Recently in Figure Skating Category

 Lori Alf, Owner of Palm Beach Ice Works, is thrilled to announce that figure skating luminary Patrick Chan has signed on to train at the new rink in West Palm Beach. The World medalist and his trainer Don Laws have chosen the rink located at 1590 North Florida Mango Road as Patrick's major training facility for his Olympic medal pursuit.

Lori Alf, who bought and developed the ice rink, stated, "I feel so blessed to have created a facility that can attract figure skaters of Patrick Chan's caliber. It's hard to describe how proud I feel watching him skate there."

Patrick Chan is a Canadian figure skater who first took to the ice at the age of five. He has since dominated Canada's skating scene with his most recent accomplishments including the 2009 Four Continents champion, the 2009 World silver medalist, the 2007 World Junior silver medalist and the 2008 & 2009 Canadian Champion. Don Laws became Chan's primary trainer in 2007.

Lori Alf continues, "I've done really well for myself by just staying committed...and being goal oriented. One reason I created the rink is because I see sports as a great way to transfer that quality to kids. I also can't imagine a better role model for the young skaters here than Patrick Chan."

Palm Beach Ice Works is located just one minute north of the West Palm Beach Airport, and has a 200x100 feet (Olympic size) rink in order to create an optimal training environment for the competitive skater. The small country club like atmosphere enforces goal-oriented conditioning for both the figure skater and serious ice hockey player. The rink provides facilities and services such as off-ice conditioning, an indoor running track, Dartfish (sport video training), Ballet and Pilates, and Sports Psychology. There will also be a half pad of ice (60x120 feet) that will offer an introduction to figure skating and beginner hockey.

Lori Alf is also CEO of technology solutions company Tracking Innovations. For more information on the rink please visit www.palmbeachiceworks.com.

SOURCE Palm Beach Ice Works

The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center will open on Columbus Day, October 12th, to kick off the 2009-10 winter season. It is the world's most famous ice skating rink, with more than one quarter of a million skaters visiting each year between October and April. The Rink opening marks the traditional beginning of the festivities leading up to the annual lighting of the beloved Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

The Rink will open this year with an exhibition from Ice Theater skaters. Honoring Columbus Day, a skater portraying Christopher Columbus will perform and offer complimentary Italian flag cookies to all visitors on opening day. The skater will perform for the public from 9 am-4 pm, and a press reception will be held from 10 am-12 noon.

Additionally, anyone with the name "Christopher" will receive 1/2 off on skating on Columbus Day, and anyone named "Christopher Columbus" will receive a complimentary skating on opening day.

"Attracting skaters of all ages and levels, The Ice Rink is a tradition we are proud to be a part of," said Nick Valenti, CEO of Patina Restaurant Group, which operates The Rink and its surrounding restaurants, The Sea Grill and Rock Center Cafe. "Visiting The Ice Rink and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has spanned generations and lasted throughout the decades, with more memorable years to come."

The Rink first opened on Christmas Day in 1936 as the premier artificial outdoor skating pond built in New York City, complete with modern amenities: night skating, a heated house for changing skates, piped-in music and rink-side dining. Over the past 73 years, The Rink has become one of the most visited sites in NYC -- and even the world.

The perfect destination for both families and lovebirds, The Ice Rink has several programs planned for the upcoming skating season: "Engagement on Ice" will be available throughout the season, which offers couples private time to propose marriage on the Ice Rink, followed by a champagne toast at Rock Center Cafe. "Breakfast with Santa" will begin in late November and last through Christmas Eve for children to spend quality time with St. Nick, enjoy a delicious breakfast at Rock Center Cafe and partake in a skate session. For those looking for a unique morning workout, Olympic gold medalist Jojo Starbuck hosts a morning "Cool Workout Sessions" program. Finally, back by popular demand, "Skate-a-Date" will begin January 2010. The program includes dinner for two at Rock Center Cafe and VIP skating on The Rink.

The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center is located on 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets. For schedules and skate rental information, please visit www.therinkatrockcenter.com.

Cleveland's own Quicken Loans Arena will be the site of a historic moment in sports when Olympic ice-skating champion Scott Hamilton makes his return to the ice at age 51 after more than 5 years since his last performance and his first since being diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. Hamilton's skating debut will be the highlight of the 10th Annual "An Evening with Scott Hamilton and Friends" ice show and gala, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7. The event raises funds for The Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education and Survivorship) at Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute.

Earlier this year, Oprah Winfrey announced on her show that Hamilton would be returning to the ice and would perform live again. Since then, he's spent countless hours in the gym with his trainer, called his former coach and choreographer back to the rink, and is now training daily on the ice and in the gym for his return at this event.

"Cleveland Clinic has been a part of so many major life moments for me," said Hamilton. "The medical team successfully treated me for testicular cancer and has been guiding me through my journey with a brain tumor. We've celebrated many happier milestones together too; from proposing to my wife to finding out we were pregnant. That's why it feels so right to be marking my return to the ice surrounded by the very people who brought me back to such great health at age 51 and have been with me through all of the ups and downs along the way."

The star-studded event that will be the backdrop for Hamilton's comeback will feature the talents of Cheap Trick and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, conducted by Carl Topilow, performing a special selection of songs from the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album in a concert setting. Each Cheap Trick band member is a longtime friend of Hamilton, and they are performing this special music at his personal request. Hamilton will be surrounded by fellow Olympic and professional skaters who will also perform throughout the evening.

"It is a tremendous thrill to be celebrating two milestones this year - the 10th year of this important cancer fundraiser and Scott's comeback to skating," said Derek Raghavan, M.D., Ph.D, Chairman and Director of the Taussig Cancer Institute. "We're so grateful to have Scott working actively on our behalf to raise awareness and support for key programs that give cancer patients guidance and resources along their journey."

Scott Hamilton is regarded as the most recognized male figure skater in the world. He captured the attention of the world 25 years ago with his Olympic Gold medal performances in Sarajevo and since has shared his love for the sport as a commentator, performer and best-selling author. In the 1996-97 figure skating season, Scott Hamilton began what would have been a standard twelve months of professional competitions, network television specials and tours. However, an unexpected event interrupted this routine and forever changed his life, and eventually would change the life of many others. On March 18, 1997, Scott Hamilton was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Scott turned his experience with cancer into an opportunity to help others with cancer and is now a lifetime spokesperson for the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, where he established The Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative in 1999. The CARES Initiative is comprised of three major components; the 4th Angel Mentoring Program designed to match newly diagnosed patients with trained volunteers who are also cancer survivors; Chemocare.com a unique website designed to help patients better understand the chemotherapy experience; and research funding.

This year's "An Evening with Scott Hamilton and Friends" will kick off with an ice show at 5 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena, and the gala follows at 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Tickets for the ice show will be available beginning September 27 by visiting www.theqarena.com. Tickets to the gala benefit dinner are available by calling Liz Lindecke, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic at (216) 445-0099. More information on The Scott Hamilton CARES Initiative is available by calling the CARES hotline at (216) 445-2573 or visiting www.scottcares.com.

Source: Cleveland Clinic