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NEWS & NOTESEl Paso Figure Skating Club Is 2023 ISI Worlds Champion
by Eileen Viglione
The 2023 ISI World Recreational Team Championships was a huge hit for the 800 skaters from 46 teams who competed Aug. 3-6 at Nashoba Valley Olympia in Boxborough, Mass.
Teams hailed from 16 states* and the Philippines, and participants of all skill levels ranged in ages from 1 (Ellie Korol of Sharper Edge Skating School) to 81 (Donelda Horne of TGH Ice Plex).
2023 ISI Worlds Champion – El Paso Figure Skating Academy
El Paso Figure Skating Club from El Paso, Texas, went home with the Michael Booker Trophy as Overall Team Champion of the event. Sharper Edge Skating School placed 2nd, followed by Winterland Skating School in 3rd place, FMC William Chase Arena in 4th place and City of Bowie Ice Arena in 5th place.
Skating Club of Johnstown, Percentage Trophy Winner
Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team, Board of Directors Trophy Winner
The Center Skating Academy at New England Sports Center, President’s Award Trophy Winner
Other team winners included: The Skating Club of Johnstown, Johnstown, Pa., Percentage Trophy Winner; Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team, Pittsburgh, Pa., Board of Directors Trophy Winner; and The Center Skating Academy at New England Sports Center, Marlborough, Mass., President’s Award Trophy Winner.
Rave Reviews
The members of Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team could not have asked for a more perfect event, “ said Joyce DiToppa, president of Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team from Pittsburgh, Pa. “Great competition opportunities, pin trading, new friends, building team spirit, skating in the benefit show, meeting a skating icon and winning the Board of Directors Award to cap off the event. I have to pinch myself thinking this is a dream, but it’s as real as can be!
“Everyone was so helpful and friendly, everything ran smoothly, auxiliary bathrooms and food trucks were perfect, kids working the parking lot were happy and enjoying parking lot fun.
“On behalf of Ice & Blades Figure Skating Team skaters, coaches and parents we want to express our appreciation to ISI headquarters and to the leadership of Nashoba Valley Olympia rink. This was the first ISI Worlds competition for eight of our nine skaters who attended; they are over the moon about this fun-filled experience.”
Trading pins and Making Friends!
“ISI World Championships has been an amazing experience,” said skating parent Monica Andrea Puentes Rivera. “This was Hannah’s second year participating in it, and we saw just how much her skating has improved over the course of this season.
“In Worlds 2022 last year, we planned to be in Boston since we were in Chicago, and this year in Boston we are preparing right away to go to California in 2024. We don’t want to miss this event.
“Hannah has had an amazing time making new friends every year during the pin trade. It is so, so much fun, and she filled almost two entire lanyards of trade pins this year, exchanged phone numbers with new friends, and this year it was so exciting to see one friend she made in Worlds competition 2022 in Chicago. I also spoke with other parents about the probability of seeing them in February 2024 in our rink at Orlando Ice Den. It was a very nice chat, full of excitement and expectation to see them soon. Thank you ISI for this amazing time. It is priceless.”
*Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas.
Submitted Photos
Worlds 2024 — Mark Your Calendar!
Next year’s ISI Worlds is scheduled July 25-28 at Sharks Ice San Jose in San Jose, Calif. Test and entry deadline is May 15. See you there!
Established in 1959, the Ice Sports Industry (ISI) — creator of America’s first learn-to-skate curriculum — is an international trade association encompassing all aspects of the ice sports industry. Our goal is to promote ice skating as a participant sport and recreational activity for everyone — all ages and abilities. Learn more about the ISI Ice Skating Program.
