day: Professionals Share Tips, Tricks for Looking a Cut Above the Rest
Nothing is worse than competing on a bad hair day. To help skaters look and feel their best on the ice, four professionals share tips for achieving “lustrous locks.” Tips shared include how skaters can take care of their hair while also sweating and strategies for ensuring that competition hairstyles stay put through an entire performance. Hair is a form of expression for every person, which any skater should embrace, but it is important to take care of your hair to keep it happy, healthy and thriving.
2024 World Championships Recap
Relive three historic World Championships as SKATING looks back at the success of Team USA. In Montreal at the World Figure Skating Championships, Ilia Malinin wowed the world with his free skate, which catapulted him to his first World title, while ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates stood on top of the podium for the second year in a row. Isabeau Levito took home silver in the women’s discipline, her first World medal. Across the world in Croatia, the Haydenettes won silver at the World Synchronized Skating Championships, the best result for Team USA at the event since 2007. At the World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships, the Skyliners emerged as bronze medalists.
‘Right Time to Go’: DeGirolamo, Shoker Cherished Time at Miami University
After a combined four decades of coaching the Miami University synchronized skating program in Oxford, Ohio, Carla DeGirolamo and LeeAnn Shoker decided to step away from their roles as head coach and assistant coach. DeGirolamo skated on the team as a college student and then served as assistant and head coach, leading the junior, senior and intercollegiate teams. Under her leadership, the RedHawks won 11 collegiate national championships and the senior team qualified for the World Championships six times. Finishing her 16th season as an assistant coach, Shoker helped the team qualify for its World Championships, including the team that won silver in 2007. Not only that, but she helped coach the collegiate team to 14 titles. Their legacy will be remembered not just by their skaters, but by the entire synchronized skating community.
‘How Lucky Am I’: Rural Minnesota Woman Lives for Skating Adventures
When self-proclaimed “rink rat” Linda Korhonen-Brula retired from her career as a public school speech pathologist in 2011, she made it a goal to skate on 10 outdoor rinks tucked away in remote corners of the world a year. Thirteen years later, she has now skated in more than 150 locations, and this past year, she exceeded her goal of skating at 10 locations by visiting 14. Some locations have presented a challenge due to unforeseen weather conditions, however. Now 70 years old and a recent widow, Korhonen-Brula shares how lucky she feels to be able to have these experiences at her age and hopes to pass her love of skating to as many people as possible, including her grandchildren who play hockey. Sharing her love of skating was something she inherited from her parents who did the same thing for her when she was growing up.
