The ice is heating up

"This is a huge honor to have this big of a competition in St. Paul because they are the best figure skaters in the country," said Goff, 21, who teaches figure skating in Roseville and once performed in the nationals herself. "It's just so cool to perform for other people, feed off the crowd's energy, show them what you've worked for."

In a weeklong event that could set attendance records at the Xcel Energy Center, the championships will feature 250 top national skaters, attract an estimated 125,000 spectators, sell 7,000 nights in hotels, and bring as much as $30 million to St. Paul businesses. More than 600 volunteers, working from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., will do everything from taking tickets to helping 300 sports reporters. NBC will broadcast live coverage of the finals next weekend.

One reason for a big turnout might be the presence of several national figure skating celebrities. Brian Boitano and Scott Hamilton plan to attend, as do former champions Todd Eldredge, Kristi Yamaguchi, Randy Gardner and Tai Babilonia.

Nine of the contestants come from Minnesota. They include Eliot Halverson of St. Paul, Molly Oberstar of Duluth and Rohene Ward of Minneapolis. The skaters will compete at novice, junior or senior levels for 12 national titles awarded in ladies' singles, men's singles, pairs and ice dance.

Goff, who performs with the University of Minnesota figure skating team and has competed in synchronized events in the nationals, said Ward is one of her favorites. She plans to watch every competition and will volunteer as an "ice monitor" during practice sessions.

"It's cool because you get to sit close to the ice and see the skaters up close and personal," she said Friday.

Nancy Meyer, who belongs to a club in Burnsville, is another Minnesota figure skating addict.

"When you're watching skating on TV, you only see part of the picture,'' she said. "You don't get to see them warming up, having their coaches give them that last-minute talk ... (Plus) You get to see Dick Button doing commentaries, you get to see the 'kiss and cry' area with nobody in it."

Winners of the St. Paul event will advance to the world figure skating championships in Sweden in March. "These are the people most likely to compete in the 2010 Olympics," said Elizabeth Harty, of the Twin City Figure Skating Association and a co-chair of next week's event.

Sponsors predict considerable economic benefits to downtown St. Paul. Cities that recently have hosted the championships have found it generated $25 million to $30 million in revenues, said Kathy O'Connor, spokeswoman for the Xcel Energy Center. At least 7,000 nights in hotels in St. Paul and Bloomington were booked by Thursday, she said.

The championships proved a bonanza last year in Spokane, Wash., which sold a record 154,893 tickets and drew spectators from Canada, said Pam Scott of the city's Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. Ticket sales beat the previous record set in 2002 in Los Angeles, where 125,345 tickets were sold, she said.

While Xcel officials weren't disclosing actual ticket sales, other indications of the event's popularity were beginning to appear downtown.

The St. Paul Hotel, which is two blocks from the Xcel Center, is sold out for the last four days of the skating championships, said David Miller, the hotel's general manager. Miller said that "a good majority" of the hotel's 255 rooms were rented by people who will attend the championships.

The figure skating championships, coupled with the Republican National Convention this summer, will put St. Paul in the national spotlight, said Sue Gonsior, communications director for Capital City Partnership, a promoter of downtown St. Paul.

"It fills up hotel rooms and fills our street with visitors during off hours," she said. "I hear a lot of talk about it. People are excited that it's in St. Paul."

Meanwhile, hundreds of ordinary Minnesotans will contribute in ways that put them close to the competitors. A lucky group of young Twin Cities skaters will do the "sweeps'' during the events, picking up the stuffed bears and flowers tossed in appreciation onto the ice. Another group of young adults will join in the awards presentation ceremonies.

Goff and other local skaters have been appearing at rinks throughout the Twin Cities to promote the championships, show off a few moves and give impromptu lessons. Up to 2,000 people have come to some of these sessions, which she said is more proof of the popularity of "the beautiful sport" of figure skating and should ensure good attendance at the championships.

"I definitely think if they come watch any of the events it would be impossible to not be inspired," she said.

The competition starts Sunday, with the younger competitors. The most seasoned skaters begin competing Wednesday, with their national finals over the weekend.

"It's elegant and graceful," said Goff, who compares figure skaters with ballerinas and dancers. "But very athletic."

Jean Hopfensperger • 651-298-1553 Kevin Giles • 651-298-1554

FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships begin Sunday and run through Jan. 27, with senior competition beginning on Wednesday. Single tickets and event packages are still available.

Online: www.saintpaul2008.com

HOCKEY AS MOTHER NATURE INTENDED IT TO BE

Hundreds of skaters braved the cold at Friday's start of the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships at Lake Nokomis. The event, free to spectators, runs through the weekend. For more photos, go to startribune.com/slideshows. Online: www.uspondhockey.com