WPCNR RINK SIDE. December 18, 2007:  Good old Ebersole Rink ice was hard as glass Saturday -- perfect ice. The first genuine winter afternoon was crisp and chilling. White Plains Tots, Teens and Ice Princesses shivered but delivered a most impressive Holiday Ice Show under Mount Everest conditions before over 200 persons at the outdoor rink.

The Fabulous Tots Fabulous Opening Number!

The White Plains Figure Skating Club Fantastic Final Number.

Jen Bisignano's lead-off Solo set the tone for an afternoon of sharp edges, concentration and grace to the sounds of the holidays.

Maggie Dunne's Finale Solo thrilled the audience with her Sasha Cohen Impression. This signature Cohen move has not been done ever before on Ebersole Ice by a soloist to this reporter's knowledge.

First there were everybody’s favorite group numbers featuring 85 of White Plains youngest, hardiest and tryin’ est, in three group numbers. The young skaters got to perform in public, many for the first time in their first team experience.  Then many of the younger skaters stayed to watch fifteen solists perform their spirals, spins, and jumps to music of the season.  All who saw Saturday’s extravaganza produced by the White Plains Figure Skating School’s Kristin Fuerst got a great start to the holiday season .

Here are some sights of the future Oksanas and Katherinas,  Sarahs, and Sashas – this is how they get their start – out on the ice practicing over and over each move, the waltz jumps, the spins, performing in a group number – then one day out there just you and the ice with parents and friends watching soloing for the first time. Their first experience with the glory of pressure and the challenge of the ice.  

The Fabulous Tots Opening-- made up of Tots 1, Tots 2, and Special Alpha -- started the show.

Jen Bisignano Set the Tone and the Standard for the Solists to follow her.

Sherree Geller Spiraled in the Sunlight

Spinning Top Mary Garten

Katie Irmler's Flying Camel Spin

Nadia Abdulwahab launching a spin.

The crowd filled the warming house splitting time between staying warm and coming out to watch their favorite skaters. The skaters performed brilliantly despite 25 degree temperatures that made it hard to get loose and challenged the concentration.

The Gamma Delta Freestyle Group Impressed with a Synchronized routine.

Laura Hollahan's Flying Foot Spin.

Laura Migliaccio's Spiral to Die For.

Allison Fuerst About to Go into a Sit Spin -- a most elegant performance!

Ta Da! Mary Claire Kennedy.

Bethany Herrmann's spectacular Sit Spin.

Pre-Alpha, Alpha and Beta Group Impressed with their lines and syncrhonization!

Cara Lopilato in the always difficult slide move...

Allison Seife Spiraling with Grace.

Julie Joseph's Fast Moving, fully packed program -- here she is in a sit spin

Gabriela Rivas coming out of a Jump.

Maggie Dunne in Mid-Bielman closed the show with a loaded, energetic program that impressed the house.

I do not normally show every skater when I report on the skating shows, but this show was a remarkable effort by all the soloists and the group numbers in harsh Canadian conditions. The ice was a mirror, they had to skate cold and concentrate and let they bodies and instincts take over the skate. That took poise and toughness, and every soloist showed those qualities. All did the best they could and it was great to see.

The skating we saw Saturday afternoon was one of the best overall efforts by all the participants this reporter has seen -- a tribute to the instruction and the atmosphere -- and the camaraderie all the skaters have for each other. What is so inspirational about good ol' Ebersole Rink is the way skaters root for each other to have great skates -- and support each other.

During an icecut -- the state-of-the-art Ebersole Fries and Dogs and Cappuchino -- are not to be missed. The fries are soft on the inside, crisp on the outside but not too crisp and just the right deep fried grease!

From the greatest tasting fries and snacks at any rink,  to the courteous and encouraging staff -- Matt, Kristen, Lou and Rose and the icemakers you cannot beat the atmosphere -- the hospitality and courtesy of the skaters on the ice. It's why Ebersole is  "The Happy Rink."

After the Show, Everyone was invited out on the ice to skate with Frosty the Snowman (Michael Cavellero)