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Yamaguchi and friends perform in family affair at Pegula Ice Arena
| Source: |
Centre Daily Times |
| Date: |
November 4, 2013 |
| Author: |
Britney Milazzo |
UNIVERSITY PARK — Stephanie Colbert's hands were clenched to the ledge
where the glass would normally attach to the boards at Pegula Ice
Arena on Sunday.
With her jaw slightly open and eyes wide, she moved her head back and
forth to follow the motion of each skater at the Musselman's Family
Skating Tribute.
Stephanie was 3 when she saw her first Winter Olympics.
It was held in Vancouver in 2010 and her mother, Julie Colbert, said
she remembers her daughter being glued to the television during the
figure skating events.
This time, Stephanie, 7, was able to see some of that similar talent
right in front of her eyes.
Country singer Sara Evans serenaded the crowd as professional figure
skaters skated to her music.
The show Sunday was a way to celebrate both figure skating and
families while some pros took the ice with their children.
"It was fun. It was an out-of-skating experience," said Kurt Browning,
who was able to skate with sons Gabriel, 10, and Dillon, 6. "You're
combining two things when you're out there with them — skating and
parenting."
Kristi Yamaguchi and Michael Weiss were the hosts. When Yamaguchi hit
the ice, the crowd of about 5,000 rose to their feet. Stephanie's chin
dropped a little more and then formed a smile.
"She's one of the best," Stephanie said. "It's cool to see
professional skaters like her. I don't think I was alive when she was
in the Olympics though."
Yamaguchi took gold in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville,
France.
Joining Yamaguchi and Weiss were other professional skaters Browning,
Ilia Kulik and Ekaterina Gordeeva, Irina Slutskaya, Naomi Lang and
Mark Fitzgerald, Isabelle Brasseur and Rocky Marval, Paul Wylie, and
Silvia Fontana and John Zimmerman.
"It's great being able to be at a new, state-of-the-art facility like
this," Yamaguchi said. "It's the kind of show you can bring to a new
venue and get a lot of good reaction."
Yamaguchi said she stopped skating about five years ago and began
hosting shows like the one Sunday. She said she brought her husband,
Bret Hedican, to this show but left her two children at home.
Weiss did a number to an original song written and sung by his
16-year-old daughter, Annie Mae.
When Wylie hit the ice, the crowd rose to their feet. He gave a humble
wave and did a piece to Michael Buble's cover of "You've Got A Friend
In Me."
Some audience members began to sing along.
"It's the Woody song," said Maggie Cajuste, 7. The song is known as
the theme song in "Toy Story."
With every twirl, spin and jump, the crowd's applause got
louder.
"We came just to see him," said fan Linda Mariota, who was accompanied
by her husband, Jim.
Peggy Wynn-Paulis drove in from Hershey to see the show. The
80-year-old said she still gets choked up when the skaters finish
their performances.
"It's beauty. It's a real work of art what they do, and I can just sit
here all day and watch them," Wynn-Paulis said. "When I heard there
was going to be a show, I had to buy tickets. It just makes my
day."
The show will air at 4 p.m. Nov. 24 on NBC.
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