Greensboro serving again this week as center of figure skating world

For the second time in five years, Greensboro is hosting the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

The top figure skaters in the country are at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex this week in hopes of skating away with the championship trophy. The opening ceremony is Friday night, but the athletes are already on the ice.

About 170 of the nation’s best figure skaters will glide, jump and twirl making some fans dream big and others reminisce. Among the people reminiscing in the crowds are Suzanne Deering and her husband, who met in Michigan in 1965. Figure skating is what brought them together.

“We all tried it on the rinks at home in Michigan,” said Suzanne Deering.

Deering tried to harness the amazing grace of figure skating. She cut a dashing figure in Anchor Bay as the fellow next to her, E.J., watched with wonder. Their eyes locked, and now they are watching with wonder.

“So flexible and beautiful and the music is wonderful,” said Deering.

They live in High Point, and to see the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in their adopted Carolina home is a thrill.

“We see them on TV and it’s wonderful to see them up close and personal. You get the whole view,” said Deering.

Nikki Hopkins of Mount Airy brought her 8-year-old daughter, Ella Glyn, to witness the magic of figure skating.

“I like their costumes and how they jump,” said Glyn.

“I love figure skating. I’ve loved it since I was a little girl,” said Hopkins.

She had plenty of company from other fans who sat wide-eyed at the grace and athleticism. Joseph Klein, 15, of Chicago, pirouetted like a pro — despite his sprained ankle — during the Junior Men Free Skate competition on Wednesday.

“I just love to perform, and skating helps me to do that. I like to express myself through each movement and every competition, and it’s definitely a way to express your feelings in a way that isn’t emotional but physical,” said Klein.

The main performances by the senior men and women are happening this weekend. Tickets can be purchased to watch the competition or enjoy activities for free, such as Fan Fest, where the figure skating trophy with the names of all the champions can be seen. There’s no charge to sit at the practice rink and watch the figure skating stars go through their routines in a more intimate setting for free.

The venue in Greensboro is more renowned for hosting ACC basketball championships. But the chairman of the local organizing committee says for this week, Greensboro is the center of the figure skating universe.

“We’ve sold tickets in 43 states and the country of Japan. Figure skating is very popular in Japan, so people will be coming from all over. It’s very popular. We’ll have tens of thousands of attendees,” said Hill Carrow, Local Organizing Committee.

Greensboro first hosted the U.S. figure skating championships in 2011 and set an attendance record for a sporting event at the coliseum.

“The fact that here in the heart of basketball and football and NASCAR country, we’re able to bring this event three times in three decades — which is a record by the way — speaks to the fact that we have good sports fans in general,” Carrow said.

The event concludes Sunday night with a skating spectacular where all the top skaters show off their talents.

Watch the top skaters in the country compete at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex on WRAL. Coverage begins Friday night at 8 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend.