Brown, Gold among elite skaters at Sears Centre this weekend
Some of the top figure skaters in the world, including Olympians with suburban ties — Gracie Gold and Jason Brown — will compete at Hoffman Estates' Sears Centre Arena this weekend at the 2014 Hilton HHonors Skate America, the first major skating competition held in the Chicago area since 1946.
Which means the last time an event like this came to town, the Chicago Cubs were just a year removed from being in the World Series.
“I don't think in the time I've been around Chicago has necessarily been looked upon as a skating destination,” said David Santee, who skated for the United States in the 1976 and 1980 Olympics and now is the director of skating at the Oakton Ice Arena in Park Ridge.
Santee, who grew up in Oak Park, said the event is an important stop for the top names in figure skating. It is the first of six competitions that make up the 2014 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, and one of the first opportunities to see the up-and-coming skaters who may star in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
One reason the event landed in the Chicago area is the recent emergence of world-class figure skating talent here. Besides 2014 Olympic medalists Brown and Gold, 2010 Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek is a suburban native, having grown up in Naperville.
“Clearly Jason Brown and Gracie Gold coming out of the area has made it more front and center as far as a skating destination,” Santee said.
Both Gold, 19, who's lived in Elk Grove Village, and Brown, 19, from Highland Park, will compete at the tournament.
Brown is coming off his first professional tournament win at a competition in Germany last month.
“I know how much more I have in me in this program,” Brown said. “That was just scratching the surface in Germany.”
Gold earned bronze at that tournament. She said not stressing out is key to success at her competitions.
“Not every competition is the Olympic Games,” Gold says. “I just need to relax and have a little more fun with competing.”
The event, which features men's individual, ladies individual, pairs and ice dancing competitions, takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A full schedule and tickets are available at www.2014skateamerica.com.
• Daily Herald news services contributed to this story
2014 Hilton HHonors Skate America
When: Friday, Oct. 24 — Sunday, Oct. 26
Where: Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates
Tickets: $125-$400 for all sessions, $12-$77 for single session
More information: www.2014skateamerica.com