Spokane took one last graceful bow Sunday afternoon before stepping down off the world stage.
Smart Ones Skate America 2002 ended its four-day run with its traditional Exhibition of Champions, a two-hour celebration of the completion of the year's first of six prestigious events that make up the International Skating Union's Grand Prix series.
Fans from around the globe -- and an ABC television crew, as well -- made their way to the Arena to watch some of the best skaters on the planet square off in ladies, men's, pairs and ice dancing competition. The competitive portions of the event will help determine the qualifiers for the ISU Grand Prix Series final that will be held Feb. 28-March 2 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
But Sunday's skating was all for show. And the participants, including ladies gold medalist Michelle Kwan, put on a good one.
A crowd of 8,152 witnessed the exhibition, which featured the top four finishers in each of the four skating disciplin
old mark of 26,588 that was set in 1986 when the event was staged in Portland, Maine. "We exceeded all of our expectations," said event organizer Toby Steward. "It's been kind of like a big wedding, where you can't wait to go back and look at the photographs and stuff after it's over, because you've been too busy to take it all in while it's happening."
The event, which was expected to have an estimated local economic impact of $2.3 million, had its share of problems early on when some of its biggest names, like reigning Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes, withdrew for various reasons.
Hughes' injury was a little-publicized tear in the muscle behind her right knee. But fortunately, the United States Figure Skating Association was able to convince Kwan, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist and three-time defending Skate American champion, to compete in place of Hughes.
And the 22-year-old from Torrance, Calif., spent all four days of the event winning the hearts of those in attendance.
Prior to her exhibition skate on Sunday, one young man in the crowd proposed marriage, shouting "Michelle, will you marry me?" as she stepped onto the ice.
.05And afterward, all 8,000-plus who stayed until the end of the program to watch Kwan perform one last time, stood as one and loudly applauded one the most talented and engaging personalities in the history of the sport.
Sunday's exhibition also included a routine by members of several local figure skating clubs, along with another entertaining performance by the American ice dancing team of Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosoto, who stuck with the Elvis Presley theme they used in Saturday night's free dance competition to capture the bronze medal.
Steward watched most of the exhibition and then took a few minutes to look back on the hectic, pressure-filled week he had just endured.
He said he received nothing but positive comments from the judges, competitors and skating officials who were involved. And he added he would bid for the event again, "in a second," if the opportunity were to arise.
"Even with all of the injury and withdrawal stuff," Steward explained. "Because that was basically an aberration; a fluke. That kind of thing never happens, and it would never happen again."
Skate America, which was held in Colorado Springs, Colo., for three straight years before coming to Spokane, will move to Reading, Penn., next fall.
Phyllis Howard, who is president of the U.S. Figure Skate Association (USFSA) and a member of the ISU Council that governs the sport worldwide, said she was extremely impressed with the way the people of Spokane handled and embraced Skate America 2002.
"Everything worked out just beautifully," she said. "The Arena is a wonderful facility and the (Davenport) Hotel is absolutely first class. Everyone, from the organizers to the volunteers, has been exceptional.
"It's been a very good experience for all of us."
Howard added that she does not anticipate trying to find a permanent home for Skate America, like some thought Colorado Springs might become.
"I think it is very advantageous for the association to keep moving it around the country," she explained. "And I think that's very evident here.
"I think this year's event has been tremendous for Skate America, Spokane and the USFSA. The crowd has been so enthusiastic and supportive, and they seem to be very skating-knowledgeable, too."
Steward said he, too, was amazed by the crowds and how they responded to the skaters.
But he added that none of it would have been possible without the help of untold numbers of volunteers and sponsors, like the Davenport Hotel, which served as headquarters for the event, and Northwest Bedding, which hosted the popular FanFest in the Peacock Room of the Davenport after each day's competition.
"Looking back on it, it probably was the biggest thing we've put together here," Steward said, "simply in the fact that this past week, Spokane was on the world stage. Our job was to make it shine in every which way we could, and I think everyone -- from the skaters to the volunteers -- performed at the top of their games."
The first-place finishers in each Skate America discipline earned $30,000 and 12 Grand Prix points for their efforts. The runners-up earned $18,000 and nine points, and the third-place finishers, $10,000 and seven points.
At the conclusion of the six Grand Prix events, the competitors' points in their two designated events will be totaled, and the top six ladies, men, pairs and dance teams will be invited to compete in Grand Prix Series Finals Feb. 28-March 2 in St. Petersburg, Russia. First place in the finals will be worth $50,000.
The next Grand Prix event is Skate Canada, which will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in Quebec, Canada.
