Abbott, Stars on Ice hit Aspen
The Aspen Times
Steven Senne/AP | AP
A two-time Olympian, who skated his first figures at the Aspen Ice Garden, is coming home.
Jeremy Abbott, who won his fourth U.S. national figure skating title last January, will return to Aspen to headline a show featuring fellow Olympians as well as local skaters with the Revolutions Skating Club.
Stars on Aspen Ice 2014 will hit the ice at the Lewis Ice Arena at the Aspen Recreation Center (ARC) on Saturday for two shows.
Olympic medalists Gracie Gold and Rosalyn Sumners will join Abbott on the ice in Aspen.
“This is such a big show. We’re really excited about it,” said Michelle Hocknell of the Revolutions Skating Club. “With a big show like this, all of our kids will do the opening and closing numbers.”
She said two Aspen skaters will be featured in solos during the Stars on Aspen Ice 2014 program.
Kate Howard and Sari Behr will be featured in solo skating performances at the Lewis Ice Arena.
There will be an early show and a late show.
The early show is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, with a VIP reception to follow from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The late show will start at 8 p.m. A VIP reception will precede the late show, running from 7 to 8 p.m.
Tickets are available at the Wheeler Box Office. Adult general admission tickets are $35. Student tickets are $20 each.
Tickets also will be available at the door Saturday.
There also are $100 VIP tickets available featuring on-ice seating and a private catered reception with the skating stars.
The Revolutions Skating Club will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation for Research.
Abbott received a special honor this year by Skating magazine.
Abbott, who grew up in Aspen, was named the 2014 Readers Choice Award winner.
Abbott earned a bronze medal in the inaugural Olympic Team Event in Sochi, Russia, last winter.
Through online voting, Skating magazine readers cast their ballots for the athlete or team they felt most deserving of the award based on the accomplishments of the last season.
More than 20,000 votes were cast during the balloting period.
Abbott won.
Olympian Jason Brown finished second with Olympic ice dance champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White collecting the third-most votes.
Abbott, after initial report of his retirement from competitions, returned to competitive skating after the Sochi Olympics.
“I am incredibly honored to be receiving this award,” Abbott said. “I have such incredible fans from around the world that I have been privileged enough to meet and skate for. My skating has always been about more than points and placements. I love to give to the audience. I love to take them on my journey with me, and I’m so grateful that they can feel that.”
Abbott, 29, will be presented with the Michelle Kwan Trophy at the 2015 U.S. Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.
In addition to winning his fourth U.S. title in Boston with a record short program (99.86 points), Abbott also rallied to finish fifth at the World Championships last winter.
He also won a bronze medal at the NHK Trophy competition in Japan as well as qualifying for his second Winter Olympics.
