The Ice Skating Blades Continue to Turn

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Joel Begins New Career - Disney On Ice: Frozen!

Wednesday, July 15, 2014 began like any other day. The kids skated in the morning at the World Arena and went home for lunch. At 12:30 pm, an email came that changed Joel's life. He was offered a role in Disney On Ice's new show, Frozen!

The next few days were filled with excitement, packing, and taking care of details. Joel played his last hockey game with Bleed Hockey and his team, The Misfits, won the Championship Game! He said good-bye to friends and his little hockey students too.

Dalilah and the pair skaters gave Joel a send-off party and Joel and Annabelle skated pairs together for one last time on Saturday morning. It was an emotional day. The kids realized they really loved skating together for the past six years and would miss one another. A few tears were shed.

On Sunday, July 20, Joel took his Senior Moves in the Field test, passed, and became a US Figure Skating Gold Medalist. He said good-bye to his coaches and friends after the test. Ryan and Dalilah and Eddie had all done so much for Joel, but they were also happy to send Joel off.

Bruce Hurd has sharpened Joel's skates since he was a little kid.

After getting his skates sharpened and going out to celebrate tests passed and Ananbelle's and Joel's birthdays at Red Robin with our family and friends Paul and Judy Steiner , Joel and I took a bike ride together. We talked about how Joel was about to begin a new chapter in his life as we rode.

The next day, Joel boarded a plane for Florida to begin rehearsals. The show opens September 4 in Florida and the tour mostly will be on the east coast.

The hard work Joel has done for years in skating have made this opportunity possible. Congratulations Joel! I am so proud of you!

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Tests Passed 7-20-2014

Sunday, July 20, 2014 was a happy day for Joel and Annabelle! Annabelle passed her Novice Free Skate test and Joel passed his Senior Moves in the Field test! In addition, Joel became a US Figure Skating Gold Medalist!

Congratulations on passing the Senior Moves In The Field test

Jul 21 at 8:31 AM

Dear Joel,

Congratulations on passing the Senior Moves In The Field test!

The U.S. Figure Skating test structure is the backbone of participation in figure skating, and you should feel extremely proud of this accomplishment. Each U.S. Figure Skating test that you have passed is a permanent achievement that goes on your U.S. Figure Skating record.

Passing your senior test means that you have achieved the highest accomplishment in testing, and you have now earned the title "U.S. Figure Skating gold medalist." You will carry this title forever. You can put it on a coaching resume, your college application, and even job resumes. You should use it with pride.

Fewer than 1,000 members of U.S. Figure Skating pass the Senior Moves in the Field test each year. In approximately 6-8 weeks you will be receiving a gold certificate, a gold lapel pin and a congratulatory letter recognizing your accomplishment. In addition, you are now eligible to purchase our Gold Test jacket available through the U.S. Figure Skating online store.

U.S. Figure Skating's Athlete Development Committee is interested in what it took for you to reach this achievement, and how you participate in figure skating. So, we are asking you to take a survey and answer some brief questions about your skating. The information you provide is anonymous and confidential. If you recently passed more than one test, be sure to fill out the survey for each one. Each test level in every discipline requires different amounts of practice, coaching, and ice time. Your feedback about what it took to get to this level is extremely valuable in developing the future of our sport. By answering this survey you will help U.S. Figure Skating get to know our athletes better and develop tools and programs in the future to help athletes like you get the most out of our sport.

Click here to take the survey: Survey Link

As a thank you for completing the survey, and in recognition of your accomplishment, you will receive a coupon code for 40% off of a gold test jacket in U.S. Figure Skating's online store once you finish the survey.

Congratulations again on passing your test, and best wishes for a bright and long future with U.S. Figure Skating.

Sincerely,

Samuel Auxier
President
U.S. Figure Skating

Friday, July 4, 2014

Rebekah Is Learning Adagio Pair Skating!

Now that Rebekah has passed her Senior Pair test and Senior Free Dance test, she's learning Adagio and having a blast!

I especially like her back flip over Larry's head and back! I also think it is "so cool" when Larry spins her around over and over again or when he holds her above his head with one arm and when she is upside down. Go Rebekah!

Thank You Dalilah Sappenfield For Making Rebekah's Five Gold Medals Possible!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Thank You Dalilah Sappenfield For Making Rebekah's Five Gold Medals Possible!

Thank you to Rebekah's primary coach Dalilah Sappenfield for making the five US Figure Skating Gold Medals that are embroidered on Rebekah's Gold Medalist jacket possible!

Annabelle and Joel Pass Their Junior Pair Test! 6-22-2014

Sunday, June 22, 2014 was a busy and happy say for the Schneider-Farris family! Joel and Annabelle passed their Junior Pair test! Yay!

Thank you to their coach, Dalilah Sappenfield, for making their success in passing this very hard figure skating test and milestone a reality. Dalilah has taught the kids pairs since they were young and beginning pair skaters. Also, thank you to my dad, Dr. Arthur Schneider, for being so supportive.

After the test, Joel still had to perform in the musical Oklahoma. For the past month, he's had long days that have included 10 to 12 hours of rehearsals and two to three hours of skating!

On Monday after the test, Dalilah gathered all her pair skaters together and they clapped and cheered for Joel and Annabelle! It is great to have that kind of support!

I've been told that our family may hold the record of having more US Figure Skating tests passed than any other family in ice skating history!

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Rebekah Schneider-Farris Is Now a QUINTUPLE Gold Medalist!

Today was a big day for the Schneider-Farris family since Rebekah passed her Senior Free Dance test and became a QUINTUPLE US Figure Skating Gold Medalist! Just a week ago, she passed her Senior Pair Test which made her a Quadruple gold medalist for a week, but now she's earned FIVE GOLD MEDALS!

Carolyn Kruse and Broadmoor Skating Club's President John LeFevre Smile With Rebekah at the Broadmoor Skating Club's Annual Meeting on June 8, 2014
They were so excited about Rebekah's Quintuple Gold Medal accomplishment!

My dad, Dr. Arthur Schneider is so proud of his grand-daughter!

Dr. Lester Cramer has judged almost all of Rebekah tests including her Pre-Pre tests and Pre Dance tests through her Senior Free Dance which she passed today on June 8, 2014!

Thank you to Broadmoor Skating Club's Test Chairman Janna Blanter who has been there through all of Rebekah's tests from the beginning Pre-Pre tests in April of 2005 to today when she became a Quintuple Gold Medalist on June 8, 2014!

Rebekah smiles with her Gold Dance GOLD medal that was presented to her at the Broadmoor Skating Club's Annual Meeting!

After the test session, it was also the day of the Broadmoor Skating Club's Annual Meeting. At the meeting, Rebekah was awarded one of those five gold medals and was honored by the club's president, John Lefevre, for her amazing accomplishment!

Broadmoor Skating Club's President John LeFevre, honored Rebekah for her Quintuple Gold Medalist accomplishment at Broadmoor Skating Club's Annual Meeting on June 8, 2014

She now has the following Gold medals:

Carolyn Kruse tells me that she is the first skater in the history of the Broadmoor Skating Club to become a Quintuple gold medalist!

Rebekah began testing at the Broadmoor Skating Club and passed her first US Figure Skating tests, the Pre-Pre Moves in the Field and Pre-Pre Freeskate on April 24, 2005 a week after she had just turned 9 years old. She is now 18.

All of her training has been at the World Arena Ice Hall since she was a beginner and her only club has been The Broadmoor Skating Club.

In fact, right after she was born, three weeks later, I gave some lessons at the Ice Hall when Sertich and CC closed for maintenance! I skated at the Ice Hall when I was pregnant with Rebekah too...She has really grown up with the rink and the club!

By the way, from my point of view, I'm so very proud that I am a Broadmoor Skating Club Gold Medalist (I became a US Figure Skating Double Gold Medalist at The Broadmoor in 1975) and it is so exciting for me to think my daughter, Rebekah, became a Quintuple Gold Medalist nearly 40 years later and at the same club! Talking about passing down a legacy and tradition!

Thank you Douglas Stevenson for being such a great coach and getting Rebekah through the Senior Free Dance test!

Dear Rebekah,

Congratulations on passing the Senior Free Dance Test!

The U.S. Figure Skating test structure is the backbone of participation in figure skating, and you should feel extremely proud of this accomplishment. Each U.S. Figure Skating test that you have passed is a permanent achievement that goes on your U.S. Figure Skating record.

Passing your gold test means that you have achieved the highest accomplishment in testing, and you have now earned the title "U.S. Figure Skating gold medalist." You will carry this title forever. You can put it on a coaching resume, your college application, and even job resumes. You should use it with pride.

Approximately 20 members of U.S. Figure Skating pass the Senior Free dance test each year, representing less than 1% of our full membership. In approximately 6-8 weeks you will be receiving a gold certificate, a gold lapel pin and a congratulatory letter recognizing your accomplishment. In addition, you are now eligible to purchase our Gold Test jacket available through the U.S. Figure Skating online store.

Please take a survey and answer some brief questions about your skating. The information you provide is anonymous and confidential. If you recently passed more than one test, be sure to fill out the survey for each one. Each test level in every discipline requires different amounts of practice, coaching, and ice time. Your feedback about what it took to get to this level is extremely valuable in developing the future of our sport. By answering this survey you will help U.S. Figure Skating get to know our athletes better and develop tools and programs in the future to help athletes like you get the most out of our sport.

Click here to take the survey: Survey Link

As a thank you for completing the survey, and in recognition of your accomplishment, you will receive a coupon code for 40% off of a gold test jacket in U.S. Figure Skating's online store once you finish the survey.

Congratulations again on passing your test, and best wishes for a bright and long future with U.S. Figure Skating.

Sincerely,