The Ice Skating Blades Continue to Turn

Rekindling the Love of Skating

2026-02-28T11:38:00.000-08:00

Alysa Liu’s joy and love of skating is something I have been thinking about. It made me think about why figure skaters eventually retire. The fun of skating disappears and skating becomes a job.

When I was 20 years old, I decided it was time to stop being a competitive figure skater ice dancer.

Training during the middle of the night at the Broadmoor took away the fun part of skating. I wanted to be a “regular kid” just like Alysa Liu wanted after the 2022 Olympics.

I certainly did not miss training in the middle of the night. It was fun to make friends and just be a college student.

At 22, I got married. I told my husband I missed skating and ice dancing and we put an ad in Skating Magazine looking for an ice dance partner.

I had no idea how much money my parents spent on my skating, so competing again probably would have not worked out since I was now a married woman.

Then, my husband Dan told me the very idea of another guy holding my hand was a concern for him, so we dropped the whole idea of me competing again.

We were married for four years when I decided to teach skating when I was 26 years old. I worked for Ice Capades Chalets and yes, it was work, but I discovered I loved teaching skating and skating again so much that it did not feel like work.

My love of skating returned. There was no options in those days to compete after an amateur skater “turned pro,” so I did not look for a partner or compete again.

I did pass my love and joy of skating on to many others and I passed that joy on to my three kids and also my husband.

My three kids trained in a very intense environment at the newer Broadmoor World Arena Ice Hall, but their love of skating returned after that left that intense skating world and became professional show skaters and instructors.

I do think that once skating is no longer fun, that it is time to quit or do something else.

I still skate and I’m almost 70. My daughter Rebekah just completed a seventh tour with Disney On Ice. My son Joel skates and plays hockey when possible around his very busy skiing/snowboarding teaching schedule. My daughter Annabelle also skates when possible and loves getting out on the ice with her husband Ben. It’s fun to still be a “skating family.”

In Memory of Janet Becht - April 19, 1934 to October 20, 2025

2025-11-13T16:50:00.000-08:00

I submitted what is below to SKATING MAGAZINE on November 13, 2025:

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One thing to note: I really did not know Janet well when I skated as a child and teen in Los Angeles. I’d see her on ice dance sessions in those days and she probably judged some of my ice dance tests.

When my kids worked on their numerous gold medal skating tests, she told me she judged them some of the time.

She and I became friends after I began spending a lot of time in Sun Valley starting in early 2020. Something in me told me to reach out to Janet as a friend. Every time I went grocery shopping in Hailey I would stop by and visit her or take her out for a meal.

Once she needed to live in assisted living, she had to move to Twin Falls. Her late husband’s brother Balazs Becht took care of her needs until the end and I did what I could to help.

Janet Becht passed away on Monday, October 20, 2025. She was 91. Janet was a US Figure Skating judge and adult competitive ice dancer. She also was a US Figure Skating Gold Medalist. She lived in Los Angeles before moving to Hailey, Idaho where she judged for the Sun Valley Figure Skating Club. Janet was once married to figure skating judge and adult ice dancer Andy Becht who passed away in the early 1990s. They met at the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club and skated and judged together for many years. In addition to loving figure skating, Janet loved horses and her cat Sadie. She will be missed by many.

(Note: This is not her husband Andy in the above photo.)

Review of Slomo’s Book THE FINAL TRUTH - Slomo Is Brilliant!

2025-11-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

I traveled to Pacific Beach just to ride my foot powered scooter alongside Slomo while he skates on the Boardwalk. While we talked, he told me about his recent book THE FINAL TRUTH, so I immediately purchased the paperback version on Amazon. It is also available on Kindle and as an audiobook…

I heard about Slomo’s passion of inline skating every day up and down Pacific Beach’s boardwalk. I felt I’d heard about a kindred spirit because my entire life seems to be about gliding and rolling forward on skates, a scooter, on skis, on bikes or just moving. It took a few years for me to get to San Diego, but it was so fun to scooter along with the Pacific Beach legend!

Slomo does not talk much about his daily eight miles a day skating on the beach boardwalk, but he does talk about how he meditates, plays music, and thinks about things while he skates. Much of his thoughts about life are in this book and that is the reason that I highly recommend Slomo’s book. It would also not hurt for everyone in this world to move like he does.

In 24 short chapters, Slomo explains his thoughts about each individual’s life. The last chapter sums up Slomo’s thoughts: “God’s love is the final truth.”

Doing Side by Side Slomo’s Trademark Move on Pacific Beach Boardwalk - 10/21/25

Posing With Slomo - 10/21/25

More of Slomo’s Trademark Move 10/21/25

My husband Dan with Slomo 10/23/25

I Found Slomo! October 14, 2024

Figure Skating Secrets for Ice Hockey Players Hockey Power Skating Drills By Jo Ann Schneider Farris

2025-10-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

My kids Joel and Rebekah Schneider-Farris both played hockey in addition to doing figure skating

This article takes some secrets from figure skating and applies them to power hockey skating techniques.

Most of these drills can be practiced on public ice skating sessions. Players can begin each drill from behind the goal line and then skate most of the drills around the entire ice surface using both lengths of the arena (except the crossover drills).

Note: About.com'sde to Figure Skating, Jo Ann Schneider Farris, developed the drills in this article. She has taught hockey power skating for over twenty years.

Rebekah and Joel also did roller hockey!

Balance Drills

When a player first takes to the ice, he or she should first work on balance. The following drills may be useful:

Two foot glides
Straight line one foot glides
Gliding on curves (first on two feet and then one one foot, all directions)
Dips
Two foot jumps
C-cut jumps (small jumps to one foot curved inside glides down the length of the arena)
Lunges
One foot squats (alternating legs)
Groin stretch - Glide on two feet and touch toes
Shoot-the-ducks (alternating legs)
One foot balance drills (spirals)

Forward Stride Drills

It is important for players to be able to be able to easily move forward. Knowing how to make the most of every push and stride is the key to power hockey skating. There are several drills that will help forward strides.

Tips: Move from one foot to the other. Try to keep away from doing too much skating with two feet on the ice. Stay under control. Trust the blade's edges.

One foot T-pushes (scooter pushes) with and without leg extension
Forward striding with arms swinging
Forward striding without using arms
Forward strides with toe dragging
Lunges with toe drag
Two foot c-cuts (forward swizzles)
One foot c-cuts (1/2 swizzles)
Two foot edge pulls (slalom)
One foot edge pulls
Two foot edge pull jumps
One foot edge pull jumps

Varying Tempos of Forward Strides

The following drills may help players master forward striding techniques. Make sure to keep the skating knees bent.

Forward crossovers around rink ends, rapid strides to blue line, 2 strides from blue to blue, rapid strides to goal line, repeat
Goal line to first blue line, 8 rapid strides
Blue to blue, 4 strides
Blue to goal, 2 strides

Crossover Drills

Crossovers are the way skaters move around corners. On a curve, the skater crosses the outside skate over the skate that is on the inside of the curve. Being able to do good crossovers in both directions is essential for hockey. The following drills will help players with crossover techniques:

Crossover walks along goal line (both directions)
Running crossover walks along goal line (both direction)
Pumping on hockey circles (front and back)
Forward and backward crossover on hockey circles
Freeze drill—skate crossovers fast on circle, when whistle blows "freeze" on the foot you are on and hold without putting foot down (do both forward and backward)
Crossovers in both directions on all five of the rink's hockey circle

Backward Skating Drills

A player should be able to skate backward just as well as forward. The following drills will help improve backward skating techniques:

Backward straight line c-cuts on two feet (backward swizzles)
Straight line c-cuts (one foot at a time - back half swizzles)
Alternating straight line c-cuts (back 1/2 swizzles)
Backward slaloms
One foot backward c-cuts (short back inside edges)
Backward pumping on hockey circles (both directions)
Backward crossovers

Starts

Stopping and starting is done throughout every hockey game. Gaining power while starting is a hockey essential. Some drills that will help a player with starting techniques are listed below.

Forward starts first starting from behind the goal line, stopping at blue line, starting again at blue line, then red line, and then the blue line along the length of the arena
Side crossover starts (both directions)
Leaping side crossover starts (both directions)
Backward starts into backward skating
Backward start into backward crossovers

Turning Drills

Players needs to be able to quickly turn from forward to backward and backward to forward in all directions. It is essential that turning does not cause a player to lose momentum. The following drills will help players with turning techniques:

Mohawk turns (v-turns) in straight lines
Mohawk turn (v-turns) on curves
Windmill mohawk drills (turning from front to back and from back to forward while turning like a windmill)
Sprint to blue line, turn, skate backward to red, turn forward to blue line, turn backward at blue line, and skate to goal line backward
Skate forward and then jump 180 degrees and then skate backward to goal line
Two foot turns (all directions) - forward to backward and then backward to forward
One foot turns (3 turns)

Tight Curve (Pivot) Drills

In addition to being able to start, stop, and turn, hockey players must be able to make quick and tight turns. Pivot drills can help players master curves.

Curves around cones or face-off dots
Pivots making figure eight patterns around face-off dots or from goal line to red line and back
360 curves around face-off dots
360 jumps and 360 curves at goal, blue, red, blue, and goals lines while doing forward striding down the length to the arena

A 50 year old amazing encounter at Colorado College Homecoming 2025

2025-10-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

One of the alumni I met at the 2025 Colorado College Homecoming weekend (October 2–5, 2025) was Frank Purdy (class of 1975). He remembered me because he wrote for the school newspaper THE CATALYST and an article that featured me was published in THE CATALYST in 1975! In addition he asked me to write an article about the World Figure Skating Championships that took place at THE BROADMOOR in 1975. Both articles are below. Can you imagine my surprise to find out he remembered this from 50 YEARS AGO!!!!!

Jo Ann ice dancing in the Sun Valley Adult Week Exhibitions - August 22, 2025

2025-08-24T09:51:00.000-07:00

Below I am ice dancing with 6’6” Franklyn (I am 4’8”) in the adult ice show in Sun Valley 8/22/25…I was soooo nervous but Franklyn calmed me down 😍⛸

Jo Ann and Franklyn - Summer of 2025

Video of Jo Ann and Frankly ice dancing together - click here

Joel’s ProSkaters Audition - July 26, 2025

2025-08-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

My son Joel took part in the ProSkaters auditions in Sun Valley on July 26, 2025! See videos below.

Ice All To Myself in Sun Valley! Tuesday, July 15, 2025

2025-07-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like having an ice rink all to yourself! I did figures first. I felt like a little kid celebrating a private patch session. I’m so glad I can skate!

Schneider-Farris Family Skating Together At Broadmooor World Arena Ice Hall - Memorial Day 2025

2025-05-27T05:42:00.000-07:00

The World Arena Ice Hall gave us permission for a family photo on Memorial Day morning! What a memorable day for me to skate with my three adult kids there who literally grew up at The Broadmoor World Arena Ice Hall! 5/26/25

2025 and 2005 - Still Skating Together!

The Horrible and Tragic Airpcraft Collision on January 29, 2025 made me remember my own three kids were once like the skaters that lost their lives

2025-01-31T16:02:00.000-08:00

The figure skating community is in a state of shock and grief. 11 young figure skaters 13 parents, and four figure skating coaches were killed at around 9 pm eastern time when the American Airlines plane they were on collided with an army helicopter.

This incident is heartbreaking. It just doesn’t seem real.

I can’t help but think of these young and upcoming skaters who were honored to have earned spots on the US Figure Skating Developmental Team. These kids were all flying home from Wichita after watching the 2025 US Figure Skating Championships and staying for the Developmental Training Camp. They were young, so their parents accompanied them and so did their coaches.

Angela Yang, 11, and Sean Kay, 11, were undefeated in juvenile ice dance this season. The talented team had big plans for their future. Angela began her career as a solo dancer but dreamed of skating with a partner. Her mother, Lily, decided to make the move from Maryland to Delaware and began homeschooling her daughter as she pursued her skating dream. Angela’s father remained in China while his wife raised their three children and supported Angela’s skating dreams.

Angela’s partner, Sean Kay, was always a natural on the ice. The second oldest of four siblings (all of whom skated), Sean followed his older sister on the ice and soon outskated her and his peers, winning solo dance competitions nationally at the juvenile and intermediate levels. His skating continued to develop and he planned to move up to the junior level in solo dance while competing with Angela in intermediate next season.

Angela and Sean were coached by Natalya Gudina and her husband, Sasha Kirsanov, at the University of Delaware. Sasha accompanied them at the developmental camp (also aboard AA5342). Angela was accompanied on the flight by her mother, Lily, and Sean was accompanied by his mother, Yulia, a night nurse, who raised and homeschooled four children.

Angela is survived by her father and two siblings. Sean is survived by his father, Vitaly, and three siblings.

Everly and Alydia, their father Peter and mother Donna, were also on board flight 5342 when this terrible plane crash occurred. All 60 passengers on the flight, four crew members, and three people on the helicopter were killed in the tragic accident.

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My own three kids, my father, husband, and I were just like these families and skaters. My kids are grown up now, but were once young and up and coming skaters. I’m sharing below some of our happy memories from those days. We relate to all who have been affected. We traveled many times together to similar events like the US Figure Skating Developmental Training Camp. We are devastated.

Rebekah and Joel Star At an Ice Show on Plastic Ice at a Restaurant in Denver! 12/7/2024

2024-12-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

It felt like the “good old days!” Rebekah and Joel performed as stars in an ice show on plastic ice in Denver.

I got to be that “proud skating mom” again!

The whole family, including Duchess came to watch!

Joel Performs in Professional Ice Show at Pindustry On Plastic Ice! 11/22/24

2024-11-23T18:28:00.000-08:00

It was so fun to see my son Joel perform in an ice show in Denver on plastic ice! The show was incredible! Amy who ran the show was absolutely amazing.

I found Slomo! October 14, 2024

2024-10-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

About 10 years ago I heard about Slomo, a man who left the highly intense work world to spend his days roller blading on Pacific Beach’s boardwalk in San Diego.

I decided that he was like a kindred spirit to me since I am addicted to anything that rolls or glides forward and take my razor scooter all of the world.

So I went to Pacific Beach in San Diego especially to find Slomo during the 2024 Columbus Day holiday and I found him and introduced myself. We even go to do his signature move together!

Slomo’s signature move

Joel Awarded His Fifth US Figure Skating Test Gold Medal at Broadmoor Skating Club’s Annual Meeting 6/9/24

2024-06-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

My son Joel was awarded his fifth US Figure Skating Gold test medal (his senior freeskate medal - gold singles) at today’s Broadmoor Skating Club Annual Meeting 6/9/2024 at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

I found a photo of my daughter Rebekah being awarded her fifth gold medal 10 years ago on 6/8/14 by longtime Broadmoor Skating Club test chairman Janna Blanter.

Joel began his figure skating test journey at a Broadmoor SC test session on August 21, 2005 where he passed his pre-pre moves and pre-pre freeskate and two preliminary dances. Rebekah’s first test session was also at a Broadmoor Skating Club test session on April 24, 2005. Janna Blanter was the test chairman then and still is! Thank you Broadmoor Skating Club and Janna Blanter!

Rebekah Schneider-Farris Is NOw a Quintuple Gold Medalist! 6/8/2014

Joel Schneider-Farris - US Figure Skating Quintuple Gold Medalist - Finally Passed the Senior Free Skate (after four tries)!!! - OMG SO HAPPY!

Hawaiian Telemark Skiing Nationals Event In Sun Valley! 3/30/2024

2024-03-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

I meant to put this post on my regular blog, but I’ll just leave it on my skating blog. It was really fun to participate in a fun telemark skiing event….different than figure skating competitions….the whole day was nothing but festive!

Joel and I had the best time at the Hawaiian Nationals, a Telemark Skiing Event, in Sun Valley on March 30, 2024!

Joel raced in the race!

Joel participated in the race and both Joel and I participated in the human slalom!

Rebekah’s Radio Interview in Colorado Springs - 3/22/24

2024-03-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

Click on the link below to hear Rebekah’s radio interview in Colorado Springs:

Rebekah - Hostess of Show in Colorado Springs - March 23, 2023

2024-03-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

We had a delightful time seeing my daughter Rebekah host Disney On Ice in Colorado Springs. She auditioned for the show in 2014 and 2018 at the Broadmoor World Arena, and 10 and six years later she finally got to perform there. When she was a little girl we’d take her and her siblings to see the show there and so it was very emotional to finally see her perform there in Disney On Ice today!

Rebekah - Disney On Ice Idaho Falls, Idaho - March 14, 2024

2024-03-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

We had a nice time visiting Rebekah in Idaho Falls when she where she performed on her Disney On Ice Mickey’s Search Party tour.

Review of the book by Olympic Figure Skater Gracie Gold

2024-02-20T02:19:00.000-08:00

It took me less than a week to read Gracie Gold’s book. She wrote in a candid, as if she was talking directly to me style, and told me the story of her life.

I have also written and published a book called MY SKATING LIFE which tells the story of my life, and there was so many similar stories although I am almost 40 years older than Gracie. My book was published in 2014 which was at about the same time Gold won the US Ladies Figure Skating title for the first time and earned a spot on the Olympic team and earned a bronze medal in the Olympic team event, but so much happened to her after her 2014 Olympic experience.

Gracie Gold’s story is really very similar to most of the stories I’ve read about elite figure skaters, but unlike the stories that I’ve read in the past, Gracie shared every detail which included the good things, but also the bad things. And…some of the bad things were very disturbing.

One reviewer says that Gold’s book may change our sport, but I’m not so sure. Serious competitive figure skaters have always dealt with eating disorders, coaches who control, politics in judging, gossip in the background, depression, sadness, feelings of failure, and jealously. Those things will never change.

I realized as I read her book that Gracie Gold loves skating and that love is still there. I hope to meet her one day and I do hope that 40 years from now that Gracie Gold will still love figure skating as much as I do!

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Spoiler Alert! Don’t Read below if you Have Not Read Gracie Gold’s book yet!**

Some of the chapters and things said in Gracie Gold’s book were ones that made me really think about our sport:

The chapter about her special friendship with the late John Coughlin took me back to the times my kids trained at the same rink with him. I am glad Gracie and John had such a friendship and I’m still so sad to think that John killed himself because of the SafeSport investigation about him. How devastating it was for everyone who knew John, but wow…what an affect it had on Gracie.

Her eating disorder also “took me back.” I talk about my battle with Anorexia Nervosa in my book. Yes…figure skaters must be thin. There seems to be a lifelong struggle with body image even when a person is “healed” from an eating disorder.

Her relationship with her coaches fascinated me since in competitive skating, coaches hold a special role and how they impact lives can affect the skater’s life for years and years.

When Frank Carroll threw Gracie’s skates in the trash must have been quite a scene! I have known Frank Carroll since I was a little kid and him doing that must have really been a difficult moment.

The very idea that Gracie was raped by a fellow figure skater bothered me so much.

Gracie’s mother’s dedication to both of her daughters’ skating and lives I definitely related to. I did the same thing for my three kids and my father did the same for his three kids and my three kids.

I remember being in hotel rooms after an important competition that didn’t go well crying and thinking my life as I knew it was over. Gracie experience those feelings on a much bigger scale.

It is nice to know how much Gracie enjoys teaching skating. Her love of teaching adults is great. I remember in my young coaching days how much I enjoyed teaching adults and very little children too.

I guess young people think it is okay to use bad language these days, but some of the “words” Gracie used as she told her story did bother me.

I was sad she “ghosted” her father as he tried to reconcile with her and was a bit envious of her wonderful and close relationship with her fraternal twin sister since my sister has not spoken to me for over two years even though I tried to reach out many times like Gracie’s father did.

I’m so glad Gracie is in a good place now after so many lows that happened after the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

I have many more thoughts. I wonder what will happen in Gracie Gold’s life next?

My Book May Not Be a Best Seller Like Gracie Gold’s Book, But….

2024-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

My autobiography on my skating life is not a best seller like Olympic figure skater Gracie Gold’s recent book, but gives a picture of the inside of skating in a very positive way. (I was determined, when I wrote the book, to not say negative things about our wonderful sport. I am so sad that so much not so positive happened to Gracie though.).

Link to My Skating Life (on Kindle for 99 cents!)

Skating did help make me who I am today and I hope that Gracie when she is my age will look back on the positive things that skating gave her.

If you want to read some wonderful things about figure skating, read my book…I have it priced as low as Amazon would allow and it is available on Kindle, paperback, or hardcover.

I have not sugar coated my story, so you will read about some of my struggles and how I pushed forward.

(Btw…I DID go to the Olympics in 2010…not as a skater, but as media…my book describes that wonderful experience!)

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The following was written by my friend Curtis Sochia, a fellow figure skater and hockey player and Disney On Ice performer.

These words are so true! :

“I would like to thank Figure Skating for forging the spirit I have today.

Fall down. Get up.

Fall down and get up and try again and again and again. No matter how much pain it caused, nor how tired I became....I...Must...Keep..Going.

Never stop.

Never quit.

Always aim higher than I believe is possible.

Thank you Figure Skating.”

All My Son Joel’s SnowSports Credentails!

2024-02-18T11:02:00.000-08:00

My son’s updated Professional Ski Instructors of America membership card that shows all his credentials…I am so proud of him!

Joel Farris - Five SnowSports Certifications and US Figure Skating Quintuple Gold Medalist

2024-02-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Another BIG accomplishment for my son Joel on Friday, February 2, 2024! He passed the Alpine Freestyle One exam. It was part of the PSIA National Freestyle Academy which took place at Woodward Park City, Utah.

Last year, he took the same exam in Sun Valley, but did not pass.

Just like in skating when a test is not passed, Joel did not want to give up. I am so proud of his perseverance. I believe he learned that from skating.

Joel now holds the following snowsports certifications:

Alpine Level One

Children’s Specialist One

Snowboard Level One

Cross Country Level One

Alpine Freestyle Level One

And…he’s a US Figure Skating Quintuple Gold Medalist:

Joel Schneider-Farris - US Figure Skating Quintuple Gold Medalist - Finally Passed the Senior Free Skate (after four tries)!!! - OMG SO HAPPY!

Gold Skating Skills (Senior Moves)

Solo Gold Free Dance (Senior Solo Free Dance)

Gold Dance (gold pattern dance)

Gold Partnered Free Dance (Senior Free Dance)

Gold FreeSkate (Senior Free Skate)

We are SO PROUD of you Joel!

Review of my book “My Skating Life” by a deaf-blind figure skater!

2024-01-23T16:48:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled on a review of my book written by a deaf-blind figure skater! I didn’t know it was there….but, wow, did I enjoy reading what she had to say about my book! Hope others have time to read this wonderful review.

“My Skating Life: Fifty Plus Years of Skating” by JoAnn Schneider Farris - May 16 2018

I’m so sad about Kelly Burge’s passing

2024-01-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

A few days ago learned that Kelly Burge passed away on January 9, 2024.

In the photo below, she is pictured with me and my sister Lynnellen when we were caddies at the Pacific Coast Championships. I am on one end of this photo and my sister is on the other end and Kelly is next to her. Kelly is holding up the “5” and I’m holding up the “1” and my sister Lynnellen is holding up the “6.”

The Burge family has always been close to my heart and are mentioned in my book My Skating Life. Kelly’s sister Wendy placed 6th in the Olympics and was an Ice Capades star. Wendy was the star of the Knott’s Berry Farm Christmas Ice show I performed in in 1985. Their sister Roxann was also an accomplished figure skater and their parents were prominent US Figure Skating officials. I played with Wendy and Kelly. Dr. Burge encouraged my dad to find The Three Schneiders the best skating coaches and he inspired my father to judge figure skating. I am so sad.

Below is a video that not only features Wendy, but the Burge sisters. The video talks about the struggles the Burge family faced after Kelly was his by a drunk driver.

Below are some family photo memories of Kelly:

Ruth, Harlan, and Kelly Burge

My Son Joel Is Now a Certified Snowboard Instructor! - Another “It Happened In Sun Valley Moment”

2024-01-13T05:12:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, January 11, 2024, my son Joel passed a very difficult Snowboard Level One Two-Day Exam and now he’s a certified snowboard instructor! (….In addition to being a certified ski instructor and a certified children’s snowsports specialist.) In these photos he is smiling with the examiner Shaun (in black and blue jacket) and fellow snowboard instructors Lauren, Fielding, and Dustin who passed the Snowboard Level One too. This is a huge accomplishment since Joel added snowboarding to the things he can do only a few years ago. His time in Australia this past summer gave Joel the opportunity to master snowboarding since it seems like everyone snowboards there, but to now be certified in the discipline is a dream come true!

Joel did this totally on his own and is motivated to be certified in mult snowsports disciplines. I am so proud of him! Skating certainly helped him achieve this accomplishment.