Real life interractions with skaters...?

[sillylionlove]

Have you ever met Faiella and Scali?

Yes I did last year at Skate America. They were really really nice and Massimo was really really hot!!
(those of you that were there will remember my wake up with Massimo dance, which I know Pasquale Camerlango (sp??) really enjoyed which is why I think he stood in front of me on purpose during their practice session. ) After 4 days and countless of use older (ie not pre teens) asking for his autograph and pictures with him I told him that I started a fan club for him and he laughed!!!

And I have no shame...I will go up to anyone and ask for a picture and autograph...got everyone that competed last year at Skate America (that would be in 2007!!) (and yes I will do that with any celebrity that I happen to run into to!!)

 

[Tonichelle]

My husband on the other hand, has no reservations.

my dad is the same way... as are a few of my friends here on the boards... it's basically the only way I actually meet a 'celeb' or 'athlete'... I was pushed in the general direction and forced to talk

 

[Winnipeg]

I was at a SC in 2001 and sat across the aisle from Alexi Yagudin who was watching the ladies SP and the pairs FP. I was impressed at how politely and pleasantly he kept signing autograph after autograph to young and old admiresers of his! He seemed very nice.

 

[Dee4707]

I was at a SC in 2001 and sat across the aisle from Alexi Yagudin who was watching the ladies SP and the pairs FP. I was impressed at how politely and pleasantly he kept signing autograph after autograph to young and old admiresers of his! He seemed very nice.

Awwwww what a sweetie!!!

Dee

 

[hrmsk8ngnutt]

From 1995 to 1998 I worked part-time retail at J Crew in Southern California. Among the skaters who came in to shop were Michelle Kwan, Karen Kwan (they were on separate occasions), and Karen Preston. They were all very nice. I actual rang up the purchases for Karen and Karen. Michelle did not buy anything. I also heard that the SOI cast had been in the store. Unfortunately, I wasn't working when they were in :disapp:

A friend worked in another store in the same mall and met Jenni Meno and Todd Sand.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Bebe is just as bubby and sweet in real life as she is on TV.
Evan also shows a pretty good side of himself on TV, he is very serious, works hard. Never smiles much though.
I met Tim Goebel once when he was skating competitvely, and he is a really nice guy. Also a hard worker, but more lighthearted.

 

[momjudi]

I met Johnny last year after a show at his rink in New Jersey. My son took a picture of me and Johnny and he completely messed up the photo - cutting off both our heads. Johnny saw me looking at the camera and asked if the picture came out. When I told him no, he offered to pose for another. I thought that was really nice of him, especially since there were other people waiting to see him.

 

[alopatra]

I met Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje back when they were still juniors and I was quite impressed. I was volunteering at the 2006 Junior Grand Prix in Liberec, Czech Republic, and I worked as an announcer at the practice rink and also helped my colleague to set up the music for skaters. After Kaitlyn and Andrew finished their routine, they came to the boards to say thank you (for playing the music) and they said it in Czech . The funny thing was that they didn't pronounce it properly and I didn't understand :chorus: so I was just standing there staring at them with a totally confused expression in my face because I had no idea what they wanted from me. But they obviously had learned the word and wanted to see if it works, so they just kept saying it again and again until I got it . And after they could see I finally understood, they said thank you in Czech two more times and seemed to be thrilled to bits that they had succeeded .

There was also a very little girl standing with her dad on opposite side of the rink who obviously wanted a photo with Kaitlyn and Andrew but was too shy to come closer so she just kept smiling and waving at them until they came to her and offered the photo themselves . ... so everyone was happy in the end except me because I had to stay in that terribly cold arena the whole day until the very last skater was done with their practice = until I got totally frozen :chorus:

 

[CzarinaAnya]

Matt Savoie, a couple times. Skated on the same ice. Altho, he almost ran me over. lol

 

[tilak]

I've met Johnny Weir several times & he is the best . He's very generous & will go out of his way for his fans - I have several autographs, photos with him along with hugs . At Skate America after the medal cermony Johnny came by to greet & talk with me and my friends. Melissa & Denis are super, too. I met them in NYC at a show & was amazed the time they took to talk with us. They are still my favorite dance team & hope to see them skate soon. Just recently I met Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker at Skate America. I told them I went to all their practices & loved them. Keauna thanked me & said they really want & appreciate it when people to come to their practices.
Great thread. Love reading about everyone's encounters!

 

[Tonichelle]

Matt Savoie, a couple times. Skated on the same ice. Altho, he almost ran me over. lol

I congratulated him in 06 for making the team in passing, he was on the cell phone and had just hung up when I just said a congrats and good luck and he was SO SURPRISED - it was like he didn't think anyone would recognize him while he was waiting to get his luggage from the hotel

 

[dlkksk8fan]

I've taken lessons with Lloyd Eisler (for a little while). Talked to John Baldwin when he did some practice skating at the rink I skate at. I use to take lessons with his sister Donna. When I volunteer at competitions that are held at the rink I skate with I get to talk to a lot of famous skaters/coaches. All were very nice.

 

[nubka]

I've spoken to a pretty recent Olympic Gold medalist a few times and she was extremely nice and approachable.

Please, can't you tell us who it was...??

 

[Eevun]

And I have no shame...I will go up to anyone and ask for a picture and autograph...got everyone that competed last year at Skate America (that would be in 2007!!) (and yes I will do that with any celebrity that I happen to run into to!!)

I'm exactly the same
I met a lot of skaters at Worlds this year. They who made the greatest impression at me were Sinead and John Kerr. They are soo sweet funny, polite, patience , you see that they really care about their fans. They're so adorable.
Met Johnny very very briefly he was in a hurry to his practice but he was very gentle, stopping by to say hi and sign my Camille-photo.
Stephane (he had problems during the whole week and wasn't well so I really understand that) and Tomas never stoped at us, their coaches laughed and made fun of us instead. That made me sad.

 

[merrywidow]

I met several skaters during the '90's & all were pleasant & polite (Eldredge, Kwan, Weiss, Kwiatkowski, Bonaly, Galindo, Candoloro, Woetzel,etc.) but I've only ever been treated with rudeness by a skater who I hadn't even spoken to but was approaching. She gave me one of those "don't you dare approach me, you peasant" looks so I just nodded graciously & walked on by. Her name was Oksana Baiul & this was at the height of her popularity in the US before her alcoholism became known.

 

[missysays]

I always feel weird going up to people I don't know and starting a conversation- especially if they're celebrities. I just like to watch their performances.

Though I will say my one close in encounter with a skater was with John Zimmerman - rode up an elevator with him at the hotel for a Skate America competition a while ago. And man oh man-- he's better looking in person. Made me swoon a little but I didn't let on.

 

[antmanb]

I kick myself for being too shy with celebrities! I watched a skating show here in the UK and in the intermission a lot of the skaters just wondered around right near the ice (i had front row seat that were maybe a metre from the ice pad) and Dacid Pelletier walked past and smiled but i didn't dare say anything or ask for a picture, several people further down the row did and he ended up sitting with them for the intermission discussing his and Jamie's skating, being genereally really friendly taklnig about Jamie's (then) recent hair cut! I wish i'd have had the courage to say hello!

Ant

 

[ManyCairns]

Katia Gordeeva was rude apparently and so was Yuka Sato
Phillipe Candeloro tried to get her to come up to his hotel room

Surprised to hear this about Yuka, as she seems so down-to-earth and sweet in interviews -- hopefully she was just having a bad day!

And Philippe sounds like his public and private personas match completely !

 

[babyoscar]

skaters

most of the skaters I have met are extremely nice, but I think most of them don't expect some strangers just go up to them and chat, especially some place that is no where near a rink. If some strangers come to me and started chatting, I would just start running in the other direction fearing for my life

Regarding Yuka Sato, one time walking out of a hotel to get to my car, I turned around to get my keys, I saw Yuka and Jason sitting on the bench outside, I think they were waiting for a cab. Anyway, I did not approach them but it did surprise me to run into them. I just starred at them for a second, Yuka looked at me and give me a smile.

I have met various skaters at COI backstage or skaters at their home rink, they all have been really nice. I don't really talk to them because I know they are either busy training or talking to other fans. I just thank them for their performance/work ethic.

On a side note, once I was at the Farmer's Market in downtown LA with a friend, I suddenly heard this voice I sort of recognize. I turned around and saw this guy in a cap and sunglasses sitting on the side talking to another man. I then recognized that was Carlos, aka Gabby's husband in Desperate Housewives. No one approached him, they were just sitting there chatting.

 

[ks777]

Surprised to hear this about Yuka, as she seems so down-to-earth and sweet in interviews -- hopefully she was just having a bad day!

And Philippe sounds like his public and private personas match completely !

Yeah, I am surprised about Yuka too. she probably was having a bad day and didn't feel like chatting too much perhaps? Yuka seems to be very down to earth when she is speaking in Japanese as well.