The 2010 US Figure Skating National Championships in Spokane, WA have officially ended for all of the skaters training at the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex. As I’m sure you’ve heard, we swept the pairs spots for the upcoming Olympics in Vancouver, something as rare as sending a Floridian to the Olympic games. Now we get to send four. Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett skated a flawless short and long program to have a final score of 190.30. That score was good enough to win them the national championship, gold medal, and a spot on the US Olympic team. Not far behind were training mates Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, who earned the silver medal with a score of 173.78. Placing 11th in their first ever senior competition, the 2009 Junior National Champions Tracy Tanovich and Michael Chau showed tons of promise for the future. The Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex was the only complex to send three teams in the senior pairs division to the National Championships! This truly proves that we have the best coaches in the country with 2009 PSA Developmental Coach of the Year and head coach Mr. Jim Peterson, two-time Olympian and skating director Mr. Lyndon Johnston, and world and Olympic champion coach Ms. Alison Smith.

Also, skating in the junior division for the first time were Haven Denney and Daniel Raad. They skated well, placing a very respectable 7th. Daniel also skated in the senior men’s division where he placed 23rd.

Tracy, Michael, Haven, and Daniel will all return to Florida tonight along with Ms. Smith. Mr. Johnston will return Thursday. Caydee, Jeremy, Amanda, Mark, and Mr. Peterson will all return Monday night.

Congratulations to everyone for the superb showing in the National Championships. Thank you for helping make the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex one of the premier international training facilities!

Just a reminder, Skate with Santa is Saturday December 19th from 1:15-3:15pm! From 9am-4pm we will be selling raffle tickets for the perfect stocking stuffers! Your raffle ticket will give you a chance to win one of 10 Public Skating Passes, 8 Skate N Eat Gift Certificates, or a Basic Skills Gift Certificate! It’s all happening this Saturday!

Good morning.

Hope that everyone is drying out from that rain that we had over the weekend.

Just a reminder that the Nancy Archie Meyer competition is this weekend. Skaters from all over Florida as well as the Southeast States will all be competing this weekend. This is the final competition these skaters will do before heading off for the Regional Championships in Maryland next month. And what this means, it will be a guide to what their point value will be at Regionals.

Good luck to all.

Also, we are having a simulation/ exhibition this Thursday from 5:00pm to 5:30pm. This will be a first for Evan Valeska. He is also competing for the first time this weekend. Good luck to him. We will also have several of our competitive skaters that are running through their short programs.

Lyndon Johnston
Skating Director

Congratulations  to all of the skaters who passed evaluations this past Monday!

Just a reminder to everyone that the fund raiser for our potential 2010 Olympic skaters is this Thursday @ 6:00pm at The Hall in Palmetto.

For information and tickets please call 941-729-0700.

Lyndon Johnston
Skating Director

This is the last week to take advantage of our Summer Special!  3 Months $99, with no enrollment fee!

Become part of our “Ellenton Fitness Family” today!  The staff at Ellenton Fitness Center cares about you and will treat you like family!

Come see our beautiful new “real people pictures” on display in Ellenton Fitness Center!  Come and workup a sweat…you just might find your picture on one of our walls!  Don’t forget to smile, or look tough!

Have you been “thinking” about joining a gym?  With the kids back in school, this is the perfect time to start a workout program.

Over the years, I’ve had conversations with many people dealing with all types of stress.  Stress due to marital problems, the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, poor health, pain due to an accident, etc.  I’ve pretty much heard it all!  My solution to help relieve stress and make you feel better…..EXERCISE!!!  I promise, you will feel better,  even after that first workout!

Make the commitment to exercise, take care of yourself, make YOU a priority, make your health and well being a priority!

Join Ellenton Fitness Center today, our Summer Special runs through August 31!
Become part of our “Ellenton Fitness Family” today!

Barbara Fitzpatrick

Fitness Center Director