Jimmie Santee is Over the Edge

PS Magazine, OCT/NOV 2010 This past September, I was in San Francisco for both the PSA Nationwide and ISI seminars. I was excited to be there as I was unveiling a new presentation/soapbox, "The Forgotten Art of Skating Etiquette." But before I was scheduled to deliver my new PowerPoint, I had an on-ice presentation to do. Standing in the middle of the rink finishing up my session, you can imagine my surprise as I was interrupted by this gentle voice from behind. "Excuse me Mr. Santee, I am sorry to interrupt…I’m warming up for my test and I need to use the middle of the ice…Is that OK?" I turned and just stared at him in stunned silence…Did he just call me Mr. Santee? Is he asking my permission to use ice he already had a right too? WOW was all I could think, and "Sure" was all I managed to say. Turning toward the coaches standing there, I said, "I’ll even get out of his way." I was so impressed with his demeanor that I thought to myself that if ...

PS Magazine, Sept/Oct 2010 On June 10 at 11:45 am pacific coast time a coach from the LA area updated his Facebook status with the following words, “PSA + C-E-R'S = GREED”. By that night, six more coaches weighed in with comments like, “yep its called lets suck all the money we can out of the coaches” and “thief” and finally, “The smell of corruption is powerful to allow so many ‘required’ fees.” You can imagine how I felt reading those words. You can imagine as the e-mail made the rounds how those on the board of governors felt and those committee volunteers who give hundreds of hours of there time to this “greedy” organization. Unfortunately, while a majority of LA coaches have worked hard to improve their “product”, a loud vocal minority continues to misstate the current facts regarding membership to PSA, required CER’s, criminal background checks and in general, the purpose and mission of the PSA. For over 70 years, the PSA mission has been: “Dedicated to providing continuing e...

July/August 2010 On June 4, 2010, the world’s greatest coach died at the age of 99. “Quietly, with dignity, as if the Lord had personally and gently embraced and carried his spirit away”, said close personal friend and co-author of several of John Wooden’s 10 books, Steve Jamison. “Coach,” as he was referred to by most, was not a figure skating teacher but the legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins. Among his achievements included 10 NCAA Championships, a winning streak of 88 games that spanned three seasons and the President’s Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor America can bestow. I knew of John Wooden, just as most sports fans would; a reference quoted by a TV or radio commentator to one of his many “Woodenisms” like, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” It wasn’t until just before his death however, when Tom Zakrajsek presented his keynote address at the annual PSA Conference in Colorado Springs, that I was really enlightened. Tom talked a lo...

PS Magazine, May/June 2010 For Immediate Release: Dateline: April 1, 2010, Rochester, MN Jimmie Santee Awarded “Vintage Platinum Medal” In a touching ceremony attended by no one, but beamed by satellite to certain areas in Russia, Jimmie Santee was awarded the Vintage Platinum Medal for his performance during the 1988 Calgary games. “The fact that I was performing with Disney on Ice during those Olympics doesn’t mean anything… I mean I did beat Brian Boitano once in 1977. I’m sure if I was given a spot on that Calgary team I could of won" said Santee. Following the lead of the Vancouver Games Platinum Medal winner, Evgeni Plushenko, a secret but select committee of former non-medaling Olympians felt the need to recognize Jimmie as the true winner. When asked for a comment regarding the award, a former Olympic Silver medalist who asked to remain anonymous said, “Fantastic! Perhaps a note from Obama and a visit to the White House comes next!” When asked what he going to do now, Jimm...

PS Magazine, March/April 2010 As exhausting as it was to attend the Spokane marathon, better known as the 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships, it has reaffirmed to me that the skating has never been better. I know there are people out there who will disagree with me. Sonia Bianchetti, ISU judge and referee, frequently blogs about the poor quality she sees in events that she attends or watches on TV. I can’t speak for what she sees in Europe, but if she is referring to the United States, I need someone to explain it to me! What I saw in EVERY event at the U.S. Championships was truly inspiring. I was proud to have been a witness to more great performances and well-choreographed programs than I have ever seen in a single event. That being said... We have a big disconnect. We rely too heavily on what we read. Many of us read Phil Hirsch, Nancy Armour or Christine Brennan—and some actually enjoy reading what they write. But when they keep writing things like ‘bring back Ton...

Jan/Feb 2010 PS Magazine The year was 1985. My first year as a performer with Disney on Ice and the year I met my wife, Jamie. You may recall the Chicago Bears won Superbowl XX that year, embarrassing the Patriots 46 – 10. In 1985, Windows 1.0 was introduced and the first .com registered. Brian Boitano won the first of his four consecutive national titles. Sandy Lamb was president of the Professional Skaters Guild of America; the first woman to hold that position. But two of the most fruitful changes of that time were the move of the PSGA from Buffalo, New York to Rochester, Minnesota and the hiring of Carole Shulman as its executive director; not only a change of address but a new beginning for the association and facelift for the newsletter. The “Professional Skater” – PS Magazine was introduced with the March/ April Issue. In 1985, PS Magazine had a circulation of 1100, with the membership of the PSGA at 925. The two-color magazine continued to publish six times per year. Twent...