Expressions of Gratitude from the SIF Board
Hard to believe our first Skate It Forward Ice Show has been over for months now, and planning for Skate It Forward 2018 is well underway! But, before we look too far ahead, we want to thank the many, many people who made our inaugural Skate It Forward wildly successful.
First, The OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks, and Live! Technologies were instrumental in the implementation of the Skate It Forward Initiative. We are grateful for their informed guidance and extreme patience while planning our new endeavor. They made our goals possible, and we look forward to working together in 2018!
Our Headlining Cast was magnificent! Their skating was impressive, their work ethic inspiring, and the interaction with our local skaters truly heartwarming. We thank them for embracing our purpose and lending us their support. They were here for such a short time, but their tireless work moved us beautifully toward our objective.
Thank you to our Choreographers and Volunteers! The people behind the scenes never get enough thanks, and always seem to want to remain anonymous. From Costumes to Cast Party and everything in between, Skate It Forward is lucky to have all of you!
And finally, we cannot heap enough praise upon our Group Number Casts! Every practice weekend, our weather was sunny and warm-virtually unheard of for that time of year in Central Ohio. Yet these skaters chose to spend 3 hours in a not-so-warm ice rink working toward a goal of helping others. Some skaters even drove from as far as West Virginia, Findlay, and the Dayton/Springfield area to get to practice. Congratulations to these wonderful skaters, and their families for raising over $34,000.00 for The Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio! They are responsible for making Skate It Forward the largest ever, first year event for RMHCO, and their largest community fundraiser of the year! A truly remarkable accomplishment!
Skate It Forward was created to inspire service within the skating community. We wanted to teach our young skaters the value and impact they could have throughout their community by helping others. We wanted to teach those life lessons, and ended up learning a few ourselves! It has been wonderful and humbling to work with such a talented group of individuals, and it will be great to work with them again this year!
Please enjoy the new photos of Skate It Forward provided by photographers, and now friends, Leah Adams and Caitlin Klingbeil. We hope to see you all at Skate It Forward 2018!
Following successive concussions during the summer of 2015 and upon the advice of a cautious medical team, Josh stepped away from competitive skating in June 2016. The possibility of returning to the ice rink, even for activities less demanding than competitive skating, seemed distant. During his arduous journey toward recovery, Josh sought guidance from concussion specialists, who assessed his improvements at every juncture. He took comfort and gained strength knowing he was supported by a deep network of family and coaches working together to make his hope of returning to skating a reality.
Doug’s thoughts on coaching: For me, coaching is about the transference. It’s about the Daily Victory. It’s about providing a skater incremental “Aha!” moments that collectively lead to an impressive skill set—backed up with their knowledge of process and technique…so they can go forth, themselves, and teach one day. I tell my parents—I don’t teach ice skating. I teach life skills. Focus, concentration, time management, goal setting, project management, presentation, grace, politeness, integrity…all skills and character traits that can be the benefit (regardless if a skater makes the Olympic Team or is only modestly laureled) if dedicating one’s self to skating, if you’ve got a coach that sees it that way.
“The daily work is precise and the improvements are incremental – some days not at all. People might find the daily grind boring, but I love testing what my blades can do. I love learning to go faster, jump higher, and spin in creative ways. And the beauty! I am inspired by the artistic side, too. Creating a program that captures the audience and judges makes my heart soar. The art of the sport is important to me.”
Alexa and Chris recently felt the comforting power of a dedicated support team. While Alexa recovered from an unexpected illness and surgery, the Knierims gained strength by relying on the determination, love, and support of family, coaches, and friends. The two know first-hand the critical importance of a committed and caring team who is beside them at every step. They are honored to share their passion for life with the SIF community.
Skate It Forward 