Summer is just about over in Milwaukee (we hope that’s a joke) but it may well be time to start planning the winter activities you want to get into your calendar.
Make reservations to go up north for a weekend in a cabin, find someone to take you ice fishing for the first time and, of all things, mark the weekend of Oct. 23-25 for world class figure skating right in our own town.
U.S. Figure Skating, the big dog in the world of American figure skating, will host a Grand Prix event that weekend at the UWM Panther Arena.
The full-fledged competition will open with the short programs, move to the long programs and culminate in a family show on Sunday.
"Milwaukee is very excited to host its first international event with U.S. Figure Skating and to welcome current and future Olympians," said Paul Upchurch, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee.
The event will be two days of competition in ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dance. The field will include 56 skaters, including Olympic and world-level athletes.
"U.S. Figure Skating is excited to bring Skate America to Milwaukee," said David Raith, executive director of the organization. "We look forward to hosting a world-class skating competition in the area for the first time."
One of the highlights will be the appearance of Gracie Gold, last year’s national champion and a fourth place finisher in the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Past competitors in Grand Prix events reads like a who’s who of skating, including Michelle Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Evan Lysacek and the duo of Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who won the Olympic gold in dance.
The Milwaukee event will be the first in the Grand Prix of skating, to be followed by events in Alberta, Canada; Beijing, China; Bordeaux, France; Moscow, Russia; Nagano, Japan and the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona, Spain.
Pretty heady company for the UWM Panther Arena.
NBC will cover portions of the event with the now famous duo of Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski providing commentary.
Ticket information is available here.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
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Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
