Published December 16, 2004, in issue 0350 of The Hook

BY LINCOLN ROSS BARBOUR

The holidays are madness. The air is cold, parking lots are packed, and the kids are probably screaming about some video game or Barbie doll. Bring on a little distraction!

On Sunday, December 12, the Charlottesville Ice Park hosted Winterfest On Ice. With 40 acts ranging from the cute to the impressive, local and visiting skaters laced up their bladed boots for cheerful little shows of skill and talent.

While the acts weren't quite as fancy as the Ice Capades, the heart and camaraderie of the performers was just as affecting. Skaters ranged in age from 4 to 60, with each act doing its best to entertain the audience of friends and families.

The annual holiday show was organized by the Charlottesville Figure Skating Club, the local branch of the United States Figure Skating Association. Three of the club's members, Ryan and Mimi Edwards and Samantha Veloso, were finalists this year in the Junior National Championship. Their performances received big cheers and applauses as they sped around the rink leaping and spinning like little dervishes.

The evening satisfied fans of figure skating as well as die-hard hockey mavens: the UVA team took to the ice after the show to satisfy everyone's thirst for body checks and bruises. Just like the sale tables out at the Mall!

Happy Holidays!

Performers get a big smile from Shelly Blallock.

Ryan and Mimi Edwards: brother and sister by day, champion figure skaters by night

Family and friends watch the action.

The Fredericksburg Theatre on Ice during the "Inspector Gadget" number

The Fredericksburg Theatre on Ice boogies to the Austin Powers theme song.

Santa and ice skating-- too cool!

Skaters warm up for the second act during intermission.

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