For fans, it’s a rare chance to see world’s best skaters

EVERETT — Many fans will leave Skate America with beautiful memories, but few will have a more special experience than Maurrie Price.

Unlike most of the other fans, she waited for this show for more than 60 years.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to be here every day,” said Price, 84, who drove with her husband from Vancouver, Wash., to see the show.

The wonderful opportunity fell in the couple’s lap last Christmas, when their niece gave them the three-day passes as a gift, Price said.

Sitting alone in an empty row in the very back of the arena Thursday morning, Price recalled the day she saw a figure skating show for the first time.

That show was in Los Angeles in 1945, and Price said she was hooked on ice skating for life.

“I was sitting in the front row that day and I felt like I was out there on the ice.”

Price said it was a magical feeling.

Together with her husband, who is a former skater, Price said she often watched skaters practice at local rinks, but didn’t get to see another major competition until 60 years later.

The couple carefully planned their trip to Everett and waited anxiously for almost a year, Price said.

They were looking forward to seeing some of their favorite skaters perform live, and to discovering athletes they haven’t heard of before.

This year’s Skate America had something special in stock for 9-year-old Nicole Faulkner as well.

Nicole, who has been skating since she was 3, has already participated in two competitions, but she was still nervous.

And no wonder, because Nicole was selected to pick up flowers after the performances and hold the medals at the award ceremony.

“I’m excited about getting to meet everybody. I probably won’t get this opportunity again,” Nicole said.

Her mom, Laura Faulkner, a volunteer for the event and a former ice skater, said she was happy for her daughter. “It’s like a dream come true. I’m very honored to have this opportunity,” she said.

Laura Faulkner said she hopes her daughter will become a professional skater. Playing a role in Skate America at such a young age will certainly serve as an inspiration for Nicole, she added.

While Nicole and her mom hurried to the girl’s rehearsal Thursday afternoon, the ­Murphys were in no such rush.

The couple had just arrived from Chicago. Brooke Murphy, 52, and her husband Jim, 55, have never been to Everett before, but they weren’t feeling lost.

All because they’ve been to more than one ice skating event and knew what they were doing, Jim Murphy said.

Brooke Murphy explained that they’ve been following ice skating for years, along with several Olympic sports.

She was dressed in a white hoodie she got at an ice skating event back in 1991.

The pair, who did their share of traveling, said they liked the little they had seen of Everett so far.

“It’s sunny and beautiful. And I love the view of the mountains from the windrow of our hotel room,” Brooke Murphy said.

Among other things, the couple wanted to check out a special event for fans called Fan Fest, Jim Murphy said.

It’s only the second time in Skate America history that Fan Fest was organized, event co-chair Eric Rothell said. He said he expected the venue to be full to capacity.

Especially during three hourlong autograph sessions with the skaters. The two remaining ones are scheduled to start at 6 tonight and 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Rothell said Fan Fest is completely free and open to the public, which makes it a good opportunity for people who weren’t able to buy tickets for the competition.

“A lot of money was put into this event, and the idea is to give back to the community,” Rothell said.

Several bands were scheduled to perform throughout the weekend. Local musician David Lee Howard was one of them.

The spacious room dedicated to Fan Fest was still mostly empty, but Howard was getting ready to play a free concert.

“Skating fans are some of the most amazing people in the world. They are excited about sports and appreciate good music,” he said.

For many fans, ice skating is more than sports and music. For some of them, it’s even more than a lifestyle — it’s an obsession.

For a few very special fans like Maurrie Price, it’s a miracle 60 years in the making.

Reporter Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452 or kyefimova@heraldnet.com.

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