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Olympic figure skaters come to Pegula Ice Arena

Source: The Daily Collegian
Date: November 1, 2013
Author: Paulina Cajigal
The Winter Olympics are coming to Penn State.

Amidst country music and the sharp sounds of figure skates hitting the ice, the Musselman's Apple Sauce Skating Tribute is set to fill the Pegula Ice Arena with some of figure skating's finest on Nov. 3.

"The opportunity to host the Musselman's Family Skating Tribute was something that we could not pass up," Director of Marketing for Penn State Hockey and Pegula Ice Arena Mike Wierzbicki said via email.

Co-hosted by 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and three-time U.S. Champion Michael Weiss , the Skating Tribute is a family-themed show.

The Skating Tribute is set to feature two-time Olympic gold medalist Ekaterina Gordeeva , 1998 Olympic gold medalist Illia Kulik , four-time World Champion Kurt Browning and 1992 Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie , as well as several others.

All figure skaters participating in the event will perform two routines - one dedicated to their children and another one with their children, Steve Disson said.

"That's the unique part," Disson, president of Disson Skating and producer of the show, said. "This show is the only skating show [the figure skaters] get to do with their kids."

The Skating Tribute's long list of famous skaters sees the show as an opportunity to reunite and have fun with one another.

"Seeing my peers and friends with their children is a wonderful yet strange sensation - it is a celebration to bring our children together," World Champion Kurt Browning said via email. "It feels like a skating family reunion."

Each skating routine in the show will be performed to the songs of country singer Sara Evans, who will sing each song live.

For Browning, the country music genre introduced in the show is just another source for inspiration and emotion.

"Each inspiration is different…[and] as you can imagine, being a performer brings all kinds of emotions to light - Excitement. Nerves. Disappointment. Pride," he said. "But the family show brings a different kind of joy."

The show is a chance for both the professional figure skaters and Penn Staters to come together under one roof.

"This is an opportunity for parents and children to bond," Wierzbicki said. "But having athletes like these on our campus is [also] another tremendous opportunity to showcase how special Penn State is."

U.S. Champion Weiss, who will perform a skating solo to his daughter's original song, sees Penn State in a different light than the other figure skaters in the show.

Weiss' father Gregor "Greg" Weissis an Olympic gymnast and attended Penn State in the early ‘60s, Weiss said. Three generations will be present for the performance.

The Skating Tribute's family-oriented focus will not only affect the audience, but it resonates with the performers themselves.

"To see the kids running around backstage and being part of the show, that energy shines through in the performances," Weiss said.

Browning echoes Weiss' thoughts and is anxious to get the show started.

"Every skater in this show will take away special memories from that night," he said. "It will be a fun yet emotional evening to be sure."

The Musselman's Family Skating Tribute will be live at Pegula Arena at 5 p.m. on Nov. 3, and the event will also be recorded and is set to broadcast nationally at 4 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 24 on NBC .