(PRWEB) September 04, 2013 -- Renowned figure skater Michael Weiss (McLean, Virginia), a three-time U.S. National Figure Skating Champion, two-time Olympian and two-time World medalist, will host the 9th Annual Michael Weiss Foundation “Ice Champions LIVE!” at The Gardens Ice House on Sunday, September 15 at 4 pm, bringing stars of the figure skating world to Laurel, MD to perform during an awe-inspiring fundraising event. Weiss announced that this year he has invited aspiring local skaters to participate – the brother/sister ice dance team of Gigi Becker and Luca Becker from Bethesda, MD.
Siblings Gigi Becker, 10, and her big brother Luca, 12, began skating as an ice dance team when they were 9 and 7, and just two years later they became the U.S. Intermediate Ice Dance Champions. At this year’s U.S. National Figure Skating Championship, they earned Pewter (4th) in the Novice Ice Dance category.
They originally started skating in a Montgomery County Learn to Skate program, because they were so often invited to ice skating parties. Since first being invited to skate at Wheaton Ice Skating Academy, and then being teamed with each other, the two have made a commitment to competitive skating, even though they realize the dedication means they miss out on some of the things other children their age are doing. Then again, not a lot of their classmates are national champions! Gigi and Luca live in Bethesda with their parents, two younger siblings, three cats and three dogs.
The 9th Annual Michael Weiss Foundation “Ice Champions LIVE!” will bring famous faces of figure skating – and the Beckers - to Laurel to raise money for the Michael Weiss Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to aspiring Olympians to assist them in all facets of training and competition with an emphasis on continuing their education. The Foundation is currently sponsoring 27 recipients. Knowing firsthand how much it takes to get an athlete to the Olympics, Michael established the Michael Weiss Foundation as a way of giving back to the sport that his given him so much.
The event will be held on Sunday, September 15 at 4:00 pm, at The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD. Tickets are available at http://www.MichaelWeiss.org. LIMITED ON-ICE SEATING is available. Ticket prices range from $20-$50 with VIP opportunities – meet and socialize with some of the biggest stars in skating with the VIP package. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to figure skating scholarships to be awarded later this year.
CURRENT 2013 SKATERS for Ice Champions LIVE!
Katia Gordeeva - Olympic & World Champion Michael Weiss – 3 time U.S. National Champion
Kimmie Meissner – U.S. National & World Champion Richard Dornbush – U.S. National Silver Medalist
Ryan Bradley – U.S. National Champion Adam Rippon – U.S. National Silver Medalist
Sinead and John Kerr – European Medalists, Olympians Michal Brezina – World Silver, current European bronze Rockne Brubaker & Lindsay Davis - U.S. Pairs team
Annie Mae Weiss – local singing talent (and Michael’s daughter!)
For tickets visit http://www.MichaelWeiss.org
All Media Requests, please call Kerry Lynn Bohen 703.533.4823 or 202.468.8300
Billy Carr, Gardens Ice House, http://www.thegardensicehouse.com, 301-593-0100 103, [email protected]
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