Timbre Beck-Murphy's Blog
Posted by Timbre Beck-Murphy
I didn’t win gold but I learned well that night
That the journey I’d taken was well worth the fight.
My wife and I came to watch Christmas Eve
Skaters who would remind us to believe
That anything’s possible. I smiled when
A familiar young face glided into a spin.
We knew she was trying to train years before
But her single mom couldn’t provide any more
Rink time or costumes or coaching, so we
Sent her checks like someone long ago had for me.
We watched her develop in skating and age,
And after she surfaced upon the world stage,
She won many medals, money and fame,
Endorsements and then a professional name.
We watched through the evening as she stole the show
Her talent and technique paled to her glow
Of beauty and patience, of strength and of grace
Reflecting in lights up onto every face
Of all the young kids who stared and were sure
They’d one day become a pro skater like her.
Though she’ll never know my name I’m a part
Of a sport that rewards both talent and heart.
After the show, before going to sleep,
I thought about how those gold medals weren’t cheap.
But worth most of all, more than training or hair
Are the talented youngsters who need us to care.
This season, with ice skating costumes agleam,
Remember that all medals start with a dream
That’s supported through funding, encouragement too,
And someday, perhaps, you’ll help more dreams come true.
Posted by Timbre Beck-Murphy
The week before Christmas we sat ‘round the ice
In a Stadium filled with both naughty and nice
Audience members lined up in rows
To watch great performers from ice skating shows.
Music and spotlights adorned the ice while
Cast members took their marks with a smile.
Stockings and leggings protected from cold
The night’s great performers, some young and some old.
My wife sat beside me and I held my cap,
Her purse and the program with care on my lap.
I leaned toward the ice when the music began.
I remembered a time when I was a young man,
A time long ago when my body was strong,
I longed to compete, to perform and belong.
But my parents were poor and the rink in my town
Was damaged by storms and then had to close down.
One day before Christmas we found on our deck
Addressed “For Your Skater” an anonymous check.
It paid for my training and coaching for years.
I worked every day, despite aches and through fears
Until the world finally took notice of me
At the championships where I appeared on T.V.
I’d trained for years so that I’d be my best.
That night I knew I could compete with the rest.
I went to my starting spot near center ice.
My music began and I breathed in deep twice,
Inhaling the cold and the smells in the air
Of excitement and all that was possible there.
I skated my best and I landed each jump
Until my skate blade got caught on a lump.
You see, pond ice is bumpy and we were outside.
The fall hurt my knees, but never my pride.
I stumbled but came back to finish and bowed.
I’d made myself and my sponsorer proud.
Posted by Timbre Beck-Murphy
On Monday, November 19, 2008, 8:00-9:00pm (EST), Stars on Ice Fan Club members get to talk directly online with Jef Billings.
For an annual fee of $25, get the insider scoop on the tour and your favorite skating stars directly from Mr. Billings by joining the Stars on Ice fan club. (Maybe we should ask Jef why there’s only one non-West Coast show this year.)
Mr. Billings made a name for himself by creating unique and beautiful skating costumes for elite competitive skaters. His creative genius is now impacts the skating world both on the ice and behind the scenes.
Experience the impact of his designs first hand during this season’s Stars on Ice tour. It launches next week where it has every year, at the Olympic ice rink in Lake Placid, NY.
This year’s cast members include: Sasha Cohen, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, Ilia Kulik, Todd Eldridge, Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao, Yuka Sato, Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, Michael Weiss, Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, and Jennifer Robinson.
Tour Schedule
Saturday, November 24, 2007: Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY, 8:00pm EST
Thursday, January 31, 2008: Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA
Friday, February 1, 2008: Key Arena at Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
Saturday, February 2, 2008: Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR
Sunday, February 5, 2008: ARCO Arena in Sacramento, CA
Please double check tickets for accurate dates, times and venues. After you attend an ice show, let us know your thoughts about the experience.
Posted by Timbre Beck-Murphy
For years now, the Canadian Speed Skating was the only openly speed skating federation in North America with a commendable website to promote community and further interest in the sport. Now, their neighbors to the south have finally posted a website that compliments its team training and development.
www.uspeedskating.org is up and running – and finally updated with current calendars, news briefs, competition information and results, club and program links.
It even sports a photo gallery, the poster child being none other than Apolo Ohno himself. Most of the pictures contain no captions, but it’s great to see the sport promoted in full color from the top down. The training pictures are especially great and give us a glimpse into the off-ice rigors of the sport. (The shirtless gentleman in the dunk tank appears to be national long track sprint team head coach Ryan Shimabukaro.)
Keep up on official news by downloading Ice Chips or IBlade publications, the latter of which is “the electronic version of the U.S. Speedskating magazine Racing
Blade.” Unfortunately, the only issue of IBlade posted to date is from August 2006. Ice Chips, on the other hand, is current. Archived content and publications are also available.
The promise of a webcast broadcast “Coming Soon” should keep you checking back to the US speed skating website. Additional information is quickly being added.
Posted by Timbre Beck-Murphy
Tune in frequently in the coming weeks to cheer on your countrymen as they compete for a number of prize-winning crowns.
For lineup and location details on more ice performances, see the following articles: “2007 Disson Figure Skating Shows” and “More 2007 Figure Skating Shows”.
Airing this weekend is Halloween on Ice, starring Nancy Kerrigan and the Mannheim Steamrollers. NBC will broadcast the performance Saturday, October 27, from 4:00-6:00pm. The Style network shows it on Sunday, October 28, from 10:00am-12:00pm. Instead of viewing violent vampire videos, opt for the aptly-aired third showing on Halloween night. The Style network has scheduled the show from 5:00pm-7:00pm.
Don’t forget to tune in October 28th to watch your favorite Olympic-eligible figure skaters compete for the international Skate America title. Skate America, takes place this weekend in Reading, Pennsylvania, and will show Sunday on NBC from 4:00pm-6:00pm.
Familiar names on the men’s roster include Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi, USA’s Ryan Bradley (my money’s on him), USA’s Evan Lysacek (hopefully san’s Carmen costume). Canada’s Mira Leung, and Japan’s Miki Ando & Mai Asada will probably top the podium ahead of the USA ladies, Emily Hughes, Kimmie Meissner, and Caroline Zhang. The pairs competition includes skaters from Canada, China, Russia and the USA. Several world medalists should make this a very good competitive event.
The ice dancing final standings will probably consist of all USA team members – given their experience on the international circuit. Belbin and Agosto are trying to prove their Olympic worthiness, ahead of a diverse group of skaters from Azerbaijan, China, France, Israel, Japan and Russia.
Short Track speed skaters race in the first two competitions on the World Cup circuit. Harbin, China, and Kobe, Japan host the events. Check your local television listings for broadcast times.
