Tanith Belbin and Harry Sladich in St. Louis at the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Photo courtesy of Harry Sladich.

 

Harry Sladich is the president and CEO of the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. He and his team are hard at work preparing for the upcoming National Figure Skating Championships. However, he took time to share his thoughts about ice skating and to reveal a not-so-secret crush.

Q. When was the last time you went ice skating?

A. “The day after Thanksgiving with my nine-year-old daughter, Sabrina, at the Ice Palace at Riverfront Park. This was the first time in about six years that I’d been on skates, and her first!”

Q. Any favorite skating memories?

A. “As a sophomore in high school I found myself becoming very interested in Figure Skating by watching Dorothy Hamill at the 1976 Winter Olympics ( the reason for this interest might  have been her athletic abilities or maybe just a HUGE “crush” on a really attractive woman) and as an adult, watching my then 7 year old daughter have a “crush” on pairs skater Ben Agosto during the 2007 US National Championships here in Spokane.  Ben later came out of the skater’s area during the event at my request to sign my daughter’s shirt, it was a magical moment for her and I am so grateful for the kindness he (and the other skaters) showed while they were here.”

Q. Do you have a favorite figure skater?

A. “My current favorite skater is Tanith Belbin and the reason for that is…well… reference the earlier comments about Dorothy Hamill.  I remember saving a photo of myself and Tanith to my screen saver and as the photo came up on my laptop my daughter, who was by my side said “Oh no, mom’s not going to like that dad”  My wife just smiled and told my daughter that she has her own celebrity “crushes”!  I have a very observant child.”

Q. What are you most looking forward to about the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships?

A. “I look forward to seeing our community shine once again.  We just know how to do these things right and the visitors and skaters confirm that.  The mood will be festive and active in January and it couldn’t happen in a better month!

Q. What do you want guest and/or the television audience to remember about Spokane?

A. “That it is a beautiful region, bigger than they thought, more capable, and extremely friendly.  I want them to consider coming back and I hope they see our website in the ice!  www.visitspokane.com and log on to learn more about this great place we call home.”

 

 

 

 

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner doesn’t shy away from tough issues. In fact, even her adventures in ice skating have allowed her to incorporate a bit of her own “get up and keep going”  philosophy.

Q. When was the last time you went ice skating?

A. “I went ice skating at the Riverfront Park Ice Palace in late November with my son, Daniel.  We will probably go again this week, too.”

Q. Any favorite skating memories?

A. “For me, ice skating always includes falling.  What springs to mind are those times when you fall hard, get up, and keep going.  I guess, for me, it means I have survived.”

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Karen Mobley, SR file photo

Karen Mobley, is the city of Spokane arts director. Here, she takes time to reflect on the art of ice skating.

Q. When was the last time you went ice skating?

A. “The last time I went ice skating was on an ice fishing trip to Alcova Reservoir in Wyoming.  I love ice fishing and the opportunity to be outside spinning circles from hole to hole on the ice is a thrill.  I think it was about 11 years ago.  (Before I broke my leg in 13 places and dislocated my foot from my leg falling on the ice at my house here in Spokane.  I don’t ice skate any more.)”

Q.  Any favorite skating memories?

A. “When I was in elementary school I thought I wanted to be a real skater and practiced skating backwards by the hour.  We lived near an irrigation pond and I would shovel a place to practice and skate after school and until after dark.”

 

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