San Marino High School senior Stacey Yee was just a wee tike when a televised Olympic event caught her young eye.
“Synchronized skating,” she says with a smile.
“I fell in love with it,” she exclaims. “I’ve tried other sports but didn’t have a heart for any of them. I saw the Winter Olympics and that was it. To me, skating is as close as you can come to flying. It’s powerful, cold and the wind is on your face. I love it.”
After the closing ceremonies of the Torino Olympics, Stacey was off to the Pasadena Ice Skating Center.
“A couple years later, I tried out for synchronized figure skating with the Rose City Crystals Skating Club,” she explains. “Synchronized figure skating requires a team of about 8 – 20 girls. We are judged on teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. Even though practices are early in the morning and lots of hard work, I didn’t care. I began to love the cohesiveness and the work.”
Most recently, Stacey’s squad finished 2nd in a regional competition in Anaheim, 2nd in the sectionals, which were held this past January in Portland and 11th in the nationals, which took place in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
“We did really well,” Stacey explained. “Compared to many of our opponents in colder climates, we don’t get as much ice time.”
Competitions have taken Stacey to such destinations as Rhode Island, Iowa, and Minnesota, where she has more than sufficient opportunities to feel the cool wind on her face.
“My team is like a second family to me,” Stacey said. “I have grown up with them and we have shared so many experiences. I have been on the team consecutively for 10 years, and I plan on staying in the skating community and possibly skate in college.”
Stacey currently serves as president of the Pasadena Figure Skating Club junior board, communicating the needs and wants of the skaters to the senior board while helping to plan club events and fundraisers.
