Most Memorable CONFERENCE by Eileen Viglione

In May, ISI and the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) headed to “Te Entertainment Capital of the World” to host their joint conferences and trade show that served up twice the amount of education, networking and camaraderie. Las Vegas proved to be a fitting location considering that the ISI and PSA have been promoting entertainment on ice for over 50 years!

AFFILIATION NEWS

It’s a sure bet that this year’s event will go down in ISI history as one of its most memorable. At the conference opening on Wednesday, June 1, ISI President Rob McBride announced that

the ISI and

PSA would be entering into an affiliation agreement to consolidate operations and management to strengthen industry services and programs. Both organizations believe that the streamlining of programs and services will unify the industry, thereby reducing costs to skaters and coaches, while improving participation and retention for arena owners and operators. (Read more about the affili- ation on page 5.)

SCOTT HAMILTON – JUST GET UP!

Following the exciting news, four-time World champion and 1984 Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton took to the stage to deliver an entertaining and motivating keynote address to a standing-room-only crowd. Hamilton began by telling the audience

that he is the “ultimate, disgusting, sickening optimist!” He shared a humo- rous story about his friend who looks at life with less than rose-colored glasses. “My friend Brian, who is not an optimist,

will say ‘I don’t even want to talk to you. You find good in everything,’ and I’m like, yay, the world’s really great,” said Hamilton. “Brian is the kind of friend that every guy

has to have, but no woman wants to have a friend like this.” After dating Tracy (who is now

Hamilton’s wife) for a few weeks, Hamilton was watching football with Brian, who began asking if marriage was next. Hamilton said he wasn’t sure, and Brian asked him if he had looked in the mirror lately. Te two men began joking around about personal ads, and Brian mentioned that it was important to be honest. “So I’m like, O.K. — Short, bald, half

neutered, `chemoed,’ radiated, surgically repaired, retired, male figure skater of unknown ethnic origin seeks a beautiful, intelligent woman for long walks, laughter and my interest in collecting life threatening illnesses … I got a taker,” said Hamilton. Te room filled with laughter — Mission

accomplished. From there, Hamilton weaved in tales about his childhood, growing up with an illness, and how the ice rink became his comfort zone. He spoke about life … and love and loss. He touched on the industry’s cyclical nature of highs and lows. A two-time cancer survivor, he shared how he has used his skating career to help build a foundation to make a difference for those affected by the devastating disease. Troughout his narratives, it was clear

that his underlying message was one that skating had prepared him for since he was a young boy. “Te very first steps you take on the ice,

you fall down,” said Hamilton, “and then you get up and you spend a year and a half trying to learn an Axel, and then you probably fall a thousand times, and you get up. And then you’re diagnosed with

Scott Hamilton making his way to the stage for his keynote address.

6 ISI EDGE FALL 2016