‘Biggest names in skating’

Posted on Monday, August 21st, 2006 at 7:23 pm

Kimmie Meisner, the defending world figure skating world champion, will join Sasha Cohen, Emily Hughes and several other United States Olympians on Oct. 15 at U.S. Bank Arena, organizers announced Monday.

The Campbell Cup will be broadcast live on ABC, as the event features two competitions: the United States verses Japan in ladies and men’s individual competition, as well as the United States verses Canada in pairs and ice dancing.

“I’ve never been to Cincinnati,” Meisner said from her practice rink in Delaware. “I really do enjoy skating in different towns, I try to look around and see what is out there.”

Tickets go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. and cost $74.50, $58.50, $42.50 and $27.50.

The event will give fans a first-hand look as expected 2010 Olympians unveil their new programs, after creating and fine-tuning them over the summer, said Lindsay DeWall, U.S. Skating director of media relations.

Skaters will also compete for a total of $240,000 in prize money.

“Fans in Cincinnati will have the biggest names in figure skating,” DeWall said. “Everyone looks forward to this event, from the skaters to the judges.”

Cincinnati hosted the World Figure Skating Championship in 1987 and the U.S. championship in 1979. The last professional date at the arena was the U.S. Open (Masters Cup Round) in 1997.

Meisner said she is still trying to define her own style and will skate with a “Spanishy” piece in her new program, which she finalized about a month ago.

“It’s very new and very different than what I usually skate to,” Meisner said.
So far, the music has received high reviews after Meisner treated her grandmother to a preview, she said.

Besides stunning fans by taking the world title, Meisenr, 17, also finished sixth in the 2006 Olympics and is only the second American woman to complete a triple Axel in competition.Although the visiting nation’s rosters are not set, DeWall said she expects Japan’s young Mao Asada to compete.

U.S. individuals include Evan Lysacek, Scott Smith and Johnny Weir.

U.S. pairs and ice dancing skaters Tanith Belbin/Ben Agosto, Melissa Gregory/Denis Petukhov, Rena Inoue/John Baldwin, Naomi Nari Nam/Themi Leftheris will also compete.The synchronized skating team from Miami University will also perform an exhibition.

By JACOB DIRR
Cincinnati Enquirer

*Purchase tickets to this event here at Ticketmaster.com