"United We Skate--The Aftermath of Sept 11"
Note:  This article was originally published in an abbreviate form in 6.0 Skate magazine in the Winter 2002 issue.  Here is the unabridged version.  As I post this now, I realize that at the time this was written, the death count was more than double was the "final" count was on the one-year anniversary.

On September 11, 2001 the United States of America was forever changed when terrorists hijacked four passenger jets, killing nearly 6,000 innocent victims.  Two of these planes, American Airlines flight 11 and United Airlines flight 175, were flown directly into the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City, causing them to collapse.  Another jet, American Airlines flight 77, slammed into the Pentagon.  The fourth, United Airlines flight 93, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers aboard the craft tried to regain possession from the hijackers and prevent it from hitting its target, presumably in Washington, DC.

The images from the day will never be forgotten.  For those who live near the attack sites, the sounds and the smells will forever be burned in their memories.  For one woman who was near Ground Zero the days following the collapse of the World Trade Center, a shift in the wind over the smoldering rubble hit her hard.  "It smelled like evil."

With the Winter Olympic Games only months away, questions about security are at the forefront of discussions. "You have to be able to proceed regardless of the circumstances you are in. The Games are going on. They're that important. I think they are a great symbol to the world and therefore we have to do our job and do it right," said Mitt Romney, the organizing committee president of the Salt Lake City Olympics.

"The safety of our people and myself, my family, is overwhelmingly more important than anything else. It is the highest priority and the highest concern that we have for the Games," Romney said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, new regulations have been set up regarding items allowed in carry-on luggage.  Currently prohibited from aircraft cabins include "cutting instruments of any kind and composition ... spare blades ... ice picks."  In other words, figure skates must now be in the checked baggage or sent ahead via a shipper like FedEx.  Perhaps no other change has greater affected skaters who must fly to their event.

Members of the skating community share their experiences of September 11 and how the aftermath is impacting them both on and off the ice.

Brandon Forsyth
Forsyth is the reigning US bronze medallist in ice dance with partner Jessica Joseph.  They live in Hackensack, New Jersey and train with coaches Sasha Zhulin and Samvel Gezalian.

We were on the ice pretty early and halfway through the session one of the mothers came in and said that a plane had crashed into the World (Trade) Center.  At the time I didn't really think anything of it because I was in my training mode. We're in the middle of practice on the ice, and the only thing I could think about was 'god, we have to do another run-through of this thing?'  We kept skating a little bit longer and then the owner of the rink came in and told us.  He was actually kind of teary-eyed a little bit. He said a passenger plane had just run into the World Trade Center, and that he was probably going to be closing the building, that everything had been put on a state of alert.

When we got off the ice, we heard people talking and a lot commotion by where all the TVs are. We walked over and that's when the second plane hit.  Everybody was just sitting there watching TV, just wondering what's going on.

Then we left the rink.  I have a little TV in my car with an antenna. I was waiting for the girls, because everyone without rides home was going to come over with us.  I turned the TV on and the news was on all the stations.  As the first Tower fell I lost all reception on the TV. I couldn't reach anybody on my cell phone. I was trying to call my parents, because I had heard some things about Boston and my parents are up in Boston.  (Eventually) I was able to reach them and they were fine. 

My dad wanted to make sure I wasn't in the city.  Last season, Jessica and I spent every morning at Chelsea Piers.  This was the first week of winter schedule, and we were actually planning on going to Chelsea Piers to work with Samvel a little bit more in the mornings. We would have been there.  Luckily we weren't. Samvel had postponed going to Chelsea Piers for one more week until Sasha got back from the Goodwill Games.

When we got home, the second tower went down.  We watched it on TV and then went outside on the roof right afterwards. You couldn't really see it from our balcony, so we went up on the roof to get a better view.  You could just see the billow of smoke going up from it. We saw and heard planes going overheard, military planes.  They had the fighter jets out by that point.

After that we were watching it on TV for a bit.  Then we decided to go down to the hospital.  It was only two hours after things happened.  We asked first to volunteer, but they didn't need us. Then we went to the blood donation. When we got there, this was the most amazing sight.  I'll never forget this. There must have been four or five hundred people already there from every race, every religion you could imagine.  Black, white, Hispanic, Muslim--didn't matter.  It was amazing to see lines and lines of people already trying to do something to help out.  We got in and it was like a four-hour wait.

Over there the head doctor quieted everyone down, and he told people that most of us could go home.  He was crying and saying he was so amazed and so happy with humankind and how strong America is -- people coming together like a giant family.  To see so many people so quickly just dropping everything -- leaving work, leaving home -- to do what they could to help.  To me, that was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

We got sent home and actually never got called back.  There was really no need because they weren't pulling anyone out of there.

We were glued to the TV for the rest of that day.  The next day the rink opened at noon, and we went in and tried to skate. The rest of the week was kind of hard to get on the ice and try to focus.  With Teterboro (airport) right there, with all the airports so close, we know all the flight patterns of the planes going by.  Not to hear any planes or see anything in the sky -- it was weird.  So every time something did go by, you knew it was a military plane just because there was nothing else out there.

I found out later that my cousin was moving from Boston to California. He was actually scheduled for American Flight 11, and we hadn't heard from him. My mom was really upset because his last name is Mello, and there was a Mello on the list of passengers. What happened was his friend who was supposed to take him to the airport came late, so he arrived late to the airport. He had to switch his flight, so he didn't end up going on that one.

On the other side, in this area a lot of my students have parents that were either there or had relatives that were there.  I worked at a party that one of my students had, and some of the people there were guys who had gotten out of the building.  There were up on the 40th floor and were able to get out before it fell.

Just this week I got my new team outfits for USA.  I wear that jacket as much as possible.  I love this country.  I wouldn't want to be any place else.  I'm proud to be an American.  Just driving around, you look at all the cars with all the flags.  All the buildings with all the flags up.  It's just a really good feeling to see all that.

Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto
Belbin and Agosto had just competed in the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia and returned home to Detroit early September 11th.

Belbin:  We had gotten to our houses around 2am. The jet lag was terrible so I was out cold all morning.  My best friend called me and said "turn on the TV".  My mom came in and I was half in a daze and couldn't believe how close we were. Imagine if we had waited one more day what would have happened.  We would have been stuck.

Agosto:  I couldn't believe it.  It was like watching a disaster movie, like "Independence Day" or something.  Then you see that happening and you know it's real.

Belbin:  We're seeing it happen and you see familiar things all around.  You realize that it's here.  This is our country. I have taken offense to some people having group discussions about it, and they separate me and ask me how I would feel. It's a tragedy.  I'm going to feel the same way as any human would.  I feel the same compassion and the same sorrow and everything for all the victims.  The USA is my adopted country.  I don't know if others feel that I don't understand it as deeply as they do.  It certainly doesn't make a difference to me what country I am from.

Agosto: I wasn't really worried about (flying); it's just a little more stressful now.  There's more security, and that's great.  It's very comforting.  Even though you have to wait in a very long line, it's worth it.

Belbin:  Most nerves come from checking our skates through.  I really don't like doing that.

Fedor Andreev
Canadian skater Andreev recently moved from Ottawa to Hackensack, New Jersey.

My mom had called me right away.  I got a ton of emails as well, like from fans and such, just asking how we were and how everything is in New York.  I've been here three or four months now, and I was surprised it touched me as deeply as it did.  I was -- I don't know.  I knew a couple of people in Manhattan who thankfully were fine.  But it was kind of a traumatic experience, you know?  Something so close to home happening.  It was very devastating.

Beata Handra and Charles Sinek
Handra and Sinek are husband and wife US ice dancers who train out of Sport-O-Rama in Monsey, New York.

Handra:  As we watched each event unfold, one after another after another, it felt like you were walking down a long road, and all of a sudden the earth gave way, and there was nothing ahead of you but a big drop-off.  The concern for our country's safety completely overshadowed any thoughts of skating.  Witnessing the catastrophe and trying to make sense of how so many people had their lives taken away forced all of us to stop, reflect and re-prioritize.

Sinek: However, skating the next day helped bring us back to reality so we could sort out our emotions.  Like many people, we needed to return to our normal lives. We now have to be as positive and hopeful as possible.  Life can't be lived in fear.  Our lives are too precious to be shadowed by negative thoughts.  We still don't know what will happen in these months ahead in regard to traveling abroad to competitions.  We don't know what other skaters are planning to do. We plan to go to our internationals in Germany and Russia, and we aren't afraid to fly.   We are really looking forward to representing the U.S. internationally.  

Handra:  The entire nation, coast to coast, came together with so much strength, support, and empathy.  America's patriotism has been such a beautiful and moving phenomenon to witness and be a part of.  It's an honor to represent this country, not just as skaters but as citizens.  

Sinek: Everybody knows someone or knows someone who knows someone who was directly affected by the tragic attacks.  Joanna Glick, a longtime skater at our rink, lost her brother Jeremy Glick aboard the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.  Jeremy died a hero by fighting the hijackers and preventing the plane from hitting planned targets.

Kim Navarro
Navarro and partner Robert Schmalo are US ice dancers based in New York.  They were schedule to compete in the Karl Schafer Memorial (Vienna Cup), but the USFSA withdrew the skaters the day they were scheduled to leave.

On Sept 11th Rob had to be at school early, so we considered staying in the city and skating at Chelsea Piers that morning. However, we decided that we would rather drive up to Sport-O-Rama and get a lesson from our coach Inese Bucevica.  After skating we jumped into the car and turned on the radio to get the traffic, since we were in a rush.

They were talking about a plane flying low and a crash that seemed intentional, yet we could not figure out what exactly the issue at hand was.  We were concerned Rob would be late to school or that I would have trouble parking his car at his garage near the World Trade Center.  As we continued to drive towards the George Washington Bridge, things began to unfold. The first tower collapsed, and we exited off the Palisades Parkway.  Not knowing what to do, we drove back toward the rink and just kept listening to the radio.  As we pulled up to the rink, we heard the announcement about the Pentagon and were completely freaked out. 

We stayed the next two nights with Beata and Charles.  We kept skating during the week, but we were very distracted, upset, and frightened.  Rob lives only a few blocks away from the World Trade Center, so though his building is standing, he is still unable to return home.  He has been able to go into his building twice -- for about ten minutes each time.  The first time he had to have a National Guard with him.  When he should have probably been getting clean underwear, the poor guy was running around trying to get sparkly costumes for Vienna Cup!

His building is fine and stable, yet the area is a crime scene.  Parts of a plane were found in the building next to his.  There are signs posted near the apartment elevators that read: "If you find any of the following in your apartment please report: black box..." How scary. I went with him last week and it is just a completely different world.

There are so many feelings tearing you one way or another and it is so hard to make sense of it all.  In one way I feel good because I enjoy skating even more and recognize its place in the bigger picture of life.  In one huge way I feel bad.  Such a terrible thing has taken place in the city we love and live in.  Rob is not able to live at home. We are not able to participate in our first international. Yet I feel so very thankful to not have had family or friends directly hurt by this. 

I was looking forward to the Vienna Cup because for the first time in a long time I was not nervous about competing.  It just seemed too trivial to get upset and concerned over skating when I should just feel so lucky to be able to skate and compete -- period.  Right now I feel incapable of getting insanely upset over a step in our program.  There are so many bigger things in life. Hopefully for all competitions to follow, we will just enjoy it, have fun, and remember how lucky we are, and also remember all the true heroes who live among us and many who now watch over us.

Colette Appel and Lee Harris
Appel and Harris are a junior pair team who train out of Newington, Connecticut.

Appel:  I was really excited about doing the Junior Grand Prix and I knew that something would happen in repercussion from the (attack).  Unfortunately it affected us tremendously.  We were supposed to go to Sweden and Italy.  They are two great places to go to. Our coach told us (we had been withdrawn) because he had been in contact with the USFSA.  We're definitely disappointed about that.

Harris: It was upsetting to find out, but we totally understand.  We're sad because we lost those, but on a human note what happened to us was nothing.  We're not bitter.  We're still young.  We still have a ways to go.  We're going to get more competitions.

Morry Stillwell
Morry Stillwell is Chairman of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Management Commission and a former president of the United States Figure Skating Association

The USFSA first made the decision to postpone the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Phoenix. This was a unilateral, but wise, decision by the USFSA. At this point we gave the USFSA the option of three different reschedule dates.  The event was not canceled, and we strongly urged the USFSA to take one of the three dates. The LOC in Scottsdale rearranged arena and hotel accommodations and was prepared to conduct the event during the week before Skate America. 

The decision to cancel the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Scottsdale and withdraw all skaters from the Series came one week later.  I was notified by a telephone call from the USFSA President Phyllis Howard that the USFSA Executive Committee had made the decision to cancel the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Scottsdale and withdraw all US skaters from the remaining six events. I immediately telephoned ISU Headquarters to tell them of the USFSA's decision. ISU Headquarters was as surprised as I was, since we had made special efforts to accommodate the USFSA with a new date.  The decision was again a unilateral decision by the USFSA.

(Other than the Canadian team from the event in Ostrava) no one else has withdrawn, and we have reassigned all skaters but one that were scheduled to skate in the ISU Junior Grand Prix in Scottsdale.  We have also filled all the spots vacated by the USFSA with skaters from other countries in the remaining ISU Junior Grand Prix events.  Needless to say, they are very happy to be able to send additional skaters.

John Hughes
The father of Sarah Hughes gives a parent's insight into decisions regarding competitions.

I don't think it really is the fact that she's a minor.  I think that any child I had -- whether she was 21 or 16 or 14 -- that I'd have a lot of concern, because safety is paramount to any parent. You want your Association to show that they have great concern for the skater and the skater comes first. I think that Phyllis Howard did the right thing with the junior events (given) the facts she had at the time.  We know a little more now.

We intend to send Sarah to both Colorado Springs and to Canada.  Then in November she has Lalique; and hopefully by then we'll have a comfortable feeling that she's safe and we'll be able to send her.  You have to keep safety as your number one concern.

These kids, their skating--they're so committed to it.  They are so dedicated that it's a shame to take that away from them, but when it comes to their safety, there's not even a question to me.

David Baden
IMG (International Management Group) agent/Stars On Ice

The (Stars On Ice) tour travels on a private plane. I think that definitely gives the skaters a greater comfort. There are new policies that the FAA is implementing with chartered planes, so they'll be held to even higher standards, which is good for all of us.

We travel with a security guard. I think things will be tightened up a little bit, but I think it's going to be cooperating a lot more with the venues that we go to, making sure that the security is coordinated better with the buildings and with our security team.

For further information, email me at Toeloopy@aol.com.