Remembering My Very First Ice Dance Partner Cory Isenberg

I just was notified that my very first ice dance skating partner Corey Isenberg suddenly passed away on April 4, 2023.  I’m devastated.  I cried so hard.

This is a photo of the two of us when I was 13 years old.  Corey was 21 and seemed “so old” to me.  

I was so happy since as a singles skater I’d never won a trophy before, but I was good at ice dancing and earned many more medals, not only with Corey, but with my other ice dance partners Gary Forman and Richard Griffin.  Both of them met Corey I recall.

Corey’s voice is the “The next dance will be” voice on social ice dance music CDs and tapes that have been used all over the USA!

Those who know or knew Corey, please pass the news of his death on. We were all part of the coach Howie Harrold’s team of ice dancers.  Howie died after his home made sauna blew up after a lesson he gave to Corey and I on a Friday night at the old La Habra Ice Rink Polar Palace when I was 13.  Corey was devasted and never had the same joy of ice dancing after Howie’s death and left for the Air Force shortly after.

I was left without a partner then, but what is so incredible is that Corey always stayed in touch and credited my wonderful dad for giving him so much.

I’m crying so hard.  It is like a part of me is gone.

Dalilah Sappenfield’s and Leina McLaughlin’s Pair Skating Students 2008 Indy Challenge

 Wow!  This photo is almost historical since so many of these “kids” went on to do great things!

This amazing “army” of pair skaters were coached by Dalilah Sappenfield and Leina McLaughlin.

My three kids, Rebekah, Annabelle, and Joel Schneider-Farris are sitting right in front of Leina and Dalilah.

There was such a sense of belonging during this event.  I especially remember how all of Dalilah’s and Leina’s students cheered for one another!

Also in the photo are photos of skaters who became US and World Champions and Olympic Medalists:  Caitlin Yankowkas, John Coughlin, Brandon Frazier, Chris Knierim, Keauna McLaughlin, and Rockne Brubaker!

Others in this photo became coaches and professional ice show skaters: Larry Ibarra, Nick and Amber Kole, Stephanie Kuban, Drew Meekins, Rebekah Schneider-Farris, Joel Schneider-Farris, Nathan Miller, Brittany Chase, and others…

It’s amazing to see this photo again!

My Son Joel’s US Figure Skating Test Record! Wow!

These are all the tests my son Joel has passed with US Figure Skating.  My daughters, Rebekah and Annabelle, have passed even more tests!  I think the Schneider-Farris family may have taken more tests than anyone in US Figure Skating…

 

Joel Passed His Senior Free Dance! May 1, 2023

Joel is now a US Figure Skating Quadruple Gold Medalist!  

Joel is catching up two his two sisters Annabelle’s seven gold medals and Rebekah’s six gold medals!  Congratulations and way to go Joel! 

Below is a video of the test:

And here is the letter from US Figure Skating Congratulating Joel on his accomplishment:

And here’s the test papers:

And here is a screenshot of every test Joel has ever done!

1974 US National Competitors

Wow! Thank you Erika Susman Shorr for sharing this photo!  This must be before the 1974 National Figure Skating Championships…Terry Kubucka, Erika and her pair partner Tommy Huff, me and my ice dance partner Richard Griffin, Roberta Loughland, Barbi Smith, and Lisa-Marie Allen.  Thank you SO MUCH Erika!  Was I happy to “make nationals!”  Rich and I always wore these matching jumpers in those days so this was not our competition outfits.  Ice dancers then wore short skirts…wish I could have worn those pretty dresses they wear today!

 

Joel Wins a Silver Medal at Dollar Holler 2023!

Joel smiles with his Silver Medal!

The above video may have been Joel’s winning move.  It’s a one footed move on a very skinny rail!  I think all those years of ice skating came in handy since he did it with grace!

When Sun Valley announced Dollar Holler, a freestyle tricks event, I suggested Joel enter even though we had not idea of what it would be like.  You see, only about two weeks ago, Joel started to explore freestyle skiing and decided it was just so fun, so he thought he might as well take part in the event since it sounded like fun.  I think he submitted his application to enter this past Thursday 3/2/23….!!!

Apparently all his years of figure skating, hockey, performing, and jumping ramps in Disney On Ice came in handy, since Joel didn’t just take part, but he won a silver medal.  There were about 15 contestants so this is a large accomplishment!

Because this was Joel’s first time competing in a ski event, after it was over, the two of us were waiting for the shuttle bus to take us home since we didn’t think Joel could possibly win an award.  At the bus stop his friend Garrett ran up to him and with excitement said, “You came in SECOND!”  The two of us went back to where the excitement was and asked to get his award.  I was “one proud mom” and took tons of photos!

Smiling with Cody Rogers who won the pro event

The above video may have been Joel’s winning move.  It’s a one footed move on a very skinny rail!  I think all those years of ice skating came in handy since he did it with grace!

From the Eye On Sun Valley On-Line News:

Saturday, March 11, 2023

The Dollar Holler Rail Jam took over Sun Valley Resort’s Dollar Mountain this past weekend, allowing  local kids and adults to strut their freestyle. For every stuck-landing there were dozens of falls, but competitors threw their best on the rails and in the Big Air challenge. Youngsters sipping cocoa watched the event from plastic couches provided by Sun Valley Resort, even though snowy conditions made it difficult to see at times. And live music pumped up the adrenaline. Among the participants was Joel Schneider-Farris. A Sun Valley ski instructor, he entered the competition on a whim. And his years of figure skating, playing hockey and jumping ramps for Disney on Ice appeared to pay off when he won a silver medal for his one-footed move on a very skinny rail.  “He did it with grace!” boasted his proud mother Jo Ann Schneider Farris. Check out the action in today’s Eye on Sun Valley video edited by Taylor Smith.

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Joel was also featured in the Wood River Jewish Community’s Spring 2023 Newsletter!

Rebekah’s professional skating tour with Disney On Ice has taken her to Spain!

My daughter Rebekah and her boyfriend Garrett got this photo taken in Spain!  Garrett is in the crew. She was previously in France, but is int Spain for two weeks, and then the go tot he United Kingdom!