Figure skaters may train their entire lives to achieve their goals: the elusive triple Axel or a quadruple jump, a gold medal at nationals, a spot on their country’s World team or the opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in the world — the Olympic Winter Games.

But if skaters fall short of some of those dreams in the competitive ranks — yet still live and breathe figure skating — what then?

This spring marks the 10th birthday of the Professional Figure Skaters Cooperative (PFSC), a not-for-profit organization that educates its members and the public on figure skating issues. The organization also advocates for its members and for professional skating in general. With a membership of 240 skaters and 28 producers, the PFSC’s anniversary is a cause to celebrate the expansion of job opportunities for professional skaters, providing an opportunity to network and perform both in and beyond the established skating community.

“The original vision was to create an organization — a cooperative — where performing skaters could get show and producer information, share their ideas and philosophies,” said PFSC President Craig Heath, a longtime professional skater. “Since the beginning, we have always tried to create a place that pro skaters can call home.”
Heath is currently living and performing in Hong Kong. He has traveled the world with companies such as Holiday on Ice and Disney on Ice.

A choreographer and coach, Heath has carved out an exciting career in the pro ranks that has provided him with opportunities on several levels. He worked as the assistant choreographer for two multi-million dollar productions of Disney on Ice, and for the past 10 summers Heath has performed and taught in Sun Valley, Idaho. “In between Sun Valley and the winter tours I have worked on cruise ships, at theme parks and state fairs, including [one in] Hawaii. I have skated at a birthday party … skated on plastic ice in Shanghai, China and everything in between.”

At the U.S. Championships as an Olympic-eligible competitor, Heath twice finished in sixth place. He went on to win the bronze medal at the now-defunct World Professional Championships in 1998. He cited that achievement as a highlight of his career.

“Performing in front of thousands of people every night is what I was destined for,” Heath said. “I live an amazing life. I get paid to do what I love — travel, and to have people clap for me. What more could I ask for? The world is my home. I can quickly adapt to just about any situation. I travel around the world performing, enjoying different cultures, meeting many different people and then investing my money wisely. I skate almost every day, not just because it is my job but because I still love it, even after 30 years.”

Celebrating the Big 10

Just as monster.com is the job website for corporate America, the PFSC’s website might be considered the ultimate online employment forum for the professional figure skating community. Backed by volunteers who help keep membership dues affordable, the organization offers skaters the opportunity to gain professional exposure to casting agents and even production companies.

Brian Boitano, 1988 Olympic gold medalist and six-time World Professional champion, has served as an honorary director for the PFSC for the past three years and continues to encourage skaters to join the organization. “It’s beneficial to have a union-type of organization where skaters can stick together,” he said. “[Agents] can log onto the site and see skaters’ résumés and video clips of their performances. They can check them out through the website and hire them through there.”



In addition to gaining more exposure through PFSC’s database of performers, members receive access to newsletters, resources and advertising space (if a member is looking for a skating partner or selling an item such as skates or costumes, ad space is free). Members also receive current news about shows, other skaters and industry discounts. The PFSC also provides members with access to individual and family plan health savings through Qualified Health.

Joining the PFSC does not affect an amateur skater’s eligible status. That means that skaters even in the early stages of their careers can use the PFSC’s resources to get a head start planning future endeavors. “I wish there were more opportunities out there for skaters, and that’s what this is all about,” said Boitano, who in 1995 cofounded White Canvas Productions, the company behind skating shows such as the “Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular” (which he coproduces with Disson Skating), for both live and television audiences. “The struggles are out there [to get hired], and that’s what the PFSC is all about. [As directors], we want to show our support.”

The Sky’s the Limit

If skaters get burned out from the rigors of competing, or find themselves looking for new alternatives, professional skating shouldn’t be considered out of the picture — in fact, the professional circuit might be the perfect place for skaters who need a change of atmosphere. Opportunities abound, including performing with touring companies or on cruise ships in the Caribbean, in theater shows or in every professional skater’s haven, Sun Valley. Increasingly, more opportunities are cropping up for skaters who have lost the intense competitive edge, but still love the sport and want to be a part of it.

Former Canadian Olympic team member Jeff Langdon, who currently skates on the cruise ship Freedom of the Seas, said becoming a professional opened up new doors and exciting opportunities for him. “Turning professional and skating in the ‘show world’ has given me insight into myself and who I am as an artist,” he said. “I’ve learned how to perform in any situation. It’s completely different from the competitive world and allows me to grow in ways I never thought I could.”  

There are multiple options for skating professionally, but the big question is how to actually make the transition from being a competitive skater to a professional. Heath suggests making a solid plan before making the leap into professional skating. “The first thing skaters should ask themselves is, ‘Why would a producer want to hire me?’ Then, they should take the necessary steps to make themselves valuable as show skaters,” he said. “[Choreograph] routines, start an act — create some kind of gimmick that makes them special so that a producer must have them as part of their show.”

1992 Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi, who also won four World Professional Figure Skating Championship titles, has been an honorary director for the PFSC since its creation. She noted the importance of ice shows in building a reputation and developing industry knowledge. “Shows like Disney on Ice are great venues for pro skaters to get experience,” said Yamaguchi. “You can get established and these [types of performances] can open doors for you.”

Professional skating has multiple rewards — especially exciting travel and networking opportunities — but with that said, the lifestyle isn’t for everyone. “When you go pro, you should know that your work will always take you elsewhere,” Yamaguchi said. “You learn to live on the road away from home and make new friends.”

Florentine Houdinière, who currently skates with Holiday on Ice in Holland and also in the Dutch version of “Skating With the Stars,” said understanding the lifestyle of the on-the-road skater is essential. “When I first joined the ice shows [in 1995], I had just come out of competing and wanted to enjoy a new experience and see new places,” she said. “My priorities with work have always been to do what has sounded right on an artistic level, but it also meant sometimes traveling intensively, and at other times it meant being stationary abroad for a few months.”

Houdinière said show skating has given her numerous opportunities both to travel and to do what she loves. “I’ve toured the U.S., Canada and Japan with Disney on Ice, and Germany, Belgium, Holland, France and Sweden with Holiday on Ice,” she said. “I worked quite a bit with the Ice Theatre of New York and at the Andy Williams [Moon River] Theatre in Branson, Missouri, with [Willy] Bietak Productions. I [love] to be a part of companies, skate with other people and enjoy myself.”

Houdinière, who also recently performed the starring role in Anastasia on Ice, said there are a lot of opportunities for pro skaters. “There’s a wide variety of ice shows — touring shows, short and long, stationary, cruise ships, Christmas shows, summer shows, one-time exhibitions, et cetera,” she said. “The PFSC gives a lot of information about the many different types of things that skaters can do.”

Opportunities Galore

Here are just a few options the professional skating world can offer:

Movies and Television
Remember 1992’s “The Cutting Edge” or 2006’s Kraft commercials featuring Michelle Kwan? Casting directors, agents and producers are often looking for skaters to act as stunt doubles and performers in Hollywood movies, commercials, TV shows — even concerts. By posting information online at the PFSC website, skaters can make their résumés, photographs and profiles available to agents searching for candidates who fit exact criteria.

Disney on Ice
The PFSC helps connect skaters with Disney on Ice shows. From “Beauty and the Beast” to “Jungle Adventures,” Disney on Ice puts a fun twist on skating while still giving skaters an opportunity to train and work with talented choreographers and crew members. “[Pro skating] has given me the opportunity to work with some of the best choreographers in the business,” said Langdon. “There is nothing like skating under the lights with fantastic costumes and working with some of the best skaters out there.”

Holiday on Ice
With four shows currently on tour, Holiday on Ice visits more than 80 cities in 20 countries each year. A division of Joop van den Ende’s Stage Entertainment company, Holiday on Ice is supported by an international network of promoters, creative producers, the Holiday on Ice office in Hamburg and the Stage Entertainment offices in London, Madrid, Moscow and Milan. Approximately 400 people are currently employed by Holiday on Ice, which has its headquarters in the Netherlands.

Cruise Ships
Royal Caribbean is currently the only cruise line that presents ice shows. Each cruise ship production company hires specialty acts, including aerial skating artists, comedians, jugglers and acrobats on ice. “To be considered for a position in one of our cruise ship shows, a skater must either audition in person or send in a DVD, CD or video, along with a résumé and photo of their current skating skills,” said Sylvia Froescher, a 10-year PFSC board member and a production manager who assists in assigning skaters to cruise ships.

“Some of the best things about working on cruise ships are the destinations that the ships visit — we have ships cruising the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.”

The Industry Extras
The PFSC is a great way to network, but if skaters want to retire and they still love the sport, they can stay involved in the industry by looking to other arenas, too. From working for a skating organization to becoming an agent or recruiter, skaters now have more opportunities than ever to stay involved in skating on the professional side. 

“Many performers, when they are finished performing, continue to stay with the touring shows and do such jobs as performance director, secretary, manager, crew or casting director,” Heath said. “Some turn to doing choreography or directing and quite a few have started their own companies to produce ice shows. The opportunities are endless.”

With the PFSC expanding rapidly, it comes as no surprise that the celebrations will continue throughout the year. “Our biggest plan is to hold our 10-year anniversary [celebration] in Sun Valley, Idaho on Aug. 5,” said Heath. “The first 10 years of any organization is a big occasion, and we really want to celebrate. We’re proud of how far we’ve come.”

For more details on the PFSC, visit www.proskaters.org or call 847-824-5700.

1988 Olympic champion Brian Boitano supports the Professional Figure Skaters Cooperative by serving as an honorary director.
CREDIT: VICKI S. LUY

Jeff Langdon currently skates onboard the Freedom of the Seas ship. He said becoming a professional skater opened up new doors for him.
CREDIT: SUSAN D. RUSSELL

1992 Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi has been lending a hand to the organization since its creation 10 years ago.
CREDIT: SUSAN D. RUSSELL

Florentine Houdinière has traveled the world as a professional skater.
CREDIT: JERZY BUKAJLO/REGARDS DU SPORT