Life after skating can present uncertainty for seniors in high school or college who may want to continue to be involved in the sport, but don't know how or where to go to make that happen. U.S. Figure Skating offers different outlets for athletes to continue their passion and give back to the sport that gave them so much.
We asked four members who are involved with different committees at U.S Figure Skating to talk about their skating background, what they do now for U.S. Figure Skating and what advice they would give to those looking to continue in the sport.
Kristin Abbott: chair, Sports Science and Medicine Committee
I'm a gold medalist in moves in the field, gold dance, gold solo dance, juvenile freestyle and preliminary figures. I competed at the intermediate and novice precision levels, and then moved to Ann Arbor (Michigan) to skate with the Hockettes junior team for two seasons. We represented Team USA before I moved onto Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and skated there for four years, which included competing at three World Championships and spending four years on Team USA. I've been a national technical specialist for synchronized skating since the 2005–06 season. I am the technical panel committee vice-chair for synchronized skating and chair of the Sports Science and Medicine Committee, as well as being a physician in the national network. I traveled with Team USA to 2015 French Cup, 2016 World Synchronized Skating Championships, 2016 Skate America and 2017 Golden Spin of Zagreb.
Upon graduation from Miami, my coach recommended me to attend the first technical panel school in the fall of 2005 when IJS was adopted for synchronized skating. I was excited to learn about the new system and received an appointment after that school. It was a good opportunity to stay involved and continue to give back while I was completing medical school and postgraduate residency training. I knew going into medical school that I wanted to work with figure skaters and be in the volunteer team physician network after my own experiences having a physician travel to our events, so I sought primary care training and then additional sports medicine training. Through working with other skating officials and judges, serving on the technical committee and volunteering for events in medical training, I have been fortunate to have been encouraged by many longtime volunteers and staff at U.S. Figure Skating to continue to serve and expand my roles with the sport.
I plan to continue to serve in both the medical and technical specialist capacities for as long as I can. I look forward to encouraging younger officials and athlete alumni to be involved in any area of interest and continue to be a part of this great organization.
If you would like to continue in a volunteer capacity for U.S. Figure Skating, reach out to current officials, or get involved with your local club. For those interested in becoming a technical panel official, the next school will be in March. I would encourage anyone interested in learning more to apply, or if interested in being a judge, consider attending a judging school or reach out to the committee to learn more about the process.
Rebecca Finder, synchronized skating official
Growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, I started skating with the encouragement of my father, who grew up playing hockey. I began in the Basic Skills Program and progressed to private lessons — passing senior moves in the field, silver dance and intermediate freestyle. My first synchronized skating experience was with Team Kinetic — teen intro. I later competed at the junior level with both Team Kinetic and Kalamazoo Ice Kraze, followed by skating and serving as captain of Michigan State University's collegiate synchronized skating team. I graduated with a bachelor's in human biology from the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State. After graduation, I took a job conducting pre-clinical drug research in safety pharmacology and had the opportunity to join the Western Michigan University's senior team (2008–09). While working full time and competing internationally, I started pursuing my professional doctorate in pharmacy at Ferris State University and learned about becoming a judge. My mother is credited with starting my judging career. Apparently, as a child, I used to sit in the stands and accurately place skaters and teams, so she knew I would excel in judging. With her reassurance, I registered for a judging school and became the first nonqualifying synchronized skating judge in U.S. Figure Skating history. I now stay involved with skating as a national synchronized skating competition judge, gold moves in the field, singles and pairs test judge. I volunteer on the Synchronized Skating Committee, Exam Development Committee and as a judges' educational trainer. On a normal day I work as a clinical pharmacy specialist in critical care and emergency medicine. For those wanting to stay immersed in the sport, become an official. It's hard work and long hours, but as an official there are so many ways you can stay involved and uphold the sport that has truly shaped your life.
For the rest of this month's Insynch column, check the October issue of SKATING magazine.
