| Figure
Skaters to Perform in Reston |
By Leah M. Kosin
Observer Staff Writer |
| Local two-time Olympic figure skater Michael Weiss will
share the ice at SkateQuest of Reston with about 10 of his
fellow Olympic and World Champion skaters during the third
annual U.S. & World Figure Skating Champions LIVE! show Sept.
8 at 3 p.m. The charity event raises money for the Michael
Weiss Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers scholarships
to aspiring figure skaters who dream of achieving Olympic
glory. |
| "Skating expenses are pretty high and when I was probably
10, 11 years old, my parents were spending $50,000 to $60,000
a year for my sister and I to skate," Weiss said. "That's
a lot of money and some of these young skaters have a lot
of talent and a lot of passion for skating and to think that
they may not be able to be an Olympic figure skater someday
just because the finances held them back is something that
I wanted to be able to help out with. |
| "I knew how difficult it was on my family growing up,
so I always figured if someday I got into a position where
I could give back and help out somebody in that position then
I would." |
| Weiss, who grew up in the Washington, D.C., area and currently
lives in McLean, has been part of the world of professional
ice-skating for a number of years. In addition to competing
at the Olympics in 1998 and 2002, he has won National Championships
three times and the World Bronze Medal twice. While he stopped
competing in 2006, he continues to tour the country, skate
and attend exhibitions, he said. |
| Weiss said he formed the foundation about four years ago
and in that first year, they awarded about $10,000 in scholarships
to young skaters. In the foundation's second year, the U.S.
& World Figure Skating Champions LIVE! show was created and
since then about $75,000 worth of scholarships has already
been awarded, he said. This year Weiss said he hopes to increase
that amount. |
| "If we can get 210 people on the ice, maybe another
300 people outside in the stands and bleachers, then all that
money, the expenses are basically nothing, will go right into
the scholarships for young skaters," Weiss said. "It's
nice to see your money go towards an individual, and we have
some of the actual skaters who we've sponsored that will be
performing in the show and you can see how much they've improved."
|
| Sharing the ice with Weiss will be Olympic skaters and World
Champions Todd Eldredge and Yuka Sato, as well as U.S. favorites
Kyoko Ina, John Zimmerman and Rudy Galindo. Local skaters
include U.S. Novice National Medalist Kristine Musademba and
U.S. Novice National Champion Armin Mahanoozadeh. Olympic
athletes from Canada, Great Britain and Italy, as well as
up-and-coming national competitors, will also perform during
the charity event. |
| A silent auction will also be held during the event and
will conclude after the performance. Weiss also has planned
an auction on eBay for fans and supporters who do not live
in the area. |
| "I just like to see everybody come together and be
so giving," Weiss said. "And to see the best skaters
in the world, who are on the road all the time, to be willing
to donate their time and donate their energy to do something
for someone else, it's just fun to watch." |
| U.S. & World Figure Skating Champions Live! will be held
Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. at SkateQuest of Reston. To purchase tickets,
visit www.MichaelWeiss.org or call SkateQuest at 703-709-1010.
Tickets range from $20 to $50. All proceeds will go toward
figure-skating scholarships that will be awarded later this
year. |
