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The Figure Skaters Online chatroom gives fans the unique opportunity to engage in live conversation with world class athletes who have their official Web sites hosted at Figure Skaters Online. Skaters that have participated in the live chats include Brad Griffies, who competed in senior men's at the U.S. Championships, and former Eastern Sectional Champion Brittney McConn. World Championship team member Jennifer Kirk also held a live chat with fellow Boston Skating Club competitor Colette Irving, a former U.S. Champion as a novice Johnny Weir also participated in a live chat with fans before the Grand Prix season started in fall 2005. On a break from the Champions on Ice tour in July 2006, Evan Lysacek also held a live chat. No chats are currently scheduled at this time. [TOP] Figure Skaters Online contests give visitors the chance to win prizes while surfing through the nearly twenty Figure Skaters Online athlete pages. Many of the contests focus on answering trivia questions, finding hidden links and solving puzzles. Now in honor of the 2008 World Championship bronze medalist Johnny Weir, the three-time U.S. Champion who is dazzling fans across the world this spring, fans have the opportunity to win an autographed photo of Weir donated by Riedell Skates. To win, first become a fan of Figure Skaters Online on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Figure-Skaters-Online/37475728539?ref=s. Once you're a fan, show some support for Weir by writing on Figure Skaters Online's wall. It is completely up to you what to write but remember only one entry per-person. Winners will be randomly selected and then notified through Facebook. And five fans of Rachael Flatt will win an autographed photo of the 2008 World Junior Champion, who recently finished fifth at the 2009 World championship, just by becoming her fan on Facebook. Check out www.facebook.com/pages/Rachael-Flatt/46074183433?ref=s by May 1.
Figure Skaters Online has hosted several contests throughout the season, giving away exciting autographed prizes from various Figure Skaters Online athletes. During Skate America, fans had to hunt for a hidden link on Johnny Weir's Web site as a part of Johnny's Hidden Treasure contest. Among the nearly 300 entries that poured in, Daniel of Asheboro, N.C., was randomly selected as the winner. The What about Evan? contest was held during Skate Canada. Hannah from Concord, Mass., was randomly selected from all entrants to received an Evan Lysacek autographed copy of the January 2008 Skating magazine with Lysacek on the cover. For the Cup of China Word Scramble contest, fans were asked to solve two word scrambles involving Jeremy Abbott's costume designer and Ashley Wagner's coach. Amy from Mamaroneck, N.Y., was randomly drawn to receive an autographed photo of Abbott, donated by Riedell Skates, and John from Kent, Wash., received an autographed photo of Wagner. Fans also received a copy of Sports Illustrated autographed by Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin during Trophee Eric Bompard, which coincided with the three sectional competitions around the country, and another fan received an autographed copy of Vital magazine with Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski on the cover. Another eight items were given away during our Thanksgiving and U.S. Championships contests. A previous contest, "Johnny Weir: Poetry on Ice," asked fans of Weir to write original poems about the 2006 Olympian. From the more than 100 participants, Renate from The Netherlands was selected as the winner by Weir and his mother Patti. To read selected poems, visit the "Johnny Weir: Poetry on Ice" page. Winners of previous contests have received Champions on Ice post show passes to meet the Figure Skaters Online skaters who participate in the summer tour. Other contest prizes included autographed photos, subscriptions to skating magazines and other skating memorabilia. [TOP]
The Figure Skaters Online interviews give fans the unique opportunity to ask questions — from serious to silly — to the nationally ranked athletes who have their official Web sites hosted at Figure Skaters Online. Former Figure Skaters Online athletes and even athlete's fans have also had the opportunity to field questions for interviews. Currently in the hot seat are 2009 World Junior Championship bronze medalists Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, who will make their senior debut next season. The pair was the most successful American team on the junior international circuit in the 2008-09 season. Castelli and Shnapir finished fourth at the 2009 Junior Grand Prix events in the Czech Republic and Great Britain. They were the only U.S. pair to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final, where they placed sixth. The team earned their place at the World Junior event with a third place finish in junior pairs at the 2009 U.S. Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. Previously, they claimed the bronze medal as novices at the national event in 2008 and were 9th in 2007. Castelli was born in Providence, R.I., but now lives in Cranston. She graduated with honors from Cranston High School West, where she played varsity lacrosse despite skating internationally. He is Moscow, Russia, native who calls Sudbury, Mass., home. Shnapir currently attends Emerson College in Boston, where he is pursuing his love of movie production by studying film, video and television. The pair started skating together at the encouragement of coach Carrie Wall, who oversees the team with Bobby Martin and Sheryl Franks. Castelli and Shnapir train in Boxboro, Mass. To submit your questions for Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir, please use the form below: [TOP]
What three things would Naomi Nari Nam want to have on an island? Who would Johnny Weir cast as himself in a movie? What book is Dan Hollander reading? Published during the summer months of the off-season, the Figure Skaters Online "Summer Series" provides visitors with the opportunity learn about the interests and opinions athletes have beyond the sport of figure skating. In the 2008 series, almost 20 Figure Skaters Online athletes revealed interesting responses to questions about everything from their favorite way to spend a summer day to which television personality would make the best president to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The 2008 edition of the series includes:
The 2007 series has athletes weighing in on everything from Blades of Glory to current American President George W. Bush. Other questions include: In the 2006 series, more than a dozen Figure Skaters Online athletes revealed interesting responses to questions about everything from eating lunch to magazine covers. Questions included:
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