Champion skaters show off routines

A spaghetti dinner also will allow 17 athletes to raise funds for a regional competition next month.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 24, 2002

Area roller skating enthusiasts will get a glimpse of 17 current and, perhaps, future skating champions at the second annual Pasta Skate & Pre-Regional Show at Spinsations Family Roller Skating Center on June 2.

The event gives contenders a chance to try out their routines before an audience before going to the Southern Regional Roller Skating Championship competition next month in Pensacola, and, if they win there, a national competition in Nebraska in August.

It's also a chance to raise money to cover the skaters' expenses at the upcoming competitions. To that end, the parents and supporters are making and serving a spaghetti and meatball dinner, with salad, breadsticks, dessert and coffee, between the acts from 2 to 6 p.m.

"The defending world champions, Adam White and Melissa Quinn, will be performing a new number especially choreographed for the 2002 world championships," said Angela Serini, publicist for the Florida Skating Academy, sponsors of the June 2 event. The world championships are in Wuppertal, Germany, in September.

White and Quinn have performed in the academy's last two December holiday shows.

Other champions who will perform include Brent Bertrand, the 2000 Juvenile Boys National Figures Champion; Ely Lewin, 8, the 2001 Elementary Inline Singles National Champion; and national finalists Tabatha Clark, 8, and Brandon Frazier, 9, both of Tampa, who will do a duet to music by the Swing Kids.

"Tabatha and Brandon have skated together for three years," said Debbie Clark, Tabatha's mother. The two won second place in "free style" at regionals in Pensacola last year while competing with skaters from Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Florida. They were national finalists in individual free-style skating.

The upcoming competition in Pensacola is expected to draw more than 500 skaters and coaches.

Those who attend may also skate between the performances by the academy members.

At a glance

WHAT: Second annual Pasta Skate & Pre-Regional Show

WHERE: Spinsations Family Roller Skating Center, 8345 Congress St. (1/2 block south of Ridge Road), Port Richey

WHEN: 1 to 6 p.m. June 2

TICKETS: $6, includes show, spaghetti/meatball dinner, dessert, coffee and open skating segments; available 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Spinsations. A limited number of tickets might be available at the door. Advance ticket purchase recommended.

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