The excitement can be summarized with a squeal.

"Michelle Kwan," shrieked a gaggle of girls at Eagles Ice Arena, when asked about their favorite skater.

"She's the champion," said 16-year-old Tanya West of Mead.

"Just because you don't win the (Olympic) gold medal doesn't mean you're not the best," added Susannah Hall, 17.

Kwan's last-minute decision to come to Spokane was the icing on the cake for fans -- particularly members of the local ice skating clubs who will flock to the Spokane Arena this week for the Skate America competition.

For die-hards like Hall, West and other aspiring skaters, it doesn't get better than this: More than 50 figure-skating stars from a dozen countries, including Olympians Alexei Yagudin and Kristi Yamaguchi. All their idols under one roof.

"We look up to them," said West, a member of the Lilac City Figure Skating Club. "They're our role models."

Sure, they've watched the stars on TV. And yeah, they've met some of the Olympians when they come to town for shows. But never before have they witnessed live competition among such a high caliber of skaters.

"I can't believe they're actually coming to little ol' Spokane," said Molly Olson, 13, of the Spokane Valley, who's been skating since she was 3.

"It gives me motivation," said Kalie Budvarson, 16, of Coeur d'Alene, who skates at Planet Ice with Olson and other members of the Inland Northwest Figure Skating Club. "It makes me want to go out there and make it someday."

Skaters from the two clubs will be busy this week. About 40 of them will perform during a special exhibition Sunday night in front of thousands of spectators. Others will volunteer throughout the week by greeting competitors at the airport, serving food and doing other tasks that will bring them face to face with their skating heroes.

Those who aren't working have bought tickets for all four nights of the event.

During practice at the crack of dawn and again after school, many of the local skaters worked on their jumps and spins as they counted down the hours until the start of Skate America.

They talked about Yagudin's footwork, Yamaguchi's grace, the thrill of watching the live competition. But it's Kwan who wins the popularity contest in the Inland Northwest.

"I'm definitely a Michelle girl," said Sandy Blackwell, a 32-year employee of Eagles Ice Arena and an avid follower of ice skating. "She's No. 1 to me. She just keeps coming back and adds a lot of class to a controversial sport."

Some of the local skaters met Kwan in 1997, when the United States Figure Skating Association had its annual governing council meeting in Spokane. They got her autograph and had their photographs taken with her. Now, they talk about her as though she lived next door.

"Michelle was the most gracious young woman," said Diana West, a volunteer with the Lilac City Figure Skating Club. "She makes them realize that skating isn't about winning; it's about love of the sport."

The feeling wasn't quite the same with Sarah Hughes, the 2002 Olympic Gold medalist who beat Kwan. Local skaters were certainly disappointed when Hughes announced last week that she couldn't come, West said. But they were thrilled when they learned that Kwan was the new headliner.

"Sarah Hughes? She's OK," said 13-year-old Nora Powell of Post Falls. "Michelle Kwan is cool. I want to be like her someday."