November 98--- I'm kinda puzzled. This web page took over 200 hits last month, and not one person said a word about the jo program--then how is it, that every skating discussion of any length I have been involved in , as far back as I can remember always has some discussion of jo--so I guess we'll just go on talking about it in muffled tones--amazing!!! moving along--our skaters did well at the Westlake Jamboree last month, with 7 of our skaters taking 1 or more awards. The Jamboree also was the first competition for some of our skaters, amoung them, my 4 year old daughter--alex. A good time was had by one and all. At the Holloween Invitational in St. Louis, held the next week after the Jamboree, Our Skater, Sara took 4 first place awards. It was a little chilley up there but Sara warmed us up with her performance. Another note of interest, The Tulsa Invitational Meet has be cancelled. From what I understand, the organizers had only received entires for around 50 skaters. But--do not despair my skating friends, for there is another meet being held over Thanksgiving weekend right here in Grand Prairie, Texas--The Forum Invitational. Contact Coach Kelly Mahon or Coach Debbie Adams at that rink for more information (in the phone book under Forum Skateland). The World Championships are now going on in Columbia. Follow the link on our page one to see how our country is doing, or, if you subscribe to America On Line, go to the keyword artskate and follow the links to the results, being sent back daily by Bill Houle. Till next month keep warm....
October 98--- Well the calendar says fall but the weather still says summer down here in the Lone Star State; as a friend of mine said about Fresno's heat this summer, surely applies here also "its so hot here,the trees are lookin for dogs". I'm still confused about all the new rule changes and divisions for skaters. Surely because of all the new rule changes, there has been a lot of talk recently about an old sore spot for some Skating Folks--The Junior Olympic Program. With the new rule changes, it would seem that some of the 'abusers' could find a way to keep skaters in JO for a lot longer than 3 years, and that's not to mention Standard Skaters who, after skating up in Standard for years, are now allowed to come back and skate in the JO program(a fact that was painfully obvious at JO Nationals this year in Fresno). Should JO Skaters only be allowed to skate to the Regional Level or should we continue to have JO Nationals? What do YOU think. Please send us some e-mail with your opinion, if there is enough response, we will post them. Of course we would wish you to remain anonymous, we will not even show your e-mail address. Moving along--Our club is practicing hard for the up comming Jamboree on Sunday October 18,to be held at Westlake Skate Rink here in Mesquite, TX and The Rollercaid Invitational in St Louis the next weekend. Good luck to all our skaters and we'll tell ya what happened next month...till then
September 98---Welcome back all you skaters out there, its the start of a brand new season!!! Whether or not you went to Nationals, I hope you had a wonderful summer, now its school (boo) and SKATING (yea) time again. You'll have a little extra time this season to get all your stuff ready for competitions cause the first competition of the year in late October in Austin has, as of this writing, has been cancelled. Hope you have figured out what division(s) you will be skating in this season, with the new rule changes many of us, including yours truely, are having some trouble with this issue. On another note; most folks involved in skating like to usually 'play down' noteworthy accomplishments in skating for some reason. I'm sorry, but I do not agree with this un-writen policy, and with that said, I would like to tell all of you about something that happened this summer at Nationals which I consider truely remarkable and if you have not heard yet, you will now:
