Sun Valley 2009

I finally made it to SUN VALLEY! I showed up around 11:30pm, got my key to the condo from the hotel, and then unpacked my car. Up and down three flights of stairs, by 2am I was exhausted but done!On the way there of course I had to stop at some of my favorite places like a Harley shop. The coolest thing was all the workers there would hop on the bikes that were outside to bring them in and stop by to check out my bike. Lots of great comments on that and the trailer...way to go John! (my buddy who worked on the bike in case you don’t know from earlier posts).

Then you can’t pass up the outlet store of Sierra Mountain Sports. Now last Xmas Marci found a $300 some odd pair of shoes for like $3 bucks. I saw the tent and thought, cool, I’m gonna kick some butt here. Alas I learned what most people do, you just can not compete with her in finding amazing deals. I did find some sweet shorts and shoes and stuff at a good deal, but nothing that compared to her shoes! And of course the tent was closed! Oh well.

So I skated all week and performed in the first show. Well, I don’t know what the heck happened, no excuses, but skated really bad jump wise! The new routines will come online soon, but not those because YUCK! But of course I will give you an idea of what they are. They have a western theme for part of the show this year, so I’m a knocked up bride at my own shot gun wedding. Yep, drag again! And oh, what was that? Yes, I even give birth on the ice...my beer mug turns into my baby. Thankfully I am an ugly bride. Then the second number is a take off of “So you think you can dance” complete with judges slamming me. And of course it wouldn’t be me unless I did a little Beyonce action of “All the single ladies” at the end. Until a good taping you’ll just have to wait!

Be well,

Dan


I apologize for taking a long time to update yet again! Well, first we have the 4th of July weekend show. YAY, finally I skated pretty decent. The Bride still has issues, but I think that will come in time. Maybe I just wasn’t happy with Ty’s (the guy in the routines) prenup he make me sign! So the fireworks were cool, as always. Ryan Bradley was the guest skater and did a great job, including a QUAD TOE!!! So look out for him this year for sure! Then my good friend Brian Boitano came out to skate with him and Alyssa Czisny. That week was crazy busy on the pro session and was a lot of fun. So this weeks show on the 14 was really BLECH for me. I mean for the love of gosh I can skate better. So I know for sure I will do some hard core training this week gosh darn it! Brian and Alyssa skated awesome as always. This week little Joseph, Jumpin’ Joe’s youngest had his birthday cake for all of us to enjoy. Of course his girlfriend Ashley was there...he is so funny how he has this big time crush on her! He forgot to bring his lightsabers for us to play with, but promised me next week for sure. Then I forgot to mention that night was Scott Irvine’s bday too, so it was cake all around that day!

Then last night, Monday, we had a “Skating with the Stars” for “the Advocates” a great organization that Darlin Baker is a part of with Joy Kasputys. They aren’t up yet, but just WAIT for the pictures and maybe even video of me and BRIAN BOITANO doing pairs together, including a pull thru-side by side db toe, throw waltz jumps, and and pair camel and sit spins! Yep, we rocked out. Afterwards we went to this AMAZING restaurant that supposedly use to be a brothel back in the day for 6 different dessert samples of this guys AWESOME ice cream, complete with his book and everything. Ahhh....a good time was had by all. Now I’m off to skate coffee club and turn my mac in for some warrantee work on the cd/dvd burner...oh, and to try a new wig that will make me look like the swiss miss puddin’ bars girl....hahaha....

Be well,

Dan


Well how excited am I for finally skating a clean second program and actually having Gia tape the whole thing??? So I am happy to say the videos are up of my new two routines, “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Shot Gun Wedding.” You can click on either name which will link you to the video section of the website. So with some tough training and a good sharpening by Scott Irvine, all was good. (well, I threw on a new wig that looks pretty dang funny for the bride, but the jumps weren’t that great, but I’m still good with it!). I am hoping to get some added to my belly because it isn’t reading that I am pregnant...so I’ll keep you all posted on that! :)

Now this cute little girl you see in the picture comes from Hong Kong. She is only 5 years old and in all my years of teaching said the funniest thing I have ever heard! Now imagine if you will this little girl speaking english extremely well, but can have that seriousness to her. I had finished teaching her older brother and she came skating out with her hair all sticking up since she just got up from sleeping. She did an element for me and came back in which I gave her a few corrections and said ok, try that. I am squatting down so I am eye level with her. At which point in time she look at me with a very serious face and says, “I have to fart.” “UGH.” “there!” and then skates away! Yeah...I could NOT stop cracking up the whole lesson!

Ok, till next time, be well...and oh yeah, I have her for another week to teach at least, so she might just have an update or two also!

Be well,

Dan


WOW....this will be a lot and I’m so sorry it had taken so long to get back to you all! FIRST, Scott Hamilton was in for the week with his family. He is starting to skate again and has his double axels back. Imagine if you will the guy who inspired you to skate giving you tips and pointers on a freestyle session...it was AWESOME!!!! Yes, I have seen him before and talked with him, but never skated with him. So then I skate the show and skate awesome! Since my last update I have skated one clean show, and two more with one bobble (triple to a double). So afterwards I go to the bar to hang out and Scott says to me he liked my programs and said they were “so funny!” YEAH!!!!!

BUT WAIT, there’s more! Monday rolls around, and as he is leaving and shakes my hand he says that if he is back her next year maybe we can skate a routine together in the show!!!! OMG you damn well better believe I’m up for THAT!!!! SWEET!!!

OK, so then I went on a charity motorcycle ride, which was a lot of fun. There was probably about 200 bikers there. It was hot, and the ride was slow. After about 14 miles I pulled off and went about my way. Another think you may have noticed on the picture is a gal named Jillian who is one of the ensemble skaters. I have started to produce demo dvd’s for skaters to send to producers to get into shows. Check it out at the bottom here!

Now, I have good friends here who are well versed in a lot of things and invited me over to educate me in wine and cheese for the evening. And yes, that is 5 different kinds and I did get a thorough education. If I can’t enjoy my manichevitz wine anymore I’m going to be mad at them! Then, if that wasn’t enough, I have been enjoying the symphony at night while they are here. The other night I got to enjoy the Barber of Seville which rocked. Well, I have too much homework and things to catch up on, so be well and hope to update you all very soon. OH, and I almost forgot darn it. They had the fun fashion show again in which I had the adults again. Well, I did this great things with Marie this year. She was the Queen of England. All the ladies in waiting came out with her in the fur coats while her two guards pushed her out in the chair. Then I come out with my Russian ladies to Kalinka (we are a fashion show in Russia performing for the queen) in which one of my ladies steals the Queen’s crown. WELL...I grab it, and who shows up? James Bond, which is Richard. He shoots me, gets back the crown, and all is well. Hopefully will get that up on youtube soon! Talk to you all soon!

Be well,

Dan


Yes, this update is late, but sadly all good things must come to an end. The last show came and went. The cast and crew meet up for some pizza and karaoke at the Boiler room. The following day saw a couple of us get together for a nice breakfast and some serious packing. I aced my final and headed home.

"So a funny thing happened on the way back from Sun Valley!" Great title eh? I stopped at theLittle America hotel for dinner the first night. On my way out this couple stopped and asked me if I was Dan Hollander. I was blown away that they knew who I was and not from Sun Valley. So I twittered that update, and guess who I heard from a few days later? Yep! Isn’t this world of social technology great? (well actually I said older couple, how embarrassing...they probably have a heck of lot more spring in their step than I do!"

Here is part of the email that cracked me up:

"Dear Mr. Hollander,

We happened to intercept your twitter message about the coolness of a random older couple, not from Sun Valley, recognizing you in a restaurant!

We should have introduced ourselves. ..... we are anthropologists from the University of California at Berkeley..... We have also been dedicated skating fans for as many years as we can remember.

The recognition went something like this: Jack was eating his lousy hamburger in this horrible Little America greasy spoon when he saw you across the way trying to eat your lousy hamburger! Jack thought he recognized your profile and told Sulie that he thought there was a famous ice skater eating across the way--the one that did the wonderful number in drag, on TV several years ago. Sulie said, "Oh, that was Dan Hollander and do you really think that is him." Jack said, 'Yes, and what was the name of his number that we thought so brilliant." After thinking for a moment, Sulie said, "Mrs. Doubtfire!" "Yes!" said Jack "I know that it is really Dan Hollander over there trying to plow through one of these miserable hamburgers, that we (mistakenly) thought were safe."

And with that merry little story I plugged away on my 30hr trip back home.

Be well,

Dan

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Alberto Martinez